Portrait of the Month: Birgit Pederson

Birgit Pederson came to England at sixteen on a school trip, returned at eighteen as an au pair, married her childhood sweetheart at twenty-one, and never quite left. "We spread our wings," she laughs, "and suddenly it was our silver wedding anniversary." She is 89 now, and tells anyone who asks without a moment's hesitation.

For over thirty years Birgit ran Coiffure of Copenhagen and the Scandinavian Gift Shop, a place people describe as less a shop and more a club, bringing a touch of Nordic warmth and style to Woodstock that people have never quite forgotten. "I still meet people wearing a piece of jewellery or a scarf they bought from me."

Now settled near Blenheim Palace, her front garden as her daughters call it, Birgit is Woodstock's unofficial Danish Embassy, a small flag outside marking her door. She founded the Merry Widows Club in 2004, nine friends who decided to get on with life together after loss. They are two now. One of the originals, Adriane Young, died recently at 101.

Birgit has three daughters, a little buggy for the lake, a garden full of birds, and no intention of going anywhere. "I shall end my days here," she says, then catches herself. "I'm happy here. That's what I meant."

Portrait of Birgit Pederson taken by fine art portrait photographer, Pippa Hetherington.