William and Janet Pattison's Children - Hilda - Her Final Visit home

In 1959 Hilda came home for the last time at the age of 59, staying with my Grandparents Luke and Janet.  She caused chaos wherever she went, with what was thought to be very effected and flamboyant behaviour. Her appearance was very 'Spanish' and she spoke with a 'broken accent.' Her hair was dyed black and scraped back into a bun, and she still had a slim figure.  In 1959 very few British women dyed their hair.  My Grandma Janet Dent used to get very embarrassed when they went into shops as Hilda would pick up fruit and eat it without paying for it.  My Grandpa Luke thought it was hilarious when Grandma used to relay the tales of Hilda's behaviour.

Sadly I have no photographs of either Hilda or Carlos but in my 'minds eye' I remember Hilda looked a lot like the young Wallace Simpson. 

 Wallace Simpson
Hilda bore a striking resemblance to

My cousin Dorothy (once removed), told me that her brother Les once sneaked up to the window of Grandma's house, and peeped in to see his Great Aunt, this strange exotic woman from the other side of the world that everyone was talking about!

Luke & Janet 13 Gregson Street Scotswood where Hilda stayed and Les 'peeped'

My sister and I aged 13 and 14 went with our mam to Scotswood to meet the exotic Great Aunt.  We were immediately appraised by the gimlet eyed Hilda who pronounced in her 'broken accent' that my sister "knows more than she is letting on."  As a very naive 13 year old I had no idea quite what she meant, but it was clear neither liked each other.  Perhaps now that I am older and (maybe) wiser my interpretation of her statement is that she thought she could see herself in my sister. Certainly for good or bad, speaking your mind, was a family trait of the Clark sisters.

I think Hilda tried to be kind but it was pretty clear she hadn't had a lot to do with children or young people.  I remember she arranged to take us to the local cinema to see Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in "An Affair to Remember" - for us this was a very grown up film, about a couple both engaged to other people who had an affair on board a passenger ship, so very apt for Hilda! I loved it.  The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards.  I've seen it a couple of times since on the television, bringing back waves of memories of a family member with a huge personality, who was clearly very spoilt, and used to being pandered to, but still came home now and again to see her family.

Hilda came home in 1959 because Carlos had died.  I believe at this time she contemplated coming home for good, as I found an 1959 Electoral Roll entry for Hilda at her sister Ellen's address 23 Swinburn Terrace, Bells Close Newcastle upon Tyne.  

1959 Electoral Roll

Perhaps Hilda soon realised she was more Peruvian than British and that she would never be happy living in the North East of England; she was very young when she first left home.  

Like a whirlwind Hilda left the Port of Liverpool for the last time on 28th January 1959 on the Pacific Steam Navigation's ship Reina Del Mar. She was returning (according to Hilda) to the place where they spoke "the most beautiful language in the world". This was the last time we were to see her. 

Ships Entry - Hilda's return to Peru in 1959

Reina Del Mar Going through the Panama Canal

Reina Del Mar

Hilda returned to Peru via second class -  this looks as if she would have had a very comfortable return journey.

1959 Dining Room on the Reina Del Mar

Cocktail Bar Reina Del Mar

 Swimming Pool on the Reina Del Mar

Unfortunately I never found the Ship's Entries for Carlos' arrival in the UK, nor his departure, nor could I find Hilda's first journey to her new life.

I never found out when Hilda died, perhaps she outlived her sister Ellen, the last family member she was in touch with, but for some reason I am sad that I will never know where and when she died. I think she and Carlos would have been touched that their Great Niece has never forgotten them.