Mrs Rita Page
The following articles are taken from a collection of letters that have been donated to the Local Studies collection at Welwyn Garden City Library by Mrs Jocelyn Campbell.
Mrs Campbell's mother Mireille was Rita's twin sister, and the two sisters wrote many letters to each other when they were separated by marriage, during the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's.
The twins, daughters of the Swiss artist Eugene Burnand, came to England from Paris to study at the Quaker College of Woodbrooke in Birmingham, where both then met and married Englishmen. Rita married Fred Marriott Page and came to live in Welwyn Garden City when Fred secured a job as an accountant with Welwyn Stores.
The letters relate to family matters, but also provide a great commentry of Welwyn Garden City personalities and happenings in the community.
Many thanks to Mrs Campbell who has given permission for extracts of her book, My dearest twin - letters from Rita, to be reproduced here.