The World of Interiors

Top: Maggie Smith on set. ‘I once wrote to Debo the Duchess of

Devonshire that the only person I knew as strong-willed as

her was Miss Shepherd’ says Bennett. ‘Thereafter she signed

all her letters to me “D. Shepherd”.’ Left: throughout filming the

vans’ contents had to be conscientiously recorded for continuity

It was not until she died in April 1989 that I set foot

inside the van. It was only on seeing a social worker

knock on the van door that morning and receiving no

reply open it and step inside that made me realise Miss

Shepherd was no more. The local priest came and anoint-

ed her body the readiness of all involved with her in her

illness and death bringing home to me her 15-year resi-

dence notwithstanding how fastidious I remained.

Her grave in St Pancras and Islington cemetery is un-

marked but in one of the final scenes of the film a blue

plaque testifying to her long occupancy of Gloucester

Crescent is unveiled. It looked very much at home and I

would have been happy to see it remain but filming over

it was taken down. Which is right as she had never been

one to advertise herself reluctant back in 1975 even to

tell me her name and even when she did adding: ‘I don’t

want it broadcast. I’ll go so far as to say I am anonymous.’

Anonymous or not she is remembered to this day.

‘Do you still have that lady?’ cab drivers will often ask

me and I trust that as portrayed by Maggie Smith Miss

Shepherd will live on $

‘The Lady in the Van’ is published by Profile Books. The film

of the same name is in cinemas from 13 November

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