A GROUP of local WI members braved the scorching heat a few weeks ago to clear a number of overgrown graves in Salwarpe, including that of a woman of great importance to the movement.

Lucy Hingley had a huge influence in the Worcestershire Federation of WIs, having started a branch in the village near Droitwich in 1917.

Barbara Jauncey, of Salwarpe (near Droitwich) WI, said: “The graves of Lucy and her family in the churchyard of St Michael’s and All Angels Church had become very overgrown and it was recently decided by Salwarpe WI to arrange for them to be cleared and to take over maintenance.

“The area has now been cleared, the graves tidied, and replacement gravel was added as a finishing touch—thanks to the efforts of some of our members, who braved the heat to tackle the job. Amazingly, it took two bags of gravel to fill each grave – 12 bags in total and no mean feat.”

The Hingley family home was High Park, to the west of Droitwich, up on the hill to the left of Roman Way, near the old entrance to Westwood Park.

After starting the Salwarpe WI , she was the delegate who attended the second National Conference in 1917.

She was elected as county chairman in 1920, an office she held until 1931 when she retired on grounds of ill health. In those days the retiring chairman became president of the Worcestershire Federation of WIs.

In that capacity she presided at the majority of Council meetings until her death in 1942 when the Office of President was allowed to lapse.

Barbara said: “She was generous in every sense and WFWI owes much to her leadership over a long period.

“In her speeches at council meetings she constantly set before the members the highest ideals of patriotism, loyalty and service.

“She inevitably had her critics who on occasion felt she crossed the thin line that separates leader from autocrat!

“In appearance Lucy resembled Queen Mary on whom she is said to have modelled both her manner and style of dress!

“At one meeting she spoke at she is remembered for saying: ‘Of all our possessions in this world there is only one that matters – our character, for it is the only one that we take with us into the next world’.”

 

The Hingley family graves before they were cleared by members of Salwarpe (near Droitwich) WI

The Hingley family graves before they were cleared by members of Salwarpe (near Droitwich) WI

 

Following her death the WI members of Worcestershire generously donated to a memorial fund and it was this fund that endowed a bed in Worcester Royal Infirmary as well as providing furniture for WI House.

Medical staff agreed/offered to give WI members an annual medical memorial lecture and these took place at the hospital for many years.

The Lucy Hingley Memorial Medical lectures continue to be organised today by the public affairs committee. With the passage of time and along with the advances of the NHS the medical lectures have been widened to embrace many allied professions and services that make up ‘medicine’ in the modern era.

The inscriptions on the six graves are:

LUCY MILLER HINGLEY, who fell asleep in Christ April 6 1942.

EMILY GEORGINA HINGLEY, who fell asleep in Christ February 13 1948.

ALICE LINTON HINGLEY, who fell asleep in Christ April 2 1924.

HENRY MONTAGUE HINGLEY, who fell asleep in Christ September 30 1909.

FANNY GEORGINA HINGLEY, who fell asleep in Christ January 6 1910

(Fanny is the mother of the other five – none of whom seem to have married)

GEORGE BENJAMIN HINGLEY, 2nd baronet, who fell asleep in Christ August 19 1918.

The graves are located not far from the path and gate down to the canal, behind three large standing crosses.

 

The reredos in St Michaels Church

The reredos in St Michael's Church

 

This inscription, which appears in the Lady Chapel (south side) of the church, refers to the family: “For remembrance before God and in dear memory of their mother and brother, FANNY GEORGINA HINGLEY and HENRY MONTAGU HINGLEY who fell asleep in Christ 6th January 1910 and 30th September 1909.

“The reredos in the church is offered by GEORGE, ALICE, EMILY and LUCY HINGLEY of High Park in token of abiding sorrow for their loss. Also in dear memory of GEORGE BENJAMIN HINGLEY 2nd Baronet who fell asleep in Christ 19th August 1918.

ALICE LINTON HINGLEY of Middle Hill Park, Broadway, 2nd April, 1924.”

The information on the reredos says: “Behind the altar is a reredos from the 19th century given by the Hingley family of High Park in memory of family members.

“This depiction of the Last Supper is carved from a single piece of white alabaster backed by red marble, and framed in Corsehill stone. The life-like figures are well worth studying.”