Muriel Powell (Chailey Heritage and Searchlight)

Not to be confused with Muriel Powell (nurse).

Muriel Powell, MBE (1889–1972), often referred to as Matron Powell, was the successor to Dame Grace Kimmins in the Chailey Heritage and was the founder of Searchlight to continue the work of the Chailey Heritage from age 15 into adulthood.[1]

From 1924 until her resignation 1933 Powell was Matron of the Chailey Heritage Craft Schools Marine Branch, at Tide Mills, East Sussex.[2]

She purchased a bungalow next to the searchlight battery with her life savings of £14 and opened Searchlight Cripples' Workshop as superintendent. During the rationing of the second world war Powell rose each morning at 5:30 buying supplies in the Brighton fruit markets to make jams and toffee which were packed for sale back at Searchlight by disabled men. When wartime rationing changed the demand she switched production to handicrafts among which was chair caning.

References

  1. ↑ Kevin Gordon (14 December 2006). "Hospital where seawater poured into the wards". Lewes Today. Retrieved 7 February 2007. The children had a variety of disabilities from blindness to loss of limbs but all were subject to the same strict regime enforced by the matron, Muriel Powell. The hospital must have been freezing to live in during the winter and ex-pupils remember sea water pouring into the wards during winter high seas and hurricane lamps having to be used.
  2. ↑ Helena Wojtczak (1 June 2008). Notable Sussex Women: 580 Biographical Sketches. Hastings Press. ISBN 978-1-904109-15-0.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 2/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.