RIP Selma van de Perre

SPRA is saddened to learn of the death of local resident and long term SPRA member, Selma van de Perre, 7th June 1922 - 20th October 2025, aged 103 years.

Selma had lived in the area, initially in a flat in St Peter's Square and then on Black Lion Lane, for over 60 years. She was known to many locally and inspired us all with her quick wit and daily constitutional around the Square. The Dutch and St Peter's flags were flying at half-mast in St Peter's Square in her memory.

Selma told of her experience as a WW2 resistance fighter and concentration camp survivor in her celebrated book 'My Name is Selma', which she wrote in her '90's and has now been published around the world.

Selma, who was Dutch by birth, joined the Dutch resistance aged just 20 and helped save many lives, was captured by the Nazis and imprisoned in the Ravensbrück concentration camp but survived and moved to England where she met and married Hugo, a Belgian journalist. Selma was a teacher at the Sacred Heart School in Hammersmith and a journalist for the BBC.

Neighbour Maggie Dobson recalls how, a few years ago, Selma called her across the road to help turn on her computer as by then her eyesight was failing. "Selma was being interviewed by a journalist in South America. I stayed for the interview and was astonished how quickly, clearly and without hesitation she answered all the questions. All in the organised chaos of her study. Impressive'.

Our thoughts are with Selma's son Jos and all her many friends. She will be greatly missed.