RECORD OF DONATIONS 1945.

Ada Rebecca White lived at Southlands, 202 Queen Street. The donation was probably in memory of her son in law Frederick Willis who died during the second world war

Submitted by carol sharratt • Verified • 13/12/2024
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author.

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You might wonder why I'm telling you about a woman with no obvious connection to Withernsea. Well, you see, Edith did have a connection.

Brief Life History of Florence Mary Scott Cavell. When Florence Mary Scott Cavell was born in 1867, in Swardeston, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, her father, Reverend Frederick Cavell, was 43, and her mother, Louisa Sophia Warming, was 32.

Florence lived in Bobbing, Kent, in 1911. At the age of 44, her occupation was listed as Matron at a hospital for infectious diseases. She died on 2 June 1950, in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, at the age of 83. Florence was two years younger than Edith Cavell.

Reverend Frederick Cavell and his wife Louisa had four children: three daughters and a son - Edith Louisa, Lillian, Florence Mary Scott, and John Fredrick Scott. All three sisters chose a career in nursing (their brother went into insurance), Florence and Lillian had likely followed a similar educational path as their older sister Edith. Unlike Edith, their history is not as well documented, but it is Florence who provides us with a link to Withernsea.

In 1855 the Queen's Hotel was built by the North-eastern Railway. When the hotel closed in 1892 it was bought by Francis and James Reckitt who donated it to the Hull Royal Infirmary. The following year it opened as a convalescent home. In 1913 Florence Mary Scott Cavell moved to Withernsea to take up the post of matron at the Hull and East Riding Convalescent Home.

Florence intended to stay for only a year, but it was a post that she was to hold for the next thirty. In March 1919 Florence Cavell brought the body of her sister, Edith, back home to the Norfolk village where she was born. A memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey on May 15, 1919. Her coffin, draped in a Union flag, was carried through the streets of London. Thousands turned out to watch. After the service, the coffin was taken by train to Norfolk Cathedral where Edith Cavell is buried. Florence worked tirelessly to see that Edith's dream of a home for sick, old, tired, or convalescing nurses came true. In 1920 the Daily Mail reported on a garden fete, held by the Girls Club of the Withernsea branch of the National British Women's Temperance Association (NBWTA) which was raising funds for The Edith Cavell Homes of Rest for Nurses. Florence's efforts meant that six such convalescent homes were already up and running.

Florence retired from hospital life in 1946. Three years later she was visiting Leeds for Christmas. As she crossed the Headrow she was hit by a car and suffered serious head injuries. Admitted to Leeds General Infirmary, Florence was x-rayed to see if she had fractured her skull. Fortunately, she hadn't and was allowed to return to her home at 227b (Top flat) Queen Street, Withernsea, East Riding. A home once owned by Cllr Brian Cloke and since 13th August 2021 Mr & Mrs Stevens.

The following summer Florence Mary Scott Cavell passed away peacefully in the place where she had given 30 years of service - the Hull and East Riding Convalescent Home. Florence was buried on the Grounds of St Nicholas Church near the right-hand side at the rear of the clock tower. This has had many visits and is looked after By Peter Cook MBE and the friends of St Nicholas Church. You can often see flowers laid by Peter Cook’s good lady wife who was trained and worked at the same hospital as Edith Cavell in London.

As an adult, Florence never spoke of her age. It was said that she guarded the secret well. Her age was published at the time of her death and many in Withernsea were surprised by it. I think I'll help her keep her secret, In 2023 The first Violet Day was held in Withernsea St Nicholas Church and organised by “Friends of St Nicholas - Flo (Tracey) Stevens” after 4 years of restoration by the Church Conservation Trust.

On Saturday, October 21st Over two hundred people came to St Nicholas church to talks given by our local Withernsea Poet and storyteller Godfrey Holmes hosted four history talks to remember the Cavell sisters who dedicated years of service to the First World War efforts and healthcare services. Godfrey also spoke of his childhood studying the story of the sisters in Sunday School. He previously travelled to Bodiam Castle in East Sussex to inspect the Cavell Van: the carriage that transported her exhumed body from a crowded Dover Docks to equally crowded Charing Cross. Much later, Godfrey visited Withernsea’s Convalescent hospital.

The Blue Black was revealed in September 2024 at 227 Queen Street at Florence's home.

Wording by Godfrey Holmes and design by Darrin Stevens have decided to make a tribute Blue Plaque for our own Withernsea Heroine Nurse Edith Cavell with the wording you can see in the artwork to the left. The flower image is a portrait of Edith Cavell’s favourite flower the Violet and can be seen in an earlier picture of Florence selling them in London at the foot of Edith’s monument, in London.

The cost of the plaque is £622.20 + VAT – it was placed above the front door of 227 Queen Street as this was the home for Florence Mary Scott Cavell for as long as she lived, worked and died in Withernsea. A fitting tribute to her service to the town. One final note, Florence also donated £1.00 to the Withernsea War Memorial clock back in 1945, and on the Violet Day Tribute in October 2023, Flo Stevens (227 Queen Street) helped raise £100.00 to the War Memorial Clock in both Edith’s and Florence’s Cavell name.

Three outstanding women with one connection, Withernsea

Just one last note the Florence Cavell Plaque is made by the same organisation that created Captain Tom Moore’s plaque whose remarkable fundraising efforts raised over £30 million for the NHS and lifted the spirits of the world during the pandemic 2020 and the Blue background BS 20D45 with White Border cast Aluminium 300mm.

In anticipation thank you for your support.

Darrin Stevens – 227 Queen Street, Withernsea, Yorkshire Hu19 2HH

07956 386 720

Photos

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Submitted by Darrin Stevens • Verified • 31/07/2024
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author.

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