London, GB | Formerly of New York, Buenos Aires, Fife, and the Western Cape. | Saoránach d’Éirinn.

Mrs Evelyn Pelosi

I’ve only just heard of the death of Mrs Evelyn Pelosi, who departed this life at the end of last month.

Evelyn was piously devoted to the traditional liturgy of the Church and was a stalwart of the SSPX’s Edinburgh congregation — but she never stood in the way of houseguests attending the FSSP (or even the Novus Ordo!).

Her mischievous deadpan sense of humour was deployed to excellent effect in her occasional role as gypsy fortuneteller at festive events organised by the South Edinburgh Conservatives in the 1990s.

Another hat she wore was Convenor of the Monarchist League of Scotland (an entity whose events attracted a curious clientele) and from an early age she had a great devotion to South Africa where she visited me in Stellenbosch and introduced me to friends in the pro-life movement in Cape Town.

In the Seventies and Eighties, whenever she thought journalists in the Caledonian dailies were too forgiving of occasional terrorist outrages by the ANC their editorial offices frequently found themselves in receipt of a letter signed by Mrs E. Pelosi, Friends of Christian South Africa.

Mangosutho Buthelezi was among the many well-wishers whose cards could be found overflowing on the chimneypiece of her home in the Mayfield Road.

I remember watching the premier of the television version of Alexander McCall Smith’s “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” at her’s there on Easter Sunday evening in 2008 — an Edinburgh/Southern Africa crossover event if ever there was one.

She was amused but dignified when another woman of her marital surname (but radically different views) ascended the political scene across the Atlantic, but for anyone who knew her Evelyn will always be the only Mrs Pelosi.

May she rest in peace.

Published at 9:45 pm on Monday 27 June 2022. Categories: Diary Errant Thoughts Tags: , .
Comments

A delightful and never dull eccentric of the best sort.
For many years she provided the post-Missam hot soup, with often very eccentric combinations. A particularly malodorous batch incorporating leftover spaghetti bolognese brought the practice to its conclusion however.

— Kitty Faccenda 28 Jun 2022 1:55 am

my mum was definitely a one off.she had many crusades during the years.she always was passionate about them.she was the most generous person i knew with her time and energy.

— dominic pelosi 10 Jul 2022 7:52 am
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