Andrew, Mrs Hilda, 1 Crescent Villas, Athenaeum Street, Plymouth
Hilda Katherine Andrew, née Ramsay (1881–1938) was born in Greenock, Scotland, the daughter of Andrew John Ramsay, a naval officer, and his wife, Annie Catherine (née Thiele). She was the youngest of three children (Palmer Devoy b. 1877 in Bermuda, Mabel Lida b. 1878 in Wandsworth, and Hilda). Her early childhood was spent in a variety of locations as her father was posted to naval establishments including Bermuda and Malta as well as Plymouth, Portsmouth and Scotland.
In 1905 she married John Holman Andrew, an engineer, and together they had two children, John Ramsay (b. 1906) and Betty (b. 1915). The family lived at 1 Crescent Villas, Athenaeum Street, Plymouth, later moving to her husband’s family home at Ridgeway Lodge, Plympton.
Along with her mother, Mrs Annie Ramsay (q.v.), and sister, Dr Mabel Ramsay (q.v.), Mrs Holman Andrew joined the Three Towns branch of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, becoming a committee member. She frequently hosted drawing room meetings at her home, and in 1910 was elected as the Three Towns Branch delegate to the South Western Federation meeting.[1] Whilst Mr Lloyd George was visiting Plymouth and speaking at the Drill Hall, Holman Andrew distributed leaflets. Whilst doing so, she became confused with the militant suffragettes and had to be rescued from the melée by the police.[2]
During the war, Holman Andrew, who was an accomplished singer, performed at many concerts held for members of the armed forces. She also assisted with the American Red Cross.[3]
She was a strong swimmer and in 1909 she was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s bronze medal for rescuing a boy by jumping fully clothed into the river from Laira Bridge,[4] the first award of its kind to a woman.[5] After moving to Plympton in around 1920 she was involved in many local organisations, including as a member of the parochial Church Council for St Maurice Church, President of the Plympton Townswomen’s Guild, Plympton Conservative Association, the Plymouth Soroptomists and the Plymouth Citizens’ Association.[6] She was also an ardent supporter of the Women’s Hospital Fund,[7] holding many fundraising events and serving as a committee member.[8]
She died on 17 January 1938 after a long illness.
Entry created by Ann Bond and Anne Corry, January 2019
[1] Western Morning News, 30 Jun 1910.
[2] Western Morning News, 15 Jan 1930. Although Dr Ramsay describes this event as having taken place during 1912, contemporary reports show that the visit by Lloyd George actually took place in January 1910 (Western Morning News, 10 January 1910).
[3] Western Morning News, 19 Jan 1938.
[4] Western Morning News, 16 Oct 1909.
[5] Western Morning News, 23 Nov 1909.
[6] Western Morning News, 21 Jan 1938.
[7] Western Morning News, 29 Jun 1931.
[8] Western Morning News, 25 Feb 1928.