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Thomasina Todd
Mrs Todd was, perhaps, one of the most respected ladies to have
graced the town of Seaham. She worked tirelessly for the community as councillor,
magistrate, charity worker and, during the war years, chaired many local groups
keen to help the war effort. Nominator: Les Alexander Category: Community RECOLLECTIONS OF THOMASINA TODD. I met Mrs Todd when I was a boy and I know of her
dedicated civic work throughout the town.
In 1941 she presided over the East Durham Nucleus of the Ministry of Information. She attended many functions in the town encouraging groups keen to help in the war effort. During the 'Holidays at Home' 1942 she attended a whist drive where she acted as MC for the evening and presented the prizes. In September of that year she was one of the organisers of a Ministry of Information talk by Frau Irmgard Litten - 'A Mother Fights Hitler.' Frau Litten had fled Nazi Germany at the start of the war. As Chairman of the British Restaurant Committee, Mrs Todd took a great interest in the management of the restaurant in Adelaide Row. Because of its success she supervised the opening of a similar restaurant in the Deneside Housing Estate. She was awarded the MBE in the New Years Honours for 1944 for her tireless work with women and children in the Seaham district and also for her council work. There is a photograph of Mrs Todd presenting the H.M.S. Seaham silver cup to the winning team at the High Colliery School and this photograph is in the Log Book of the school and is held by the Head Teacher at West Lea Junior School. I'm sure that he/she would be willing to lend the picture for the Local Heroes Page. Les Alexander Les208@aol.com |
