Person    | Female  Born 6/1/1894  Died 22/5/1971

Stella, Lady Reading

Categories: Philanthropy

Countries: India, Turkey, USA

Philanthropist. Born Stella Charnaud in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey. She is best remembered as the founder of the Women's Voluntary Services (now known as the Royal Voluntary Service). In 1925, she joined the staff of Viceroy Rufus Isaacs, (1st Earl of Reading), in Delhi, and eventually married him. After his death, she moved to America, becoming a close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1958 she was created a life peer in her own right, becoming Baroness Swanborough, and in 1958, the year that they were first allowed, was the second woman to take her seat in the House of Lords. Died at her home 16 Lord North Street, London.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Stella, Lady Reading

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Stella, Lady Reading

Stella Lady Reading, 1894 - 1971, Founder of the Women's Voluntary Services, ...

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Waterloo Free Buffet

Waterloo Free Buffet

Fed over eight million soldiers and sailors from British, Imperial & Allied Forces. Worked and supported entirely by voluntary effort, probably also entirely female.We could not find a picture...

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Mrs Catherine Smithies

Mrs Catherine Smithies

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Mary Overie

Mary Overie

Traditions vary but one is that Mary was the daughter of John Overs, a very successful Thames ferryman in the tenth century.  She gave her inherited wealth to fund a convent which became St Mary Ov...

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1 memorial
Frederic David Mocatta

Frederic David Mocatta

Tycoon and philantropist.  Born London into a Jewish family who came to England from Spain in the 1650s.  Married but childless.  Worked in the family gold-dealing business until 1874 when he gave ...

Person, History, Museums / Libraries, Philanthropy

1 memorial
John Passmore Edwards

John Passmore Edwards

Political and social reformer, politician, peace activist, and anti-slavery campaigner he became one of the most successful newspaper proprietors of his time. Born in a small Cornish village and ed...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Peace, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Social Welfare

13 memorials