Miles Hardie. A very unique man IMO, mild mannered but with a great interest in many subjects. Miles was Chairman of the King’s Fund
He pointed out to me on one occasion the Private Eye and The Economist made a sort of balance. He had both on a weekly basis.
Elizabeth Hardie
Born Madeline Elizabeth Ash in Mumbai in 1921, followed by younger sister Joan two years later, Elizabeth Hardie led a very full life that was defined by friendship, love and giving.
· The girls were educated at St Mary’s, Wantage in 1934 and finishing school in Switzerland and by 1943 both were studying Art at Reading University
· Elizabeth loved painting and art, was an active member of Charlbury art society and has left many works in numerous households
· During the war Elizabeth was nursing, meeting Mary Rose Madden who became a lifelong friend.
Elizabeth started driving quite early and seems to have caused many of her passenger’s knuckles to whiten as they gripped the seat.
Elizabeth took holy orders and spent time as a Nun, giving up to care for her mother, with the goodwill of the church. Around that time, through her community work she met Sheila English another lifelong friend.
She met and married Spencer Spencer- Smith in 1971, who already had two daughters, Margie and Jenny. Together they shared time in Chichester, renovating Sheepwash cottage, running the Yacht Chandlery at Chichester Marina ,with Elizabeth also doing part time social work and potting.
In 1975 they became foster parents to Robin Gordon.
Spencer then became ill and died in 1976 and Elizabeth continued on her own as the central link in an extended family including the girls, Robin and the two other teenage Gordon boys, with Sheila and Simon English coming to Sheepwash Cottage frequently as well . There was a home, love and encouragement for us all.
· She then moved was to Oxford as a house warden at St Clare’s Hall, looking after sixth form girls.
· In 1978 she purchased Old Orchard in Long Hanborough in 1978, near to Joan and Bill and her nephew Michael .
· Mary Rose Madden moved nearby and during her subsequent illness Elizabeth provided friendship and care until her death in late 1983, when characteristically she stepped in as mother and supporter of Marie Rose’s children Johnny, Richard and Jane.
In 1985 Elizabeth married Miles with his two grown boys Philip and Roger joining the extended family, which by now included grand-children.
· She and Miles radiated the love, happiness and deep friendship they had for one another to everyone around them.
· They moved to Charlbury in 1988, quickly engaging with the community
o Miles campaigning for footpaths and youth hostels and
o Elizabeth being lynch pin in the Charlbury map project
· Sadly, for the last four years of his life Miles was increasingly affected by Alzheimer’s disease and died in October 2002
Elizabeth continued in Charlbury, more closely involved with the church and community, which provided great support to her in the last years
Elizabeth was a force of energy and determination with great emotional understanding and intellect.
Although she never had children of her own she was mother to many. She lived her life to the full and changed the course of many other lives for the better.