Maggie Smith-Bendell

Maggie was born into a race of Romani Gypsies first discovered within Scotland in the 14th century; they were then known as "Little Egyptians," which later got corrupted to Gypsy or Gypo, but were known to each other as "Travelers." People believe this group of Romanies originated from India, but Maggie strongly believes that her race originated from Egypt; hence the endearing name of "Little Egyptians." From the 14th century to the late 18th century, the Gypsies were viewed with deep suspicion, distrust; sold into slavery and put to death by hanging, simply because they were so different from others. They spoke in their own Romani language, which is still intact today. They made their own medicines and potions for themselves and their horses, and, for hundreds of years, worked on the land for farmers but using old skills to make the wooden clothes pegs, paper and wooden flowers baskets, hedge laying and stone walling. They could also live quite well off the wildlife of the country side, needing to buy very little from shops. They would barter for flour, eggs and cheese from the farmers they worked for. Gypsies are a very self-supporting race; a race which is still in strong existence today, and Maggie is very proud to be a part of this race.

Maggie was born into a race of Romani Gypsies first discovered within Scotland in the 14th century; they were then known as "Little Egyptians," which later got corrupted to Gypsy or Gypo, but were known to each other as "Travelers." People believe this group of Romanies originated from India, but Maggie strongly believes that her race originated from Egypt; hence the endearing name of "Little Egyptians." From the 14th century to the late 18th century, the Gypsies were viewed with deep suspicion, distrust; sold into slavery and put to death by hanging, simply because they were so different from others. They spoke in their own Romani language, which is still intact today. They made their own medicines and potions for themselves and their horses, and, for hundreds of years, worked on the land for farmers but using old skills to make the wooden clothes pegs, paper and wooden flowers baskets, hedge laying and stone walling. They could also live quite well off the wildlife of the country side, needing to buy very little from shops. They would barter for flour, eggs and cheese from the farmers they worked for. Gypsies are a very self-supporting race; a race which is still in strong existence today, and Maggie is very proud to be a part of this race.

Born on a Somerset pea-field in 1941, the second of eight children in a Romani family, Maggie Smith-Bendell has lived through the years of greatest change in the travelling community's long history. As a child, Maggie rode and slept in a horse-drawn wagon, picked hops and flowers, and sat beside her father's campfire on ancient verges, poor but free to roam. As the twentieth century progressed, common land was fenced off and the traditional ways disappeared. Eventually Maggie married a house-dweller and tried to settle for bricks and mortar, but she never lost the restless spirit, the deep love of the land and the gift for storytelling that were her Romani inheritance.Maggie's story is one of hardship and prejudice, but also, unforgettably, it recalls the glories of the travelling life, in the absolute safety of a loyal and loving family.