Constance Kell - A Secret Well Kept: The Untold Story of Sir Vernon Kell, Founder of MI5

In writing this book I have had the generous help of Alison Moreira who did all the typing. To her go my most grateful thanks also to my son John, to Sheila Davies and to my two granddaughters, Phillida Robertson and Bridget Kell and in particular to my son James, to whom I owe the encouragement to write the tale of my husbands life in the Far East and of the task he undertook a few years later, on his return to England.

CRK

1959

CONTENTS

By Caroline Coverdale, great-granddaughter of Sir Vernon and Lady Kell

By Stewart Binns, author and filmmaker

By Dr Chris Northcott, author and lecturer in Intelligence and Security Studies

Recently, I made a fascinating discovery. Hidden away with a number of beautiful old photo albums lay an enchanting manuscript. It was written by my great-grandmother, about her life with her husband, Sir Vernon Kell. As soon as I started reading it, I became engrossed in their world and thought how wonderful it would be to share their remarkable story with others. In fact, I soon discovered that this had also been Lady Kells wish.

I love her style of writing, her courage and tenacity. Her devotion to her husband is so deep and pure. She talks so fondly of Sir Vernon throughout the book, and emphasises how much he achieved for our country during two world wars, giving him the credit he so rightly deserves.

One example of Lady Kells courage is highlighted in a newspaper article from the Evening Standard of 3 April 1961. She was only 20 years old when she married Vernon and travelled to China for their honeymoon. Wed only been there two weeks when the Boxer Revolt broke. My husband was recalled to the Army and I was left in the settlement with all those guns trained on our house. It was rather alarming.

Sadly, I never had the privilege of meeting my great-grandmother. However, I now feel Ive had the chance to get to know her by reading her manuscript and letters and hearing so many wonderful stories from her children and grandchildren.

When Sir Vernon died, Lady Kell wrote an extremely touching letter to one of her sons. She explained: My lifes work seems to have been taken from me for I lived largely for him. Now I am trying to love him more grandly by getting to understand that the body is only a seeming, not the REAL of us and that there should be no separation if I can forget myself and think only of him. He must be needed elsewhere, all his wonderful qualities of leadership, courage, insight, sympathy and understanding of the qualities of all and everyone who came in touch with him, must make him the instrument ready to Gods own hand, to fashion him for some loving work.

Her granddaughters Caroline and Bridget, daughters of her youngest son, John, were incredibly close to their grandmother and seemed to have spent the most amount of time with her over the years. When I think about Granny, Bridget recalls, although we remained close until her death, I remember especially the times I spent with her as a child: the many treats at Harrods, uniform buying and many other adventures. But most of all I remember her kindness and tolerance, her light-hearted way of dealing with us and our childish views and her efforts to turn my sister, Caroline, and me, in an ever-changing world into young ladies. How she laughed at our expressions of horror and disgust as we tried her breakfast yoghurt a definite novelty in those days. But I also realised, perhaps subconsciously, that she possessed a deep faith and although she never tried to force her beliefs onto us, they nonetheless influenced me for the good.

My first memories of Granny Con, Caroline fondly adds, go back to 1946 when, just after the war, she used to meet me from the school train at Paddington every holidays, keep me happy for a couple of days and then send me on to my parents in Germany (complete with school trunk). Quite an undertaking! I remember her as tiny but indomitable, not particularly strict, but she did admonish me for sitting in an un-ladylike way with my legs apart! She had a special way of kissing with her eyelashes a butterfly kiss. Her skin was very soft and she had a rather naughty chuckle.

Virginia, Johns third daughter, also reminisces about her times with her grandmother. My younger sister Charlotte and I were occasionally taken to London for the day, mainly to shop for school-uniform items. The highlight of the day would be lunch with Granny Con. As children, this always felt like a rather formal occasion, as Granny and her sister Vera would appear for lunch wearing hats. Lunch itself would be cranked up from the kitchen below in a dumb waiter by the Irish cook, who lived in the basement with her parrot! Granny Con was, however, despite her rather formal appearance, a soft and kind person. She would chat easily with us and take an interest in what we were doing and what we enjoyed. On our first visit we told her politely how delicious the jelly was and we then got jelly for pudding on every future visit. Looking back on her life, she was obviously an amazing lady and a very strong support to my grandfather throughout their life together. She has left me with many special childhood memories.

Phillida, daughter of Lady Kells daughter Margaret, adored her grandmother. She remembers: Having come from Scotland, I loved staying in London with my wonderful grandmother who I looked up to and respected. She was such a fun person, who had a great sense of humour, and what a wit! She was always there for us. I often feel she is still around me.

What I do remember about Granny Con, Jamie, Margarets son, recalls, was that she was great at keeping the family together and in touch, as staying with her at 67 Evelyn Gardens was always fun, and a good meeting point for other members of the family. She helped me enormously when I was trying to sort myself out as a teenager. She was a good listener and always gave good and wise advice, usually offered over a delicious cup of tea. The drawing room was ideal for this as one could escape to the garden afterwards for some exercise, and later Mrs Carney, the cook, together with the parrot, were downstairs ready to dispense an Irish joke or two.

My own mother, Suzan, daughter of Lady Kells eldest son James, also had a very strong connection with her grandmother. My first encounter with Granny Con was when I was six and my mother and I went to stay with her at 67 Evelyn Gardens. Granny had a rather no-nonsense approach and I learned to admire and respect her as I grew older. She obviously saw it as her mission to turn all her granddaughters into young ladies. Cant you strap them in dear? I remember her pleading as we waited in Piccadilly to meet my father! I stayed with her a lot in my teens, and became more closely connected with her beliefs and ideas. Granny was a Christian Scientist (a view that I did not exactly share) but she introduced me to a Doctor of Metaphysics, and years later I became one myself. Granny had great strength, drive and determination. The fact that she was very small in stature did in no way diminish her strong personality. She loved music, the arts and a colourful garden, and I truly loved to spend time with her whenever the opportunity arose.

Understandably, our family holds Lady Kell in high esteem, and have great respect and admiration for her and her husband. But its also clear that its not just the family who holds such strong views and are aware of Sir Vernons great qualities. In the days following his death, letters flooded in.