A PETITION has been created for a road at a new housing development to be named after a Second World War spy.
Odette Hallowes, who had been living in Whiteball, near Wellington, worked for the British government behind enemy lines as a member of Churchill's special operations executive.
During this time, Odette was incarcerated, tortured, and interrogated for her links to the secret service - but they never broke her spirit.
HISTORY: Odette's cell at the Ravesnbruck bunker. PIC: Des Schollum Collection
After a year locked up in Fresnes Prison, in Paris, she was ushered into Ravensbruck underground bunker in Germany, where she stayed for three months - starved, and in darkness for 24 hours a day.
Condemned to death for being a British Secret Agent and for her associations with the French Resistance, Odette was determined to survive and to be reunited with her three young daughters.
BRAVE: The torture cell at the Ravesnbruck bunker. PIC: Des Schollum Collection
Odette, who was a Frenchwoman living in Somerset at the time, did not want to leave her daughters, but SOE had seen in her the kind of patriotism, sense of duty and courage required, and asked her to consider becoming an agent in France.
Odette came to realise this was a chance to serve the two countries she loved. After extensive training, she joined another SOE agent, Peter Churchill, as part of his network.
In April 1943, Odette and Peter were betrayed, captured, and imprisoned. Odette was brutally tortured for information on her radio operator, Adolphe Rabinovitch, and another agent, Francis Cammaerts. However, she refused to say anything, and her silence saved not only their lives, but enabled them to carry on their extremely important work.
Odette’s confinement in the notorious Ravensbruck bunker was a ‘lockdown’ like no other. The punishment room was right next door and she could hear the daily beatings of her fellow prisoners.
Odette said that, despite the dreadful conditions, it was essential to try and keep her mind and body active and to retain a sense of dignity. She would spend hours drawing on her memory and her imagination, picturing her children and remembering the stunning beauty of the Somerset countryside and the kindness of its people.
PEACE: Odette with her husband, Geoffrey Hallowes. PIC: Odette's family
In order to honour Odette's sacrifices, well-known Wellington resident Nancy Powell-Brace has created a petition for a road in the new Bagley Road development in Rockwell to be named after her.
The development for 200 new homes is set to be built by Bovis Homes.
Ms Powell-Brace said: "With the new development so close to Whiteball, the 75th anniversary of VE day this year and GWR honouring her with a train named after her, I would like to bring pressure to bear on Bovis Homes to recognise her in this way and, furthermore, ask for other significant Wellingtonians to be recognised along with her in the same way."
Odette's granddaughter, Sophie Parker, has backed the campaign.
FAMILY: Odette with her Granddaughter, Sophie, as a young child.PIC: Odette's family
She said: "I was delighted to see the petition to name a new road after her.
"During her incarceration, images and memories of Somerset and its beautiful countryside, stunning views and wonderful people became a lifeline to Odette, allowing her to escape from her suffering and to find hope that she would one day see her children and Somerset again.
"It would mean a huge amount to our family if they can be persuaded to name one of the roads after Odette, as we know the importance Somerset held for her. It is why she chose to go back there after the war."
But unfortunately, the decision doesn't lie with the housing developer.
A spokesperson for Bovis Homes said: “While we are not responsible for naming the roads, we will highlight this petition, which shows the understandable local pride in Odette Hallowes, to the local authority for their consideration.”
To sign the petition to show public support to the local authority, visit change.org/p/bovis-homes-recognise-odette-hallowes-in-her-favourite-area-of-england.
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