Eve Branson
Evette Huntley Branson—mother of Richard, Vanessa, and Lindy and wife of the dashing ex-Cavalry officer Ted—was a force of nature. As a young woman longing for adventure, Eve disguised herself as a boy to take glider lessons, enlisted in the WRENS to help with the war effort, and appeared as an actress and dancer in racy West End Theatre productions (much to the dismay of her grandfather!).
At age 24, Eve left her toe shoes behind and embarked on a series of harrowing adventures as an air hostess (dubbed ‘Star Girl’) on the ill-fated British South American Airways. After two of the airline’s small fleet, consisting of bombers and military transports retired from recent combat, disappeared in the Caribbean (helping to create the mystery of the ‘Bermuda Triangle’), the handsome Major Edward Branson lured Eve from the skies to safety—and marriage.
While raising a family, running a property business, serving as a probation officer and advocating for child welfare Eve managed to find time for her writing and her beloved golf and tennis. She never lost sight of her famous son’s business ventures and highly publicised attempts to break world records, her two daughters’ arts and business careers and the exciting exploits of her 11 grandchildren. Eve is the author of travel articles, novels, and children’s books and a lifelong active advocate for child welfare.
Eve founded the Eve Branson Foundation. She was a devoted and tireless social entrepreneur whose philanthropic journey all began when son Richard was attempting to fly a hot air balloon from Morocco to France.
Learn more about how and why Eve set up the Eve Branson Foundation.
