The Lady in the Van

What The Lady in the Van Can Teach Us About Legacy

When we think about legacy, we often imagine grand achievements, carefully planned retirements, or speeches that mark the end of an illustrious career.

But legacy isn’t always neat — and it’s rarely planned with precision.

Sometimes, it’s lived quietly. Unevenly. In a van in someone’s driveway for 15 years.

Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van — a memoir turned play and film — tells the true story of Miss Mary Shepherd, an eccentric, homeless woman who lived in a battered van parked outside his Camden home. What began as a few months of reluctant hospitality became a bizarre, enduring co-existence between two very different lives.

But beyond the surface eccentricity, The Lady in the Van offers us unexpected lessons about legacy — and how we are remembered.

1. Your legacy isn’t always polished — but it is human.

Miss Shepherd lived a life marked by chaos, defiance, and secrecy. Her van was cluttered, her habits infuriating, and her presence often unwelcome. And yet, she made an unforgettable impression — not just on Alan Bennett, but on everyone who encountered her.

 Legacy isn’t just about accolades and CVs. It’s about humanity — the marks we leave through our actions, stories, and relationships.

2. You don’t need status to have significance.

 Despite her circumstances, Miss Shepherd became the central character in someone else’s legacy. Her story was captured, honoured, and shared with millions.

 Legacy doesn’t require a title or a platform.

Often, it’s the people on the margins — the unexpected figures — who spark the most enduring conversations about resilience, identity, and meaning.

3. What we hide is part of our story too.

Miss Shepherd was a former gifted pianist and a devout Catholic with a troubled past, including time in psychiatric care and deep personal regret. Much of this was hidden — revealed only later, or guessed at.

 We all carry untold stories. And those stories shape how we lead, relate, and move through life.

A meaningful legacy invites self-awareness — not perfection, but honesty.

4. Compassion is a legacy in itself.

Alan Bennett didn’t try to fix Miss Shepherd. He gave her space. He tolerated her contradictions. And in the end, he honoured her memory.

Legacy is not only about what we leave behind — it’s also about how we treat others as we go.

Compassion, patience, and quiet presence are often the most profound contributions we make.

So what does this mean for you?

You may not live in a van. But you may be at a crossroads.

Perhaps you’re feeling restless, or ready for something new — a shift in career, a move toward retirement, or simply a longing to do things differently.

That’s where legacy coaching comes in.

It’s not just about endings. It’s about making meaning, shaping what matters, and stepping into the next chapter with clarity and purpose.

If you’re ready to think differently about your legacy — messy or marvellous — I’d love to help.

Because legacy isn’t what you leave behind.

It’s what you set in motion.

Photo taken on a game drive in South Africa, when the other three people were in hysterics because I reminded them of the Lady in the Van!