The Surprising Life of Constance Spry

by Sue Shephard

I do like a biography. My local library used to have many biographies of the old film stars from the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s which I used to devour along with the histories of the British upper classes. There were times I would have given anything to be transported back in time to a more glamorous age. Now the local library only seems to have ghost written autobiographies by people who aren't old enough to have experienced life never mind found anything interesting to write about.

This book was recommended by a friend and when I looked at the title I had a vague recollection of the name Constance Spry but couldn't have said who she was or what she did but the picture on the front of a lady in a hat putting together a flower arrangement intrigued me.

Constance Spry was more than a flower arranger to the great and good from the 1920's onward - she was a pioneer, her arrangements brought in a new way of presenting flowers, she also influenced interior design and cooking in the home, she had a successful career when most women were content to stay at home. She was also a survivor of a violent marriage, had a lesbian affair and wasn't actually ever married to Mr. Spry despite taking his name. Everyone says she was generous, gregarious and fun to be with.

Constance was the daughter of an Education Officer based in Ireland, she was caught up with Lady Aberdeen who wanted to reform the Irish poor families, help them understand cleanliness, teach them how to treat TB and how to care for babies, Connie became a lecturer and ran a mother and baby clinic. She was always well turned out with her trimmed hats and with her friendly manner people liked her and took note of her advice. No-one seems to know how she ended up married to James Heppell Marr; a widowed mine manager but the marriage was unsuccessful and when Connie took up a post as a welfare officer at Vickers armaments in London she and her small son Tony left James and his daughter Joan without so much as a backward glance.

After the war Connie started doing flower arrangements for friends, word of her abilities spread and her circle of customers grew, she was asked to produce flowers for everyone who was anyone in society. She ended up going into business on her own and her shop grew and grew, at the height of her popularity she had a premises on 3 floors, including a wedding room and a school where eager debutantes were taught the intricacies of flower arranging. Connie did the flowers for the weddings of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, and after the royal circles forgave her, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, along with Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.

This book portrays Constance as a sparkling jewel of a lady, whose warmth and wit drew people into her, it is full of gossip about society from the 1920’s until 1960, you’ll even learn how Coronation Chicken came about. Even if you have no interest in flower arranging and cookery this book is entertaining and interesting. I would have loved to have met Mrs. Spry in the 1930’s when she was at the height of society.

Published by Pan Books
£7.99
ISBN: 978-0-330-54422-1

Reviewed by Dianne Blashill

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