Dr Helga Frankland lives in Ravenstonedale in the house where she was born in 1920. Her father was a professor of Chemistry before moving permanently to Cumbria for the sake of his health. He and her mother, Maude who was locally born, took up farming at ‘Needles’, a large estate.
Hugh Parker was born in Bridge End cottage, Elterwater in 1929. When he was 2, he moved with his parents to Thrang Farm at Chapel Stile. At 14, Hugh left school and found work as a ‘farm lad’ or labourer.