17. Lynne Mrs William N. (Edith)
215 West Glenwood Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.A. 37917
July, 1985
How I met Lady Baden-Powell!
I had corresponded with “Lady B-P” for quite some time before I met her. I had written concerning two photographs of her and Lord B-P which I wished autographed – and very cordially she replied.
In 1952, Oak Ridge, a small T.V.A. city close to Knoxville, booked her for a speech (was asleep!) I chartered a bus and took my whole Troop of 32 girls and two assistants to Oak Ridge to hear her. It was a Friday night, and at the end of her speech when I met her I asked her where she was spending the weekend - 31st March to 2nd April (she was booked for Chattanooga on Monday) and she said “I really don’t know.” So I immediately asked her to go home with me and I would drive her to Chattanooga on Monday. She accepted my invitation and she and Bridget Ramsden (her secretary) came home with me. (I sent my Troop back with the two assistants).
I drove her and Bridget to Chattanooga the following Monday – stopping on the way to eat a lunch out of a basket. In those days cars did not run as fast as they do now. I had a hard time getting her away from two boys who were “gigging” for frogs in a nearby stream! But landed her safely, bag and baggage.
And thus began a warm and sincere friendship which lasted through the years. I think it was because we liked the same things and disliked the same things – and we were both devoted to Scouting and Guiding!
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