Goodbye Mrs Mole

from Ronald Searle Tribute by Matt J

I was saddened over the summer to hear that Ronald Searle's wife and soulmate of 50 years, Monica, passed away. I had the great privilege of meeting Monica on several occasions and remain ever grateful for having the chance to spend time with a lady of great charm and class. The Daily Mail has ran a touching article with words from Ronald himself. Read it here

In Les très riche heures de Mrs Mole, the author brought to light the 47 drawings he produced for his wife, Monica Searle, as she was treated for a rare and virulent form of cancer over a five-year period in the early 1970s. She survived, and the intimate drawings stand as a moving testimony to love and hope.

This report by Derek Brazell of the AOI on a visit with the Searles last summer gives a sense of how a day with Ronald & Monica went.