Elma Mary Williams (1913-1971) was a writer from the United Kingdom.

Biography

She was born in Moseley, Birmingham, in 1913 and educated at St John's Convent School.''The author's & writer's who's who'', 1971, p.856 Having previously written several thrillers and romances, she became nationally well-known during the 1960s and early 70s for her books describing the animal sanctuary she had established on a farm at Tre'r Ddol near Machynlleth in Wales. ''Valley of Animals'' (1963) was a best-seller and was followed by several others, such as ''Animals under my Feet'' (1965, illustrated by Barry Driscoll), leading to a number of radio and television appearances.''The Bookseller'', 3341-3353 (1970), 328 Williams, a Roman Catholic who said she had drawn inspiration from

St Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi ( it, Francesco d'Assisi; – 3 October 1226), was a Mysticism, mystic Italian Catholic Church, Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans, and one of the most vener ...

, later planned to develop a community where pensioners could retire along with domestic pets who they would otherwise not be allowed to keep. After initial planning setbacks she gained permission to proceed,"Refuge for pet lovers is given go ahead", Western Mail, 18 August 1970 but died in 1971 before the plans were fully realised. The trust she set up initially planned to open a therapeutic facility on the site, but it was later sold and the last tenant, Winifred Berry, was asked to leave in 1975."Grand old lady of animal valley is told to quit", Western Mail, 19 February 1975 In 1967, the composer

Ian Parrott Ian Parrott (5 March 1916 – 4 September 2012) was a prolific Anglo-Welsh composer and writer on music. His distinctions included the first prize of the Royal Philharmonic Society for his symphonic poem ''Luxor'', and commissions by the BBC a ...

wrote a piece called ''Pant Glas Idyll'' inspired by Williams' farm. Musical Opinion, v.106, 222

Publications

Her books were published as by Elma M Williams: ;Fiction *The Waiting Years (1957) *House with Loving Walls (1958) *To Africa – the Bride (1958) *The Fifth Lake (1959) *Something of the World (1960) *Love in a Mist (1960) *Strange Legacy (1961) *Escape to Death (1961) *The Valley (1961) *Tomorrow a Stranger (1962) *The Winking Cat (1963) *Owls Do Cry (1964) *The Shaft of Light (1965) *Where is Sylvia? (1967) *Paul’s Secret Courage (1967) ;''Pant Glas'' *Valley of Animals (1963) *Pig in Paradise (1964) *Animals Under My Feet (1965) *Elma M Williams Introduces The Valley of Animals, Pant Glas, Tre’r Ddol, Machynlleth (1969, booklet) *Heaven on my Doorstep (1970) Foreword by Sir George Thomas. *The Pant Glas Story (1970) *Ride a Cock Horse (1970)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Elma Mary 1913 births 1971 deaths English non-fiction writers People from Moseley Keepers of animal sanctuaries 20th-century English novelists