Posted by Iain Hobbs on 12/03/99 from 194.82.168.3:
Right up to PM it is established that Mrs Blackett is Margaret Blackett. In PM however AR has the GA calling her MARY. Is this just a Northern shortening of Margaret? Uncle Jim calls her by her pet name of "Mops" which is again a variation on Margaret. What is strange is that for such a major character in the SA books, Mrs Blackett is never illustrated. All AR says about her is that she is short and fat. On a historical note, the real version of Mrs Blackett, Lady Crossley, wife of Sir Kenneth, could drive and drove around visiting the household staff. She was also a skilled Pianist and Organist. Along with Her husband She gave musical recitals at their town house in Altringham. One surprise was that Huyton Hill had an Organ. The isolated position favouring such an instrument rather than a Piano which would have been at the town house. That means the GA would have played the Organ rather than the piano when She visited Beckfoot. Barrow in Furness Library has a picture of the Crossley's car. However as they owned a Crossley Motors and the Crossley Engineering Company. I doubt the car would have been as clapped out as AR makes it out to be.