Violet was born on Boxing Day 1942 in a caravan at the back of the Bird in Hand pub in Dunstable. She was to be the only child of parents George William and Patience Neale.

Violet grew up in a caravan and although her mum and dad had left the fairground by the time she was born, she had lots of interesting stories to share like the menagerie of animals that were toured by the Gess family including a fighting bear, lions and tigers. She also told of a time that she visited relations and released the tortoises that were supposed to be prizes on a fairground stall.

When she left school Violet had a number of jobs working in factories and offices. Violet was always good with numbers – her mental arithmetic skills never failed to impress her children. She used those skills to work her way up into supervisory positions.

Violet loved animals from a young age – when she was growing up she had chickens that used to follow her around and a favourite dog called Brandy. When she married Alex they bought a new kitten and she was devoted to the two family dogs – a dachshund called Fritz and Mitch, a Yorkshire terrier. Violet’s dream was to go on a safari and she was delighted when Trina took her to Tanzania – Violet had great fun being escorted to dinner by her own Maasai warrior, attempting to climb into a hot air balloon and telling the ranger all about the foxes in her garden whilst surrounded by lions and elephants!

Violet loved to travel – before she was married she went on coach holidays with her friend Shirley. On one of these holidays she met Alex who later became her husband. When they got back from holiday Violet and Alex kept up a long-distance relationship, meeting every other weekend – travelling between Violet’s home in Peterborough and Monmouth where Alex was living at the time.

In September 1973 Alex and Violet got married at Birmingham Registry Office with a reception at the Garden House on Hagley Road. Alex had taken a job at Lloyds Bank in Birmingham and they bought a house in Bartley Green. When Violet moved into the house on Pinewood Drive it was the first time she lived with running water.  Violet started working at Cadbury’s and she enjoyed cooking for Alex - their favourite was Chinese. Between the free chocolate and Chinese food Violet often recalled how much weight Alex gained in their first few years of marriage!

In 1977 Violet gave birth to her first child Fiona Christina followed 2 years later by Catriona or Trina as she was known to the family. Alan George Alexander came as a nice surprise 8 years later when Violet was 44. The house in Bartley Green became too small for a family of 5 and they made the decision to move to Halesowen where Violet lived for the rest of her life.

Violet quickly made new friends in Halesowen including her next-door neighbour Lynn and Jean who lived over the road with her family.

Violet and Alex were members of the National Trust and weekends were full of family trips to one transport museum or another. The children loved their annual trips to Alton Towers but Violet refused to go on the rides – making the odd exception for the Log Flume. Family holidays were to Jersey with Alex’s mum in the early years and then to country cottages. Before Alex passed away Violet and Alan took him on a holiday to Euro Disney.

After Alex’s death Violet started to travel again – she went on many happy holidays with her friend Jean and trips to Europe with Alan. She took the family to Florida and Las Vegas to celebrate her 65th birthday and enjoyed a cruise to Guernsey & Belgium with Trina.

Before she became ill Violet would travel on the train to see Fiona and her family in Leeds, and to London to visit Trina. On one trip Trina took Violet to relive the songs of one of her favourite artists Elvis Presley, when his music was brought back to life by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the O2 near to Trina’s new flat.

Violet was grandmother to two beautiful girls Alanna Rose (who took Violet’s middle name) and Francesca Lily. Violet loved spending time with Alanna & Francesca - her face would light up when anyone mentioned them or she spoke to them on the phone.

In the last few years of her life Violet became less mobile and couldn't get out as much but she loved to be driven around the Safari Park and go out for lunch. Her last holiday was a weekend in Bath with Fiona & Trina - it was wet and windy and the cobbles weren't great for mum's wheelchair but it was a chance to get away for the weekend and enjoy a nice hotel. 

On 25th June 2020 Violet passed away at Netherton Green Care Home and was reunited with Alex. Violet had a difficult three months of poor health during which time she contracted and overcame Covid-19. With her usual fortitude Violet fought until the very end and gave her family the opportunity to spend time with her and say goodbye.