Janetta Parladé (née Woolley) was born 31 Dec 1921 to parents Janet Orr Ewing and Rev. Geoffrey H. Woolley V.C. She is frequently described as a ‘literary socialite’ and was a captivating personality in the literary and intellectual circles of her time. As a young woman, she was a member of the Horizon magazine social set centering on the editor Cyril Connolly. She was acquainted with other notable contemporaries such as Gerald Brenan, Evelyn Waugh, Arthur Koestler, and George Orwell.
Janetta was a lifelong friend of Frances Partridge, and often stayed at Ham Spray, the house in Wiltshire associated with the Bloomsbury group. Through her life, Janetta acquired many surnames through her life. Janetta was married several times throughout her life. Firstly, to the author and painter, Humphrey Slater whom she left for Kenneth Sinclair-Loutit. She later married journalist, Robert Kee. By 1952, after four years together, the couple were divorced and Janetta next married the physicist, Derek Jackson. The marriage did not last and in 1954 the two were separated. From the late 1960’s Janetta spent much of her time in Spain. In 1971, she married the Spanish aristocrat and interior decorator, Jaime Parladé. Janetta was an accomplished painter and amateur chef. She died 9th June 2018.