I knew Dr Marjorie Reeves very well, as I was a friend of the family, so was very interested in your article (Historian’s memoirs out, October 14).

I visited her at Oxford, both at the university and her house, and naturally we talked about history.

Mr Sheppard who was mentioned, was, I understand the son of Joan Reeves (Mrs Sheppard). I visited her many years ago when she lived in Bath (she was marking examination papers at that time).

I went on holiday with Kathleen Reeves on several occasions, as we were very good friends.

As I visited The Elms quite frequently, I also knew John very well (the youngest member of the family). Father and mother were Robert (who owned the ironworks) and Edith whose maiden name was Whitaker.

A short time before her death Marjorie offered me a small orchard close to her old home (now Reeves Orchard) which I gave to the village. She was very pleased when I told her that I had handed it to the village for running and maintenance and, of course, ownership.

Kathleen C White, Luccombe Terrace, Bratton, Westbury.