Photograph of Mildred Deacon as a young woman, c1890

A remarkable woman Mildred Deacon (nee Pakeman) took over the management of Deacon Jewellers of Swindon following the early death of her husband George Deacon from Tuberculosis in 1913.

She successfully steered the company through the challenging trading conditions of World War I and the early 1920's before handing the business on to her two sons, Jack and Guy Deacon.

It would have been Mildred who personally met with representatives of the Bolingbroke estate tenants and assist them in selecting a suitable gift to mark Vernon St.John's coming of age in March 1917. A copy of The Daily Sketch photograph of the rose bowl being presented to the young viscount on the steps of Lydiard House has been preserved by the Deacon family. Written on the back of the photograph is the price of the picture, 1 shilling and 6 pence and the words 'reserved for Mrs Deacon '.