Visitors could almost picture the pretty, athletic young Violette performing cartwheels in the garden, and climbing on the roof of Cartref, as a child, at the picnic held in her honour 60 years after her death.

As Richard Hodder read his poem describing the short life of the World War II heroine it vividly brought to mind the beautiful young girl who spent holidays with her cousins in the Herefordshire Countryside and at the age of 23 was tortured and shot by the Germans for refusing to betray her secrets and colleagues.

Dozens of veterans and dignitaries mingled with many others who simply welcome the opportunity to remember and honour a brave young woman who stood as a representative for the thousands of women who died in Ravensbrook.

The honoured guests included Virgina Mckenna, who portrayed Violette in the film Carve her name with Pride, and Violette's daughter, Tania Szabo were at the tenth annual Memorial Picnic. This was a celebration of the life and the love that Violette inspired. It took place in brilliant June sunshine in the gardens of Cartref where Rosemary Rigby has created a museum for Violette.

A magnificent parade of veterans from England and France marched from Park Hall at Wormelow to the garden and then stood ramrod straight as the service took place.

Rosemary welcomed guests and there was a minute's silence while everyone remembered Violette.

After Richard read his emotive poem two visitors, who are also members of the RNIB, a charity dear to Rosemary's heart, took part. Mike Holroyd sang the poem, 'The life that I have' by Leo Marks, which Violette used for her code poem, which had been set to music by Richard C Lucas.

The Revered John Wilson used a reading from Ecclesiastes to impress on the audience that it was not the quantity of Violette's years that mattered but the quality of her life.

Following the reading by Virginia and  Tania, MP Jesse Norman brought greetings from Westminster. He said that he wished Rosemary was there as her extraordinary energy was needed.

After the Last Post and Reveille guests enjoyed the picnic tea before the Master of the Hunt, Mel Thomas arrived with the hounds of the South Hereford Hunt.