Biography of Fay Inchfawn
Elizabeth Rebecca Ward (2 December 1880 – 16 April 1978) was a prolific English writer of popular verse, religious works, and works for children, writing under the pen-name Fay Inchfawn. Her works were serialised in women's magazines, and she was sometimes known as "The Poet Laureate of the Home".Early life and family
Elizabeth Rebecca Ward was born Elizabeth Rebecca Daniels at Portishead, Somerset, on 2 December 1880. She married Atkinson Ward (1882 – October 1965) in 1911 in the Long Ashton district of Somerset. They moved to Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire and in 1913 had a daughter, Mary Arundell Ward (died 1983), who was known as "Bunty" in Ward's books. In 1927, the family moved to Innisfree, a Victorian villa at Freshford, Somerset, where she lived for the rest of her life.
Career
Writing as Fay Inchfawn, Ward was a prolific author of books of popular verse during the years between the two World Wars. Her works were serialised in women's magazines and she was sometimes known as "The Poet Laureate of the Home". She also wrote books for children, some with her husband who used the pseudonym Philip Inchfawn, and numerous religious works.
Her Salute to the village (Lutterworth, 1943) was a first-hand account of the effects of the Second World War on a middle-class provincial family, with locations and people disguised using pseudonyms. Although not identified in the book, the village is presumed to be Freshford. The book describes the influx of refugees from the bombing of nearby Bath in 1942 during the "Baedeker raids", economic and resources shortages, the blackout, fire-watching, and the building of pill-boxes and barricades in the fields so that enemy gliders could not land. It was illustrated with line drawings by Alfred Bestall who also drew Rupert Bear for The Daily Express. The book was republished in 2010 by Folly Books with a new biographical introduction by Nick McCamley.Her memoirs were published by Lutterworth Press in 1963 as Those remembered days: A personal recording. This was followed by Something more to say: A personal recording in 1965 and Not the final word: Or, a joyful tribute in 1969.
Death
Elixabeth Ward died on 16 April 1978 and is buried at St Mary's church, Limpley Stoke. A celebration of her life was held at St Mary's on what would have been her 100th birthday, which was written up for This England magazine.
Selected publications
A book of remembrance. Ward Lock, London, c. 1930.
As I lay thinking
Father Neptune's treasure: The adventures of three children and a golliwog under the sea. S. W. Partridge & Co., London, 1919. (With Philip Inchfawn, pseud. Atkinson Ward)
Having it out: Talks and readings for women's meetings
Homely talks of a homely woman
Homely verses of a home-lover
Little donkey
Living in a village
Not the final word: Or, a joyful tribute. Lutterworth Press, 1969. ISBN 0718816404
Picnic on the hill
Poems from a quiet room
Salute to the village. Lutterworth, 1943. (Illustrated by Alfred Bestall) (Republished by Folly Books, 2010)
Senior reciter
Something more to say: A personal recording. Lutterworth Press, 1965
Songs of the ups; downs
Sweet water and bitter
The adventures of a homely woman
The beautiful presence in the garden of the soul
The day's journey
The Golliwog news: A story of three children and a toy newspaper. S.W. Partridge & Co., London, 1913. (Illustrated by T.C. Smith) (With Philip Inchfawn, pseud. Atkinson Ward)
The journal of a tent-dweller. Religious Tract Society, 1931
The life book of Mary Watt. Ward Lock, London, 1935
The little donkey
The verse book of a homely woman, 1920. Republished by Standard Publications, 2009.
Think of the lilies (Lakeland)
Those remembered days: A personal recording. Lutterworth Press, 1963
Through the windows of a little house (Republished by FB&C, 2017)
Unposted letters
Verses of a house-mother
Who goes over the sea
Who goes to the garden
Who goes to the wood
Will you come as well? Ward Lock, London, c. 1931. (Illustrated by Treyer Evans)
References
External links
Fay Inchfawn at Allpoetry.com
Fay Inchfawn at Bradford-on-Avon.org
Works by Elizabeth Rebecca Ward at Project Gutenberg
Write your comment about Fay Inchfawn
nicholas misiko: have read her books in bible commentaries by baclays
David hall: I have a hand written poem On the cotswolds now signed fay inchfawn was it ever published
