Maraline Pengelly

Sparkly, happy, spontaneous, loving :

Maraline Hatswell, born the 27th February 1921 on a farm at Nicholashayne near Culmstock, one of eight children. She was a very lively, bubbly child, her father named her “Bubs” affectionately known to her nieces and nephews as “Auntie Bobs”.

 

She loved farm life and being with her father working in the fields, happily weeding the crops, nothing was too much trouble and whatever she was given to do she did it cheerfully.

 

She attended school in Culmstock where she met Clem, a farmer’s son. She excelled in sports, winning all the running races. She was a member of Culmstock church choir and looked forward to the annual outing to the seaside with great excitement.

 

After leaving school she had a couple of jobs housekeeping in private residences in the Exeter area. She then returned to Culmstock where she was very happy working for Albert Strawbridge at the Strand stores and also where she lived. At this time she met and became friendly with the French resistance heroine, Odette Churchill.

 

Reacquainted with Clem, she realised that he was the love of her life and they got married in Culmstock church in 1942. They lived at the family farm at Hackpen Barton for a couple of years before moving to their own adjoining farm at Rull. They farmed there for many years with the help of Heinz, a German prisoner of war who was a wonderful worker and who became a dear friend of the family.

 

Maraline worked like a trouper accomplishing a million jobs in one day, hand milking, rearing poultry, attending to the sheep and pigs. She had empathy with the animals, loving and caring for them. Not only was she a great cook and gardener, she had a passion for birds and plants, knowing all their names.

 

She was a wonderful mother to two daughters, Betty born in 1944 whilst they were still living at Hackpen and Marion born in 1948. Maraline would take baby Marion into the cowshed whilst doing the milking. One of Marion’s first memories is being carried by her Mum, who also carried a large tea urn and a basket of home-made cakes to the hayfields to give the workers afternoon tea.

 

Maraline was a wizard at preparing the most delicious picnics for family outings to the sea or countryside. Betty and Marion have fond memories of a short holiday in Sidmouth with their Mum in order to give her a well-deserved rest away from the farm.

 

Clem and Maraline sold the farm and moved to Brixham in 1966. Maraline discovered the joys of living by the sea in a house with the most fabulous view of Torbay and a little walled-in garden where she spent many happy hours. Forty years in Brixham has enabled her to make many dear friends to whom the family is very grateful for their enduring care and affection over the years.

 

For the past twenty years Maraline has battled against cancer with utmost courage. She has spent the last four months at Holmesly Nursing Home in Sidmouth, where she was very happy and received wonderful nursing. Sadly that hidden enemy finally got the upper hand and Maraline graciously succumbed. May her soul rest in peace. Our love for her will never die.