A SMALL ceremony saw a painting of the Anglo/French WWII agent Violette Szabó presented to the Pilgrim Hotel in Much Burch.

The painting was originally donated to the museum dedicated to the spy’s memory at Wormelow, which is curated by Violette’s aunt Rosemary Rigby, who in turn presented it to the hotel last week for its Violette Szabó lounge.

Artist Duncan Brow used old photographs to create a painting of a teenage Violette, aged about 17, with jet black hair.

The heroine, immortalised in the film Carve My Name With Pride starring Virginia McKenna, used to stay at the home of the museum when it was owned by her uncle.

Rosemary said: “It an honour to see this beautiful portrait of Violette hanging on the walls of the Pilgrim Hotel.

“I love this lounge dedicated to Violette and the new portrait will help grace her presence here even more.

“The painting was brought down from Scotland by the artist to the annual garden party in Violette’s honour in July. It was a complete surprise, and I knew nothing about it at all.

“The painting is so special. It has rays of sunlight appearing all around her and I don’t think I’ve seen anything as good as this, as it captures her personality as well.”

The Deputy Lieutenant for Herefordshire, Paul Deneen, said: “Rosemary’s passion for highlighting Violette Szabó has been amazing.

“I was present at the garden party when this painting was gifted by the artist, who was also an excellent bagpipe player, as an act of kindness.

“It just goes to show the amount of affection the public has for Rosemary for keeping Violette’s memory alive. I take this opportunity to publicly thank Rosemary and her team of volunteers in keeping the museum going.”

Captured in France and killed by the Nazis in February 1945, Violette will be remembered as part of the Remembrance Day commemorations at the Wormelow war memorial on Friday, November 6.