Violet Attlee, Countess Attlee
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The Right Honourable The Countess Attlee |
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|---|---|
| Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | |
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In role 26 July 1945 – 26 October 1951 |
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| Monarch | George VI |
| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
| Preceded by | Clementine Churchill |
| Succeeded by | Clementine Churchill |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Violet Helen Millar 20 November 1895 Hampstead, London, England |
| Died | 7 June 1964 (aged 68) Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Clement Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee (m. 1922–64) |
| Children | Lady Janet Shipton Lady Felicity Harwood Martin Attlee, 2nd Earl Attlee Lady Alison Davis |
Violet Helen Attlee, Countess Attlee (née Millar; 20 November 1895 – 7 June 1964) was the English wife of British Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
Violet 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 School, a boarding school in Southwold and she worked as a VAD throughout World War I. 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, Violet and Clement 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 (born 1923), Lady Felicity Ann (1925–2007), Martin Richard (1927–1991) and Lady Alison Elizabeth (born 1930).
A kind, unassuming woman who was not, by her own admission, "a political wife", Violet 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. 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, Violet 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.
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