Photograph of Elsie May Barrett from the Bishop’s Stortford Museum Collection.
A prominent local individual who defied societal conventions, Elsie May Barrett was the first female to be elected as a councillor in Bishop’s Stortford, as well as the first lady Chairman of the Urban District Council.
Throughout her life, she supported a diverse range of causes, including of the Herts Society for the Blind.
Within the archives, we have a leaflet from May 1979 from the Elsie Barrett Club for Blind Persons. It talks of its’ aims “to help all newly blind people to use their hands and minds in becoming self-reliant, and to encourage all blind people to take an active part in society; also, to promote better understanding between blind and sighted people.”
The origins of the club trace directly back to Miss Elsie Barrett, who’s home and garden hosted a monthly tea-party for blind people from the area. She continued this until she died in 1947.
Her efforts resulted in the naming of the club after herself, which was founded in 1951. It was open to partially sighted people, registered blind people, guides, as well as helpers.
They provided a Games Evening every 4th Wednesday of the month, on top of regular outings. This included to the annual stage productions from the local Amateur Operatic Society, combined with trips to Bishop’s Stortford Crick Club’s Old Tyme Muis Hall, alongside seaside outings.
All of this was inspired by Elsie May Barrett, with a lasting positive effect through the support offered to local blind people. Her contributions have stood the test of time, making the celebration of her work even more important on such a day.
For more information about the Barrett family, please follow the link below:
Boardmans -Bishop’s Stortford and Thorley – A History and Guide
Article researched by Volunteer – Young Curator Project – Thomas.
