Anne Dreydel
Encyclopedia
Anne Dreydel OBE
(27 May 1918 - 3 July 2007) was the co-founder of the Oxford English Centre, which later became St Clare's, Oxford. In 1958 she was awarded the German state decoration
of Bundesverdienstkreuz
which, in 2001, was then upgraded to the Commander's Cross. In 1981 she was awarded an OBE for her services to education.
At the age of 22, during the Second World War
, Dreydel was badly injured by a German bomb that fell on her London home. The explosion killed her stepfather and paralysed her from the waist down. After over a year of recovery she left hospital, but she remained in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life.
Dreydel studied English at St. Anne's College in Oxford
from 1943 and studied German
in Bonn
during her holidays. In 1947 she founded the Oxford-Bonn Universities Committee to develop the twinning
of the University of Oxford
and the University of Bonn
and their respective cities. The link encouraged students from Germany to study at Oxford during a time when relations between the countries were still strained.
Along with Pamela Morris she founded the Oxford English Centre in 1953, which went on to become St Clare's College. She became the sole principal in 1972 and remained in that post until her retirement in 1983. Later she would become the head of the American International School of Florence and then the director of the Oxford Centre for Learning Skills.
Dreyden also helped the disabled by serving on the Committee for the Employment of Disabled People for Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(27 May 1918 - 3 July 2007) was the co-founder of the Oxford English Centre, which later became St Clare's, Oxford. In 1958 she was awarded the German state decoration
State decoration
State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
of Bundesverdienstkreuz
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
which, in 2001, was then upgraded to the Commander's Cross. In 1981 she was awarded an OBE for her services to education.
At the age of 22, during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Dreydel was badly injured by a German bomb that fell on her London home. The explosion killed her stepfather and paralysed her from the waist down. After over a year of recovery she left hospital, but she remained in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life.
Dreydel studied English at St. Anne's College in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
from 1943 and studied German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
during her holidays. In 1947 she founded the Oxford-Bonn Universities Committee to develop the twinning
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
and their respective cities. The link encouraged students from Germany to study at Oxford during a time when relations between the countries were still strained.
Along with Pamela Morris she founded the Oxford English Centre in 1953, which went on to become St Clare's College. She became the sole principal in 1972 and remained in that post until her retirement in 1983. Later she would become the head of the American International School of Florence and then the director of the Oxford Centre for Learning Skills.
Dreyden also helped the disabled by serving on the Committee for the Employment of Disabled People for Oxfordshire and Berkshire.