IS THIS THE MYSTERY WOMAN?

Since I launched my last blog “Who is this Woman” and my subsequent appearance in the Faversham News my phone has not stopped ringing. Debt collectors and alimony lawyers now know where I live. Amongst the hoard of irate money grubbers I did get a message from Mr Peter Stevens. He has lived in Faversham all his 87 years. His brother Donald, 89 has lived here even longer and it was he who recognised the woman in the painting.

This is a drawing of young Peter done on his honeymoon… I did’t do this one

According to Donald she wasn’t a prisoner on the lamb and she wasn’t a Russian spy. She was however, in Faversham as a direct result of the actions of Adolf Hitler?

This is my first digital portrait painting. Things got a lot better with the apple pencil.

Before the war, the eastern part of the Phoenix was a residence - the home of a Mrs Joanna Wade. She died in 1939 and the house then was made available to evacuees from London.

Mrs Finnicey moved in with her two daughters— Mrs Queenie Edwards and Mrs Mabel Vasquez. Queenie, in her early 20’s, had three sons Alan, Sidney and Denis. Mrs Vasquez had one son Peter. Both daughters were married. Queenie’s husband was away fighting in the war and I presume Mabel’s was doing something similar.

I’ve included a little family tree at the bottom of this blog for reference.

Donald and Peter lived with their mother at number 92 Abbey St at the time, which was then a local shop.

Donald distinctly remembers the Finnicey family visiting their shop. In those days families had to register with their local shops in order to implement rationing. Donald says it was Queenie who is depicted in the painting. Apparently she smoked a lot of cheap cigarettes, making it very unlikely she’s still alive today.

After the war Queenie’s husband was demobbed and the family returned to London. Mabel, on the other hand remained in Faversham, living first at number 94 and then, after marrying Eric (Cocker) Bennett, at number 11 Abbey St. The Bennett family kept the boarding house at number 19 Abbey St.

After finding all this out, a number of questions came to mind. First and foremost, how does one acquire the nick-name “Cocker”. The coolest nickname I’ve ever had is Turnip Head and that was given to me by my own mother.

Also what happened to Mr Vasquez? Was he killed in the war? Were they divorced or did she kill him and bury him in the back yard?

At the risk of sounding cynical, it has been 70 years since Queenie lived at no 98 so I’m not sure how accurate Mr Stevens memory is. Although if she had a sister still living in the road it’s quite likely that Donald saw Queenie in subsequent years.

Intriguingly, I have also been contacted by another local man who claims to know a woman living in Abbey St who looks very similar to my painting. I’ve seen her and I tend to agree – albeit a much more attractive version (in case she reads this). A close relation perhaps?

There are a few names to follow up. There are the Edwards in London, probably too hard to find. There is Mabel Vazquez and her son Peter, a rare surname, especially if they remained in Faversham. And there is the Bennett family, who also may be able to shed some light on the identity of the portrait.

Should you want to see the painting in detail, it is on the wall at the Pheonix Tavern. Not only do the eyes follow you around the room, occasionally, depending on how much you’ve had to drink, they may wink at you as well.

Do you recognise any of the names from the tree below?