WHO’D have thought there was a link between Lillie Langtry, Gargrave and Sir Mathew Wilson, the former MP whose statue stands outside Skipton library? Lillie Langtry, the most famous actress of her time, a great beauty, social darling, friend of Oscar Wilde and mistress of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, died in February, 1929. Miss Langtry left £10,000, a villa in Monte Carlo and her motor car to her friend and companion, Mathilde Peat, who just happened to be married to Thomas Peat, Sir Mathew’s long time butler. Following the death from pneumonia of the actress, and the announcement of Mathilde as a principle beneficiary in her will, and now super rich, the Craven Herald reported on the somewhat confused response of Mr Peat, who was not at the Wilson’s family seat at the time, Eshton Hall, Gargrave, but in Eaton Square, London, with his employer.
Barnard Castle A COUNCIL has apologised to residents and the former deputy town clerk, whom it was judged to have unfairly dismissed amid “moral disapproval” of her personal relationship with a councillor. The atmosphere between staff at Barnard Castle Town Council began to turn sour in 2017 after it emerged that Jane Woodward had grown close to then councillor Roger Peat, whose wife Rosemary was in a home with Alzheimer’s. Mrs Woodward found herself the subject of gossip and anonymous letters, which were referred to police, and was branded a gold-digger. In 2019 Mr Peat resigned from the authority and Mrs Woodward was later dismissed from her post after the council cited “an irretrievable breakdown in relationships between her and her co-workers and councillors”.
Former town clerk for Barnard Town Council, Jane Woodward, has won her claim for unfair dismissal A FORMER deputy town clerk who was branded a gold digger by gossips after she formed a personal relationship with a married councillor has won her claim for unfair dismissal. An employment tribunal heard the atmosphere turned sour in the office at Barnard Castle Town Council when colleagues learned Jane Woodward had grown close to then councillor Roger Peat, whose wife Rosemary was in a care home with Alzheimers disease. Mrs Peat died last October, shortly before the hearing. Seeing Ms Woodward going on holiday with Mr Peat while his wife was confined, and learning of gifts bought for her by him, the view took hold that Ms Woodward was manipulating and taking advantage of an older man.