Elisabeth Swan

Born in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London in 1921. Moved aged two and a half to 1 Elm Row, Hampstead. Elder daughter of Jim and Helen Ede and wife of Harold Swan (also interviewed). In her interview, she recalls her childhood in Hampstead, meeting lots of soon-to-be famous artists, actors, writers and musicians. She also describes her parents’ relationship and how Helen would on occasion keep Jim in check. When she was a teenager the family moved to Tangier where she and her sister, Mary (also interviewed), stayed for a year from 1937-8. They completed their education in Edinburgh where she trained as a family doctor. Elisabeth and Harold visited Jim and Helen often when they moved from Tangier to a house in the Loire Valley, France in 1952. She and Harold moved to Sheffield where she worked for a while as a family doctor, and Harold as a Consultant at the Hallamshire Hospital. After Helen died in their flat in Jordans Lane, Edinburgh in 1977, they increasingly looked after Jim. He eventually moved in with them, and died there in 1990. She recalls his hospital visiting and his frugal lifestyle. At the time of interview Elisabeth and Harold were still living in Edinburgh. Harold died in 2011 and Elisabeth in 2015.