Violet Myers

Violet Myers (1875–1943) was the wife of British diplomat William Algernon Churchill and a classical singer.

Early life

Hannah Violet Myers was born on 11 May 1875 in Birmingham, the oldest daughter of George Myers[1] (b.1841) and Flora Wertheimer (1851-1921) granddaughter of Chief Rabbi Akiba Wertheimer and niece of German philosopher Constantin Brunner.

Her brother Walter was a distinguished physician and bacteriologist, and her younger sister Stella was a noted psychologist and psychotherapist.

Education

Myers went to King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Edgbaston High School, and then in 1893 to Girton College, Cambridge where she read Mediaeval and Modern Languages, matriculating in 1896 and receiving an MA in 1928.[1]

Career

After graduating from university in 1898 she studied singing in London, Brussels, and Paris, and until her marriage in 1906 she gave recitals and also acted, including at the New Court Theatre (now known as the Royal Court Theatre), London.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] She performed classical concerts around the UK during the early 20th century[12] and was described as "possessed of a beautiful soprano voice".[13]

On 26 October 1906 she married British diplomat William Algernon Churchill,[14] and accompanied him on his postings as British Consul in Amsterdam in 1906,[15] Stockholm in 1913,[16] Milan in 1919,[17] Palermo in 1928 and finally Algiers in 1934.[18]

She had four children: Walter (1907-1943), Peter (1909-1972), Flora (1911-1929), and Oliver (1914-1997). Her three sons served in the British Armed Forces during World War II - Walter becoming an ace during the Battle of Britain while Peter and Oliver each served in the Special Operations Executive - and all three were highly decorated, each being awarded the Distinguished Service Order and also a second high level medal of gallantry.

After her husband's retirement in about 1935 they lived in Malvern, Worcestershire, where from 1937 until her death on 15 September 1943, aged 68, she was Secretary of Malvern Branch of the National Council of Women,[1] and Secretary of the Refugee Committee from 1939.[1]

Her sister Stella married her husband's brother Sidney, who was also a British diplomat.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Alumni of Cambridge University
  2. ↑ The Musical Gazette 1899
  3. ↑ The Oxford Magazine 1906
  4. ↑ The London Stage 1900-1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. J. P. Wearing
  5. ↑ "Concert at Exeter" Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Tuesday 14 October 1902
  6. ↑ "Music and Drama" Coventry Herald, Friday 10 March 1905
  7. ↑ "Chamber Concert in Clifton" Bristol Mercury, Tuesday 13 February 1900
  8. ↑ "The Elizabethan Stage" The Era, Saturday 27 November 1897
  9. ↑ "Musical Notes" Western Daily Press, Monday 12 February 1900
  10. ↑ "Local News." Leamington Spa Courier, Saturday 20 October 1900
  11. ↑ Western Daily Press, Saturday 4 March 1905
  12. ↑ "Chamber Concert at Clifton". Western Daily Press. 17 March 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
  13. ↑ "Walsall Literary Institute". Walsall Advertiser. 14 December 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 11 April 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Levantine Testimony
  15. ↑ The London Gazette - 1 May 1906
  16. ↑ The London Gazette - 1 July 1913
  17. ↑ The London Gazette - 16 June 1919
  18. ↑ Letter to The Times 3 September 1934