HO 405/122 and HO 334/175/24533
For Flora Alice’s husband, Aram Abadjian, click here.
The biography of Flora Alice Abadjian is a reminder of the involvement of women in the commercial aspects of the Oriental carpet trade. Some details about Flora Alice derive from the naturalization case of her husband, Aram Abadjian, but most others are captured in her communal obituary.
Flora Alice was born on December 10, 1917 in Harrow, Middlesex, London, the third child of Loghofet (Leofet Sarkis Yakoubian/Yacoubian) and Nevart Yakoubian/Yacoubian (née Nouvart Avedis Yedikardachian). She and Aram Abadjian were married in July of 1945 at the Church of St. Sarkis in London. The following month, the Home Office granted her permission to retain her British nationality.
She was employed as a secretary for her father Loghofet Yakoubian, a carpet dealer trading as Yakoubian Bros. at 1&2 New Street in London. She lived with her husband Aram at 111 Canfield Gardens in London in a house jointly owned by him, his brothers, and his sister, a resident of Greece. The house was divided into three flats, one being occupied by Flora Alice, her husband, and his father-in-law, and the other leased. Later in life, she served as Secretary and Director of Aram Enterprises Limited (1992-2017) and Director of Campden Hill Gate (Freehold) Limited (1991-2008), both in London.[1]
Flora Alice’s communal obituary follows.[2]
Flora Abadjian
10/12/1917 – 09/03/2017
Flora Abadjian was the third child of Leofet and Nevart Yacoubian. Edward and Mary were her older siblings.
After leaving school, she trained in the haute couture fashion industry for a couple of years and became an excellent seamstress. She wanted to start her own fashion house but felt that although she was good at copying, she did not have the flair for original design.
She then persuaded her father that she would work in the family business with him instead. It was highly unusual for women to be in business at that time. Her brother had just volunteered at the start of the second World War in 1939. The business was involved in the selling and repairing of oriental carpets and was highly regarded. At one time, she was the insurance assessor for fire damage to carpets for 27 insurance companies. She also drove a car from an early age. This was rare for a woman to do in those days.
She often worked late at night in the city during the war and was a Red Cross nurse in the ambulance service on Friday nights.
She married Aram Abadjian on 27th July, 1945 (who died in 1974). They were devoted to each other. Her daughter Christina was born three years later and Antony was born in 1951.
She loved entertaining and would often hold large parties. She served on various committees, including running the Armenian House (now the Armenian Embassy) and was on the Ladies Committee of St Sarkis Church. She was even the President of a Shooting Club. After Aram died, she took over the management of a small property company which he was involved in and was still doing the books until approximately two years before she died.
She was fair, generous, loving, honest, fun, but above all determined. Her word was her bond, both in business and in her personal life. She would drive a hard bargain because some of her business life had been very difficult. At the same time, everyone enjoyed doing business with her and respected her. She admired people who worked hard and made something of themselves. She was always ready to help someone who she felt was making the effort and deserved it. She was always there with good advice. May she rest in peace.
[1] “Flora Alice ABADJIAN,” https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/CfchveDFaF6KKVWAkjsfbGijRgQ/appointments (accessed 9/24/2025).
[2] N.a., “Community News, In Memoriam, Flora Abadjian,” Armenian Church News: Diocese of the American Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland 3: 7 (March 25, 2017), 9.