When
Mrs Webb was a child she was hospitalised for a
time. Her mother's best friend Mary Quirk worked at
the time for Mrs Julia Florence Ismay; widow of
Bruce Ismay Chairman/MD of White Star who was on the
Titanic at the time of the disaster.It is not
known in what capacity Mary Quirk was employed but
it was likely to have been as a companion or
similar. Mrs Ismay sent her chauffer to visit Mrs
Webb on numerous occasions whilst she was
recovering-taking her on trips out in a Rolls
Royce,and she also visited Mrs Ismay at home once
she was fully recovered.
Mrs Webb is unclear as to the exact address of
the home of the Mrs Ismay but recalls it was close
to the Russian Embassy at the time and backed on to
parkland where the Royal Artillery practiced the 21
gun salute. She recalls that Mrs Ismay had a
Pekinese and that there was a portrait of her as a
young girl at the foot of the stairs wearing the
dress now in Mrs Webb's possession.
Julia Florence Ismay also had a brooch made for
Mrs Webb oval with seeds pearls and her initials
depicted in diamonds. This brooch no longer exist as
was converted int diamond earrings that had been
stolen. MRS Webb believes the brooch was made by
Cartiers and has undertaken research to verify this.
As yet Cartiers have not responded.
In 1963 Mrs Ismay died and some time after Mary
Quirk brought a suitcase to Mrs Webb containing the
dress and a separate bodice. The bodice to the dress
has been reinforced but does have Florence Ismay's
name on it.
