A girl who was dubbed an actual life Eliza Doolittle after rising up in a council flat earlier than being taken in by a rich household throughout World Struggle II has died aged 94.
Patricia ‘Pat’ Wooden had humble beginnings in south London however was evacuated to a rich home in Fittleworth close to Chichester through the conflict.
Whereas there, she taught herself tips on how to converse with a fancy accent – identical to Eliza Doolittle in My Truthful Woman.
And later she married two millionaires – Leonard Berney, the director of Rembrandt Clothes and Ken Wooden, of the Kenwood manufacturing model, and rubbed shoulders with royalty.
Her son John, 62, has now paid tribute to her following her loss of life.
A girl who was dubbed an actual life Eliza Doolittle after rising up in a council flat earlier than being taken in by a rich household throughout World Struggle Two has died aged 94. Patricia ‘Pat’ Wooden had humble beginnings in south London however was evacuated to a rich home in Fittleworth close to Chichester through the conflict. She is pictured as an adolescent
Pat, pictured, married two millionaires – Leonard Berney, the director of Rembrandt Clothes and Ken Wooden, of the Kenwood manufacturing model, and rubbed shoulders with royalty
‘She was a metropolis child with a cockney accent and subsequent minute she was driving horses with a well-to-do household. She taught herself to talk posh as a result of she knew she would not get wherever together with her ‘Cor blimey’,’ he defined.
‘She used to place eyeliner on the again of her legs to faux like she was carrying stockings since you could not purchase them within the conflict, and he or she was requested out by everyone – all of the Lords and profitable businessmen.
‘On a number of events, she was taken to dinner by a Lord or a Sir or whoever after which was dropped residence of their chauffeur-driven automobile.
‘However mum would ask to be taken to Eaton Sq. or comparable, not wishing to disclose that she actually lived in Camberwell, after which stroll all the best way residence.’
Born to oldsters Lily and Herbert Purser on 7 December 1927, Patricia grew up in humble beginnings in a council flat in Camberwell.
When the conflict broke out, her dad, who had fought within the First World Struggle as a sniper, was one of many first to enroll to the Dwelling Guard.
Patricia was evacuated to a Fittleworth close to the place the younger Londoner skilled a dramatic class change.
John defined Patricia knew her background might maintain her again each socially and professionally, however she discovered work as a switchboard operator on the British newspaper publishing firm Amalgamated Press on Fleet Avenue,
Oh so glam! Patricia and Ken Wooden, the founding father of Kenwood manufacturing at a celebration. Born to oldsters Lily and Herbert Purser on 7 December 1927, Patricia grew up in humble beginnings in a council flat in Camberwell.
When the conflict broke out, her dad, who had fought within the First World Struggle as a sniper, was one of many first to enroll to the Dwelling Guard. Pat with Norman Hartnell surrounded by different fashions together with Leslie Berker, June Oaks, Woman Cobham.
With the concept of changing into a mannequin nonetheless caught in her thoughts, Patricia determined to enter right into a magnificence contest which was hosted by the Service provider Navy in 1946. She gained.
The success of the competitors catapulted her into the world of style and earlier than she knew it, Patricia had grow to be a mannequin for main British clothier, Sir Norman Hartnell.
Finest identified for being the royal dressmaker for Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mom and Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Norman Hartnell had a troop of younger women, which now included Patricia.
In accordance with John, his mum made a number of buddies whereas modelling in London, however her closest pal was a lady known as Gina Egan, who later married Jagaddipendra Narayan or ‘Bhaiya’, the Maharaja of Cooch Behar in 1956.
Gina, who later turned an Indian princess, remained lifelong buddies with Patricia and was later requested to be John’s Godmother when he was christened in 1960.
Patricia additionally discovered love and sooner or later whereas swimming at Royal Car Membership, she bobbed her head above the water to see Leonard Berney – a profitable businessman who labored for a clothes manufacturing firm known as Berketex in Plymouth.
The concept of changing into a mannequin nonetheless caught in her thoughts, Patricia determined to enter right into a magnificence contest which was hosted by the Service provider Navy in 1946. She gained. Pictured within the contest
Patricia holding her son John, at 10 days previous. John has now paid tribute to his mom who has handed away
The 2 instantly hit it off and after relationship, Patricia adopted Leonard to Devon the place they obtained married in Plymouth Register Workplace in 1951.
John added: ‘They constructed a luxurious house on the sting of the manufacturing unit which was the place mum and pop lived, and the place they’d my two older brothers.’
Though they lived hours away from London, the pair made common journeys backwards and forwards for work and social occasions.
John defined that on one event his dad and mom attended a celebration hosted by Gina and Bhaiya the place they met a person known as Ken Wooden.
He mentioned: ‘After that celebration, they did not meet once more till she was pregnant with me.’
John’s household stayed in Plymouth for a couple of decade till his father determined to arrange his personal enterprise in London.
He mentioned: ‘I used to be six weeks previous after we moved within the New 12 months of 1960 to an enormous home in New Malden in Surrey.
‘Dad began his personal high fashion costume firm, making clothes for folks like Cilla Black.’
Patricia Wooden, who had grown up in south London, placed on a fancy accent to slot in with London’s riches. She is pictured as a teen
Patricia and her second husband, Ken – the founding father of Kenwood manufacturing – standing outdoors the Kenwood aircraft.
Leonard’s work introduced the household again to the style capital, however whereas he shot to success because the director of Rembrandt clothes, behind closed doorways, their marriage was falling aside.
John defined that his father had lived two lives; one as a businessman and the opposite as a Jewish-born British Military officer, who led the clean-up of the notorious Bergen-Belsen focus camp throughout World Struggle Two.
Leonard, who was from an anti-aircraft regiment with the eighth Corps twenty first Military that helped defend London through the Blitz, was one of many very first to witness the atrocities of the Holocaust and solely began talking about his conflict actions a lot in a while in his life.
Whereas not being very emotional, John described him because the ‘exact opposite’ of his mum and wasn’t positive whether or not the conflict made him like he was.
After the wedding fell aside Ken, the gentleman from the celebration, began to get near Patricia and purchased her a clothes-dryer as a gift to assist with the additional laundry masses.
Quickly after, they turned greater than ‘simply buddies’ and a romance blossomed.
The Lewisham-born businessman was the family title and founding father of Kenwood manufacturing.
Regardless of their subsequent divorce, Leonard and Patricia remained on good phrases.
Talking about that point, John mentioned: ‘They have been so totally different. Dad was robust and clever whereas mum, though she was a sensible cookie, mum was such enjoyable and beloved to argue, so possibly it was their variations that brought about all of it.
Ken and Patricia later in life. The Lewisham-born businessman was the family title and founding father of Kenwood manufacturing
Pat Wooden with Richard Attenborough on the premiere of Brighton Rock (1948) in Leicester Sq..
‘When Ken entered our lives, he purchased us a home not far away and we spent years travelling with him on wonderful holidays to Spain and the Bahamas on the Kenwood aircraft.
‘We moved all the way down to West Wittering collectively and would typically be delivered recent mangoes from the Kenwood factories in India – I’ve simply implausible recollections from that point.
‘Ken was completely besotted with mum they usually have been so pleased collectively.’
After a cheerful and opulent life collectively, Ken died in October 1997, as John remembered.
He mentioned: ‘On Ken’s deathbed he made me promise to take care of her.
‘Two days earlier than he died, he requested for a pen and paper and he poured his coronary heart out about how a lot he beloved her. I fulfilled my promise and did every thing I might to take care of mum.
‘I moved in together with her on two events after she had had a fall after which when she had a stroke in 2001 which made her wobbly however she was robust and did not need a stairlift till she actually wanted it.’
‘It turned harder to take care of her so there was no alternative however to maneuver her into a house.’
Patricia’s household carried on visiting her till the very finish and because the household’s archivist, John now hopes that his mom’s story can reside on eternally.
He mentioned: ‘My dearest mum – an actual character, beloved by all, at all times glamorous, and the kindest, warmest and most beneficiant particular person you possibly can ever want to meet – handed away.
‘What a implausible life she led and what an exquisite mom she was to me. I really like her dearly and can at all times miss her – her heat coronary heart, her smile, her kindness, her love, and most of all, her sense of enjoyable.’