She grew up in a wealthy doctor’s home in Spain in the 50s.
But Marta Salvans had a major culture shock when she emigrated from the splendour of Barcelona to West Yorkshire and ended up working as a servant to a local family.
She had married James Cardona and the couple eventually set up home in Huddersfield, at one time owning the former Lindley Moor Garage.
James had a love of cars and at one time crossed the Pyrennees in record time with former Huddersfield tycoon James, later Lord Hanson.
Now the story of Marta’s early life has been brought to the stage in a musical production, put together by her daughter Clementina Herrero.
The show had its premiere in York this week to rave reviews and Clementina now hopes to take it to other venues, including Huddersfield.
Out of Place is based on the book “Spanish Rose, Yorkshire Thorns” that Marta, now 87, wrote many years ago.
The former art teacher, who lives in Waterloo, became a hit in Spain with the book. She appeared on Spanish regional television and in numerous newspapers, both national and Catalan, including La Vanguardia, one of Spain’s most-read daily papers. She has also conducted radio interviews for Spanish networks.
“I think they found my book interesting because it was all about England. Everyone wanted to know how I’d remained Catalan while living in England,” she added.
Clementina said: “The book is a fictionalised account of my mother’s experiences when she first came to England from Barcelona.
“It starts in 1957 under the vivid blue skies of Catalonia. when Marta married James, putting faith in their future together despite her family’s doubts.
“The young couple emigrated to Yorkshire to work at a grand house on the outskirts of Leeds but Marta’s hopes of a better life turn to disappointment, as she found. England can be a cold and unwelcoming place.
“Romance soon faded and she was left to take care of her family.
“The novel looks at life in Huddersfield in the late 1950s and early 1960s and I wanted to recreate that for the stage. Music seemed the best way forward and I am delighted with how the piece has worked out.
“We had our first performance in York at the New Music Festival and it seemed to go very well.
“Now my plan is to carry on writing the next acts to carry on with Marta’s story and I hope that we can perhap bring that to Huddersfield in the future
