Violet Alcock 1878 -1952
Entrepreneur
Heene Hallmark
Violet was the daughter of Charles and Eliza Caroline Alcock. Her father was a publisher and journalist. She spent her childhood in Lambeth along with four sisters and a brother. Violet was sent to a private girl's school in Margate. Her sister Marion was also a pupil.
The July 1901 cover of Girl’s Realm magazine, where Violet Alcock was a sub-editor
She inherited her father's love of writing and in 1900, she was working as sub-editor of Girl's Realm magazine. Violet also became a member of The Writer's Club.
In 1903, Violet became a founding member and secretary of The Bureau Lyceum Club. This was for women interested in science, the arts and social concerns. It was situated in Piccadilly. Violet sailed to America in 1904 to work for the American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco. She returned the following year and after a short stay in England, travelled to Australia. Here, Violet raised pigs and continued with her writing. When war broke out in 1914, Violet returned to England.
She worked for the War Trade Dept. as a higher grade clerk dealing with blockade work. On 7th January 1918, she was awarded the MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List.
In 1922, the family were living in Lambeth where Violet's sister Marion died. By 1934, they were living at 70 Richmond Road, Worthing which Violet and her sister Florence turned into a nursing home. In 1937, Violet's mother died, followed by Florence a year later. Violet continued to live at 70 Richmond Road, until her death in 1952. She left an estate of £4908 (approx. £152K in 2020).