Beatrice was born Beatrice Rickward (the surname is spelt variously as Rickword/Rickward) in 1876 in Colchester, Essex. Her father was George Rickward, he married twice. Beatrice was one of seven children from his second marriage to Hester Bawtree. She also had three half-siblings from her father’s first marriage.

George had two businesses. He was a Tea Dealer employing three women and an Upholsterer with five men and an apprentice working for him.

What sets the family apart is their commitment to the education of their daughters. Beatrice attended Ipswich High School.

In 1894 she went on to Bedford College for Women, part of the University of London, and took a BA degree from 1894 to 1897. Bedford College had been founded in 1849 by Elizabeth Jesser Reid, a pioneer of women’s education. London University awarded degrees on an equal basis to men & women. This was very rare in the 19^th Century.

Beatrice had done very well in her 6^th form work and been awarded scholarships to support her studies for her degree. She specifically chose to study the subjects traditionally studied by men including Maths, Latin, Greek, German, English Literature & English History and Roman History. Later adding Mental and Moral Science and Greek History. She did not want to be seen to follow ‘lesser’ courses, deemed ‘suitable’ for women.

There was considerable opposition to women taking degrees. Some regarded it as seducing women from their ‘natural’ roles as wives and mothers. Reformers insisted that women’s education would not stop them being mothers but would make them better mothers. They also argued that women should follow the same courses as men.

Beatrice embarked on a career as a teacher. In those days women teachers had to be single because of the Marriage Bar. The expression ‘Yes, Miss’ was literally true.

Beatrice was working at the Preston High School for Girls on Winckley Square when she met James whose Head Office was at 7 Winckley Square. The family believes she was the headmistress of the High School. Phoebe Hesketh in her book about Edith Rigby refers twice to Beatrice as the head of the school. However, we can find no evidence for this. Beatrice certainly taught there.

When Miss Dodd left as Head of the school and Miss Stevenson was appointed as her successor a list of the staff who were retained was published. Beatrice Rickword was the first name on the list.

.

 .

The Marriage certificate  indicates ….James – the 44 year old ‘Bachelor’ Accountant and Beatrice – the 31 year old ‘Spinster’ Teacher were married on February 18^th 1908 in Middlesex.

The Preston High School for Girls at that time was housed in 5, Winckley Square and she lived in lodgings across the square at 12, Starkie Street. James’ office was at 7, Winckley Square and he lived around the corner on East Cliff. It might have been that they met in Winckley Square but it is more likely because both were active in the Liberal Party. The Todds were leading lights in the local Liberal Party.

They moved into Penwortham House which has since been demolished. Their first daughter, Judith, was born there.

Beatrice was a keen supporter of the Women’s movement. In the 1911 census Lily Waring was staying with them. Lily was the National Organiser for the Women’s Suffrage Society and James Todd described her as a ’women’s suffrage agitator’ in his census return.

Lily and Beatrice were active suffragists but did not join the ‘Boycott’ of the 1911 Census. This was in stark contrast to Edith Rigby. Edith does not appear on the 1911 census. Nationally, the suffragette movement decided to boycott the 1911 (2^nd April) census. The slogan was: If we don’t count – we are not going to be counted.

 The boycott took two forms: – by spending the night away from home or ‘spoiling’ the census. Across the country women joined together on census night and stayed out all night. Some walked around Trafalgar Square; others picnicked.

Punch joked: The suffragettes have definitely taken leave of their census

 Many expected to be fined or face a prison sentence but no-one was prosecuted. We can’t be sure why James Todd highlighted Lily as an agitator. It’s possible he was making it clear that she was a guest in his house and he was proud of the fact. Beatrice and he were outspoken politically and had the money not to fear the consequences.

Lily was born in Birkenhead. Beatrice and Lily were both 34 in 1911.Both had attended university which was highly unusual for women at that time. Lily studied at Girton College, Cambridge. However, Cambridge did not formally award full degrees to women until 1948 (a Cambridge degree brought with it voting and other rights which were jealously guarded by men). Prior to this, women at Cambridge might study the same course and take the exam but be awarded a degree ‘by title’ only. Needless to say these were abbreviated to ‘BA tit’!

Warrington Museum has a webpage devoted to Lily Waring who, later in life, became a published author and an artist whose work was well received.

In about 1914 the Todds moved to Farington Lodge near Leyland (Still there, now a hotel & conference centre). Their growing family meant the 12-roomed Penwortham House was no longer large enough!

The family history recalls sadly that Beatrice’s three children:-

Beatrice Todd’s passion was her causes rather than her family. Her causes were substantial and she made a considerable difference to the lives of people in Preston and to those of the service personnel who passed through Preston Railway Station during WWI.

Many women gained experience of organising and managing while in the suffrage movement. These transferable skills were used in wartime on the home front. They were later built on in the post-war period in political activism. Beatrice Todd spans and exemplifies these three developments.

Beatrice Todd, leading Liberal, worked closely with Beatrice Blackhurst who was a leading Conservative & Unionist. Both were active in the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). Edith Rigby, the socialist and suffragette, was critical of Mrs Todd and her fellow suffragists; referring to their campaigns as ‘milk and water’ although Edith’s brother, Arthur, said he hoped:

Beatrice Todd was Chairman of the Preston Station Sailors and Soldiers’ Buffet. What is clear from the selection of newspaper reports below is that she was the prime mover in establishing the Buffet. She convened the initial meeting to garner support for the idea and she remained in the chair until the end of the initiative in 1919.

She was an active fund raiser and probably not someone to take ‘no’ for an answer, as the testimony of Edwin Bush of the Empire Theatre (below) suggests. It is interesting that even two days before the armistice Beatrice Todd was making it clear that the women would continue with their efforts as long as it took. A letter of thanks, sent on the eve of the closure of the buffet in May 1919, makes it clear that Beatrice Todd was regarded as the leader of the many women who took part in what has become an iconic event in Preston’s history.

These newspaper reports provide a picture of the range of causes Beatrice Todd threw herself into and the impact she had.

.

NEARLY TWO AND A HALF MILLION GUESTS

The Armistice imminent

There was considerable movement of troops around the UK after the Armistice. The buffet continued until May 1919. This correspondent refers to ‘Mrs Todd and her staff’ in his letter of appreciation to the newspaper :

The Unintended Consequences of the leadership shown by women in WW1

The number of deaths occurring on the Western Front focussed attention at home on the number among infants. Lack of income and lack of parental understanding about the welfare of babies and children were twin challenges to be overcome. Initially, many voluntary groups tried to organise support for mothers and their babies. In London, some local authorities began to employ health visitors with support from Government grants. There, voluntary groups opened clinics and, through subscriptions, paid for premises and for staff to treat and advise mothers and their infants.

In 1914, Lady Selbourne, president of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) urged members to focus on the war effort. Beatrice Todd was secretary of the Preston branch of the NUWSS. Local councils had been encouraged by government to set up centres for mothers and babies. The issue was critical, given the number of young women whose husbands had gone to war, many never to return.

Beatrice Todd wrote to Preston Council asking for permission to set up such a centre. The council needed the pressure of a visit from Mrs Todd and her committee before they would support the initiative. Beatrice’s contacts in London proved helpful. An old university friend of hers, Mrs Player, who had experience of working with such centres in London, came to Preston to support the establishment of the centres here. The first was established in July 1915 and by the end of 1916 over 2,000 babies were being seen and supported each year.

In 1918, a Maternity and Child Welfare Act was passed, which required each local authority to set up a maternal and child welfare committee and enabled local authorities to provide a full maternal and infant welfare service. Beatrice Todd was made a founder member. Beatrice’s involvement did not cease with the end of the war. Her commitment to the welfare of mothers and infants continued until she left Preston in 1935.

This letter from Beatrice Todd was in response to criticism, published in the press, from ‘mater’ of the work being carried out in Preston in child welfare. Note how robust she is in challenging criticism of the women’s movement.

In the post war period, extending to the 1930s, although never standing for election, Beatrice was co-opted on to Council committees.

.

Note most committee appointments were councillors or aldermen. Beatrice was neither. This suggests a wider recognition of her qualities & expertise. Note too this is after James’ death.

This opinion piece from the Lancashire Daily Post makes it clear that the public perception of women had been transformed by what was achieved during wartime. It also points up an awareness by the writer of sexist language 100 years ago.

Beatrice & James always had staff employed in both Penwortham and Farington. The daughters’ recollections are of two parents who were largely absent from their lives. Damaris and Ursula recalled how Beatrice was in a ‘state of terror’ when it was nanny’s day off. Beatrice didn’t take over, the girls were passed to the housekeeper

The Todds lived in great comfort and considerable style. Farington Lodge had extensive grounds, a grass tennis court and even sufficient driveway within the grounds for two of the girls to learn to drive before going on public roads.

James and Beatrice ate together in the dining room when James was at home. The girls ate separately although, as they grew older, they were allowed to join their parents for dessert on Sundays.

Summers were often spent by the seaside, particularly in Abersoch. James would go for the weekends. Beatrice, the girls, nurse and Moxham the chauffeur were all there for weeks. Beatrice dressed for the beach but James still looked immaculate with bow tie.

James and Beatrice holidayed in style. Having honeymooned in Monte Carlo they went on to take an annual holiday there. The girls did not go with them as children. Beatrice and James sent them flowers.

After James’ unexpected death in 1931 Beatrice had to make rapid adjustments. James’ financial position had deteriorated prior to his death. Beatrice, perhaps for the first time since she was a teacher, had to consider how to make a living.

She reorganised her domestic arrangements. The number of staff was reduced. The girls were allocated domestic chores. A family friend, Henry Spurrier of Leyland Motors, later approached Beatrice and asked if clients of Leyland Motors could stay at Farington Lodge while visiting the company. Beatrice agreed and became the hostess to clients of Mr Spurrier.

This lasted until 1935 when Beatrice agreed to sell Farington Lodge to Leyland Motors. She decided to move south in order to be near her sister and her London friends.

Leyland Motors retained the Lodge for their guests. The duties of hostess passing first to Mrs Beer, wife of the local vicar and subsequently to Emily Pomeroy, who had started with the Todds at the Lodge as a 14 year old kitchen maid.

Beatrice served as Vice Chairman of the Park School Governors from 1933 to 1935. In 1932 she established The James Todd Library in honour of her late husband and donated a number of her own books on Social Issues and the lives of Social Pioneers.

Despite reorganising her domestic life Beatrice maintained her social and political activism throughout her final few years in Preston.

Among her roles and activities were:

• 1933 President of the Preston Girls’ Hockey League
• J P (first serving in 1921)
• 1935 still active in the Preston Infant Welfare Voluntary Workers’ Association and raising money for the ‘Sick and Needy Mothers Holiday Fund’.

 In the first half of the decade hundreds of mothers benefited from free holidays in Lytham and Witherslack (near Grange).The Post reported that Lady Maureen (Stanley) spoke of

Her departure was marked by widespread praise for her work over the years. Speeches she made during her time in Lancashire had focussed on housing, health, education and women’s rights. She was committed to the improvement of the condition of the poor. She took part in public debates with women, some of which were (intentionally) amusing.

A farewell article to Beatrice (still calling her Mrs James Todd in line with the custom of the time) appeared in the Lancashire Daily Post on 12^th August 1935.

On leaving Farington Lodge Beatrice placed on ‘permanent loan’ to the Harris Art Gallery three paintings. A large canvas, portraying the three daughters of Beatrice and James ; painted by William Logsdail (1920). Another is a sea piece by Henry Moore. The third is a landscape, probably in the Isle of Man, by William Wells, an artist who for seven years was a scenic painter at a Preston theatre.

Beatrice moved to Hertfordshire where she called her house ‘Far Farington’. She subsequently visited Preston from time to time as the guest of the groups she had worked with.

She died in 1958. Alice Stoneman, the headmistress of the Park School, wrote an obituary.

Beatrice Todd’s achievements were considerable. She campaigned on national and local issues before they were accepted as important. She raised awareness. She was an activist as well as a theorist. She got things done. She was a leader and unafraid of challenging authority. She knew the importance of society caring for mothers and their children. Ironically, it was as a mother that she was not well regarded by her own children. They thought, with justification, that she preferred others to carry out the day to day task of bringing them up. Having sent them away to Boarding School the girls later reported that neither Beatrice nor James visited them on the days set aside for parental visits.

Tellingly, her dying wish was that she should be cremated and her ashes placed with her husband’s in the wall of 7 Winckley Square. Judith, the eldest daughter did not comply with the wish. We don’t know why. Perhaps she thought it unlikely that the owners of 7 Winckley Square would welcome a fresh internment in their wall or perhaps it simply reflected the lack of feeling between the two of them.

Beatrice Todd has been an unusual subject in a positive way. We have been able to liaise with her granddaughter, Susan Rees, who has been brilliant in providing information and sources about her grandmother Beatrice, grandfather James and their three daughters, Judith, Ursula and Damaris. Susan is Ursula’s daughter and was an adult when ‘Granny Todd’ died. Susan has always had a keen interest in her family’s history.

Peter Wilkinson (FoWS) has supplied considerable additional material, particularly on the Todds’ time in Penwortham and Leyland and Eileen Rawsthorne has provided background on Beatrice’s connections with the Park School.

Thanks too to Philip Jeffs of Warrington Museum and to Carol Mayo, a volunteer at the museum, for their help in the background to Lily Waring.

By Steve Harrison