Lost life of adventure discovered in an attic
THE lost life of a truly remarkable woman – chronicled in hundreds of letters, photographs and slides – has been uncovered hidden in a Birmingham loft.
The huge collection once belonged to Enid Shearman, a conservationist and globe-trotter back in the days before British tourists dreamed of holidaying abroad.
Crammed in the loft space of a Harborne terrace is Enid’s incredible story, told in airmail letters to her mother and sister, Joyce. And the old-fashioned slides of wildlife are breathtaking. The correspondence is joyful and poignant.
In one Enid reveals she has at last met a man she loves, but must end the relationship. He wanted to settle down, not join Enid on her travels.
Brave and independent, Enid was a backpacker long before the term was invented.
The secret history has been discovered by Tiff Jackson and Nick Scott, who moved into the Welsh House Farm Road a year-and-ahalf ago.
“We only recently went into the loft,” says 23-year-old Miss Jackson, a warehouse administrator.
“When we got up there we couldn’t believe our eyes. There, in suitcases, was an entire life.”
Each letter provides another missing piece in the jigsaw of Enid’s adventures. She was a postmistress, she referred to her mother as “E” and she spent the 1950s travelling the world, capturing the stunning landscapes of Kenya, Japan, Australia and Europe.
But the key questions remain unanswered. When did Enid die? Where did she live? How old was she?
Now Tiff and Nick, who marry in two months’ time, are desperately searching for relatives.
They want them to have Enid’s life story.
“If we can’t find anyone,” said Miss Jackson, “we won’t throw the collection away. Enid worked too hard to put it together.
“There are photographs of her as a young woman, and she was a beautiful lady.
“In our loft we found an old slide projector and hundreds of slides, letters, family pictures and certificates. From what we can tell, Enid spent her entire life travelling all around the world, documenting wildlife and cultures – her pictures are really lovely.”
There is even a passport, stamped in scores of countries.
The couple’s new home was previously owned by Enid’s sister Joyce Steadman, also a spinster.
When it went on the market, Joyce moved to a care home.
She never met the new homeowners and died in Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, last March.
“We think that when Enid died, Joyce took possession of the suitcases and put them in a loft,” said Miss Jackson. “Enid seemed like an amazing woman.
“We need to find someone who would appreciate and treasure these items – and we want nothing in return.
“It would be a great way of paying our respects to someone who dedicated their life to wildlife and wildlife charities.
“Her pictures really are wonderful. I think her pictures should be published and if any are sold, the money could go to the World Wildlife Fund.”
It would be a fitting tribute to a woman who broke down barriers.
Enid cared about conservation long before it became a hot topic. She travelled continents alone when a journey to Blackpool or Cornwall was considered a mammoth undertaking for many families.