FAMILY LIFE AND AFTER

In 1949 Hilary married the stained glass artist John Baker, who she had met at The Central. They had two children; Caroline born in 1950 and Nicholas in 1953.

After the War, John was employed restoring the windows of Canterbury Cathedral and they lived in a nearby village. Apart from the War years Hilary had spent all her life in the countryside so when John left Canterbury and the children were born they moved to West Kent. Hilary was an enthusiastic gardener and this, plus motherhood, occupied most of her time. Although she continued to draw - she always had a sketchbook and pencil with her - she began to devote her time to making lino prints when the children were older.

She also began to use fabric collage as a technique which she combined with embroidery to add texture.

Hilary was a quiet but warm person; she valued her privacy and loved pottering about the garden but was also a humorous observer of human life She loved animals, especially cats which always formed part of the household. She had a weakness for bitter chocolate, and enjoyed a small glass of sherry in the evening.

In 1992, the year in which two of her three grandchildren were born, Hilary suffered a severe stroke from which she never properly recovered. She was no longer able to draw which was a huge loss. She died four years later aged 81.