Biography

I turned 30 on the 22nd of September 2021. It was 2 months to the day that my father passed away. As a result I didn’t do any celebrations at the time (a friend took me to York and I did 1 trip to Antigua but ultimately, I didn’t do a party. So I delayed my party until the 13th of August 2022. I went to the Oscar Wilde Lounge in Hotel Café Royal. then Stall seats at the Lion King and then finally a tour of the London eye. I did this with 3 friends and we had a marvellous time. Probably single best day of my life. I was a princess for the day and I loved every moment of it. I decided to do a commemorative stationary, in which I gave a miniature autobiography.

The day was inspired by “Griffin’s day out” 22nd February 2020 a day when I took my parents to afternoon tea on the Thames, Lion King at the Lyceum and then a dinner at the Big Easy shack house in Convent Garden. with the Theme “Veni Vidi, Vici” I came, I saw, I conquered. I came (to tea) I saw (the Lion King) I conquered (London, on the London Eye) My dad also took me on the London eye as a child, when it first opened because he won tickets for it as a MENCAP volunteer.

Each booklet is unique as in that I wrote down what I admire about the recipient when I gave it to them, I only wrote 3 for the 3 people I invited to my party, but for me it made it more personal. Not just a good time, but a time with some depth, emotion and reflection.

So here is my autobiography. Enjoy.

The story so far…

Annetta Mother Smith was born on the 22nd of September 1991 to Mr & Mrs Smith. She attended Boutcher C of E primary school in Bermondsey and St Phillip’s C of E church where she met Bissy, she then went on to Haberdasher Aske’s before moving to the countryside in 2005.

In London she was blessed to meet many wonderful people, including her late godmother’s Aunt Theresa Richards and Aunt Claudia John, these 2 very different inspirational women are a model for her to this day.

Annetta is a proud Creole of Sierra Leone, her father taught her traditional hunting songs and would refer to her as Ya  odeh Griffin. (female hunting leader) she often helped her parents in the charity her father founded, The Sierra Leone Fellowship of Bermondsey Central Hall. She worked with him throughout his life with his pastoral and charity work.

At school, she did a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including forming her own debating society at St Anne’s Catholic School and representing Ireland in Model United Nations Hampshire wide debating society. She then attended Peter Symonds College Winchester to do science A levels and Economics. Here she was a member of both Biology extension group and Biology extended project. Her love of the sciences stemmed from her father, the late Rev Beale Griffin, buying her science books, she treasured her daily talks with him in the car, listening to radio 4 and sharpening her wit with him debating the issues of the day. With her mother she’d spend time shopping or baking.

After Peter Symonds College she studied ACCA at Kaplan Financial and then went on to work for some prestigious brands from Football Beyond Boarders, Sainsbury’s supermarkets and Gymbox.

Her life changed dramatically when she moved to the countryside, she made the best of it by volunteering in Scouts, Girls Brigade and Sunday school. Some of her proudest moments come from working with young people and helping them grow. She took a trip of a lifetime to the USA with the scouts, visiting 5 states in a 3 week road trip.

Annetta met Caroline just before the pandemic through her cousin, the pandemic was of course a defining moment for everyone.

The pandemic, left the Smith family relatively unharmed, until April 2021 when her dad stopped eating. It was soon established to be cancer of the pancreas and he passed into eternity in July 2021. It was then she met Rosa, who she met in Whitchurch.

In her spare time she crotchets, sews, bakes, does scouts, writes in her blog Grace and Courage, walks, and studies for her CTA exams, she loves travel and wishes to see more of the world, also wishing to learn more languages to aid her passion for etymology, both of the English and Creole languages. She is a veracious reader and will read anything she can. Another habit she got from her father.

Annetta has always been a daddy’s girl. And her father received all the love and attention she could give him during his life. From the baking his favourite snacks to planning theatre trips, holidays and days out, her parents always receive the best. Today’s trip is inspired by some of the happy memories the Griffin’s shared as a family.

In her next stage of her life she hopes for a loving, faithful, healthy husband, who is emotionally stable so they can build a peaceful, prosperous home together and raise healthy, joyful well rounded children. She hopes to learn languages, travel more and uplift others.

Annetta’s personal motto is John 10:10. Jesus said, “I came that you would have life, and life in all its fullness.” She believes it to be her calling in life to uphold that verse.

Annetta’s favourite Bible verses are 1 Corinthians 4-7,13

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 Grace and Courage

Annetta Mother Smith