FRANCES NEWTON

CATALOGUE

RECORDING

SUMMARY

BORN: Barbrook, Devon, 1922

LIVED: Lynton, Winsford, Dulverton, Brushford

RECORDING MADE: 2002

RECORDING LENGTH: 2 hours 27 minutes

As the oldest sister in a family of six, with two older brothers, Frances Newton has spent a large part of her life looking after people. Her father was one of 14. They farmed at Barbrook, above Lynton, moving to a bigger farm at Winsford when she was seven. She did the chores, delivered cream and eggs, and later milk, around the village, and listened to her grandfather telling stories.

She was in her late-40s when she married Fred and moved to Dulverton. She gardened and sang in the choir and they went dancing and to the seaside. It didn't take them long to decide they were made for each other. She continued to look after her mother and her sister Mary, and Fred when he became ill. Her mother was nearly 100 when she died. She has always looked after people, and listened. It affected her own health, but she doesn't regret it, she says.

Frances Newton died in November 2020.

Photograph by Mark J. Rattenbury