Introduction
The years between the First World War and the late 1920s represent a formative and unsettled period in the life of Olive Vivian Trainor. Marked by social independence, ambition, and controversy, this phase reveals a young woman navigating opportunity, expectation, and constraint in early twentieth-century society.
Early Social Life and Stage Claims
Olive later claimed to have worked as a dancer in London and to have performed alongside Jack Buchanan, a prominent figure of the West End stage during the First World War.
Although no formal programmes or reviews survive to confirm this, several photographs preserved among her personal effects appear to be promotional in nature and suggest some level of theatrical involvement.
If accurate, this experience would have placed her within the vibrant social and cultural life of wartime London.
Marriage and Social Independence
During her marriage to Henry Keddey Fletcher, Olive maintained an active social life centred on London.
She travelled frequently, dined out, entertained guests, and moved within social circles that extended beyond the expectations of a conventional married life. This independence became a central issue in the breakdown of the marriage and later featured prominently in legal proceedings.
Conflict with Convention
Accounts from the early 1920s reflect a pattern of behaviour that challenged contemporary norms.
Olive was described as:
- socially active and independent
- resistant to domestic constraint
- frequently present in public and social settings
In the context of the period, such behaviour attracted criticism and contributed to her portrayal in divorce proceedings.
Association with Joynson-Wreford
Following the collapse of her marriage, Olive became associated with Capt. Wilfred H. J. Joynson-Wreford.
Their relationship formed part of the legal basis for divorce actions involving both parties, linking Olive’s personal life directly with the wider Joynson-Wreford family history.
Departure for America (1928)
In 1928, Olive left England with her young son, intending to begin a new life in the United States and, it seems, to pursue opportunities in the world of entertainment or society.
The journey did not proceed as planned. Upon arrival in New York, she was refused entry due to the absence of an immigration visa.
Unable to disembark, she was deported to Bermuda, where she remained until arrangements were made for her onward travel.
Ambition and Uncertainty
This episode reflects both the ambition and instability that characterised this period of Olive’s life.
Her willingness to leave England and attempt a new beginning abroad suggests a determination to shape her own future, despite financial, legal, and social obstacles.
Significance
The London and early overseas years of Olive Vivian Trainor illustrate:
- the expanding social opportunities available to women in the early twentieth century
- the tensions between independence and social expectation
- and the personal consequences of navigating these changing conditions
This period laid the foundation for the later reinvention of her life abroad.
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