Muriel A Fildes, known as Bunty, was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in 1915, the daughter of Frank George Fildes and Amy Alice Fildes (née Poulston). Bunty was the youngest bridesmaid at the marriage of Capt William George Deakin MC and Dorothea May Burrow in Cheltenham on 10 August 1918. Age 87, Bunty passed away on 23 November 2002 in Herefordshire.
From the Hereford Times, 5 December 2002:
The woman responsible for warming the hearts of Herefordshire’s rural villagers by organising winter entertainment during the 1950s, died aged 87 on November 23.
Muriel Fildes, better known as ‘Bunty’ spent 20 years working as an assistant secretary and rural development officer for Herefordshire Community Council.
It was she who compiled probably the most detailed survey of rural life since the Domesday Book spending nine months in 1956 visiting isolated villages in her spring-green Coupe. The council originally advertised for a man to fill the post but Miss Fildes applied anyway because, as she said, ‘If you want something, go for it’.
On her retirement in 1975, she bought a bungalow with life-long friend Nansi Howells. Even when she went to the Weir Nursing Home, Miss Howells went too.
The ladies who lived in Stretton Sugwas for over 20 years, enjoyed taking part in adult education classes even trying their hands at fishing and wood-carving.
Miss Fildes, a trained musician qualified at the Royal Academy with LRAM in piano forte and singing, continued to indulge her first love by singing every Sunday at Stretton Sugwas Church. She was also involved in supporting committee of the Three Choirs Festival as well as a stint as chairman of the Women’s Institute.
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