A Norfolk Woman Worth Knowing
A Quiet Kind of Superpower: Connie Adam
March always feels like a month that holds women close. We have celebrated International Women’s Day, and with Mother’s Day at the end of this week I've been thinking a little more about the women who’ve shaped who we are.
Some are close to home. Some are woven into history. And some, like Connie Adam, are both but not necessarily notorious.
Connie was born in Norwich in 1927—a clever, determined girl with a love of learning and sport. During the Second World War, she was recruited to the top-secret site at Bletchley Park, where her sharp mathematical mind helped decrypt German codes. Like so many women working in wartime intelligence, her contributions were vital but remained unspoken for decades.
After the war, she trained as an engineer—at a time when women were expected to put their ambitions aside. Alongside her work, she took up , eventually becoming a national-level champion. She was fiercely passionate about the sport and helped nurture it here in Norfolk.
But one of her greatest triumphs didn’t come with medals or headlines. Both Connie’s father and grandfather had been Freemen of Norwich—a historic civic honour recognising outstanding service to the city. But women were not eligible but Connie wasn"t going to let that stop her! She campaigned for ten years to change that. Her efforts were tireless, and in 1991, she finally succeeded—becoming the first woman to be made a Freeman of Norwich. It was more than a personal milestone; it was a moment of recognition for all the women who had quietly served their communities without official acknowledgement.
She reminds me of so many women I’ve known—past and present. Women who get on with it. Who create, care, nurture, fix, and build. Women like the brilliant small business owners I work alongside here in Fakenham, each running something special with heart and strength.
When I think about the stories that inspire my jewellery, I think about women like Connie. I think about mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and friends—the people who pass on creativity, wisdom, and warmth in tiny everyday gestures. Teaching us how to knit. Sharing a recipe. Showing us how to press a flower in a book or turn an idea into something real.
That’s why my pieces aren’t just about silver—they’re about sentiment. About those little everyday legacies that women leave behind.
So this Mother’s Day, if you’re looking for a gift with meaning, you’ll find plenty of ideas in the shop and online. From hearts and sweet messages to tiny pebble charms cast from leftover silver, each piece comes with a story—and perhaps this week, a little nod to Connie too.
Here’s to the women who came before us. The ones around us now, the ones still growing, learning, and dreaming.
Here’s to quiet superpowers.
