Winifred West
Encyclopedia
Winifred Mary West CBE
(21 December 1881 – 26 September 1971) was an English-born Australian educationist.
Born at Frensham
in Surrey
to schoolmaster Charles William West and Fanny, née Sturt, West spent her early life there and in Farnham
, where the family moved in 1891. She attended Queen Anne's School
in Caversham
, Berkshire
, from 1894 to 1900 having received a scholarship, before studying medieval and modern languages at Newnham College, Cambridge
, from 1900 to 1903. She was employed from 1903 as a teacher at Guernsey
Ladies' College.
In 1906, West became engaged to an Australian and travelled to New South Wales
in 1907, but on the voyage she fell in love with an explorer in the British Antarctic Expedition, breaking off the engagement. She taught privately in Sydney
(Helen Simpson
was among her pupils) and studied painting with Julian Ashton
. Playing hockey at Rushcutters Bay she met Phyllis Clubbe, with whom she founded the New South Wales Women's Hockey Association; both represented the state in the sport.
West spent two years from 1910 in England teaching at Harrogate Ladies' College
, returning with a belief in a rural educational setting. She and Clubbe opened a school at Mittagong
, Frensham School
, in July 1913; the school became known for its non-denominational religion and easy attitude. West retired as head of the school in 1938 and taught spinning, weaving and carpentry to the students from 1941 at Sturt School Crafts Centre. She established a pottery in 1954.
A vice-president of the New Education Fellowship (1930s), West visited the Soviet Union
in 1935. She established friendships with educationists, artists and musicians including John Moore, Sybil Thorndike
, Ernest Llewellyn
and Keith Hancock
. In 1953 she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire, raised to Commander in 1971. She died later in 1971 at Bowral
and was cremated.
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...
(21 December 1881 – 26 September 1971) was an English-born Australian educationist.
Born at Frensham
Frensham
Frensham is a village in Surrey, England, beside the A287, south west of Guildford. Neighbouring villages include Millbridge, Shortfield Common, Dockenfield, Spreakley, Batt's Corner and Rushmoor. Frensham lies on the River Wey. Farnham is the nearest main town and it is to the north. The...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
to schoolmaster Charles William West and Fanny, née Sturt, West spent her early life there and in Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
, where the family moved in 1891. She attended Queen Anne's School
Queen Anne's School
Queen Anne's School in Caversham, Berkshire is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated just north of the River Thames and Reading town centre and occupying a campus.There are around 330 pupils. Nearly half are boarders...
in Caversham
Caversham, Berkshire
Caversham is a suburb and former village in the unitary authority of Reading, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, within the royal county of Berkshire, on the opposite bank from the rest of Reading...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, from 1894 to 1900 having received a scholarship, before studying medieval and modern languages at Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1871 by Henry Sidgwick, and was the second Cambridge college to admit women after Girton College...
, from 1900 to 1903. She was employed from 1903 as a teacher at Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
Ladies' College.
In 1906, West became engaged to an Australian and travelled to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1907, but on the voyage she fell in love with an explorer in the British Antarctic Expedition, breaking off the engagement. She taught privately in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(Helen Simpson
Helen de Guerry Simpson
Helen de Guerry Simpson was an Australian novelist.-Life and career:Simpson was born in Sydney into a family that had been settled in New South Wales for over 100 years...
was among her pupils) and studied painting with Julian Ashton
Julian Ashton
Julian Rossi Ashton was an Australian artist and teacher, known for his support of the Heidelberg School and for his influential art school in Sydney....
. Playing hockey at Rushcutters Bay she met Phyllis Clubbe, with whom she founded the New South Wales Women's Hockey Association; both represented the state in the sport.
West spent two years from 1910 in England teaching at Harrogate Ladies' College
Harrogate Ladies' College
Harrogate Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 years located in North Yorkshire, England. Harrogate Ladies' College is a Church of England foundation. All the facilities are campus-based. They include an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and...
, returning with a belief in a rural educational setting. She and Clubbe opened a school at Mittagong
Mittagong, New South Wales
Mittagong is a town located in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. At the 2006 census, Mittagong had a population of 7,460 people. The town can be seen as the gateway to the Southern Highlands when coming from Sydney. The town is close to Bowral, Berrima,...
, Frensham School
Frensham School
Frensham School is an independent, non-denominational, secondary, day and boarding school for girls, located at Mittagong, south of Sydney, in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia....
, in July 1913; the school became known for its non-denominational religion and easy attitude. West retired as head of the school in 1938 and taught spinning, weaving and carpentry to the students from 1941 at Sturt School Crafts Centre. She established a pottery in 1954.
A vice-president of the New Education Fellowship (1930s), West visited the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1935. She established friendships with educationists, artists and musicians including John Moore, Sybil Thorndike
Sybil Thorndike
Dame Agnes Sybil Thorndike CH DBE was a British actress.-Early life:She was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire to Arthur Thorndike and Agnes Macdonald. Her father was a Canon of Rochester Cathedral...
, Ernest Llewellyn
Ernest Llewellyn
Ernest Victor Llewellyn CBE was an Australian violinist, concertmaster, violist, conductor and musical administrator. He was the founding director of the Canberra School of Music and he is commemorated in the concert venue there, Llewellyn Hall.-Early career:Ernest Llewellyn was born in Kurri...
and Keith Hancock
Keith Hancock
Sir Keith Hancock KBE was an Australian historian.He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of Archdeacon William Hancock. At the age of nine, he won the Royal Humane Society's medal for rescuing another child from drowning in the Mitchell River. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School...
. In 1953 she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire, raised to Commander in 1971. She died later in 1971 at Bowral
Bowral, New South Wales
-Attractions:Bowral is perhaps the best known of the towns and villages of the Southern Highlands, and in recent years has become the commercial centre of the Wingecarribee Shire. Bowral is known for its boutiques, antique stores, gourmet restaurants, and rich coffee culture.Bowral is home to the...
and was cremated.