Thelma Vaughan: Stepping in Front
By Sylvan Spooner
Although the wife
of Barbados Attorney General, Editor of the Barbados Reporter and Minister
without portfolio Hilton Vaughn, Thelma Vaughn distinguished herself
and carved a niche for herself beyond the shadow of her politically illustrious
husband. After leaving school, Vaughan commenced her teaching career at
St. Paul’s Girl’s school. She soon resigned from the profession and shortly
after joined the Barbados Welfare Limited. In 1944, she went to Jamaica where
she became involved in the second social welfare course organized by Professor T.S.
Simey who at that time was Social Welfare Officer of the Colonial Development
and Welfare Organization.[1]
Upon her return
to the island, Vaughan worked mainly in the parish of St. Andrew but gave
her time freely to similar welfare committees in other parishes throughout the
island with special emphasis for day care services for children. In 1946, just
two years after leaving the teaching profession she was awarded a Scholarship
to the London School of Economics (LSE) where she obtained the Diploma in Social Science. She returned to the island in 1948 and one year later was
appointed to the post of District Officer when the social welfare department
was created.
Hers was a rapid
rise given the relative lack of mobility for women during the period. After
acting in the post of District Officer for a mere nine month she was promoted
to Senior District Welfare Officer following the departure of Ms Betty Arne in
1950. After a decade, her appointment was finally confirmed effective September
25th 1960. After a storied and successful career in education and
later, the social services, Vaughn died on March 10th 1966. The
Thelma Vaughan Memorial Home, established in 1971[2] with Violet Baird as its first Matron[3] which is situated at the Glebe in St. George is
named in her honor. Today the home caters to children and adults with both
physical and development challenges ranging from age 3- 18. In addition to
being the wife of Hilton Vaughan she was also the sister of the late Daphne Joseph
Hackett. The Thelma Vaughan Memorial is a lasting testament to the legacy of
Thelma Vaughan.
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