Violet Attlee, Countess Attlee
Encyclopedia
Violet Helen Attlee, Countess Attlee (née Millar) (20 November 1895 – 7 June 1964) was the wife of British Prime Minister
Clement Attlee
.
Helen Millar was born in Hampstead
as the tenth child and youngest daughter of Henry Edward Millar, a prosperous businessman. Her early education took place in Hampstead before she went to Saint Felix, a boarding school in Southwold
. She worked as a VAD
throughout World War I
, meeting her future husband shortly afterward. In the summer of 1921, she went with her mother to Italy
; joining them on the trip were her brother Cedric and a former Oxford
friend, Clement Attlee. Within a few weeks of their return they became engaged and were married at Christ Church, Hampstead
on 10 January 1922. Theirs would be a devoted marriage. Their four children were Lady Janet Helen (b. 1923), Lady Felicity Ann (1925-2007), Martin Richard
(1925-1991) and Lady Alison Elizabeth (b. 1930).
A kind, unassuming woman who was not, by her own admission, "a political wife", Countess Attlee assisted in personal matters, for instance arranging annual Boxing Day
parties at Chequers
for the children of her husband's ministerial colleagues. She was constantly at Clement's side at party conferences, at innumerable gatherings overseas, and in the detailed chores of his political career, despite being a lifelong Tory
voter. She acted as his regular driver during postwar elections.
In August 1950, she joined London
's Civil Defence Corps
. Since 1915 she had had considerable experience with the British Red Cross Society
, having led a detachment for a number of years.
Frequently in poor health, Attlee took ill suddenly and was admitted to Amersham Hospital on 7 June 1964. Seven hours later, she died of a cerebral haemorrhage. With her were her husband, son, second daughter, and the latter's husband.
Having been married to her for 42 years, Clement Attlee outlived her by three years.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
.
Helen Millar was born in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
as the tenth child and youngest daughter of Henry Edward Millar, a prosperous businessman. Her early education took place in Hampstead before she went to Saint Felix, a boarding school in Southwold
Southwold
Southwold is a town on the North Sea coast, in the Waveney district of the English county of Suffolk. It is located on the North Sea coast at the mouth of the River Blyth within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town is around south of Lowestoft and north-east...
. She worked as a VAD
Voluntary Aid Detachment
The Voluntary Aid Detachment was a voluntary organisation providing field nursing services, mainly in hospitals, in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The organisation's most important periods of operation were during World War I and World War II.The...
throughout World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, meeting her future husband shortly afterward. In the summer of 1921, she went with her mother to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; joining them on the trip were her brother Cedric and a former Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
friend, Clement Attlee. Within a few weeks of their return they became engaged and were married at Christ Church, Hampstead
Christ Church, Hampstead
Christ Church Hampstead is a Church of England church in Hampstead, London. It is the original church of Hampstead and the Heath.-History:The present church was erected between 1850 and 1852 to designs by the architect Samuel Daukes in the Early English Gothic style. In 1860 a timber gallery was...
on 10 January 1922. Theirs would be a devoted marriage. Their four children were Lady Janet Helen (b. 1923), Lady Felicity Ann (1925-2007), Martin Richard
Martin Attlee, 2nd Earl Attlee
Martin Richard Attlee, 2nd Earl Attlee was a British politician, son of former British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, the first Earl Attlee. Martin inherited the title on his father's death in 1967...
(1925-1991) and Lady Alison Elizabeth (b. 1930).
A kind, unassuming woman who was not, by her own admission, "a political wife", Countess Attlee assisted in personal matters, for instance arranging annual Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
parties at Chequers
Chequers
Chequers, or Chequers Court, is a country house near Ellesborough, to the south of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England, at the foot of the Chiltern Hills...
for the children of her husband's ministerial colleagues. She was constantly at Clement's side at party conferences, at innumerable gatherings overseas, and in the detailed chores of his political career, despite being a lifelong Tory
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
voter. She acted as his regular driver during postwar elections.
In August 1950, she joined London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Civil Defence Corps
Civil Defence Corps
The Civil Defence Corps was a civilian volunteer organisation established in Great Britain in 1949 to take control in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. It was stood down in Great Britain in 1968...
. Since 1915 she had had considerable experience with the British Red Cross Society
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
, having led a detachment for a number of years.
Frequently in poor health, Attlee took ill suddenly and was admitted to Amersham Hospital on 7 June 1964. Seven hours later, she died of a cerebral haemorrhage. With her were her husband, son, second daughter, and the latter's husband.
Having been married to her for 42 years, Clement Attlee outlived her by three years.
Shorthand titles
- Miss Violet Millar (20 November 1895–10 January 1922)
- Mrs Clement Attlee (10 January 1922–16 December 1955)
- The Rt Hon. The Countess Attlee (16 December 1955–7 June 1964)