Patience Strong
Encyclopedia
Winifred Emma May was a poet
from the United Kingdom
, best known for her work under the pen name
Patience Strong. Her poems were usually short, simple and imbued with sentimentality, the beauty of nature and inner strength. She was also a successful lyricist, composing English words for the tango 'Jealousy' and 'The Dream of Olwen' and an author of several books dealing with Christianity
and practical psychology
.
, London
, she was the second daughter of Alfred and Nell May. Her older sister was called Connie and her younger brother was always referred to as 'Boy'. In her early life Winifred attended Sunday School
and was a frequent user of the local library. She and Connie enjoyed reading and poetry, and at night they would spend many hours reciting poems to each other. The family spent many happy holidays at Brighton
and, later in her life, Winifred moved to the country and was inspired by the natural cycles of nature which figure in many of her poems.
The May family regularly attended the music hall and their house was often filled with singing and whistling. Winifred showed an early aptitude for the piano and showed enough ability to regularly accompany local amateur singing groups. Following a period at Cusack’s College where she took a secretarial course she found employment in a patent agency. It was about this time that she started submitting poems for publication. Her first poem earned her 1 guinea
and it appeared in Nash’s magazine in 1922. This was followed by other poems appearing in The Strand
and Good Housekeeping
.
where she met the composer Frederick Drummond. He set the words of her 'To Sing Awhile' to music which was then published by Keith Prowse
. Subsequently she was offered full-time employment with the company. At 21 years of age she had more than 100 published songs to her credit, the most famous being the English words for Jacob Gade
's tango 'Jealousy', which was later recorded by a number of artists including Hutch
, Gracie Fields
, Vera Lynn
, Richard Tauber
and Billy Fury
. Winifred later claimed to have written the song in fifteen minutes after having the haunting tango tune played to her over the telephone by Lawrence Wright. In 1930 she composed a song for the 4th birthday of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) which was recorded by Webster Booth
.
for a regular publication of her poems. The features editor asked her to return the following day with eighteen new poems and a suggested pseudonym. This she did with the pseudonym of Patience Strong, a name she took from a book of the same name by Adeline T. Whitney (born 1870). Her daily poems, in ‘The Quiet Corner’, continued throughout World War II
until 1946 when her column was transferred to the Sunday Pictorial (later The Sunday Mirror) and continued for several decades. She also contributed poems to the weekly magazine Woman's Own
and latterly to the quarterly magazine, This England
. Her poems were also published in various anthologies and she made two records reciting her poems.
in 1970. She died at her home in Sedlescombe
, Sussex
.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, best known for her work under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Patience Strong. Her poems were usually short, simple and imbued with sentimentality, the beauty of nature and inner strength. She was also a successful lyricist, composing English words for the tango 'Jealousy' and 'The Dream of Olwen' and an author of several books dealing with Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and practical psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
Early life
Born in CatfordCatford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, she was the second daughter of Alfred and Nell May. Her older sister was called Connie and her younger brother was always referred to as 'Boy'. In her early life Winifred attended Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
and was a frequent user of the local library. She and Connie enjoyed reading and poetry, and at night they would spend many hours reciting poems to each other. The family spent many happy holidays at Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and, later in her life, Winifred moved to the country and was inspired by the natural cycles of nature which figure in many of her poems.
The May family regularly attended the music hall and their house was often filled with singing and whistling. Winifred showed an early aptitude for the piano and showed enough ability to regularly accompany local amateur singing groups. Following a period at Cusack’s College where she took a secretarial course she found employment in a patent agency. It was about this time that she started submitting poems for publication. Her first poem earned her 1 guinea
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
and it appeared in Nash’s magazine in 1922. This was followed by other poems appearing in The Strand
Strand Magazine
The Strand Magazine was a monthly magazine composed of fictional stories and factual articles founded by George Newnes. It was first published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950 running to 711 issues, though the first issue was on sale well before Christmas 1890.Its immediate...
and Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
.
Musical career
Her musical talent led to her being engaged by 'The Manor Mount Club' in Forest HillForest Hill, London
Forest Hill is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It situated between Dulwich and Sydenham. The area has enjoyed extensive investment since plans to extend the East London Line to Forest Hill were unveiled in 2004....
where she met the composer Frederick Drummond. He set the words of her 'To Sing Awhile' to music which was then published by Keith Prowse
Keith Prowse
Keith Prowse is a trading name currently used by two separate companies. Within the United Kingdom it is used by the Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Division of Compass Group Plc , the company operates at numerous prestigious venues for many of the world's most iconic sporting and cultural events...
. Subsequently she was offered full-time employment with the company. At 21 years of age she had more than 100 published songs to her credit, the most famous being the English words for Jacob Gade
Jacob Gade
Jacob Thune Hansen Gade was a Danish violinist and composer, mostly of orchestral popular music....
's tango 'Jealousy', which was later recorded by a number of artists including Hutch
Leslie Hutchinson
Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson, known as "Hutch" was one of the biggest cabaret stars in the world during the 1920s and 1930s.-Career:...
, Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
, Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
, Richard Tauber
Richard Tauber
Richard Tauber was an Austrian tenor acclaimed as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. Some critics commented that "his heart felt every word he sang".-Early life:...
and Billy Fury
Billy Fury
Billy Fury, born Ronald William Wycherley , was an internationally successful English singer from the late-1950s to the mid-1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death...
. Winifred later claimed to have written the song in fifteen minutes after having the haunting tango tune played to her over the telephone by Lawrence Wright. In 1930 she composed a song for the 4th birthday of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) which was recorded by Webster Booth
Webster Booth
Leslie Webster Booth , better known by his stage name, Webster Booth, was a British tenor. He is largely remembered today as the duettist partner of Anne Ziegler, but he was also one of the finest British tenors of his generation and was a distinguished oratorio soloist.He was a chorister at...
.
Popular poet
In 1935 she asked The Daily MirrorThe Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid newspaper which was founded in 1903. Twice in its history, from 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was changed to read simply The Mirror, which is how the paper is often referred to in popular parlance. It had an...
for a regular publication of her poems. The features editor asked her to return the following day with eighteen new poems and a suggested pseudonym. This she did with the pseudonym of Patience Strong, a name she took from a book of the same name by Adeline T. Whitney (born 1870). Her daily poems, in ‘The Quiet Corner’, continued throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
until 1946 when her column was transferred to the Sunday Pictorial (later The Sunday Mirror) and continued for several decades. She also contributed poems to the weekly magazine Woman's Own
Woman's Own
Woman's Own is a British lifestyle magazine aimed at women.Woman's Own was first published in 1932. It is one of the UK's most famous women's magazines and is published by IPC Media....
and latterly to the quarterly magazine, This England
This England
This England is a quarterly magazine published in England. It has a large readership among expatriates, especially the elderly. It concentrates on the traditional values and customs of the English people, particularly those of rural and small-town England....
. Her poems were also published in various anthologies and she made two records reciting her poems.
Personal life
Winifred May married Frederick Arnold Williams, an architect in 1931. They enjoyed a happy but childless marriage until he died in 1965. Two years later she married Guy Cushing, a retired buyer for a departmental store. He pre-deceased her in 1979. Winifred was made a Freeman of the City of LondonCity of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
in 1970. She died at her home in Sedlescombe
Sedlescombe
Sedlescombe is a village and civil parish in the Rother District of East Sussex, England. The village is located north of Hastings.The parish lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The River Brede and its tributary the River Line flow through it; and Powdermill Reservoir is...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
Selected bibliography
- Quiet Corner Reflections (1938)
- A Christmas Garland (1948)
- The Patience Strong Bedside Book (1953)
- The Blessings of the Years (1963)
- Come Happy Day (1966)
- Give me a Quiet Corner (1972)
- A Joy Forever (1973)
- With a Poem in My Pocket (Autobiography, 1981)
- Poems from the Fighting Forties (1982)
- Fifty Golden Years (1985, to commemorate her fiftieth anniversary as Patience Strong)
- Tapestries of Time (1991)