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Emma Timms
Emma Timms was the inspiration for Emma Timmins in the series Lark Rise to Candleford.
Flora Thompson based the character on Flora's mother, who was born Emma Dibber, from Ardley, Oxfordshire. Before marrying, Emma nearly emigrated to Australia due to an agricultural depression in Britain. Staying in Oxfordshire, Emma worked as a nursemaid before marrying Albert Timms in 1875. They had 10 children, six of whom survived infancy. Emma couldn't understand her eldest child Flora's lack of interest in children and love of reading. She had expected Flora to find work as a nursemaid, especially as options for women were very limited before the Suffragette movement in the early 20th century.
