Abbey History; 1918 Influenza Strikes

In the Shadow of the Abbey

The impact of the influenza pandemic following WW1 was felt by millions of people in all walks of life.
The Abbey family did not escape, especially Phyllis who served as a VAD nurse in France. It was estimated that 50 million people died, many were younger people, weakened by four years of war. Lady Florence and Sir Henry Vansittart Neale had already lost their son George to appendicitis age 14 in his first term at Eton, so Phyllis being very ill was especially difficult and worrying for them.
Lady Florence Vansittart Neale kept a diary during the war which is now held at the Berkshire Record office (BRO) in Reading as part of the Bisham Abbey collection. The entries provide a local source for this episode and are voiced by Shirley Jenkins-Pandya.
The Abbey History episodes unveil the history of the historic Bisham Abbey and the two families who lived in it over the past 400 years, from Lady Hoby to Mrs Paget. From wealth to death duties, there is a curse, ghosts, gold coins and special ladies. They are part of the series In the Shadow of the Abbey which also includes the War Years and the Village Stories.
Series devised researched and written by Sheila Featherstone-Clark with thanks to many others.
Sound effects from Freesound.org; Ultradust -champagne, Keith Selmes for the train, MrOptimism for the old telephone.
Music: Artie Shaw, 'It has to be you' from http;//www.jazz-on-line.com
Artwork is a formal portrait of Phyllis Vansittart Neale probably the last to be painted of the family according to the BRO it is by Helen Donald Smith in the style of Ellis Roberts.