Bridget Elizabeth Talbot facts for kids

Bridget Elizabeth Talbot (born 1885, died 1971) was an important British politician and a tireless campaigner who worked to make things better for many people.

Her Early Life and Work

Bridget Elizabeth Talbot was born in 1885. Her father was Alfred Chetwynd-Talbot, and her grandfather was the 18th Earl of Shrewsbury.

In 1914, Bridget started a project to grow "co-operative gardens" on land that wasn't being used. This idea was so good that the British Ministry of Agriculture later used her plan all over the country!

Helping During Wartime

During and after the First World War (1914-1918), Bridget worked a lot with the Red Cross and groups that helped refugees (people forced to leave their homes). She worked in countries like Belgium, Italy, Turkey, and Russia.

For her brave work with the Anglo-Italian Red Cross on the Italian-Austrian front during the war, she received the Italian Medal for Valour. This was from 1916 to 1919. In 1920, she was also given the OBE award, which is a special honour in Britain.

From 1920 to 1922, Bridget was in Turkey. There, she set up a committee to help Russian refugees. She even started a co-operative farm where people worked together in Asia Minor. In 1932, she went to Russia again as part of a special mission.

Saving Important Places and Lives

Bridget was very important in making sure that Ashridge Estate, a large and beautiful area, was protected by the National Trust. The National Trust is a charity that looks after historic places and natural spaces.

In 1937, she became a joint owner of Kiplin Hall in North Yorkshire. This historic house and estate remained important to her for the rest of her life.

Kiplin Hall is a historic house in North Yorkshire that Bridget Talbot helped to preserve.

Bridget was also an inventor! She created a special waterproof electric torch that could be attached to lifebelts. She worked hard to make sure that the British Parliament made these torches compulsory for all sailors and air force personnel. Because of her invention, hundreds of lives were saved during the Second World War.

Her Political Career

In 1931, Bridget joined the National Labour Party. She helped Ramsay MacDonald, who was the Prime Minister at the time, with his election campaign. She was also a member of the National Labour Council, a group that helped guide the party.

Campaigning for Sailors

Bridget cared deeply about improving the lives of merchant seamen (sailors who work on cargo ships). She campaigned very actively for better conditions for them. In 1937, to truly understand their lives, she even worked as a sailor on a "windjammer" (a large sailing ship) on a trip to Finland!

In 1939, she started a special investigation for the National Labour Party into the state of the Merchant Navy. She also organized sports camps for blind soldiers from St. Dunstan's, a famous charity that helps visually impaired veterans.

Running for Parliament

Later, Bridget joined the Liberal Party. She ran as a Liberal candidate for the Bermondsey area of London in the 1950 General Election. Even though it was a new election area, the Liberal Party hadn't done very well there since the 1920s.

Bermondsey in London, 1950. Bridget Talbot ran for Parliament here.

Here are the results from that election:

Bridget did not run for Parliament again after this. However, in 1964, she thought about running as an independent candidate for Richmond, Yorkshire. She was against Britain joining the Common Market, which is now known as the European Union.

Other Roles and Honours

Bridget Talbot held many other important positions. She was the Lord of the Manor of Scorton and a hereditary Governor of Scorton Grammar School. She was also a Vice-President of the Red Ensign Club and the Watch Ashore Association, both groups connected to sailors.

She was an Honorary Member of St Dunstan's Governing Committee, continuing her work with blind veterans. She was also made an Honorary Officer of the Roman Grenadier Guards after a battle in 1917, and she received the Croce di Guerra, another military honour.

Bridget Elizabeth Talbot passed away on November 29, 1971, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated public service and campaigning.