Discover the fascinating story of the business tycoon who campaigned again the death penalty at a new talk at Shire Hall.
From scullery maid to social justice campaigning millionaire, the story of Violet Van Der Elst will be brought to life next month at Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum in Dorchester.
Join Dorchester historian Brian Bates at 1pm on January 20, for a talk entitled “The Incredible Mrs Van der Elst” to find out more about this amazing woman’s life.
Brian had been doing research into the Dorchester assize courts for a book he is writing when he came across mention of Mrs Van Der Elst. He was reading about the story of Charlotte Bryant, a young woman who was found guilty of murder at Shire Hall. She was sentenced to hang at Exeter. Brian said: “I was reading some newspapers and came across a lady that protested at the hanging – Violet Van Der Elst, and being the curious person I am, I thought, let’s find out what else I can about this lady.”
Brian said that Mrs Van Der Elst was the daughter of a coal porter and a cleaner and went on to invent the first brushless shaving cream – an invention that made her fortune. He said: “When her second husband died, she said she would devote her life to the abolition of the death penalty.”
Mrs Van Der Elst was not content with writing letters and organising petitions, Brian added. She believed in direct action and as a result appeared before the magistrates on ‘numerous occasions.’ On the day of an execution she would turn up in her Rolls Royce accompanied by a loudspeaker van and large numbers of men carrying sandwich boards bearing slogans against hanging. He said: “She really was an amazing lady.”
The talk will explore her campaigning work as well as her eccentric and unusual life.
Tickets cost £6.50 each and will include a lunch of soup and a roll. For more information visit shirehalldorset.org.uk or call 01305 261849.
