Olden Life: What were Universal Aunts? Jackie Winter
Universal Aunts, a personal service bureau, was founded 100 years ago by Gertrude Eliza Maclean.
In 1921, Gertie came up with a bright idea. With her many nieces and nephews, she decided to put her aunt-like qualities to good use. Universal Aunts was born.
Every morning, Gertie and her business partner, Emily Faulder, worked in a room behind a bootmaker’s in Chelsea. In the afternoon, they withdrew to the ladies’ rest room at Harrods to interview women answering their advertisement: ‘Ladies of Irreproachable Background Required for the Care of Children.’
Applicants included: Miss Phyllis Beckett: ‘Sporty. Knows all about footer and white mice. Guaranteed not to nag. Can slide down banisters at a push.’ Mrs Charlotte Hedgecombe: ‘Hefty. Stern. Stand no nonsense. On Borstal Board of Governors. Can cope with any number of older boys.’ Mrs Kitty Pendlebury: ‘Young and jolly. A recognised authority on tuck shops and chocolate eclairs.’
The Aunts’ major function was caring for children whose parents were posted overseas. Primarily, this meant escorting children across London on their way to or from private schools.
The children never knew quite what to expect. One small boy had bragged to envious friends about the glamour puss who’d be meeting him at Paddington. When he clapped eyes on the mature, sensibly-clad woman allotted to him, he said, ‘You are not the Aunt I ordered.’
An American lad had a better experience. ‘Gee,’ he said, grinning happily at his Aunt. ‘I’m glad it’s you! I thought they’d send an old bag.’
There were memorable assignments: the goat that had to be met at Waterloo and escorted to King’s Cross. A resourceful Aunt asked the taxi driver to stop in Hyde Park so the goat could enjoy a walk.
Universal Aunts became sought after in fashionable circles. They sent wellspoken Aunts to read aloud to Winston Churchill’s widow, Clementine, when her eyesight was failing. Monica Dickens, great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens and a former debutante, worked for Universal Aunts as a cook in the 1930s. Her book, One Pair of Hands, was based on her experiences. The most highprofile Aunt was Lady Diana Spencer, a part-time nanny in the late 1970s.
In its centenary year, Universal Aunts remains fundamentally the same. The fur-collared coats and cloche hats are long gone, but the attributes that make a good Aunt haven’t changed: tact, oodles of common sense and an unfailing sense of humour. As well as child-escort services, it provides cooks, residential companions, housekeepers, carers, party staff, house- and pet-sitters, travelling companions and drivers.
The owner and director today is Angela Montfort Bebb, daughter of Kate Herbert-hunting, a previous director, who wrote Universal Aunts (1986) – the basis for the TV series Ladies in Charge.
The Aunts also find things for clients. The most bizarre request is a bear trap.