Rosa Lewis

 

Rosa Lewis

Who ?

Rosa Lewis was a woman lost in history but whose determination to 'better herself' is an Inspiration to us women today.

Born Rosa Ovenden into a very poor family in 1867, her father was an undertaker who had 9 children. Rosa started work at the very young age of 12 and went into domestic service which was better than going into the Workhouse. This little 'lady' cleaned and did menial chores in exchange for a bed to sleep in and decent meals every day.

Rosa learnt quickly and became a cook at 16 years old. Going from job to job, Rosa 'stepped up' in her chosen profession and was soon cooking for Royalty (Edward VII). The family insisted Rosa married and she did, marrying Excelsiar Lewis, but it did not last.

Having saved her money over the years, Rosa bought the Cavendish Hotel and it became one of the most fashionable addresses in London. She became known as "The Duchess of Jermyn Street" and started to dress accordingly. 

World War One started and the Hotel suffered financially. To combat this, after the Great War, Rosa would increase the prices for some guests, refusing to take a penny from the war veterans she put up. The Hotel became fashionable again, entertaining aristocrats such as the future Duke of Windsor.

World War Two came and the Hotel was nearly destroyed, Rosa nearly losing her life in a bomb attack. She seemed more worried about the vintage bottles of champagne at the time!

Rosas Lewis died in 1952, she was 85 years of age. She became known as "The Queen of Cooks".

This is a truly Inspiring story, a young woman who came from a very poor background who rose to serve and entertain Royalty. Her incredible work ethic is an example to us today.

If you would like to read a more indepth article, click on the links "Rosa Lewis" and enjoy being truly Inspired!

Rosa Lewis

Irena Sendler

 

Irena Sendler

An angel during World War Two!

Many have never heard of this brave young woman but Irena Sendler was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jewish children from the Nazi 'Holocaust.'

Born in 1910 in Warsaw, Irena's father was a doctor who did his best to help the Jewish community, showing his daughter the value of kindness to other fellow human beings. After finishing her schooling, Irena was employed in legal counselling and a social help clinic --- she was concerned about the unmarried mothers and the very poor within the community.

When Germany was invaded, the Jewish community were immediately persecuted but Irena felt she was in a position to help, creating 'false references' and finding ways to help the Jews. In 1940, the Nazi crowded thousands of Jews into the "Warsaw Ghetto"  and no one was allowed to help them. Irena and a few of her 'friends' gained access (they had special permits) to go into the Ghetto to check for signs of typhus and sanitary inspections. This way, they were able to 'secretly' provide medicines and cleaning items, as well as food, clothing and other necessities.

During their visits, these courageous 'friends' smuggled young children out of the Ghetto, saving them from the gas chambers. Some of the children were smuggled out in gunnysacks, a young baby was smuggled out in a tool box and some children went through one door into the chapel and out another door to safety.

Irena and her 'friends' showed no fear --- if they had been caught, they and their whole families would have been shot.  

Irena tried to keep records of the children's real names in the hope of re-uniting them with their real families after the war, and these records she kept in jars, buried in the garden under an apple tree --- they were never found by the nazi.

This brave woman was caught and tortured (they broke her legs and feet) but the Nazi could not break Irena's spirit. She managed to escape and worked as a nurse, still helping the Jewish community as best she could. Irena had to change her name in order to protect herself.

Irena died in 2008 and she was 98 years of age. Before her death, she was recognized as one of the "Polish Righteous Among The Jews" when her courage came to the fore after the war finished.

A story surely to Inspire anyone, click on the links "Irena Sendler" and enjoy reading the whole story of this brave young woman's courage during World War Two.

Irena Sendler

Helen Keller

 

Helen Keller

Helen Keller is one of the most inspirational women I have ever read about!

She had every reason to 'give up' on life but refused to let her disabilities stop her from doing anything she wanted to do.

Helen Adams Keller was born on 27th June, 1880, in Alabama. At 19 months of age, she contracted an unknown illness (possibly scarlet fever or meningitis) which left this little girl deaf and blind, leaving Helen living in a "sea of dense fog."

Learning to communicate with her family, Helen had over 60 'home' signs and could distinguish people by the vibration of their footsteps. The family were referred to Alexander Graham Bell, who at the time was working with deaf people and he advised them to contact the Perkins Institute for the blind. Here, they met Anne Sullivan, who was herself visually impaired and Anne became Helen's 'tutor', teaching her pupil to spell words "into her hand."

Helen said that: "The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, set it free!"

Helen Keller

Helen enjoyed music as she could feel the beat and she had a very strong connection with animals. In time, Helen attended the Perkins Institute for the Blind and then moved on to the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf. All the time, Anne stayed with her pupil.

Eventually, Helen gained admittance to the Radcliffe College of Harvard University and at 24 years of age, graduated from Radcliffe.

 Helen Keller became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. This was an amazing triumph for Helen --- but she did not stop there!

Helen Keller

Helen now went 'on tour', lecturing about how others too can achieve great things. With Anne, Helen 'toured' the world and published a total of 12 books --- despite being deaf and blind!

In 1961, Helen suffered a series of strokes and died in 1968, in her sleep, just before her 88th birthday.

What an Inspiration Helen Keller is to us all --- and most of us can hear and see!

If you'd like to read about Helen's life in more detail, clink on the links "Helen Keller" --- you will come away truly Inspired!

The Queen Mother

 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

The Queen Mother

The mother of our dear Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Consort tot he late King George VI, the late Queen Mother was an example to us all. She is best remembered for her moral support to the British people during World War Two --- and her longevity, as this Queen lived until she was 101 years of age!

Born in 1900, Elizabeth was the fourth child of Lord and Lady Glamis and she spent much of her childhood in Glamis Castle. When Elizabeth was 14, War broke out and Glamis Castle became a hospital, with this little lady doing her best to 'keep morale up.'

The Queen Mother

Prince Albert and Elizabeth fell in love in 1921 --- and after 3 proposals --- Elizabeth finally agreed to marry "Bertie." The wedding was on 26th April, 1923, at Westminster Abbey and the bride laid her wedding bouquet at the tomb of "The Unknown Warrior."

Their first child was born in 1926, the Princess Elizabeth, and their second child was born in 1930, the Princess Margaret. Bertie's father died in 1936 and now Albert became King George VI, with both being crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1937.

World War Two started and it was mentioned that Elizabeth and the two little Princesses should evacuate to safety to Canada, but Elizabeth said: 

"The children won't go without me. I won't go without the King. And the King will never leave."

Thus, the Royal family 'stuck it out' with their people, with Buckingham Palace being bombed in 1940: "I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face," Elizabeth said at the time.

After seeing England through World War Two, King George VI died in 1952 and Elizabeth did her best to carry on with her Royal duties, becoming more busier than ever. She proudly watched her daughter's Coronation and the growth of her family when both daughters married and had children.

The Queen Mother

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, died peacefully in her sleep in 2002 with her daughter Elizabeth II by her side. The funeral wreath was placed on the tomb of "The Unknown Warrior", just as her wedding bouquet was!

If you'd like to read a more detailed article, clink on the link "The Queen Mother" --- it's worth your time reading about such a lovely lady who had such a kind heart.