Violet French (9 Aug 1914 - 3 Mar 2017)

In loving memory of Violet French who sadly passed away on 3rd March 2017 aged 102.

Violet was born on 9th August 1914, just two weeks after the start of World War I. But that wasn't the only war she managed to live through as the 2nd World War broke out when Violet was 25 and lived through the turmoil of that until 1945

She was one of five children; having three sisters (Jessie, Ivy and Gladys) and one brother called Arthur. Their parents were Mary Ellen (formerly Bird) who had married Thomas French, a labourer for the gas board in Barking.

Having lived through two World Wars Violet and her family endured some very tough times, but like most of her generation they took it in their stride and didn't really discuss those times with the younger generations. Violet's slim and slender build didn't match her determination. This was a lady would only ever do what she wanted to and nothing could persuade her otherwise. Unless she was willing to allow someone to change her mind then it was a battle only she would win.

During the Second World War violet hated going into the air raid shelter, not because that meant bombs were being dropped all around her, but because she was terrified of spiders. In fact the terror of spiders lasted her entire life and was a constant torment for her. Pauline often tried to convince her in latter years that spiders had such tiny legs and were incapable of climbing up the two storeys of her apartment in Minster court Lincoln but Violet remained unconvinced.

During her young adult days she spent a great deal of time dancing, and would go to the Lyceum in London most Saturdays with her sister, Gladys. Violet's love of dancing never left her and one of her most favourite tv programs was Strictly Come Dancing. Another, most recently, was The Voice, because although Violet was tone deaf, she loved Tom Jones and could watch and listen to him for hours on end. Although Violet would tell you she NEVER watched television of course!

Like many of us Violet had some funny ways about her which those closest to her know only too well. She had a very limited diet and ate pretty much the same every day. During the last decade that included Tescos Finest Lincolnshire sausages, mash and Marrow Fat peas - every singe day. She also loved Werther's butter candies, 10 packets a week, to be precise, although Violet would tell everyuone she never ate sweets.

During the second war everyone then had a tin air raid shelter to hide in when the Germans were dropping their bombs. In Violet's family home at that time, in St Awdreys Road, Barking, and Violet was forced to hide in there on countless occasions. During one such air raid her brother Arthur (who was home on leave of duty from front line at that time) was walking back from the pub with Jessie's husband Charlie Pritchett. As they walked down st Audrey's road, close to home, three German fighter planes swooped down the road firing at people in the street. Arthur and Charlie hit the ground hoping not to be hit by bullets and played dead whilst bombs dropped all around them. When the German planes had finally dropped their last bombs Arthur and Charlie got up and ran for home, dusting off the shrapnel that had showered over them. The quickly realised that the family home had suffered a direct hit and was no more than pile of bricks with a huge crater. In just a few moments the Germans had demolished countless homes in the street so the two men ran amongst the rubble, thinking the worst for the family. But thankfully they were all safe in the shelter at the bottom of the garden, although Thomas (father) had a shrapnel wound to one eye. They had to find another roof for the night as all was lost.

Violet had worked initially in a paint factory in barking, along with her sister Gladys. She enjoyed that job and had fun with her co workers. But her mother decided violet could do better and dragged her to the city (in London). They trawled in and out of every law firm they found, asking if they had any secretarial jobs. Violet's mother told violet not to speak, and when asked if her daughter had any experience as a legal secretary she replied "Well of course!"

Violet was hired and spent most of her days working as a legal secretary, eventually landing a job as PA for a mr Freedy, a Jewish attorney and barrister who became one of the most influential barristers of that time and defended infamous criminals including the Kray twins and the great train robbers, to name but a few. Pauline asked her about the Kray twins, what they were like and hadn't she been intimidated by them but she had been charmed by them and said they had been perfect gentleman. Pauline reminded her that they had been murderers, but violet was incapable of seeing the bad in anyone. The Krays had been so nice to her, bought her chocolates and flowers, opened doors for her and were courteous at all times in her company, she felt they were good, kind gentleman and nothing anyone could say would change her mind. The hundreds of hours of shorthand notes of outlining all their crimes just didn't register with her.

Violet never married but did hold a candle for an old flame she met during the last war. He was a French soldier called Marcel Bouchet, promised to return for violet after the war. Sadly she never heard from him again.

When Violet's mother died in 1970 she moved to Chelmsford buying her first home at the age of 56. It was just a few streets from Gladys her sister. By this time she had stopped working in London and was working from home as a postal typist, sending batches of work daily to and from her employers. Eventually she moved to Peterborough and bought a 4 bed new build with Gladys, and after Gladys passed away Violet bought a bungalow in Spalding where she stayed until 2004 when she moved to Minster court Lincoln to be near Pauline.

Violet never went abroad, so never owned a passport. She didn't smoke, didn't drink alcohol and didn't eat chocolate. She loved fruit (but only what she could peel), loved salad (again things she could peel, yes she peeled tomatoes, cucumber and used only the inner leaves of lettuce). Her siblings often nagged her about her bad diet, eating the same things day in day out. By outliving them all, she has been true to her nature and had the last word.

Pauline used to call her lady muck which always amused her.

Violet is survived by her nieces Lynda, Joan, Pauline and nephew Arthur.