It is with the deepest sadness that I must tell you that my beautiful and beloved wife Elspeth died on Thursday 25th March aged 48.
She brought her family and friends so much happiness during her short life and she loved to share some of the things that brought her happiness through her writing. She was loving, warm, wonderful and generous and she will be missed by many.
I will try to write more about her when I have had the chance to begin to come to terms with our tragic loss. She used to get so much pleasure from all the comments readers made on her blog and I’d like to thank you for your support.
May she rest in peace and remain in our hearts.
Frank
ADDED, 29/3/10:
Elspeth’s obituary in the Telegraph can be found here.
The paperback edition of 
.
I am so deeply sorry to read this and my thoughts are with you and your family at this time..
my deepest condolences go to you … as a reader from across the pond, i hungrily awaited each post – rare as they were – and savored every glimpse into the new home in the railway carriages.
loved her columns even if they had to be adapted for my northeast garden on the east coast of the US.
my prayers will be with you and your daughter in this difficult time. know that she brought much comfort and joy to this person across the waters.
I am so awfully sorry for your loss. She was such a beautiful, sweet woman and I loved her books and blogs. She always left me such beautiful comments and she will be missed. Your family will be in our prayers.
I’m so very sorry to read such sad news. My thoughts are with you and Mary. Elspeth’s blog was a ray of sunshine – she was generous with what she shared and generous with her supportive comments on other blogs, too.
So sorry, seems so little to say but is heartfelt. I loved Elspeth’s writing about gardening, crafting and creating your home.
Sending my love to you and Mary.
I am so very truly and deeply sorry for such a great loss. She will be so very much missed.
I am so very sad to read this news. Her writing was always a joy to read. She will be very much missed.
I am so very sorry. My thoughts are with your family. Elspeth brought so much pleasure to so many of us. I hope that our prayers may bring you a little comfort.
My heart goes out to you and your family and friends! Loveliness came from her hands and heart in this place. I really wish you peace and comfort!
Very Sincerely,
Katy Noelle
I am so sorry. Elspeth’s writing has been a great pleasure to read and savour. I have admired her attention to detail and the lovely way she had of seeing the world. She will be greatly missed, even by people who never met her, but who knew her through her books and blogs.
Thinking of you and Mary.
I am so very sorry to hear this. I wish you all strength.
This is so sad – my condolences to you and my heart goes out to Mary.
Elspeth was such a natural, warm person who had such a marvellous way with words. I met Elspeth only too briefly, but she was so encouraging about what I was trying to do with both my garden and blog.
She will be sorely missed.
Frank and dear Mary…
i am at a total loss as to what to say – what a truly horrid shock..
i only knew Elspeth through this blog and the emails we exchanged, but i felt like i knew her so well – no doubt so many people will say exactly the same as she had such a welcoming warmth that drew you in x
i will miss our chats about the hounds and the way she made me laugh out loud…
a magical, wonderful, truly talented lady has gone…
my every thought is with you all..
sending so much love
t x
I am so very sorry, it is hard to believe someone with such vitality has gone. From those lovely and inspiring early pieces years ago about raising seeds for the allotment in a VW van to the serenity and happiness of the beach stories.
What a tragedy for you and for your daughter. You are both in my thoughts for the hard days ahead
With warmest wishes
Joanna
I am so shocked and sorry to hear your terrible news. I’ve always been a lurker on this blog and wish now I had commented more to tell Elspeth how much I enjoyed it and all her writing. Her London allotment book was the first book I read to make me think I might actually like gardening (and of course Elspeth herself – she wrote in a way that made you want to be friends with her) and I loved her account of making your beautiful home by the sea. Everything of hers that I read seemed to have an inimitable warm stylish touch. What a terrible loss for you and Mary. My heart goes out to you both. She will be very much missed, even by those who only knew her through her writing. She was clearly very special. Deepest sympathies, Victoria
My condolences to you and Mary. I had the pleasure of meeting Elspeth when you opened your Brixton garden to the public. Like her mother she was a warm and generous person.
Her articles and books have brought such gentle pleasure to my life in the 10 years I’ve lived in England.
The world needs more people just like her.
May she rest in peace.
Jo
Oh my. I am stunned.
I loved Elspeth’s writing and was always pleased to get one of her emails.
We have lost some close family in the monkey house over the last 12 months and so I know what you must be facing.
Hopefully you can draw some comfort from the knowledge of how much she was loved, appreciated and respected.
For once, I am lost for words.
Monks xx
Oh, I find it so difficult to believe this has happened…..
I have so enjoyed all of Elspeth’s lovely postings…. even a feedback on my own blog, joy! She did make a difference with all her lovely musings on life.
My deepest sympathy goes to you and Mary – you have a difficult time ahead of you, nothing I can say will help.
You are in my thoughts,
Mai-Britt
I am so very sorry to hear this. I am so sorry.
What a terrible loss.
A truly wonderful woman, whose writing has touched so many.
I can never pass a VW camper van without thinking of it as a makeshift greenhouse, thanks to her.
My heart goes out to her family and friends.
I am so terribly sorry. I so enjoyed reading her words. My heart goes out to you and your daughter.
My deepest condolences to you and Mary.
I am deeply shocked and saddened by the news.
Thank you Elspeth for you wonderful writing and images.
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I loved Elspeth’s books and her sweet, heartfelt approach to life’s true pleasures. I am so sad she’ll no longer be able to share all that with us.
I am so sorrry and shocked to hear this news. I loved her books and blogs and her photos. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Lyn
Why did you vanish
into the empty sky?
Even the fragile snow,
when it falls,
falls in this world.
- izumi shikibu -
woman poet of the Heian period, Japan
Such a sad loss from the lives of so many people – but to her loved ones especially, to whom I send my most heartfelt condolences.
Susan
Much loved by Elspeth; Thomas A Clark’s Celtic Blessing:
——————————————————–
TWENTY BLESSINGS
May the best hour of the day be yours.
May luck go with you from hill to sea.
May you stand against the prevailing wind.
May no forest intimidate you.
May you look out from your own eyes.
May near and far attend you.
May you bathe your face in the sun’s rays.
May you have milk, cream, substance.
May your actions be effective.
May your thoughts be affective.
May you will both the wild and the mild.
May you sing the lark from the sky.
May you place yourself in circumstance.
May you be surrounded by goldfinches.
May you pause among alders.
May your desire be infinite.
May what you touch be touched.
May the company be less for your leaving.
May you walk alone beneath the stars.
May your embers still glow in the morning.
——————————————————–
The company is indeed less for your leaving.
When I noticed Elspeth’s blog had been updated I clicked to read it with my usual anticipation, I loved her writing and enjoyed the little updates of her life and home that she shared with us on her blog. I’m shocked to hear of her death and truly sorry – she will be missed by a lot of people. My thoughts are with you and your daughter at this sad time.
Anne.
Elspeth’s words and images brought so much pleasure and joy to so many – my deepest condolences to you and your daughter – the loss is immense – thinking of you and remembering your wonderful wife and her inspirational work
What a shock to read of Elspeth’s tragic passing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her posts, and I will miss her way with words greatly.
My deepest condolences to you, your daughter and all of Elspeth’s family and friends.
I saw the updated post , only to be so saddened and shocked by the news of Elspeths passing. Deepest condolences to you and your daughter and your whole family. I really feel stunned at this sudden tragic passing, and so sorry for this awful news.
my deepest condolences go to you and your family – I don’t know what to say – I’m stunned …
Dear Frank, I’m so sorry to hear this terrible news. Elspeth was so encouraging about my blog — she even mentioned it in the Wonderful Weekend Book, and I still get readers saying they found me in the book. The kind words and support of such an accomplished writer meant an awful lot.
I’ve so enjoyed reading her posts about your beautiful home, and the copies of her books that I own are much loved.
My heart goes out to you and Mary.
I am so sorry to hear this sad news. My thoughts are with you and your family. I have had so much enjoyment from Elspeth’s Wonderful Weekend book and I intend to take heed of Elspeths message of reclaiming life’s simple pleasures.
What words can a stranger really say…wishing you peace and comfort.
I am so sorry to hear this news. Elspeth’s writing was warm, funny, touching. She seemed to see beauty in everything, and create it in everything she touched. My heart goes out to you and your family.
If you seek her memorial look around you – at the wonderful home you created together, the friends who will remember her with you and the love that lives on in your heart and your daughter’s smiles.
Thank you for sharing her with us – she touched so many with her kind and gentle comments – she will be missed and remembered for the generosity of her spirit. My thoughts are with you both.
My deepest condolences…Elspeth found my blog in its very early days and was my very first commentator, a fact of which I am inordinately proud…wishing you comfort and peace.
I found Elspeth’s blog when you were renovating the railway carriages and very much enjoyed reading about the process. I’m so sorry to hear that she’s gone. Wishing you and Mary lots of strength.
I’m truly sorry for your loss, deepest condolences to you and your family.
She will be missed by all of us which used to follow and read her beautiful blog. She was a generous, warm, talented and lovely person. Rest she in peace.
oh no I am in such shock I only this minute heard the news from a friend and raced over here with the heartfelt hope that the news was not true.
I am devastated, in floods of tears, I am so so so sorry.
Will come back and try write better words when I am not so distraught. Love and hugs to you Frank and Mary, you are in my thoughts xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am so so sorry to hear the news. Words just aren’t good enough to summaries feelings at a time like this.
My thoughts are with you and Mary at this time.
I’m shocked and saddened to hear of Elspeth’s death. I’ve been reading her Sunday Telegraph column for years and had recently discovered – and so much enjoyed – her blog.
I am so sorry to hear this news, I found out yesterday and am still trying to find the words …Thinking of you all.
I should like to add my condolences to all the others you will have received. My thoughts are with you and your daughter. A tragic loss.
I am sat in utter disbelief. My heart goes out to you and your family. I only discovered Elspeth a year ago, but her inspiration is much in evidence around my home now. My thoughts are very much with you.
What sad news! I am so terribely sorry for you and your families loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Elspeth was a beautiful inspiring woman and i will greatly miss her.
Thinking of you and your family xxxx
What a dreadful shock. There are no words.
I was so sorry to hear this awful, sad news.
I love reading Elspeths books and blogs..she will be greatly missed by many.
My condolences go to you and your family.
Telegraph Obituary for Elspeth here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/books-obituaries/7533118/Elspeth-Thompson.html
web bloke x
I’ve only just found out, I’m so shocked and saddened. I loved Elspeth’s blog, loved her style, how she wrote, her take on life. She really was unique. She too was very supportive to me re my blog.
My heart and thoughts go out to you and Mary xxx
Why does there never seem to be space enough for the good ones in this world? Take care of yourself and take care of Mary. We are all behind you. All of us, who have been touched by Elspeth and her writing.
I cannot even begin to express the sadness I feel for you and everyone who loved your wife. Take care.
I am so sorry for your loss… her creative spirit touched me in many ways.
What a terrible time, my thoughts are with you and the little one. Warmest regards.
I have so enjoyed Elspeth’s blog, I especially enjoyed the one about swimming with the seal in particular. I shall miss checking in for her lovely writing, the great photo’s and updates on the garden. She will be very missed. My thoughts are with you, your daughter and family. May you have the strength to get through and gain some comfort from knowing that so many people have been touched by your wife’s writing. x.
My heart aches for you, I’m so sorry to hear this news, I’m almost speechless. I’m thinking of you both, and all your family.
My deepest condolences to you and your daughter at this sad time x
I can only add my condolences to all of the rest. I’m shocked and sad.
I didn’t know her personally, of course, but the blog and the books brought her so close. I cannot imagine how great the hole is in your lives now she has gone.
My thoughts, like everyone else’s, are with you-her family.
I am so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you and Mary at this time
I cannot even imagine what raw pain you and your little Mary are in. I know I am totally heartbroken and I only knew her through her blog, books and her lovely kind comments on my blog. I am going to miss her dearly. What a beautiful graceful lady….inside and out. There really are no words to express just how very sorry I am.
I’m so sorry to hear that she is gone, and send my thoughts and prayers to you and Mary. Elspeth inspired me with her reality, that everything was never perfect, but that she saw perfection in the everyday. From Australia
Dear Frank & Mary,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Elspeth didn’t blog very often but I always looked forward to when she did as her posts always made me happy.
I am so sad to hear this tragic news and so very sorry for your loss. Elspeth’s words were always beautiful and inspiring.
May you know peace at this time and I wish for you great strength to see you through the coming days.
with much love
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I sincerely hope that, in time, your days will lighten again.
I am so sorry to hear about Elspeth’s passing. She touched my life with her beautiful writing and photos. I loved to visit the blog and catch up on the house project and see what else was going on. Her stories of the beach and the renovations were so nourishing and colourful. What a beautiful person. I’m so very sad to hear this. You and your family are in my thoughts and heart in this very sad time.
I am so sad. I have thoroughly enjoyed following Elspeth’s blog, watching the evolution of your wonderful train car/ house and garden. Although I never met Elspeth in any other way, it feels as though I have lost a dear friend. I can only imagine the grief you and Mary must feel. I hope it affords you some small measure of solace to know how many people from around the world are holding you in their thoughts and hearts. Please accept my deepest condolences.
I am so shocked and sad at this tragic news and so very sorry for your loss. Elspeth touched so many people’s lives with her beautiful and inspiring writing. She will be sorely missed.
My thoughts are with you and Mary.
from The Sunday Telegraph
“. . . a full tribute to this wonderful writer’s life and work will appear in next Sunday’s paper. [4th April]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/7533164/Elspeth-Thompson-dies-aged-48.html
web bloke x
I have come back here to Elspeths blog countless times since yesterday morning, trying to find the right words to offer, but not being able to. I wrote a little on my blog today, but truly I am still so shaken and heavy-hearted that I’m finding it hard to write at all.
I am trying to see Light and Hope and Beauty when I think of here even though it is very very hard due to the sadness. I imagine Elspeth to be in a beautiful, happy, peaceful place. I feel sure she must be at peace.
Oh dear, this is not coming out very well, I am so sorry!! I just can’t think how to word my feelings…..so I shall just send out lots of virtual love and hugs.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Another voice of sympathy and love from someone whose life Elspeth touched.
I am so deeply shocked and saddened at discovering your tragic loss and the loss of newly gained friend. I just cannot believe it. I have spent the night dreaming about her and feel so much for you and Mary at this time as well as the wider family. We shared the pain and loss of her mum passing and were united in our sorrow then. I was so looking forward to getting to know her better over this year.
Please know that my prayers and love are with you all at this very sad time.
Sheila
I’m so deeply sorry for your loss.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. May the brightest angels watch over you and your family at this sad time.
G
Dear Frank,
How brave of you to write a post – I am so very glad you did as so many of us would wait for Elspeth’s latest writing with great anticipation. I am terribly shocked and my heart breaks for you and Mary…..
I have always found Elspeth’s writing and books inspirational and was so thrilled when we exchanged comments and e-mails. Please accept my sincerest condolences,
with love, Sarah.
Dear Frank,
I am yet another of the thousands of people whose lives Elspeth touched even though like many of her correspondents I never met her.
She wrote to me out of the blue earlier this year – a long letter in her exquisite handwriting generously letting me know how much she admired my project The School of Life – and sending me her Wonderful Weekend Book, which I lapped up over an appropriately wonderful weekend, folding the corner or marking the margins of just about every other page.
We exchanged a few emails during February and were just beginning to hatch plans to collaborate. Plans, plans, Elspeth had so many. The Gardening Against The Odds blog stands as just one testament to the energy she was putting into life right till the end.
Her death is a reminder of just how much about all of us is unknowable, and how suffering can often be the silent partner to joy. I can only think that an imagination as rare as Elspeth’s, which saw so much possibility in every small thing and every new person, might at times have seemed too vast to live with. I am reminded of the final lines of Middlemarch, a novel which being about altruism and everyday life, seems appropriate for Elspeth.
“If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel’s heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence. As it is, the quickest of us walk about well wadded with stupidity.” — George Eliot, Middlemarch
Elspeth didn’t wad herself in stupidity, as so many of us do, but remained keen to the infinite richness of the mundane. How exhausting that must have been but how glad we can be that she was so very aware. She leaves extraordinary legacy which will continue to bring joy to so many of our lives for a long time to come.
I am copying this to Elspeth’s blog as other people’s messages there have offered me much consolation and it feels appropriate to her spirit to share what each of us can.
Love and courage to you and to Mary,
Sophie Howarth
I have just found out. Elspeth corresponded with me occasionally, about blogs and land rovers. I am truly sorry. A year ago a very close friend died for similar reasons – and my heart goes out to Elspeth for the anguish she would have experienced – and to you and your beautiful little girl for the helplessness and grief you will be experiencing. You will stay in my prayers – and Elspeth’s inspiration and the beautiful way she translated the ordinary – will live on. Boo xx
I am deeply sad to hear about Elspeth’s death, I have learned to know here through her blog and books and messages, she was a beautiful person full of gifts and ideas and the visit to her blog was always a happy moment for me and many others. I have been thinking a lot about her these days and all my thoughs are with you and Mary,
Martine
“près de la chandelle
une pivoine en silence”
Kyoroku
From time to time I have so enjoyed popping by for an update like popping to a friend for a cuppa and cake. It is such a shock to find heartache here of all places. Elspeth offered so many smiles to so many and my thoughts are all for you and Mary and your loss. I am so very sorry. t.x
Hello, I’m back again, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to keep visiting Elspeth’s blog since finding out about her death. I felt it rude to keep visiting without leaving you another comment though I do not really know what to say or how to say it. I discovered Elspeth’s blog only about a year ago. I hadn’t read some of her earlier posts about the building work on the railway carriages, but did so today and I enjoyed them too. She was indeed very generous in sharing some lovely aspects of her life and succeeded in creating a beautiful home. I did also want to say thank you for the posting you made on her blogs regarding her passing. I only “knew” Elspeth through her blog and the several books of hers that I have had the pleasure to read (Urban Gardener being my favourite), she seemed a remarkable lady and has left a legacy far greater than most of us could hope to achieve even if we lived to twice her age.
So sorry to read about Elspeth. My sincere condolences. Like Anne I only ‘knew’ Elspeth through her blog and her books but even so feel a sense of loss. My thoughts are with you.
Oh, I am so very sorry to hear of this great loss! Elspeth and I exchanged comments a few times, and shared a love of children’s books about trains. I was so enchanted by your railway carriage home and Elspeth’s beautiful blog. You and your sweet daughter and your lovely Elspeth are in my heart and prayers. With love, Kari
Dear Frank and Mary
I don’t know if you will receive this message, but I wanted to pay a visit here and say that Elspeth is often in my thoughts, as are you both.
A few days ago, I had this amazing feeling that she was very briefly with me, only a fleeting feeling, but she was on my mind and suddenly I felt she was somehow there.
I’m hoping life is being kind to you both, and please know that your beloved Elspeth is thought about and remembered often.
Lots of love to you both
Lucy ♥
Here again….elspeth is on my mind such a lot of the time these days, i’ve no idea why but i think of her often, she flits in and out like a light breeze.
Sending love to you all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been thinking of Elspeth lately after digging out my copy of ‘The Wonderful Weekend Book’, searching for some ideas during these bleak winter weekends. What a brilliant talent for writing Elspeth had! Her suggestions for simple pastimes are so inspiring.
My heart goes out to Frank and Mary – I do hope you’re both well. x
Frank and Mary, I hope you’re doing okay. I’m sure this has been a tough year.
It has been over a year now, since the sad news and a lot of us, I’m sure, are still coming back here, to take comfort in knowing that Elspeth once wrote here. I often wonder how “the railway carriage garden” would have developed and what she would have been up now in your lovely home if she were still here. I know it does not count for much from a bunch of strangers, but I for one, want to send warm wishes your way and I hope you are both keeping your chin up, moving onwards and upwards, as, I am certain, Elspeth would have wanted.
Take Care,
Bella