Joan Lowther was the wife of Doctor Robert Lowther, who employed Hilda Ogden as a part-time cleaner at their house in Oakfield Drive from 1982 to 1987. Joan interviewed Hilda for the job at the house in October 1982. Hilda was armed with a glowing reference from Mike Baldwin - but Mrs. Lowther also phoned Annie Walker, with whom Hilda had a less than harmonious relationship, to get a second reference. Joan gave Hilda the job and a good relationship was formed between Hilda and her employers, both professionally and personally.