 Betty Wainwright Marrying a doctor in 1945, Betty soon found her new husband didn't quite live up to her expectations. She returned to England to concentrate bringing up her two lovely daughters Jane and Anne to whom she was devoted.  Memorial About seven years later Betty wrote a fan letter to AW and a little while later she received a reply from the man stating that she could visit his office some time to discuss the fells. Betty recalled that on one day she was near the town hall and on impulse, 'popped' in to speak with him. AW was beginning preparations for his Pennine Way guide and stated his logistical constraint of not having a car. Betty, as many know, was a driver and offered to give him a lift any time, as long as she was free. Although a little complicated and at times under a guise of 'cloak and dagger' the relationship gradually blossomed and Betty and Alfred were married on 10 March 1970. Alfred Wainwright had finally achieved the woman of his dreams.  Haystacks Today the end of a chapter has been closed. This is in fact the end of a volume, but the story of Wainwright will go on. However, the loving couple are together at last, Haystacks will draw all our eyes and I know it won't just be AW's memory we'll call to mind. Whilst AW will become the fellwalking legend it is surely more than a footnote which will encompass Betty's contribution. I think for us all, when our thoughts on AW spring to mind it should be the couple we reminisce. Like the church where the Wainwright's commeration service was held, Betty and Alfred's relationship was founded on rock - "In saxo condita" - and I think it was Betty who was the rock. Their love for each other was unfailing. The next time you gaze towards Haystacks, or stand upon its rocky summit, remember not one character from the AW story but two. Alfred and Betty were a loving couple and should be remembered as such. Many of us gathered in St. James's, Buttermere on 28 February and for one, my mind was thinking of the fells and Haystacks in particular. Betty and Alfred are together at last and perhaps looking down on us from their lofty perch. Like the 84 year old lady mentioned by AW in Ex-Fellwander who said, in relation to the Lake District, "God must spend his holiday here", let's pray that AW and Betty have a season ticket. I am sure they'll have front row seats.
 You can download a copy of the Order of Service PDF (1.4MB) But he was always so loving and tender. I had never expected that. Betty on AW
 And if you, dear reader, should get a bit of grit in your boots as you are crossing Haystacks in the years to come, please treat it with respect. It might be me. AW
 AW and Betty Further reading:
If you wish to know more about the Wainwright story and Betty and AW's relationship together, you would do no better than to read Wainwright - The Biography by Hunter Davies. Published by Michael Joseph, 1995, ISBN 0-7181-3909-7
Also:
WAINWRIGHT - His Life from Milltown to Mountain by W.R. Mitchell published by Great Northern Books, October 2009. Hardback, 160 pages, £15.99. ISBN 9781905080663. |
