Dame Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings in a scene from Alan Bennett's "The Lady In The Van". Photo / Getty Images
Most of us are familiar with the story of "The Lady in the Van" by actor, essayist and playwright Alan Bennett who befriended "Mary Shepherd" in the 1970s when she parked her van near his home in Camden.
When Bennett and his neighbours became concerned for her welfare it was
suggested "Miss Shepherd" should move her van on to Alan Bennett's property. She did so — and stayed there for 15 years!
While I find the (mostly) true story of the lady who lived in a van quite funny, I also find it quite sad. She's a tragic figure suffering from mental illness. Earlier in her life, her brother had her institutionalised but she escaped, preferring to live alone in her van.
By all accounts the van wasn't very clean. In an interview with Maggie Smith, who acted the title role in both the stage and film versions of "The Lady in the Van", she said Miss Shepherd did everything in the van "... and I mean EVERYTHING!" she said.
From time to time Miss Shepherd disappeared.
