Myrtle Allen attended the non-denominational Newtown school, Waterford, founded by the Religious Society of Friends, as did her eventual husband, Ivan Allen, a member of a well-known Irish Quaker family. In the early 1980s our non-violence training project, the Quaker Peace Action Caravan, was touring Ireland. Myrtle was too busy to attend any of our events so instead she offered to feed us at Ballymaloe. We did not realise until afterwards how lucky we were to enjoy her fabulous cooking for nothing.

Ruth Eversley

In 1980 I went on a cookery course run by John Tovey at Miller Howe Hotel, Windermere. We were all impressed, including Tovey, when two of the participants proved to be Myrtle Allen and her daughter-in-law Darina. They were great company and joined in everything with a down-to-earth, unaffected charm. (Most of us were complete amateurs, just keen cooks.)

Seventeen years later I at last had dinner at Ballymaloe and Myrtle came round to all the tables in turn, asking about our meal. I mentioned having met her years ago at Miller Howe and she was kind enough to say she remembered me. Unlikely, but typical of her I imagine. A great lady.

Jill Bennett