Hilda Wicksteed

Hilda Mary Wicksteed (August 3rd 1884 - October 23rd 1950) daughter of Charles Wicksteed, was a founding member of Wicksteed Park, Trustee, author, District Comissioner for the Girl Guides and avid lover of animals.

Early Life

In her early years Hilda lived on 24 London Road, Kettering in a modest house with 2 servants. In 1884 Hilda and her family would move to a house in Bryn Hafod that her father Charles, commissioned. Hilda would live in this house until her father's death in 1931. From 1899 - 1904 Hilda attended Roedean Boarding School for girls. (sources needed- pulled from Natalie's research)

Hilda's love for animals started from a young age and was no doubt inherited from her father Charles Wicksteed, founder of Wicksteed Park. In her book Titch and and Jock she recounts some of the core memories she had about wanting to adopt and care for animals of all shapes and sizes, through the eyes of  one of the beloved family dogs Titch. (insert photo of Hilda and Titch)

‘The Mistress knew that there was always some animal in the world in need of love and care, and that when one went out of her life another was waiting to come in’ 

Titch refers to Hilda as Little Misses and tells of her first pet which was a rat named Tiny that she bought for a penny. This would grow into a collection of animals such as your standard domesticated pets like cats and rabbits to more uncommon pets like parrots and even a raccoon. Amidst all of these her favourite were dogs. The family dogs Jerry, Titch and Jock went everywhere with them.  Love of dogs in particular is one of the reasons why Wicksteed Park welcomes and encourages families to bring their four legged friends to enjoy the park too. Jerry while loved by all was Charles's most trusted companion and was immortalized in a stone statue that can be visited in the rose garden.  (insert photo of Jerry and Charles / and statue of Jerry)

Career

Hilda Wicksteed wrote several novels that give us insights into the lives of the Wicksteed family. It is clear through her writings that she saw animals as beings with their own thoughts and feelings who deserved to be taken care of to the best of our abilities.Following her parents example Hilda supported many different causes such as St. Johns Ambulance and Kettering General Hospital. (citation needed- info pulled from Natalie's research) Hilda started a new branch of the RSPCA in Kettering , Thrapston and Wellingborough in 1924 and was Honorary Secretary. A notable cause she backed was being against the docking of dogs tails which is a process of cropping the natural length of a dogs tail for aestetic purposes. While searching though the General and Local Trustees meeting minutes it can be found that the R.S.P.C.A. even held events at Wicksteed Park. In 1931 following her father's death, Hilda assumed Charles's role as Chairman of the Wicksteed Village Trust. Hilda was key  in including animals as part of the Wicksteed Park experience. In the conservation plan that is found on the Wicksteed Park website shows that the first to be instated at the park is the Aviary and the Monkey House. The Aviary was one of the foundational animal attractions at Wicksteed Park in 1933 following Hilda's initiative.After Hilda's passing in 1950 her legacy of sharing animals with the public lived on with one of the most popular attractions called Pets Corner which was opened in 1956. Throughout the years Pets Corner was home to pigs, goats, monkeys, porcupines, llamas, penguins, a coatimundi and many different species of birds.

“The Trustees invited the R.S.P.C.A. to hold an Animal Day in the Park in connection with an Animal Week to be held in May 1938.”

1. Miss Wicksteed reported that Miss Ewing was prepared to consider undertaking a boarding home for cats, when she was resigned from her present position.

2. It was agreed to grant £200 towards an Animal Day in the Park.

(Insert photos of Pets Corner)

Hilda was also supported her father in his vision to bring play equipment to children all over the world. In 1927 Hilda traveled to South Africa to sell play equipment. They departed on the 16th of January from Liverpool on the steamship Nestor, Blue Funnel Line. They arrived back in England on April 24th via the Ascanius.

Family Tree

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Hilda as an Author

Hilda Wicksteed published 5 books in her lifetime. Writing was a personal pastime of hers and the books she wrote were not meant to be extraordinary but rather casual reads that children and adult could enjoy. When you read on of her books it is structured in a way that feels like a conversation. Hilda wrote about things that she loved which was always clear, animals. Specifically her family dogs.

Do you know that we can be as full of love and longings, and joys and sorrows, and jealousy and obstinacy and fun as you are?

These books are important anecdotal works that give insights into Hilda's life growing up and her values spoken through animals. Hilda loved animals and wanted people who read her books to understand that animals are living beings that deserve all the love and respect that we give fellow humans. Charles Wicksteed wrote a lovling preface in her book Titch that reflects this saying, 'My daughter has asked me to say a few words as preface to the little book she has written about our favourite little dog, Titch. This I do, gladly, if I can in any way aid her in the object of her work, which is to help children and others to sympathise with, love and understand animals.'

Bibliography

(Insert photos of books)

Titch

Titch and Jock

Jerry and Grandpa

Charles Wicksteed

References

This article "Hilda Wicksteed" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Hilda Wicksteed. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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