New Ed Hall Union Banner To Be Unveiled Saturday 26th March TUC Demo

South West London Mental Health Branch
UNISON Banner

Members and officers of South West London & St Georges Mental Health Trust branch of the health care Union - UNISON, will have the pleasure of unveiling their new UNISON branch banner at the TUC Demonstration in London on Saturday 26th March 2011.

The artists who created the banner, was famous London trade union banner maker Ed Hall, responsible for hundreds of beautiful trade union banners.

Michael Walker UNISON Regional Officer who was responsible for the design describes the relevance of the iconography on the banner.

The colours used in the banner are those of UNISON of purple, green and white and are in turn based upon the WSPU suffragette colours. (chosen in 1908 by Emmeline Pethick Lawrence).

Nursing staff and Asylum attendants in period uniforms of 1910, hold up the banner and is taken from a graphic used on the front of the National Asylum Workers Union journal in its earliest years.

The logo's and slogan "All For One and One For All" at the bottom of the banner are from the original National Asylum Workers Union est 1910.

In the centre of the banner is the main building at Springfield hospital built in 1840. Surrey County Lunatic Asylum (later known as Wandsworth Asylum) opened on 14th June 1841, catering for 350 bed. Note the red flag flying from its rooftop.

At the bottom of the banner, left side - the cat represents Syndicalism and at the bottom right side a Rat (the bosses - as used on the Friern Barnet banner).

WW1 National Asylum Workers Union

National Asylum Workers Union

Private Fred Cartmell; 8th Battalion King's Own Royal Lanacter Regiment, Rainhill Asylum staff and union member

He was invalided home early in from wounds received in September 1917 returned to the front and was killed in action 26/09/1917 aged 27. Husband of Emma Cartmell 25 New Road, Rainhill, Lancashire, Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Private Frederick Curtis; 1st battalion Welsh Guards active union member at Maidstone Mental Hospital, killed in France July 31st 1917 aged 32. Duhallow Cemetery. Son of Elizabeth Waterman, Edinburgh Villa, Barming Heath, Maidstone.

Sergeant Oliver; 2nd North Midlands Royal Garrison Artillery. died in hospital in France aged 32 on 27/08/1917 mentioned in dispatches, Dozinghem cemetery . He was a reservist at outbreak of the War an an attendant at Wakefield Asylum and a member of the local union branch. Husband 12 Denstone Street, Mount Pleasant, Wakefield. Son of Louis Kossuth Batty.

Private H. Wilson; (Charles Henry Wilson) 8th East Surrey Regiment was killed in action at Messines Ridge near Ypres on July 23rd 1917, buried at Ypres Menin Gate, union member at Napsbury Hospital.

Scotland and the NAWU

The year 1918 saw a great development of the National Asylum Workers Union (NAWU) in Scotland . The first local NAWU branch in that country was formed at Hartwood Asylum, Lanarkshire, in March 1918, with Thomas Prentice as Branch Secretary.

The Union had, had a number of members at Kingseat Asylum, Aberdeenshire, in the Central (Head Office) Branch for many months (The union had a small membership in Aberdeen and Perth prior to WW1) but to Hartwood fell the distinction of starting on their own branch.

Montrose (John Nicholl NAWU Branch Secretary) and Kingseat (Gutherie D Connon NAWU Branch Secretary) speedily followed their example, and by the middle of the year there were eight or nine Scottish branches in full swing.

The last few months of 1918 and the early ones of the following year witnessed a marked development of the Union.

Following a request for official recognition by Hartwood, a conference of Scottish Asylum Authorities was held in Glasgow,on November 5th, 1918, at which seventeen (out of twenty) district asylums, and five (out of seven) Royal Asylums were represented.

During the discussion it was apparent that the district asylums were about evenly divided on the question of recognition of the (NAWU) Union, while of the Royal Asylums, one was in favour and three against recognition. There was general agreement in favour of a Conciliation Board representative of asylum authorities and asylum workers which could deal with all matters affecting Scottish Asylum Service. Ultimately an advisory committee was appointed to deal with the whole
question.

This Committee met in Glasgow, on December 10th, and decided by twelve votes to six against the recommendation of granting official recognition to the N.A.W.U. They also made suggestions for the establishment of a Conciliation Board for Scotland on which the Union could not be officially represented.

On December 20th, 1918, a conference of delegates from the Scottish Branches of the Union was held in Glasgow, sixteen branches being represented. After addresses by Mr. Edward Edmondson, J.P, NAWU President, and Mr. Herbert Shaw, NAWU Acting Secretary, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to :—

" That this meeting pledges itself to reject and to oppose any proposal for a Board of Conciliation between the Scottish Asylum Authorities and the Asylum Staffs until official recognition is conceded to the National Asylum Workers' Union and the Union is allowed full representation on such Conciliation Board.

" That a time limit of one calendar month be attached to the application for official recognition, failing the granting of which, steps be taken to declare a strike."

A copy of these resolutions together with the Union's national programme was forwarded to the Scottish Asylum Authorities on January 10th, 1919.

Mr. EDMONDSON'S WARNING.

On January 31st, 1919, the Scottish Asylum Authorities held another conference, at the Central Station Hotel, Glasgow, on the question of recognition, at which Officials of the N.A.W.U. attended by invitation. Mr. Edmondson pointed out the serious position which would arise if recognition were refused. They desired, if they possibly could, to work harmoniously with the whole of the authorities throughout Great Britain and that harmony would be impossible if they were refused the right to speak on behalf of their members. He asked the meeting not to consider the point that it was an English Union. Their General Secretary was as much a Scotsman as any gentleman present; their General Treasurer was a Scotsman, and they had many hundreds of members who were Scotsmen or Scotswomen.

Mr. Shaw informed the meeting that during the last six months 1,200 members from nineteen out of the twenty-seven asylums in Scotland had joined the Union. After the Union Officials had retired the meeting discussed the matter at length.

A motion by Mr. Sharp, of Glasgow, " That this Conference recommends its Constituent Boards to recognise the Union," was lost by eight votes to ten who voted for an amendment that members should report to their individual Boards and get instructions.

A second conference of the Scottish Branches of the Union was held on February 7 to consider the position arising out of the expiration of the month's ultimatum of January 10. A plan of action was agreed upon, but what would undoubtedly have been a very serious situation was averted at the eleventh hour by the receipt of a message from the Acting General Secretary of the Union urging the members to refrain from taking the contemplated drastic action in view of the unanimous decision of the London Conference of Asylum Authorities of Great Britain to press forward the early establishment of an Industrial Council for the whole asylum service.

The NAWU faced fierce competition from the Municiple Employees Association (MEA) now GMB in Glasgow Asylums but by January 1919 the NAWU claimed to represent half of the 2,500 asylum workers in Scotland.

However, by September 1923 only five authorities remained on the employers side of the Scottish Joint Consulative Committee, (Dudee, Fife, Govan, Lanark and Kirklands) by 1924 it had disbanded.

In 1928 the NAWU in Scotland appointed a temporary "Lady organiser" to go around the asylums recruiting. The women appointed was Mrs Beaton, This was probably Kate Beaton, Glasgow City Labour councillor and well known union organiser for the Federation of Women Workers (along with Mary Barbour).

Mrs (Kate) Beaton was therefore COHSE's first woman paid official

NOTE

Delegates to the NAWU conference of 28th September 1918 at Chandos Hall, The Strand, London included
Mr William Fraser representing Montrose, Morningside and Kirklands Asylums NAWU branches
Hartwood failed to send a delegate as Kingseat, and Woodilee

NAWU Branch Secretaries June 1920

ABBEY—Miss C. McDonald, 1, Craw Boad, Paisley.
ABERDEEN—Mr. W. Middleton, Royal Asylum, Aberdeen.
BANGOUR.—Mr. J. L. Wakelin. 41, Dechmont, West Lothian, Scotland.
BANFF—Mr. J. Gardiner, Ladysbridge Asylum, by Banff.
CRIGHTON-
CUPAR—Mr. Thomas Melrose, The Retreat, Cupar. Fife.
DYKEBAR—Mr. Donald MacIver. The Cottages, Dykebar, Paisley.
DUNDEE—Mr. David Mackenzie, 9, Westgreen Cottages. Liff.
ELGIN- Mr. James George. District Asylum. Elgin, N.B.
GARTLOCH—Mr. P. J. Clark. Mid Cottage. Gartloch, Gartloch.
GREENOCK—Mr. William Cameron, 7. Smithson Cottages, Greenock.
HARTWOOD.—Mr. Thomas Prentice, The Asylum, Hartwood. Lanark.
HAWKHEAD—Mr. Malcolm McCormick. Hawkhead Asylum, Crookston, Glasgow.
INVERNESS.—Mr John McCrum, Asylum Cottage, Inverness.
KIRKLANDS—Mr. James Graham, 5, Kirklands Cottages, Bothwell.
KINGSEAT—Mr Gutherie D Connon, Cockcairns,Kingseat. Newmachar
LARBERT- Mr Charles Ritchie, Inches Cottages. Larbert,Sterlingshire
MELROSE- Mr John Fox, Asylum Cottages. Melrose. Scotland.
MIDLOTHIAN AND PEEBLES—Mr. M. Byrne,Rosslynee, Rosslyn Castle, Edinburgh.
MONTROSE—Mr. John Nicoll, Royal Asylum,Asylum Cottages,Montrose
MORNINGSIDE—Mr. J. Davidson. 44. Craighouse Gardens, Edinburgh
RICCARTSBAR—Mr. D. Campbell, District Asylum. Riccartsbar, Paisley
STONEYETTS—Mr. George Dickson, Stoneyetts Cottages, Chryston.Glasgow.
WOODILEE-Mr. H. MacDonald, 4, Loch Boad. Kirkintilloch, Dumbartonshirc.

NAWU VICTIMISATION 1910-1913

NAWU VICTIMISATION 1910-1913

The history of the NAWU has been the history of all trade unions. We have suffered greatly, and we have greatly gained.

Persecution has failed to stop the march of progress, and has helped the cause it sought to suppress; but the Asylum Authorities have an unenviable record of victimization even in trade union annals.

Look at this black list, you new members, and see how your right of combination has been gained, and at what cost:

Lancaster Asylum

Wakefield Asylum

Banstead Asylum

Cardiff Asylum (2)

Dorchester Asylum (4)

Fareham Asylum

Newport Asylum (2)

Bootham Asylum Park

Maidstone Asylum

Warlingham Asylum (2)

Earlswood Asylum

Norfolk Asylum

All these cases of victimization involved loss of employment, and the wasting of service ranging from one to twenty years.

Two of these men, Messrs Mumford and Burton, through inability to secure employment, are at the present moment reduced to the direst poverty, and if any member of the union would like to assist in providing them of the means of keeping a roof over their heads during the coming Christmas, we shall be pleased to hear from them.

Fortunately, all these sacrifices have not been in vain. The conditions of service at most of the Asylums where we have established strong branches are considerably improved, and we believe all branches have succeeded in gaing some concessions, which however small, have well repaid the small subscription paid to the union.

Yes from “Cold meat of some sort” at Devizes Asylum, to a £7 and £5 a year rise all round to nurses and Attendants in the West Riding Asylums.

NAWU Magazine December 1913

NOTE:
At Portrane Asylum, Ireland staff in 1913 were forced to sign, on pain of dismissal, a document declaring that they were not members of the NAWU.

Early Recognition of the NAWU

NAWU Recognition

In December 1913 it was reported in the National Asylum Workers Union (NAWU) Magazine that in the three years since formation the following insitutions had agreed to official recognition of the NAWU

Cardiff Asylum
Durham Asylum
London County Council
Porstmouth Asylum

Bexley Asylum 1901 (unionisation)

The Original Asylum Workers Union!

A Resume of 1901 at Bexley Asylum

It was a very earnest little band of workers that first hatched the plot, and decided to form an association for their own and their fellow workers mutual benefit.

Judicious discussions at the mess table and exaggerated ideas of his own importance on the part of the Medical Superintendent, somewhat hastened the project.

So we bide ourselves to a neigbouring tavern, coffee tavern, and made arrangements with the proprietor for the use of the club room.We were a poor lot, so the landlord kindly allowed us to use the room rent free, providing we paid for the gas consumed.

There were few enthusiasts, Tim Bobbin, Harry Lee, and W. Dutton, as well as your humble servant, and a host of passive supporters.

We had good attendances, at least thirty, and some-times nearly fifty came to our weekly meetings, and poured out their woes, and we even got as far as suggesting the appointment of a deputation to visit other Asylums, " with the view of forming one huge Association!!" .

In the meantime differences of opinion had arisen between the Medical Superintendent and several of our pioneers, with the result that they sought fresh pastures. Duty prevented their getting away to an occasional meeting (even if their pockets could have stood the expense).

Some months afterwards I visited the old place- there stood the heath in all it’s beauty, and the coffee tavern in all its grandeur—but the association and its members, alas ! were no more. Practically an entirely new staff had arrived at the large institution, and I turned wearily away to continue my wanderings.

Since that day one has tried many callings and places, and finally settled down in another branch of lunacy work, but it is refreshing to see the number of Attendants and Nurses who have taken advantage of the Asylum-Workers' Union in order to improve their conditions of service. For your own sake, try to rouse the others who have not yet joined; surely the low subscription is more than covered by the advantages of belonging to such a Union?

Are you aware that Asylum Attendants are worse fed and worse treated than any of the Attendants at our workhouses? There is no comparison between the two dietaries, and the conditions of service and chances of promotion which the latter has are infinitely better than the former " enjoys." The head of affairs at the workhouse is the Master—a man who has risen from the ranks—-and the doctor is subordinate to him. The result is, there is an appeal beyond the Medical Officer and one gets justice.

The Poor Law Officers' Association members are always speaking of you, and your grit, in forming a Trade Union, and admire you for it, but, if you are compelled to spend your life among the insane then get "the other fellow" to help to brighten and lighten the conditions of service. Let. your committees "know the dietary provided for officers at the workhouse nearest, to where you are engaged, and I'll guarantee your bread and butter three mornings and bacon 'four mornings per week" (this was in force at Birmingham City Asylum in 1900) will compare very poorly with the “Grubber " fare.

Mr. Editor, I have trespassed on your space for which I apologise, but I feel so convinced that many improvements could be made if members would only bestir themselves to help to make one strong body of Attendants and Nurses. Many of the Asylum Committee members are sympathetic—if you could get at them and put your side of the grievance as clearly as the Medical Superintendent puts his

Think it over

Ballybay

The National Asylum Workers Union Magazine April 1914

NAWU Branches June 1914

NAWU Branches June 1914

Abergavenny

Aylesbury

Banstead

Barnsley Hall

Bexley

Birmingham

Bodmin

Brentwood

Brookwood

Cane Hill

Cardiff

Carmarthen

Caterham

Chester

Claybury

Colney Hatch

Darenth

Derby

Devizes

Durham

Earlswood

Epsom

Exminster

Fareham

Garlands

Gloucester

Hanwell

Hayward's Heath

Hellingly

Hereford

Hill End

Hull

Killarney

Lancaster

Leavesden

Lincoln

Macclesfield

Maidstone

Menston

Mickleover

Middlesbrough

Middlesex

Morpeth

Napsbury

Netheme

Newport

Northfield

Norwich

Oxford

Portsmouth

Prestwich

Rainhill

Scalebor Park

Storthes Hall

Tooting

Wadsley

Wakefield

Wallingford

West Ham

Winwick

Central Branch

Aberdeen

Bridgend

Cotford

Dorset

Dublin

Earlswood

Fulford

Hill End

Kilkenny

Portrane

Powick

Three Counties

Whittingham

York

National Asylum Workers Union Branches 1914

Rev Stanley Morgan 1870-1951

Rev Stanley Morgan 1870-1851

Rev Stanley J.W. Morgan was born March 1870 at London Poplar, Swanscombe, Kent.

Described later by COHSE General Secretary Cliff Comer as “small in stature, but big in human kindness ".

His early years seem to have been spent as the Greenhithe Congregational minister in Kent, a position he held for 55 years.

He was appointed as London & Southern Regional Organiser of the newly established “Federation” between the National Asylum Worker Union and the Poor Law Workers Trade Union in 1921 on a salary of £300 a year. Working out of the Poor Law Workers (later Hospital & Welfare Services Union) London office.

When the Federation was dissolved in November 1922 his services were maintained by the National Asylum Workers Union (later Mental Hospital & Institutional Workers Union).

In March 1922 Rev Stanley Morgan stood as the Labour candidate (with official union support) in the Parliamentary by-election at Faversham, Kent, being narrowly beaten by the Conservative candidate (2,579 votes).

He was elected to Kent County Council for the Dartford area, while living at 26 Cobham Terrace, Greenhithe, Kent as a Labour Party candiate.

On the eve of his retirement on 31^st December 1937, a dinner held in his honour at Shaftesbury hotel on August 11^th 1937, attended by Miss Wiese, Mr Blood, Mr Blackburn and Mr Southwell of the National Executive Committee.

The General Secretary George Gibson wrote of the Rev Morgan that “he had known him over a period of seventeen years during which time there has been no occasion for the slightest difference of opinion".

Mr E.R Blackburn (former President) referred to the Rev Morgan’s “grim but triumphant struggles with both the London County Council and the late Metropolitan Asylums Board. While Miss Weise praised his organizational skills amongst mental nurses.

The guests then presented Rev Stanley Morgan with a cheque for £116 by Mr F.J. Halinson Chairman of the London District of the MH&IWU union.

On retirement Rev Morgan remained a Labour, Kent County Councillor.

Stanley Morgan died on the evening of Sunday 16th December 1951 at the age of 81.

The COHSE General Secretary Cliff Comer also a staunch non-conformist stated on his death

“He was one of the most outstanding and striking personalities have ever met. Not everyone was able to take kindly to him because they did not take the trouble to get to know him. To know Stanley Morgan was to respect and love him as a brother”.

And Mr Cliff Comer also recalled advice Morgan gave him on being appointed a full time officer in1933 “When you come up against prejudice, as you undoubtedly will, do not stop to argue with it; leave it to rot at the roadside where it belongs, and go on your way”.

Comer also recalled Rev Stanley Morgan stating “Comer the world is mad, It will neither have Jesus Christ, nor a sensible economic system to live under”.

Notes:

Rev Stanley  J W Morgan, 26 Cobham Terrace, Greenhithe, Kent (address 1936)

During the heavy air raids on the South Coast during WW2, Rev Stanley Morgan played a key role in organising Sunday church services inside the chalk cliff tunnel's used as air raid shelters .

Syd Chester: "The accordionist in the Greenhithe Tunnel " I learned that every Sunday, during the height of the Blitz, services were held in one of the chalk tunnels  at Greenhithe. The vicar was the Rev Stanley Morgan and the congregation was huge. For these people prayers were important. It was typical of that spirit of defiance shown at the time."

Reverend Stanley became Chairman of the West Hill hospital (previously known as King Edward Hospital) in 1910 and remained as Chairman for the next 25 years. He was much respected and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor in Dartford.

In Kent a day center at Barn End, Wilmington, Dartford seems to have been named after him. Stanley Morgan House

And a road in Dartford was named after him

Surely, Rev Stanley Morgan deserves a fitting tribute from the people of Dartford, a people he so tirelessly served.

Herbert Shaw Asst General Secretary NAWU

Herbert Shaw
NAWU & MH&IWU Assistant General Secretary


We record the death of Herbert Shaw, on 14th April 1946, at the age of 69 years, British mental nurses have lost a lovable friend and colleague while this union mourns a pioneer whose lifetime was devoted to the interests of its members. Our sympathy goes to his widow and family; not least to his 94-year-old mother who braved a 100 miles journey to see her son before death brought relief from a painful illness. Herbert Shaw was assistant general secretary for 34 years until he retired in 1946.


Throughout George Gibson's general secretaryship, when Gibson was making a name in national affairs, Herbert Shaw was an able and modest collaborator in a unique trade union partnership. Both had outstanding but complementary qualifies that were vital to the union's development to its present strength and prestige. Joining Gibson as a victimised branch secretary from Wakefield Asylum (he was dismissed for using the hospital postal system to circulate union propaganda) he brought qualities of administration and sound judgment no less valuable than Gibson's robust orator;'' and vigorous personality.


He had learned much from the union's first general secretary, the Rev. H. M. S.Bankart, a Lancaster hospital chaplain who had also been sacked for his National Asylum Workers Union (NAWU) sympathies. He played a vital role in the 1918 Lancashire Asylum strikes for better pay and conditions at Rainhill, Whittingham, Lancaster and Prestwich Asylums which broke out on 5th September 1918 and the Bodmin stike over the wearing of the union badge which started on 22nd October 1918. later he encouraaged the staff at Radcliffe Asylum to make a stand agaginst pay cuts and longer hours.

For 33 years he was honorary editor of the NAWU & MH&IWU union Journal whose files bear eloquent "testimony to the pride and pains he took in this work—much of which could only be done in leisured moments at home.

Throughout the war and immediate post-war years he laboured under increasing pressure owing to the general secretary's absence on engagements of national importance and during the negotiations for amalgamation with the Health and Welfare Services Union it became apparent that a long and fruitful partnership was doomed to dissolution. Nor was he prepared to take on a fresh partner with the result that as soon as the Confederation became a fait accompli he retired on superannuation. His resignation implied no disapproval of the merger or its objects to bring All hospital workers into one organisation for in his farewell message printed in the Journal he said : "There is no reason why it should not become the unchallengeable representative body for the Health Services as a whole."

He was a welcome visitor to head office from time to time but his last conference appearance was at Weston-super-Mare in 1947 when he acted as a teller. It is not as a teller of votes that we shall remember him but as a teller of rich anecdotes of trade union struggle and an amateur editor whoma professional was proud to follow.

Representatives of the union who attended the funeral at Manchester included ; Mr. Joe Richards (assistant general secretary), Mr.F. J. Lynch (COHSE national officer), Mr. R.Farthing (COHSE financial officer), Mr. J. Yearsley (auditor), Mr. W. R. T. Booth (solicitor), Mr. F. and Mr. C. Swift (printers), Mr. C.Brooks (editor), Mr. P. H. Robertson (chairman No. 3 Regional Council), Mr. F.Rhodes (secretary Lancashire COHSE Federation of Officers & sub Officers Branches) and Mr. J. Simmons (COHSE Prestwich branch). Others present included Mr. J. H. Bleasdale, president, Mr. W. E. Wall, secretary, and members of Levenshume Private Club. the week.

Herbert was an ever-present, never absent, never late—everything in order ; nothing left to chance. The foundation upon which our organisation was built owes much to him, and of him we can truly say: Thou good and faithful Servant and Friend.

Charlie Dean - Whittingham Pioneer

Death of a Whittingham NAWU Pioneer Charlie Dean - Died 1937

It is with the deepest regret that we record the sudden and unexpected passing of the late Charles H. Dean, former President of the Whittingham Branch, late member of the National Asylum workers Union National Executive Committee and a Trustee of the Union, on February 15th, 1937 at the age of sixty-three years.

Evidence of the esteem and affection in which " Charlie Dean " was held in the district was provided at the funeral which took place on February I8th 1937 at St. Mary's, Goosnargh when a large congregation took part in the service conducted by the Rev. B. Boss.

A large number of male wises in uniform also attended, of whom R.Fazackerly, A. Dumbleton, . F. C..Robinson D. Williams, J. Watson, B. Fare, D. McKenzie, and A Little acted as bearers,

The representatives present on behalf of the MHIWU Nursing Sub-officers were Messrs, W. Foden. T. Hall and R. Cunnington: The Whittingham Branch was represented by Messrs D C Williams (Secretary), J. Woodcock, M. Mercer and G. Oxborrow; Mr Woodcock also represented the Lancashire, .Cheshire and North Wales Federation.

The local nursing association was represented by, Mr, Marshall. Dr. A. . R, Grant (Medical Superintendent) also attended.

Amongst the many; beautiful floral tributes: were wreaths from the Union’s National Executive Council and.-Officers of the union and from members of the; Whittingham Branch

The late Charlie Dean was ‘stalwart of trade unionism' He along with others in the dark and distant past brought into being the organisation we know to-day.

To belong to the Union in those days could easily result in the loss of one s ]ob ; yet men of the calibre of Dean worked hard and courageously in the face of official opposition and largely as a result of their efforts they have given-to us an organization and a record of achievement that stands

J W - Union Journal March 1937

NOTE

Charles Dean was also a candidate for NAWU President at the Seventh Annual conference in July 1921, Birmingham losing to W. Jones 1920-1922

National Asylum Worker Union branch at Whittingham established December 1917

Biggest branch in union in January 1918 with 426 (86% of all staff) "Premier branch" of the union

By March 1918 Whittingham branch had 507 members, including 73 serving with the Colours (Army)

Maude Wiese

MAUD EVE WIESE

Miss Maud Wiese was the first woman member of the National Asylum Workers Union (NAWU) Executive Council, she was adopted as NAWU candidate in the General Nursing Council elections held after the passing of the 1919 Nurses Registration Act.

She was the first NAWU candidate elected to the GNC in 1922. She was incessant in pressing the interests of mental nurses on the General Nursing Council (now Nursing & Midwifery Council) during the early 1920s.

This earned her many enemies among the entrenched interests dominant in its decision-making structures, especially the College of Nursing.

She retired from the GNC in 1927 active campaigning during the late 1920s, after promotion to head nurse at Claybury Mental Hospital in Woodford Green, Essex. In August 1927 she was appointed Assistant Matron at Bexley Mental Hospital, Kent.

In 1937 she stood again for the GNC again along with Iris Brook and Thora Silverthorne.

Note trainned/exams at Banstead Asylum  Surrey

Probably born Battersea 1890 (1901 census)