Ada & Vera – From London, with Love

Ada Wootten was born in London, and Vera O’Brien in County Cavan, Ireland. They met in the mid-1960s when Ada’s son married Vera’s daughter, and what began as a family bond soon became a friendship that outshone the wedding itself.

Ada loved travel, culture and good cheese.

Vera adored London’s streets, her ever-curious cats, and the art of making sweets.

Both shared a fascination with the small curiosities of life — things handmade, heartfelt and a little bit whimsical.

In their modest kitchens they crafted parcels for friends, neighbours and relatives: Ada’s home-churned butter and cheeses wrapped in wax paper; Vera’s boiled sweets and fudge tied with string. Money was tight, but their gifts were made with love and remembered fondly by those lucky enough to receive them.

They once dreamed of opening a little shop together

 

— a place filled with the things they made and loved — but such dreams demanded capital that working-class Londoners rarely had.

Time being what it is, Ada and Vera are no longer with us. But this is their shop at last — a love-letter to friendship, craftsmanship and London itself.

From London, with Love.