It was the Jazz Age, the 1920’s, but in the countryside time passed at its own slow pace, the seasons turned and the little boy and his friends played in the fields and meadows of the surrounding villages from daybreak until dusk.
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In the village of Oaksey there was one meadow which, in the spring, was carpeted with purple and white and silver flowers – the petals had a strange chequer-board pattern which fascinated the children, but they never knew what they were called – as far as the locals were concerned they were just “Oaksey lilies”. Times changed; the War came, and many of the children never returned to the meadow ….
Fritillary meadow from Helen M. Stevens’ book “Embroidered Gardens”
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The little boy grew up to be a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force – and Helen’s Dad! In his later years he became fascinated by Helen’s designs and embroideries and, a great country lover, enjoyed her wildflower studies in particular. When she first worked a fritillary lily it brought back all his childhood memories – the meadow, the fun, laughter of long summer days. He began to write his autobiography, but it was never to be finished. The “Fritillary” name is a tribute to a real countryman.
