Miss Winifred M. Clipson

Rushden St. John Nursing Division is proud of the distinction conferred on its leader, Lady Divisional Superintendent Miss Winifred M. Clipson, who has been appointed a Serving Sister of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and will receive her decoration in London on February 16^th.

The occasion is the first on which the Division has been honoured in this way, and all who know Miss Clipson’s splendid nursing work both during the Great War and in the subsequent years feel that her new title is most justly bestowed.

A daughter of Mr. J. S. Clipson, who was on three occasions Chairman of the Rushden Urban District Council, Miss Clipson has followed her father’s example of service to the public. She joined the Brigade in 1913 and soon found scope for her ability.

In 1914, when her father held the civic chair, she enlisted in the V.A.D. and became Southern Ward secretary of the Rushden Red Cross Society.

Called up for war service in 1915, she was at Lady Exeter’s V.A.D. Hospital at Burghley House for a short time in 1916. In March of that year she went to the V.A.D. hospital that Mrs. R. R. B. Orlebar established at Hinwick House, and stayed there twelve months, then transferring to the large Holborn Military Hospital at Mitcham.

Invalided out early in 1918, Miss Clipson resumed duty in May and went into the office of the Barry-road Auxiliary Hospital, Northampton. Though her health again broke down, she found opportunity for further war service as clerk, under the late Mr. W. B. Madin, of the Rushden Coal Control Office.

Such was her excellent war record, and in 1920 she was appointed secretary and Lady Ambulance Officer of the Rushden Nursing Division, with Miss W. M. Cave as Lady Divisional Superintendent. On October 20^th 1925, when Miss Cave retired, Miss Clipson succeeded her in command of the Division, which she has led with conspicuous success.

Attending an inspection in June, 1932, Miss Clipson received the Long Service Medal from Sir John Hewitt, Grand Bailiff at Egle of the Order.

In addition to her ambulance work, Miss Clipson has a great variety of social interests. She is vice-president of the Liberal Association and a Council member of the Wellingborough Divisional Women’s Liberal Association; a worker for the Young Helpers’ League, the Y.M.C.A., and the Independent Wesleyan Sunday School, a member of the N.B.W.T.A.U., and a Council member of the Wellingborough and Rushden Moral Welfare Association. She also takes a keen interest in the Rushden Headquarters Troop of Boy Scouts, teaching the lads first-aid.