Lorna Shields says, "None of my children was ever seriously ill. We never visited a doctor." - Contributed
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Dandelion is good for kidney disease. So says noted herbalist and mother of 16, Lorna Shields.
"You boil parched and ground dandelion seeds, strain and drink the unsweetened tea", according to this wise earth-mother. And although she lays claim to numerous dandelion cures, the title most thrust upon Lorna, is that for the best tasting sweet potato pudding in Manchester.
Bypassing the modern kitchen in her spacious and comfortable house, she maintains a traditional wood-fire out-kitchen where she bakes 20lb sweet potato puddings and parches dandelion seeds. This lioness of a woman was born in the district of Robins Hall in Northern Manchester on January 24, 1939. Married at age 19 some 42 years ago, Lorna, and husband Astley, went on to parent 16 children.
Her sixteenth child was born when she was 47 years old. And interestingly enough, her last seven children were born after she was strongly advised to undergo tubal ligation.
"None of my children was ever seriously ill. We never visited a doctor," boasts Lorna, "and as luck would have it, the cow always gave birth at about the time I did so the babies were never out of milk."
"I taught them to care and to work hard," Lorna emphasizes, "as soon as the baby could walk, it's training began."
Lorna, a nurse's aid and Astley, a cabinet-maker, miraculously gave all 16 children a college education. Many times the school fees were bartered for vegetables the Shields cultivated. The children are all graduates of the Northern Caribbean University.
"I am happy that they are all a blessing to society," says Lorna. Most of her sons and daughters are now married and bringing up children of their own. They are all pursuing various careers. Her youngest son and daughter are studying medicine and fine art respectively.
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