Tag: GRO0245

Women Inspectors under the Board of Control: We are glad to see that the Board of Control has decided to appoint two more women inspectors. There are at present three men inspectors and one-woman inspector; the men each receiving from £500 to £800 a year, and the woman, £400 to £650. The salaries of the two women now to be appointed will be £500 to £650. For years the Women’s Freedom League has urged that there should be Women Inspectors under the Board of Control. It is essential, since there are more women than men in mental hospitals, and the great majority of nurses are women, that there should be women to inspect these hospitals and that women inspectors should be available for making investigations into complaints which may arise in connection with their administration. We urge, also, that there should be more women Commissioners of the Board of Control. At present there are, in addition to the Chairman, Sir F. J. Willis, two unpaid men Commissioners and one unpaid woman Commissioner, Miss R. Darwin; six paid men Commissioners and one paid woman Commissioner, Mrs. E. F. Pinsent. Neither Miss Darwin nor Mrs. Pinsent is a medical woman. Surely there should be fully qualified medical women among the Commissioners of the Board of Control, and the numbers of men and women Commissioners should be equal!

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

Mental Welfare: Over 600 delegates attended the two-day Conference organized by the Central Association for Mental Welfare and evinced very lively interest in the consideration of the problems of Borderland cases, the proper care of mental defectives outside Institutions and the aftereffects of encephalitis lethargica. Miss Ruth Darwin, in pleading the urgent need for more institutional accommodation, emphasized the fact that there were still about 88 per cent of the total population of mental defectives outside institutions with no adequate provision for their home-training and occupation. Mrs. Hume Pinsent and others dealt with the question of sterilization. While admitting the efficacy of it as an additional safeguard in a comparatively few cases, any idea of it as an alternative to segregation was strongly deprecated. Mrs. H. P. Macmillan, chairman of the Royal Commission on Lunacy, and subsequent speakers urged the adoption of the recommendations of the Commission with regard to the early treatment of cases of mental disorder, thus avoiding, very frequently, the necessity of certification. England at present is far behind America, Germany, and Italy in this respect. Dr. Tredgold of the Bethlem Royal Hospital, dealt with the mental and social aspects of the now prevalent disease of encephalitis lethargica, and the pressing need for special institutional accommodation for the treatment and care of sufferers from it. The number of children in whom a very marked moral degeneration has taken place as a result of the disease is beginning to constitute a very real problem in delinquency. By arrangement with the Metropolitan Asylums Board provision has been made for the care of 100 children under years who have developed mental and moral sequelae consequent on an attack of the disease. The experiment is being watched with great interest, but it is too early to make any deductions yet.

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

Intelligent Criminals: “Often Cleverer than Ordinary People.” Problem of the Defective: “Statistics seem to show that the general intelligence of criminals is not less, but possibly rather more than that of the general public,” said Dr. Kemle, speaking yesterday at the Conference of the Central Association for Mental Welfare, at Westminster … … (discussion) … … “Wholesale sterilisation,” said Ms. Hume Pinsent, Commissioner of the Board of Control, “is absolutely outside the scope of practical po8tcs and is not worth even a few minutes’ consideration.” Miss Hodgson of the Eugenics Society, said the Society was recommending to member of Parliament that whenever a new Bill to deal with mental deficiency was proposed, a clause should be inserted making it a misdemeanor to marry or connive in the marriage of person certified under the Mental Deficiency Act unless there was a reason to suppose the marriage would not be fertile.

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

Should Unfit be eliminated? Lethal Chamber Idea Repugnant: Marriage Ban Plea: … Sterilization Impracticable: The Association had twice held an inquiry into the policy of Sterilisation with a view to seeing whether it would offer a practical method of safeguarding the race from the increase of the unfit. As a result, they had come to the conclusion that sterilisation was not at present a practical policy which could be actively pursued by the Association. The question of the best means of preventing the marriage of defectives would receive serious consideration in the near future. “Whole sterilisation,” said Mrs. Hume Pinsent, Commissioner of the Board of control, “is outside the scope of practical politics, but sterilisation of certain cases as an alternative to life-long segregation, and with the consent of either of the defectives or of their nearest relative, is a different problem.” Miss Hodgson, of the eugenic Society, pointed out that the Society was recommending to Members of Parliament that whenever anew bill to deal with mental deficiency was proposed a clause should be inserted making it a misdemeanour to marry or connive in the marriage of a person certified under the Mental Deficiency Act unless there was reason to suppose the marriage would not be fertile.

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

Somerset’s Mental Defectives: Opening of Sandhill Park Institution by Dame Monica Wills: County Council’s Two-fold Achievement: The Late Mr. H. H. Wills’ Generosity – A Magnificent Institution: “That this meeting, representative of the Government departments and of Somerset public bodies concerned with the care of the feeble-minded, and of Somerset men and women interested in their welfare, places upon record its gratitude to the late Mr. H. H. Wills and Dame Monica Wills for their generous gifts (approximately £25,000) which have enabled this mansion of Sandhill Park to be so admirably adapted for a home for feeble minded girls in need of care and training and to form the nucleus of a farm and industrial colony” … … The Influence of Beautiful Surroundings: Mrs. Pinsent, in moving the resolution at the head of this report, remarked how very much, not only Somerset, but the whole of England were indebted to Mr. Wills for that tremendous gift, and also the other ladies and gentlemen who had collected such a very large sum of money to help forward that great work …. … (discussion of acquisition of property) …

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

The Care of Mental Defectives: Somerset’s New Home Opened: an important stage was reached in the work of the Somerset County council in regard to the care of the mental defectives by the opening on Wednesday, by Dame Mary Monica Wills, widow of the late Mr. B. H. Wills, of Wrington, of a new home, which is to be developed as a farm and industrial colony at Sandhill Park, Bishop’s Lydeard. … (discussion) … Mrs. Pinsent, commissioner of the Board of Control, proposed a resolution of gratitude to the late Mr. Wills and Dame Monica for their generous gifts, and Mr. R. Bruford seconded – The resolution was carried.

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

Sandhill Park Institution Opened: The opening of Sandhill Park as a residential special school and home for mental defectives took place yesterday in the presence of a representative gathering. Sandhill Park estate is delightfully situated on the outskirts of Bishop’s Lydeard, near Taunton. It contains about 150 acres of pasturage, a picturesque crescent shaped lake, and the Mansion House built by Sir Thomas Lethbridge in 1720. During the war the latter was used as a camp for German and Austrian officers. Its new use is made possible by the generosity of the late Mr. H. H. Wills and the powers given to the Somerset County Council by the passing of the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913. The details which led up to the acquisition of the property have already been published, and following the extensive alterations carried out from the designs of Sir George H. Oatley, architect, accommodation is provided for 119 patients, and the estate will, in the course of time, be developed into a farm colony.  Yesterday’s opening ceremony was performed by Dame Monica Wills, widow of Mr. H. H. Wills. J. Cooke Hurle. Chairman of the Somerset County Council presided and was supported by Sir Frederick Willis (Chairman of the Board of Control), Mr. A. H. Wood (Board of Education), Mrs. Cooke Hurle, Mrs. Pinsent (Commissioner of the Board of Control), Major F. M. E. Kennedy, Mr. John Morland. Mr. Robert Bruford, Sir George H. Oatley and Mr. C. E. Newman.

[see similar: Shepton Mallet Journal: Friday 25^th September 1925]

(long discussion of project AND a PHOTOGRAPH of the PRINCIPALS including Mrs. PINSENT)

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

Inquiry into Incidence of Mental Deficiency: The Secretary of the Women’s Freedom League wrote to the Duchess of Atholl (Parliamentary Secretary, Board of Education) urging that the results of the proposed investigation decided upon by the Ministry of Health and Board of Education to be carried out by an Inspector of the Board of Control, would be more successful if a competent woman or competent women acted jointly with the Inspector … (reassuring response) … We thank the Duchess of Atholl very cordially for so kindly giving us this information, and we are particularly glad to learn that Miss Redfern has been added to the Committee, the other members of which are: Mr. A. H. Wood, Mr. A. S. Tregold, M.D., Mr. N. D. Bosworth Smith, Mr. S. B. Shrubsall, M.D., Mr. Cyril Burt, D.Sc., Mr. R. H. Crowley, M.D., Miss Evelyn Fox, Mrs. Pinsent, and Mr. S. D. Turner. We still think, however, that if a medical woman acting jointly with the Inspector of the Board of Control carried out this investigation the results would be more successful.

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

Staffordshire Association for Mental Welfare: “The shortage of institutional accommodation and the acute difficulty, therefore, in finding vacancies is a matter of great concern.” This statement was made in the report presented at the annual meeting of the Staffordshire Association for Mental Welfare, held at Stafford, Lord Charnwood (chairman of the Mental Deficiency Committee of the County Council) presiding … (discussion of numbers) … The Mental Deficiency Act: Mrs. Lavendar was nominated to represent the association on the council of the Central Association … … Mrs. Hume Pinsent, Commissioner of the Board of Control, gave an address on the work of the Mental Deficiency Act. She acknowledged the valuable assistance given by the voluntary associations of which there were some 40 or 50 in the country, Staffordshire being not the least. She emphasised the value of cooperation between these associations and the parent body, and with regard to mentally defective children in industrial schools said the only guarantee that they would receive continuous care, help and training was that the managers of these schools should cooperate with the voluntary associations and the local authorities in the matter. At present it was almost impossible to get young people out of mental hospitals because there was no room for them in mental-defective institutions. This accommodation was greatly lacking in Staffordshire, but she understood they contemplated such a provision, and it was one of the problems before them in carrying out the Act.

[see also Lichfield Mercury: Friday 29^th May 1925 and similar in Staffordshire Sentinel, Wednesday May 27^th, 1925]

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949

e

Birthday Honours: Warwickshire’s Chief Constable Among Recipients: … (continues) … Promotions in the appointments to the Order of the British Empire include several local names, including those of Lieut. Co. Anson, Chief Constable of Staffordshire, Mrs. Hume Pinsent, Councilor, Miss Bartleet, Mr. C. C. H. Moriarty (Assistant Chief Constable of Birmingham) … (continues) …

---

Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.

---

Referenced

GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949