THE life of Violette Szabó, the Anglo/French spy who died during the Second World War, took place at the museum dedicated to her memory at Wormelow last weekend.

The museum is curated by Rosemary Rigby, Violette’s aunt, and featured a parade that weaved its way through the village to the museum and the mayor of Ross-on-Wye Cllr Sarah Freer cutting Violette’s special birthday cake.

Parade
MARCH: The parade passes through the Millenium Green in Wormelow, en-route to the museum dedicated to preserving the memory of Violette Szabó and fellow spies Lillian Rolfe and Denise Bloch. (Iliffe)

Karen Usher, the deputy Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire read out a message from Dame Virginia McKenna, who played the part of Violetta in the film Carve Her Name With Pride who said: “I’m so very sorry not to be with you all this afternoon, but I am with you in spirit.

Speakers
SPEAKERS: Karen Usher, the deputy Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire delivered a a message from Dame Virginia McKenna and Tania Szabó who spoke about her parents’ lives. (Iliffe)

“This event, arranged by Rosemary over the years, is a tribute like no other. Violette’s daughter Tania, I know will be present, and makes the occasion even more moving.

“We live in uncertain troubled times, but this special day assures us that friendships, loyalty and hope are alive and strong. Violette inspires all ages, young and old, and this will never fade.”

Author
BIOGRAPHIES Author Clare Mulley with the books she has written about fellow British Special Operations Executive’s Krystyna Skarbek and Elżbieta Zawacka. (Iliffe)

Tania Szabó spoke about her father Étienne Szabó, a decorated non-commissioned officer in the French Foreign Legion of Hungarian descent and read out an adapted version of the poem ‘The Life That I Have’.

Bagpipe player Duncan Brown, who not only led the parade and performed ‘Amazing Grace, is also an established artist who used an assortment of old photographs to create a painting of a teenage Violette, which will be displayed at the Pilgrim Hotel.

Spies
TRIBUTE: Derrie Edge honoured the female spies who served with the British Special Operations Executive during the war. (Iliffe)

Singers Ruby Ann and Maria Florey provided the musical backdrop to the event.

Author Clare Mulley spoke about the life and times of Krystyna Skarbek and Elżbieta Zawacka, two Polish women who risked their lives working behind enemy lines during the war and Winston Churchill said that Krystyna was his favourite spy.

War time era singers
WAR TIME ERA: Songs from the Second World War and more recent offering were performed by Maria Florey and Ruby Ann. (Iliffe)