Elsie Warren

ELSIE ANNE WARREN, (1920-46) Gardener and Writer

ELSIE ANNE WARREN came into residence as gardener in 1920, and remained until ill health compelled her to retire at the end of 1946. Miss Warren then retired to the country, still devoted to nature, but eventually illness forced her to enter a convalescent home in the city. In 1965 she published her 'Character Slogans and other Verses'.

She died on 1 August 1966.

Personal reminiscences of Miss Warren:

'Miss Warren has fought an almost single-handed fight against droughts, pests and all other garden enemies, triumphing in the end to keep the garden an oasis in the drabness of an industrial suburb.'

1945 Calendar

'What I remember best about Miss Warren are her legs. They went with elves and woods, just the right shape for someone who could probably talk to plants like Dr Doolittle on the moon. Then there were her shears, her hat and her ladder. What a vast job she did with all those trees, shrubs, lawns and, especially, the rose garden. Outside, she was always much too busy to be talking, but sometimes we would meet in the letter-room and she would smile in the dim light, kindness and shyness mixed...'

Catherine McCay, Arts 1936-1949

'With the indifference of youth I took Miss Warren for granted finding, through her diligence, a constant supply of camellias for our free adornment. I appreciated the green oasis that calmed the spirit after traversing Blood Alley and the well-kept lawn where we had some strange and light-hearted athletics. I never saw her mowing, but she was constantly pushing a wheelbarrow followed by her faithful Chum, smiling under his long grey hair and wagging his tail constantly. Where did they vanish to at night after she had sat through dinner at Little High with discussion concentrating on dissection of films? I feel ashamed that I knew so little about her.'

Jean Wickham, Arts, 1937-39