Deborah Rooke has published a paper in Baptist Quarterly giving a fuller picture of Violet's life and ministry. Her first pastorate was here in the EMBA at Littleover Baptist Church in Derby, in 1926. While she was there she played a key role in the Derby and District Baptist Union, serving as Vice President (1927) and President (1928).
She had a great reputation as a pastor and preacher and was much in demand locally as a speaker:
"A very fine sermon was preached by the pastor, whose able discourses Sunday afterSunday are much appreciated by large congregations. … [T]he quality of her preaching is very high. Her pulpit style and delivery is also attractive: she has a clear, beautiful voice with faultless enunciation" (A quote from the Derbyshire Advertiser quoted in the article)