The Francis Family
After Rennie’s birth in 1917 followed my grandmother, two years later, in 1919. They named her Estelle and almost exactly two years after her arrival came the last sibling, a girl, in 1921. Because she was the littlest one they all called her Babe.
During the last birth, Annie died due to complications. Andrew was devastated and called the youngest girl Anne in her memory. It is a shame, but I must admit that I know very little else about Annie Luckett. I can find no photographs of her and all of her belongings were lost when the family were forced from their homes during the war.
There is one thing of hers that I do have though, and that is the engagement ring that Andrew gave her. It was a gold claw-set diamond solitaire set with a yellow diamond mined in Burma. In those days they hand-cut the stones and it is beautifully wonky and mis-shapen, however it has a lovely sparkle. The ring in it’s original form was miniscule, Annie obviously had very delicate hands. My mother gave the ring to me this year as a gift, and I wear it all the time now that I have had it re-set.
My grandmother with her school friends…
Here are my two great aunties with a family friend, Noel and his fantastic hat.
Noel, pictured here, was a close family friend. He came from a mixed Anglo-Burmese family who were based in Maymyo. This picture was taken after my family moved from Rangoon to Maymyo. As you will see below, Noel was a sweet looking boy, but he always had a penchant for hats…
Noel as a kid
Noel, here with my grandmother & friends, sporting his hat again.
I can only assume that there was a lack of milliners in Burma at the time.
