Woman ordered to quit 92-year-old mother's home

A court today ordered a 60-year-old woman to leave the home of the 92-year-old mother she has not spoken to for eight years.

In what a Court of Appeal judge described as a "most unfortunate and regrettable dispute", Eileen Cook took out a possession order against her only daughter, Pauline Thomas and her husband, Wyndham, 76.

Mrs Cook had occupied the south end of Tredawdy Farm, Llangrove, near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, while the couple lived at the other end.

Lord Justice Lloyd, dismissing the couple's appeal over the possession order, said: "The parties have fallen out and have not been on speaking terms since about 2002."

He said Mrs Cook and her late husband moved to the 19-acre farm in 1959 and there was a "complete rift" between the daughter and her parents in 1990 when she married.

But there was a reconciliation in 1995 when the couple attended Mr Cook's funeral and they moved to a mobile home on the farm.

When the caravan was badly damaged in a storm, they moved into the farmhouse, took over the duties of the farm and repaired farm buildings.

Lord Justice Lloyd said the couple were claiming that on four occasions they were given to understand by Mrs Cook that they would inherit the property.

But in 2002 they fell out again and the couple then found out that they had been written out of Mrs Cook's will and the farm would go to a nature charity.

"Since that date ... they have continued to live in the house, but have not been on speaking terms."

In 2008, the couple were given six months to leave the farm which was backed by a court order a year later.

Lord Justice Lloyd said the couple had carried out some restoration work at the farm but that this was done for their own benefit and convenience.

He said he agreed with the county court judge that none of the assurances given by Mrs Cook amounted to a firm commitment that they could stay at the farm.