ista stoddart, born 1911
FARMING DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Ista Stoddart (actual christian names Helen Agnes St.Lo) was a Malet - a distinguished family dating back to the Norman invasion. William Malet was related to William the Conqueror, and accompanied him to England. William Malet was also related by marriage to King Harold, whose burial he was assigned to conduct. The Malet baronetcy was created in 1791 for Charles Malet, for diplomatic services in India. Ista Stoddart’s father, Sir Harry Charles Malet, was the 7th Baronet. Ista Stoddart wrote her life story in old age. She recounts her country life in Wiltshire and Somerset, and her experiences running the family hill farm in Somerset during the Second World War.
Click below to view her life story:
Source: Reproduced from an unpublished autobiographical essay found by Alex Reid among papers left to him by his mother Louisa Reid, who was a contemporary and friend of Ista Stoddart. It was written in 1995.