Miriam Wood Farndale (later Miriam
Bennetts)
22 January 1928
to 1999
FAR00905
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Guisborough
1928
Miriam Wood
Farndale, daughter of Robert William and Violet (nee Wood later Ward)
Farndale (FAR00662),
was born on 22 January 1928 (1939 Census) in
Guisborough District. Her birth was
registered in Guisborough District (GRO Vol 9D Page 791).
Danby
1939
1939
census – Briar Cottage, Briar Hill, Danby,
Castleton, Whitby
Violet Farndale,
born 24 July 1887, domestic duties (her mother)
Miriam Farndale (later Bennetts), born 22 January 1928, at
school, single
1956
Miriam Wood
Farndale, married Henry Bennetts on 21 May 1956 (media)
and their marriage was registered in the second quarter of 1956 in Whitby District (MR).
The Belfast News-Letter, 19 May 1956: WOMAN WHOSE
HEART STOPPED IS TO MARRY AFTER SIX YEAR WAIT. A young woman who has spent more
than five years in hospital, whose heart stopped beating under an operation and
who then took a “50-50” chance of recovery by undergoing another similar
operation cover will be married on whit Monday to the man to whom she became
engaged before her illness. She is Miss Miriam Farndale aged 28, of Brian
Cottage, Danby, near Whitby. Her fiancé is Mr Harry Bennetts, of High Street, Moorsholm,
Yorkshire, a stores superintendent. They started planning their wedding in
September 1950. The date was fixed, a house found and furnished, the cake made,
and the bridal dress brought bought, then Miss Farndale was taken seriously
ill. However, Mr Bennett's faith in his fiancee's
recovery never wavered, and every weekend he made a long journey by car to be
at her bedside. For four years he paid the rent of the house before giving
it up and storing furniture. For the wedding which will take place in Danby
Methodist Church, the bride will wear the white satin dress she chose as a girl
of 22.
Daily
Herald, 19 May 1956: THE FAITH OF TWO YOUNG LOVERS.
The white satin wedding dress which the bride will wear on Monday is 6 years
old. So were the presents she was arranging last night for the guests to see.
For Miriam Farndale, 28, was due to be married six years ago to her
schoolboy sweetheart. But she fell ill. At her home, Brian Cottage, Danby,
Yorkshire, she spoke last night of the years of heartbreak that have slipped
by since she was first to wed Harry Bennett, now 27. “Harry and I met when
I was 15 and he was 14. Six years later we became engaged and planned to
marry on September 30, 1950. The cake was ordered, the guests invited, I
had my dress. 18 days before the wedding I was found to have tuberculosis.
It was a dreadful shock, but we had to face it and the wedding was put off.”
Miriam went to hospitals in York and Hull but every weekend for six years Harry
travelled to see her. “He was there to cheer me up and give me hope in my
darkest moments,” she said. Miriam left hospital, cured, on Christmas Eve. And
last night, Harry, of High Street, Moorsholm, Yorkshire, was decorating their
cottage near Stanghow. “She was worth waiting for” he said.
Belfast
Telegraph, 19 May 1956: GIRL WHOSE HEART STOPPED IS
BRIDE. SHE SPENT 5 YEARS IN HOSPITAL. A young woman who has spent over five
years in hospital, whose heart stopped beating under an operation, and
who then took a “50-50” chance of recovery by undergoing another similar
operation, will walk up the aisle on Whit Monday for her wedding, planned
nearly six years ago. Attractive 28 year old, Miriam Farndale, of Brian
Cottage, Danby, near Whitby, will be married in Danby Methodist Chapel to Harry
Bennetts, of High Street, Moorsholm, Yorkshire, a stores superintendent at
Skinningrove, Yorkshire, iron works. Harry was 21 when the two in September,
1950, started planning their wedding. The date was fixed, a house found and
furnished, the cake made and the bridal dress bought,. Then Miriam was taken
ill. For over 5 years she was in hospital moving between York and Hull for
operations. Harry’s faith in her recovery never wavered and every
weekend he made the long journey by car to be at her bedside. He spent his
holidays near the hospital. For four years he paid the rent of the house before
giving it up and storing the furniture. Then during an operation Miriam’s heart
stopped beating. Doctors working for over 9 hours saved her life, but they gave
her only two more years to live. But Miriam would not give in. “I want
you to try the operation again”, she told the surgeon, and chances of
recovery were given as “50-50”. Her parents were against her taking the risk
but she insisted. The operation was a success. On Monday she will wear the
white satin wedding dress she chose as a girl of 22.
The Yorkshire Observer, 19 May 1956: WOMAN ‘DIED’
DURING OPERATION, NOW TO WED SIX YEARS LATE. A young woman who has spent more
than five years in hospital, whose heart stopped beating under an operation and
who then took a “50-50” chance of recovery by undergoing another similar
operation, will walk up the aisle on whit Monday for her wedding planned nearly
six years ago. Attractive 28 year old Miriam Farndale, of Brian Cottage, Danby,
near Whitby, will be married in Danby Methodist Chapel to Harry Bennetts... Harry
was 21 when the two started to plan their wedding in September 1950....
Birmingham
Post, 19 May 1956: GIRL WHO TOOK CHANCE ON LIFE. A
young woman who has spent over five years in hospital, whose heart stopped
beating under an operation and he then took a “50-50” chance of recovery by
undergoing another similar operation will walk up the aisle on Monday for her
wedding planned nearly six years ago. She is Miss Miriam Farndale, aged 28,
of Brian Cottage, Danby, near Whitby, who will be married in Danby
Methodist Chapel to Mr Harry Bennetts, of High Street, Moorsholm, North Yorkshire.
Nottingham
Guardian, 19 May 1956: WOMAN WILL MARRY SIX YEARS LATE.
Six years late for the wedding she planned in 1950, Miriam Farndale, 28, or
Brian Cottage, Danby, Whitby, will walk up the aisle of Danby Methodist Church
on Monday for her marriage to Harry Bennetts, of High Street, Moorsholm,
Yorkshire. Miriam had spent over five years in hospital. Under one operation
her heart stopped beating and she then took a 50-50 chance of recovery by
undergoing another similar operation...
Nottingham
Evening Post, 19 May 1956: THE BRIDE WHO IS SIX YEARS LATE.
Six years late for the wedding she planned in 1950, Miriam Farndale, 28, of
Brian Cottage, Danby, near Whitby, will walk up the aisle of Danby Methodist
Church on Whitsunday for her marriage to Harry Bennetts, of High Street,
Moorsholm, Yorkshire... “I feel wonderful and so happy,” she said yesterday.
On Monday she will wear the white satin wedding dress she chose a girl of 22.
Birmingham
Post, 22 May 1956: MARRIED SIX YEARS LATE. COURAGE
OF GIRL WHO OVERCAME TB. Miss Miriam Farndale was married yesterday at the
small Methodist Church at Danby, North Yorkshire, to Mr Harry Bennett, the man
she should have married six years ago. In 1950, Miss Farndale was out buying
bridesmaids dresses when a letter came with the result of x-ray examination.
It told her that she was seriously ill with tuberculosis. Nearly six years in
hospitals followed, and she was at one time given only two years to live. Her
fiancé however kept the faith and visited her every week in various hospitals
in Yorkshire, until she gained strength and was able to return home. The white
satin dress she wore yesterday was one the one she would have worn six years
ago. Most of the guests, the best man and some presents were the same. But a
new gift “from matron” symbolised the courage of the bride.
Middlesbrough
1999
Miriam Wood Bennetts died aged 71, on 3
February 1999 and her death was registered in Middlesbrough in February 1999 (GRO District 3481C Register Number C6A entry 63).
2019
Henry Bennetts, born on 27 June 1928, died at
High Stanghow, Lingdale on 19 August 2019 at the age
of 91 and was buried on 4 September 2019 (Scarborough
News, 5 September 2019, Death Index).