Stella Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading
Encyclopedia
Stella Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading, GBE
(6 January 1894, Constantinople
– 22 May 1971, Sussex
, England
), née Stella Charnaud, was a British political and military figure.
Stella Isaacs founded and was chairman of the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS), known as of 1966 as Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS). Her father was a member of the British Foreign Service. After being educated in Europe, Stella Charnaud joined the staff of the Viceregal Lodge in Delhi, India, where she served as secretary to the wife of the new Viceroy, Rufus Isaacs
, the Earl (later the 1st Marquess of Reading
). After he was widowed she married the Viceroy herself in 1930.
They returned to England, where Stella Isaacs, now the Marchioness of Reading, became increasingly active in voluntary social work and with the Personal Service League, created to serve the needy and unemployed. Lady Reading became chairman of the League, and then a Magistrate.
and was frequently accompanied by his wife on his diplomatic missions. Upon his death in 1935, Lady Reading devoted herself to fostering Anglo-American co-operation.
After the start of World War II
, Home Secretary Samuel Hoare sent for Lady Reading and requested that she establish an organization that would assist the government's wartime efforts. What Lady Reading founded became the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service for Air Raid Precautions Services, later referred to simply as the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS).
The WVS organized millions of women, most of them housewives, to provide clothing for soldiers and their families. Lady Reading traveled extensively on behalf of the WVS, encouraging women to contribute their services in a time of need and British citizens to support their efforts.
As the war progressed, the WVS, funded by the government and local authorities, trained volunteers to cope with war-time emergencies, and the organization evacuated, fed, clothed and re-housed civilians who suffered from enemy air raids.
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...
(6 January 1894, Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
– 22 May 1971, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), née Stella Charnaud, was a British political and military figure.
Stella Isaacs founded and was chairman of the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS), known as of 1966 as Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS). Her father was a member of the British Foreign Service. After being educated in Europe, Stella Charnaud joined the staff of the Viceregal Lodge in Delhi, India, where she served as secretary to the wife of the new Viceroy, Rufus Isaacs
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC , was an English lawyer, jurist and politician...
, the Earl (later the 1st Marquess of Reading
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC , was an English lawyer, jurist and politician...
). After he was widowed she married the Viceroy herself in 1930.
They returned to England, where Stella Isaacs, now the Marchioness of Reading, became increasingly active in voluntary social work and with the Personal Service League, created to serve the needy and unemployed. Lady Reading became chairman of the League, and then a Magistrate.
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
During this time Lord Reading served as HM High Ambassador in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and was frequently accompanied by his wife on his diplomatic missions. Upon his death in 1935, Lady Reading devoted herself to fostering Anglo-American co-operation.
After the start of World War II
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...
, Home Secretary Samuel Hoare sent for Lady Reading and requested that she establish an organization that would assist the government's wartime efforts. What Lady Reading founded became the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service for Air Raid Precautions Services, later referred to simply as the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS).
The WVS organized millions of women, most of them housewives, to provide clothing for soldiers and their families. Lady Reading traveled extensively on behalf of the WVS, encouraging women to contribute their services in a time of need and British citizens to support their efforts.
As the war progressed, the WVS, funded by the government and local authorities, trained volunteers to cope with war-time emergencies, and the organization evacuated, fed, clothed and re-housed civilians who suffered from enemy air raids.
Honours
- Appointed DBEOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
(1941) - Appointed GBEOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
(1944) - Appointed Baroness Swanborough, of Swanborough, County Sussex (1958).
Quote
- "We are only activated by one desire – what we can do for the community and how we can help the nation strengthen itself."