Rosalind Hudson facts for kids

Rosalind Audrey Clare Hudson (born Latham; 31 July 1926 – 7 July 2013) was a British codebreaker and a skilled maker of architectural models. She used her talents to help her country during World War II and later created amazing miniature buildings.

Early Life and Learning

Rosalind grew up and went to Adcote School in Shropshire, England. From a young age, she loved buildings and how they were designed. Her grandfather, Walter Aubrey Thomas, was a famous architect who designed the Royal Liver Building. This family connection likely inspired Rosalind's interest in architecture. She even built her own small models of buildings.

Rosalind wanted to study architecture more deeply at the Liverpool School of Art. However, during World War II, she left her studies to join the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS). This was a special group for women who helped the navy during the war. Rosalind was sent to secret locations like Bletchley Park and Woburn Abbey to do important work for the war effort.

Rosalind's Career

Secret War Work at Bletchley Park

After her training, Rosalind was sent to Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where the British government worked to break enemy codes. It was a very important part of winning the war. Rosalind worked in a special area called Hut 8. She worked under a brilliant codebreaker named Alan Turing. Her work at Bletchley Park was so secret that she never talked about it after the war ended.

A Florist's Touch

After the war, Rosalind learned a new skill: flower arranging. She trained to become a florist, which is someone who designs and sells flower arrangements. She worked at famous hotels like Claridge's and the Savoy, making beautiful flower displays. As a wedding gift, the Savoy Hotel even gave Rosalind and her husband a special room with a view of the River Thames. She also arranged flowers for famous people like writer Somerset Maugham and his wife, Syrie Maugham. Besides her work, Rosalind enjoyed playing the piano and painting with watercolors.

Amazing Architectural Models

Rosalind was best known for her incredible architectural models. She especially loved Georgian architecture, which is a style of building popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries. You can see some of her models in places like the Building of Bath Collection and the Pump Room in Bath.

One of her models, a detailed miniature of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, is displayed in the gallery's entrance hall. Rosalind also made a model of Highgrove House, the country home of Charles, Prince of Wales. This model was a special wedding gift for Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Later, Prince Charles asked Rosalind to update the model when he added a new porch to his house. Rosalind made models of other private homes too. She often didn't want to be paid for her models, showing how much she loved her craft.

Personal Life

Rosalind met her husband, Richard Hudson, in 1945. He was serving in the Royal Marines at the time. They got married in 1949. Rosalind and Richard lived on a farm near Bath and had three sons and two daughters.

Rosalind passed away in 2013, just before her 87th birthday. She is remembered for her secret war work and her beautiful miniature buildings.