About the product

MBE 2nd Type Ladies Childrens Home

£245.00

Members of the Order of the British Empire, MBE, 2nd Type, Ladies Issue, in Box, Kathleen Alma Northcott, Superintendent of the Helston Cornwall Council Children’s Home and Foster Mother.

In stock

Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

Description

Members of the Order of the British Empire, MBE, 2nd Type, Ladies Issue, in Box, Kathleen Alma Northcott, Superintendent of the Helston Council Children’s Home and Foster Mother. 

 

In fitted case of issue, MBE as issued on bow ribbon with wearing pin, also including the original instructions for wear card.

 

With the original large certificate of issue, this framed in wood frame, measurements about 42cm Height x 34cm Width.

 

Due to the size of the certificate the set will be sent by DPD Courier with no additional charge.

 

Miss Kathleen Alma Northcott was a Cornwall Lady who never married, instead she looks to selflessly devoted her life to helping others, particularly children, her devoted service culminating in becoming Superintendent of the County Council Children’s Home in Helston, Cornwall, which would earn her this MBE.

 

Kathleen was born on 29th June 1909 in St Winnow, Cornwall.

The Daughter of Thomas Samuel Northcott and Patience Ann (Alma) nee Tretheway.

St Winnow was the home parish of her mother Alma.

Her father from Devon, worked as a Caretaker for the Admiralty.

 

First growing up in Devonport where her father worked for the Navy.

 

Kathleen would then move back home to her native Cornwall for the rest of her life.

 

The Cornwall Advertister in 1935 recalled her early interest in Teaching before becoming a Foster Mother

 

“HONOURS DEGREE – Miss Kathleen Northcott, Daughter of Mr and Mrs R Northcott, Dreason, Bodmin, has passed with honours the degree of Bachelor of Arts at London University.

Miss Nortchott who is an old scholar of Bodmin County School, was recently assistant mistress at Padstow Council School.

She is now on the staff of the Senior Elementary School at Hayle.”

 

The 1939 Register recalls the beginning of her 30+ years of service to children, when a 30 year old Kathleen was noted as an Officer, “Assistant Foster Mother” at the Public Assistance Girls Home in Helston.

 

Many years later, the Supplement to the London Gazette, 23rd May 1972 would recall the award by the Queen Elizabeth II in her yearly Birthday Honours that Miss Kathleen Alma Northcott as to be decorated with the award of the MBE for her service as “Superintendent of the County Council Children’s Home, Vyvyan House, Helston, Cornwall.”

 

 

Kathleen later died in Kerrier, Cornwall on March 1988.

 

Kathleen was recalled in the Falmouth Packet newspaper article: “Tears of Joy at Helston Childrens Home Reunion” dated 19th September 2014:

 

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/11485334.tears-of-joy-at-helston-childrens-home-reunion/

 

Also in another article here in further detail:

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/11028787.helston-childrens-home-reunion-plan-sparks-memories/

 

Sheila Mugford, who was four when she went into the home in 1939 remembers her close bond with her “Mother” Kathleen, she did not remember her parents and later discovered she had a brother, but recalls that she had an “Upstairs Mother” and a “Downstairs Mother” in the home.

 

“She became particularly close to the upstairs care worker, Kathleen Northcott, who attended her wedding and that of her two children, and they kept in touch until Miss Northcott died.” It was also noted that Kathleen was the first person to see her son when he was born.

 

She noted that Kathleen had made a special request for her to allow her to stay at the home for an extra 6 months, despite having reached the leaving age of 15 years old, as she was studying nursing at teh Helston Cottage Hospital across the road, “I’ve got a lot to thank her for” said Sheila.