Reachfar

When, in 1959, the author Jane Duncan returned as a widow from her 10 years in Jamaica, she settled in Jemimaville, where she had spent many holidays with her grandparents when a girl.

As her popularity increased the cottage became too small so she bought the old potato store nearer the shore and had it converted it into the house seen here, naming it after the croft on which her novels are based.

Far from being irritated by the frequent appearance of her readers at their gate, the present occupants, also long admirers of her books, called across to us to invite us in and showed us a display of artefacts relating to Jane Duncan, the room where she worked and the garden. They have lived there since 1996 and keep in touch with her family, who still own her original cottage on the main street.

I was such a delight to be invited into their home and to discuss our favourite characters of the 'My Friends' series.

Backblipped for 6th June 2014