Catherine (known as Kitty) Hussey (née Rooney), pictured here with her son, Valentine, about 1909, was born in Clapham, London to Robert Rooney and Fanny Rathbone. In 1902 she married builder William Hussey, son of Kensington builder Thomas Hussey. Valentine (known as Val), their only child, was born 10 years later.

Having lived for a number of years in Albert Hall Mansions in Kensington (built by William’s father), the family moved to Tilehurst, near Reading in Berkshire, where William died in 1939. Four years later, Valentine was killed in action in Sicily. Kitty died in 1963 aged about 85.