Former ‘Cambrian News’ columnist Caroline Palmer has released a book of her great-aunt’s entertaining drawings.

Rhydyfelin resident Caroline Palmer, who wrote the garden column ‘Garden Gossip’ for the Cambrian News from 1989–1995, has released ‘A Year in Glasgow 1908’. It includes 80 of Aeta J Jardine’s sketches and watercolours and will accompany an exhibition of the art of both Aeta and her sister, Jet S Jardine, in Glasgow next September.

“I’m delighted to be able to share my great-aunt’s work,” said Caroline.

“The sketches show a young woman’s wry but joyful perspective on her life at the turn of the 20th century. The diary is a historical record: a snapshot of life 120 years ago.”

Aeta was 22 in 1908 and the sketches and watercolour paintings, mostly of people, document the daily detail of her family’s life and her social life as a single young woman before the First World War, including her interest in the Suffragette movement.

A Year in Glasgow 1908 by Aeta J Jardine, edited by Caroline Palmer
A Year in Glasgow 1908 by Aeta J Jardine, edited by Caroline Palmer (Picture supplied)

Most of the illustrations are accompanied by light-hearted descriptions and commentary.

She studied at the Glasgow School of Art, along with her sister Jet; both sisters became lifelong professional artists. Caroline has provided a biographical introduction to the Jardine sisters, and some explanatory notes on the topics which are illustrated.

The diary is just one item of many in the family’s archive of works.

The book, published by Y Lolfa, will be launched on Tuesday, 27 October between 5.30pm and 7pm in the

beautifully refurbished Vestry at Capel Gosen, Rhydyfelin, Aberystwyth.

All welcome. Adjoining parking

and light refreshments will be available.

A Year in Glasgow 1908 is available now, priced £15.

Caroline Palmer studied Zoology at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, and then researched and taught in the Department of Biological Anthropology, Oxford, where she gained her PhD.

On moving to Wales in 1982 and starting a family, she became involved in Historic Gardens Research and Restoration and for six years wrote a popular gardening column, ‘Garden Gossip’, in the Cambrian News.

For the last 10 years, she has written the blog, ‘Letter from Aberystwyth’.

She has served as Trustee of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust and the Hafod Trust.