Successful evening talk at Haslemere Museum heralded by the guest speaker.
On Tuesday 16th November, guests and members of Haslemere Museum were captivated by a talk given by Francelle White based on her book about her mother Andreé Griotteray’s time as an underground intelligence courier during the Second World War in France. Andreé used her position as an employee of the Police Headquarters in Paris, to type and copy her brother’s underground newspaper and to steal blank ID cards. As the war progressed, she took increasing risks, always fearless in the face of immense pressure and using her naïve charm to hoodwink the enemy. “Andreé’s War” is full of fascinating tales of exceptional bravery and daring, and the daughter who grew up hearing them recounted by the protagonist herself tells the real life stories within it lovingly.
Following the event Francelle White said, "I have given many talks about my book "Andreé's War" in the UK and overseas but never to such an engaging group as at Haslemere Museum. The questions from the floor were challenging and so very interesting.
I sold many books with one attendee buying seven. The warmth and the welcome given to me by the Curator and Trustees meant an awful lot partly because my ultimate aim is to raise money for research into Dementia and to support those suffering from it, an illness Andree suffered from for almost 20 years.”
‘Christopher Ashton-Jones, a former Trustee of the Museum commented, “I was delighted to arrange this event for our good friend Francelle White. Her account of the bravery of her mother living and working in Paris during the Second World War is amazing. Her talk attracted a record number of people to the Museum.”
President of the Museum, Melanie Odell added, “The Museum is immensely grateful to Christopher Ashton-Jones for organising this talk and for his enthusiasm in ensuring a full audience”
Trustees and staff of the Museum are pleased to be welcoming guests back through the doors to events and exhibitions following several periods of closure during the pandemic.