I feel sure Violette would wish to congratulate
Dame Vera Lynn
who is celebrating her 100th birthday on 20th March.

To all the many Friends of The Violette Szabó GC Society 2017

Special good wishes to everyone!

Violette’s great gathering this year is to be on Sunday the 25th June, starting at 2pm.

Exciting good news! The tremendous problem I have had for the last several years has now been resolved, and at the entrance to “Cartref House&rdqu; now stands a wonderful new Store/Garage and Toilet with superb facilities! May it be a great blessing into the future!! It will be so lovely to have somewhere safe and dry to store all the aids needed for the great celebration open days held here each June. I must say it has taken all the savings Violette and I had to achieve it, and now the cupboard is bare!! This is why I now make a special appeal to you, asking if you might be kind enough to hold a fundraising event during the next months – perhaps a coffee morning etc: it would be just great!! I would love to attend and say Thank You if not too big a distance.

At this point I most sincerely want to thank a truly wonderful anonymous person who with tremendous generosity gave to the above project £8,000. For this, I will be forever eternally grateful.

I am sure you will remember last year I mentioned Ray Mears visited the Museum and became very captivated by the spirit of Violette! He later undertook a month’s tour of our country giving lectures, Violette having a starring role!!

In the autumn I phoned and asked if he would be kind enough to attend Violette’s special day this year on Sunday 25th June, and be her guest speaker and cut the ribbon to open the new build! He replied that is was an honour and privilege to be asked!! What a truly wonderful compliment to Violette!!!

We will now have the joy of looking forward to his visit, and please spread the word to all your friends and acquaintances and make sure they know they would be most welcome.

My friend Ann from Monmouth is again hoping to be present with her super Plant Stall, and it is specially hoped she may have several of the Violette Szabó Fuchsias for sale. These are very beautiful and very rare indeed, and cannot be bought in this country.

I am sure you will be pleased to know, I did last year on the 21st May manage to visit Market Harborough, and attend my school – The Willows – 70th anniversary celebration. It was a very happy day and made possible by one of my wonderful drivers of the Ross Action Committee’s Ambulance, Dominic Green, who kindly drove me and so made the journey very easy.

It is so lovely to know we are again to have the special company of Virginia, this means so very much to so many!

In the autumn I had a super young lady brought to the Museum on a mystery trip. She had no idea to where she was going until she arrived! Her great heroine has always been Violette Szabó GC. During her visit and conversation I found she loves to sing and entertain people, her name is Ruby Ann and she has very happily accepted to be with us on the 25th June and do just that!! What a joy to look forward to!!!

On the 11th November at 11am (what a memorable date) we, the people of the area and children from Much Birch C. of E. Primary School, again met at the little Liquidambar tree on the Rosemary Rigby Millennium Green and laid wreaths and crosses in special memory of Violette and others who lost their lives in the two World Wars.

This time was a great star and very exciting as the little tree has now been formally recognised as Wormelow’s own War Memorial, and was dedicated as such by Revd Mark Johnson at 11am. On this occasion we were most fortunate to have the full support of the St Weonards and District Branch of the Royal British Legion. How wonderful! My father’s plaque now stands on the site and a lovely red rose tree remembering the 100 years since the Battle of The Somme in 1916. Trevor from the Pilgrim Hotel very kindly brought hot chocolate, tea and coffee. Also home made shortbread biscuits – just super!

I am very worried about getting the garden at “Cartref” tidy for visitors to the Museum, and would be most grateful if anyone could offer a little help! We also desperately need help on Friday the 23rd of June with erecting the marquees and tents in the garden, and on the 25th help with donations of refreshments such as a loaf of sandwiches, cakes, scones etc. Also help with serving the afternoon tea. Please also bring and lend your garden chairs and small tables, we do need so many, and always need more!

The Masters of The South Herefordshire Hunt have promised once again to open their super big field for parking, for this we are most grateful.

Please note – Violette’s Evening Meal at The Axe and Cleaver Inn, Much Birch at 7pm following her special afternoon, courtesy of our hosts Sue and Andy, who have kindly kept the costs as last year. We have three choices – (1) Herefordshire Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding, served with roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables, (2) Local Roast Pork with sage-and-onion stuffing, served with roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables, (3) Home made Cheese, Leek and Potato Bake, served with new potatoes and fresh mixed salad. Sweets: (1) Apple Crumble with Custard, (2) Traditional Sherry Trifle, (3) Local Vanilla Ice Cream. One course £10.95, Two courses £14.50. If you would love to join us, you must please phone or write to me giving your choice of menu and cheque for the full amount.

Violette’s 2018 Memorial Gathering with God’s help, should be on Sunday 24th June at 2pm. Please come and bring friends!

I still have a few logs of Walnut to sell in aid of the Museum.

I am again greatly hoping the staff of Waitrose store in Monmouth will give me several days help in the garden, at the moment it is all looking so bad! I unfortunately have been so poorly since Christmas (but I am tons better now, thank God), everything has just stood still.

On behalf of Violette and myself, I would like to thank everyone for all your special support, so greatly appreciated.

Violette now has a new gentleman entering her life, Philip Round of Hereford. He has already helped with several important deeds, and is now embarking on making the entrance as elegant at possible for your visits. The three main gates are being repainted, the signs refurbished and Violette’s lovely images reframed!! Simply perfect!!! Most grateful thanks.

Let joy and happiness once more bring us together!

Yours most sincerely

Rosemary E. Rigby M.B.E.

Holder of the Points of Light Award and
Founder and Owner of
The Violette Szabó GC Museum

01981 540477
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Exciting last minute news! – The Prime Minister
Rt Hon. Theresa May has honoured me with her
Points of Light Award, recognising my project to
keep alive the memory of Violette Szabó G.C.