26 Apr. 2013: Hardy descendants at the launch at Norwich Cathedral

More than one hundred invited guests attended the launch of The Diary of Mary Hardy in the refectory of Norwich Cathedral on the evening of Friday 26 April 2013. It overlooks part of the Lower Close, seen here on the banner.

They were just some of the hundreds who have participated in the 25-year-long Mary Hardy project. These societies and organisations were represented:

Margaret Bird welcomes the guests

Margaret Bird as editor of the volumes being published on 30 April pays tribute to all those who helped her in her researches

  • Aylsham Local History Society
  • Blakeney Area Historical Society
  • Cozens-Hardy LLP
  • Eastern Counties Newspapers/Archant: Library
  • Holt Society
  • Houghton Hall Archives
  • Letheringsett Watermill
  • Mid-Norfolk Family History Society
  • Norfolk Heritage
  • Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society
  • Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library
  • Norfolk Record Office
  • Norfolk Record Society
  • Norfolk Wherry Trust
  • Norwich Cathedral
  • Parson Woodforde Society
  • Royal Holloway, University of London
  • Wesley Historical Society: East Anglian Branch

The diarist’s descendants

Fifteen of Mary Hardy’s descendants were present, including 91-year-old John Cozens-Hardy. Son of Basil Cozens-Hardy, Mary Hardy’s first editor, he had travelled from Spain to take part.

Some of Mary Hardy's descendants at the launch

Some of the 15 descendants are grouped with Margaret Bird beside the diarist’s portrait. Standing, from the left: John Phelps, Sam Phelps, [Margaret Bird], John Hirst, Raven Cozens-Hardy, Graham Solberg, William Cozens-Hardy, Mina Holland, Jane Anderson. Below them: Sue Rosser, John Cozens-Hardy and the speaker Caroline Holland

John’s niece Caroline Holland made the opening speech at the event, followed by Michael Sparkes of the Norfolk Wherry Trust.

Margaret Bird then spoke as the editor of the volumes published on 30 April. It is held in the film industry that films are not released. They escape. And just as films break free from the artists and craftsmen who create them, she said, these books were making their bid for freedom after 25 years.

Some of the 15 descendants are seen grouped beside the diarist’s portrait, with Margaret Bird joining their number.

Standing, from the left: John Phelps, Sam Phelps, [Margaret Bird], John Hirst, Raven Cozens-Hardy, Graham Solberg, William Cozens-Hardy, Mina Holland and Jane Anderson.

In front of them are Sue Rosser, John Cozens-Hardy and the speaker Caroline Holland.

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Margaret Bird

Margaret Bird in 2016

The editor and author of the Mary Hardy volumes

You can read about the historian Margaret Bird on the link above

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