Grace Widdowson

Muriel Grace Widdowson OBE (14 June 1892 – 3 August 1989) was a New Zealand nurse. She was the superintendent of various hospitals in North Canterbury from 1935 until her retirement in 1952. A year before her retirement, Widdowson was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire at the 1951 New Year Honours,

Grace Widdowson

OBE
Born(1892-06-14)14 June 1892
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died3 August 1989(1989-08-03) (aged 97)
Christchurch, New Zealand
OccupationMatron

Early life and education

Widdowson was born on 14 June 1892 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Her father, Howell Young Widdowson, was a solicitor in Christchurch and a member of Christchurch City Council; he had been unsuccessful in the 1881 and 1895 Christchurch mayoral elections.[1][2] After moving with her family to Dunedin, she went to school at Braemar House and completed a three year nursing programme at Christchurch Hospital in 1921.[3] Widdowson completed additional training at hospitals in Rangiora and Christchurch in 1927.[4]

Career

In 1921, Widdowson began her nursing career. She originally worked in Europe for five years before moving back to Christchurch in 1926.[4] Upon returning to Christchurch, she resumed working at Christchurch Hospital for multiple terms from 1926 to 1928.[3] After her departure from Christchurch Hospital, Widdowson started teaching at the Porirua Lunatic Asylum in 1928. She stayed until 1930 before going to Auckland Hospital to teach for a five year tenure.[4] The following year, Widdowson went back to Christchurch for a final year as an assistant to the matron.[3]

Outside of her career in teaching, Widdowson was in charge of multiple North Canterbury hospitals as a superintendent starting in 1936 until her retirement from nursing in 1952.[3] After her retirement, she was a part of the relocation of the Nurses' Memorial Chapel where she revealed the St. Faith glassed window in 1971.[5]

Death

Widdowson died on 3 August 1989.[6]

Awards and honours

In the 1951 New Year Honours, Widdowson was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[7]

References
  1. "The Mayoral Elections". The Press. Vol. LII, no. 9275. 28 November 1895. p. 6. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  2. Macdonald, George. "Howell Young Widdowson". Macdonald Dictionary. Canterbury Museum. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  3. Pollard, Biddy; Pollard, John (1998). "Widdowson, Muriel Grace". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Vol. IV. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. "Farewells". The New Zealand Nursing Journal. 46 (1): 28. 16 February 1963.
  5. The Architectural Heritage of Christchurch (PDF). Christchurch: Christchurch City Council Planning Policy Unit. October 1990. p. 13. ISBN 0-9597973-0-0. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. "Obituary Miss M. G. Widdowson". The Press (Christchurch). 4 August 1989. p. 5.
  7. "No. 39106". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1950. p. 40.
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