Olive Constance (Snell) Pike (1888 - 1962)

Born 3 Apr 1888 in Natal, South Africa

Ancestors

Wife of Ebenezer John Lecky Pike — married 16 Apr 1913 in Westminster, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 23 May 1962 at age 74 in Chichester, Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Susan Scarcella [send private message]

Biography

From Wikipedia^[1]:

Olive Constance Snell (3 April 1888 – 23 May 1962) was an English artist, known for her portraiture.

Snell was born in the Colony of Natal, South Africa, the daughter of Constance Louisa and Edward Snell of Monkokehampton, Devon, England. She arrived in England in 1912, already a competent painter.

In the 1920s, she painted portraits for the front covers of several issues of The Sketch, and The Bystander, working mainly in crayon & watercolour. During this period, she made two visits to the United States, making use of introductions made by Sir Joseph Duveen at the behest of Oswald Birley. Her subjects included American celebrities such as Tallulah Bankhead and Amelia Earhart, and their British equivalents, such as Madeleine Carroll and Cathleen Nesbitt. Her portrait of Agatha Christie was used on the cover of Agatha Christie: An Autobiography.

During World War II, she turned to military subjects, including Battle of Britain pilots, as an official war artist attached to the Royal Air Force. Her 1943 painting of pilots of 610 Squadron at RAF Westhampnett is now in the Goodwood collection on the same site.Four of the eighteen pilots depicted were killed within months of its completion. The War Artists' Advisory Committee issued her with a permit to sketch in public during wartime.

She married Ebenezer John Lecky Pike, CBE, MC (1884-1965), an officer (later a colonel) in the Grenadier Guards, on 16 April 1913. They had four children, the youngest of whom, David Ebenezer (born 9 June 1925), a lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards, was killed in action on 5 March 1945 and is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Their eldest child, Helena Christian, married Lionel Brett, 4th Viscount Esher. The middle daughter Katherine Mary Penelope married Lawrence Dundas, 3rd Marquess of Zetland. A third daughter, Jane Rosemary (1923-1934), died in childhood.

She exhibited at the Fine Art Society, Grosvenor Gallery, New English Art Club, Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Society of Women Artists. Her works are in public collections, including the Imperial War Museums and Royal Air Force Museum.

Her portrait was painted in 1922 by Oswald Birley. As of 2017, the picture was in private ownership. Birley subsequently painted Ebenezer Pike, and later married Pike's sister, Rhoda, after painting her also. Another portrait was painted circa 1927 by Augustus John. This work was sold by Boningtons in June 2018. The Illustrated London News noted in 1927, that Snell "was lucky enough to have some lessons from that celebrated artist Augustus John, who was interested in her work".

1911 Census

In the 1911 census Olive (age 24) was living with her parents, Edward and Constance Snell at 5 Rutland Gate, St Margaret and St John, London & Middlesex, England.^[2]

1939 Register

In the 1939 register Olive was living in Ditcham House Buriton, Clanfield, Petersfield R.D., Hampshire, England, with her married daughter, Katherine.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Olive Snell
2. ↑ 1911 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1911"
   Citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
   FamilySearch Record: XW21-9N5 (accessed 30 May 2022)
   FindMyPast Image (requires subscription)
   Name: Olive Constance Snell; Census Date: 1911; Census Place: London, England, United Kingdom; Marital Status: Single; Birth Date: 1887; Birth Place: Natal South Africa Resident; Age: 24; Age Years: 024; Code Employed: N; Inhabited Flag: Y; Cnt Family Members: 9; Relationship To Head: Daughter.
3. ↑ 1939 Register: "1939 Register"
   Reference: RG101/2393D/014/11; Piece number: 2393D; Schedule: 139
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 30 May 2022)

See also:

• Marriage: "Westminster Marriages"
  Archive: City of Westminster Archives Centre
  FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 30 May 2022)
  First name(s): Olive Constance; Last name: Snell; Age: 27; Birth year: 1886; Marriage year: 1913; Parish: St Margaret, Westminster; Spouse's first name(s): Ebenezer John Lecky; Spouse's last name: Pike; Spouse's age: 29; Spouse's birth year: 1884; County: Middlesex; Country: England.

• Marriage Registration: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
  Citing 1913, quarter 2, vol. 1A, p. 875, St. George Hanover Square, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
  FamilySearch Record: 26ZV-QHR (accessed 30 May 2022)
  Name: Olive C Snell; Marriage Date: 1913; Marriage Place: St. George Hanover Square, London, England; Registration Date: 1913; Event District Reg: St. George Hanover Square; Event Type: Marriage; Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun; Other On Page Name1: Ebenezer J L Pike.

• Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
  Citing UK General Register Office. Volume: 5H; Page: 604;
  FamilySearch Record: QVCK-LMGM (accessed 30 May 2022)
  Name: Olive C Pike; Death Date: 1962; Death Place: Sussex, England, United Kingdom; Birth Date: 1888; Age: 74.

• Probate: "England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019"
  FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 30 May 2022)
  First name(s): Olive Constance; Last name: Pike; Death date: 23 May 1962; Probate date: 15 Jun 1962; Registry: London; Linked persons: Leslie Richard Stott.

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image).
  Find A Grave: Memorial #205759316 (accessed 30 May 2022)
  Memorial page for Olive Constance Snell Pike (3 Apr 1888-23 May 1962), citing Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium, Putney Vale, London Borough of Wandsworth, Greater London, England; Maintained by AR72 (contributor 48522039).