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Victoria Hughes (née Rogers, 22 June 1897 – 30 August 1978) was a British lavatory attendant, and the first of her profession to have an entry in the ''
On 16 July 1916, she married Richard Hughes (1896–1965), an apprentice ironmonger, who the same day left to fight in France as a member of the
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...
'', having published her memoirs ''Ladies' Mile'' at the age of 80, which some found shocking but which have since become a valuable local history resource.
Early life
Victoria Hughes was born Victoria Rogers on 22 June 1897 at Woodbury Lane, off Blackboy Hill, Bristol. She was the fifth of ten children of Alfred William Rogers, a scaffolder, and his wife, Ellen Rogers.
On 16 July 1916, she married Richard Hughes (1896–1965), an apprentice ironmonger, who the same day left to fight in France as a member of the Royal Berkshire Regiment
The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was created in 1881, as the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), b ...
during the First World War. He was present at the Battle of the Somme. They had two daughters together, Margaret (born 1920) and Barbara (born 1931).
Career
Hughes' husband returned from the war with "trench foot, a limp, and failing eyesight". She became the family's main breadwinner. From 1929, until her retirement in May 1962, Hughes worked as what she described as a "loo lady" at a public toilet in Stoke Road on Bristol'sDurdham Down
Durdham Down is an area of public open space in Bristol, England. With its neighbour Clifton Down to the southwest, it constitutes a area known as The Downs, much used for leisure including walking, jogging and team sports. Its exposed positio ...
. She soon discovered that many of her customers were prostitutes working the nearby Ladies Mile, and although thoroughly respectable herself, she did not judge, instead providing tea, sympathy and advice. She also kept notebooks about her working life.
In 1977, aged 80, Hughes published her memoirs as ''Ladies' Mile''.Hughes, Victoria. Edited by David Foot. (1977) ''Ladies' Mile''. Bristol: Abson Books. The book "shocked some at the time, but since has become a valued source of local history".
Later life
From 1958, Mr and Mrs Hughes lived in a terraced house at 255 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, where she died on 30 August 1978, from cancer. In 2003, a blue plaque was unveiled on the public conveniences where she worked, and in 2006 she became the first of her profession to be given an entry in the ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Victoria 1897 births 1978 deaths Writers from Bristol Deaths from cancer in England British women memoirists 20th-century British women writers English memoirists 20th-century English writers 20th-century English women 20th-century English non-fiction writers Restroom attendants 20th-century memoirists