Rosalind Rusbridge facts for kids
Rosalind Rusbridge (born Bevan, April 15, 1915 – July 9, 2004) was a dedicated teacher. She was also a strong supporter of peace. Rosalind was famous for her peace work in Swansea, Wales. She even lost her job because she believed in pacifism. This means she was against war and violence. Her story is shared in a book called Swansea Conchie Controversy. Later, she moved to Bristol. There, she kept working for peace and human rights. She taught school until she was almost 70 years old. She also helped out a lot at her church.
Rosalind's Early Life and Beliefs
Rosalind Rusbridge grew up in Swansea. Her parents were Sidney and Emily Bevan. She went to Swansea High School for Girls. Her family were Baptists, a type of Christian church.
Even as a teenager, Rosalind had strong beliefs. She called herself a socialist. This means she believed in fairness for everyone. She was also a Christian-pacifist. This meant her Christian faith taught her that war and violence were wrong. A minister named Reverend Howard Ingli James influenced her. He was also a pacifist.
Rosalind was very smart. She earned a scholarship to Cambridge University. In 1938, she got a top degree in classics. This is the study of ancient Greek and Roman history and languages. She then studied teaching at Oxford University.
Standing Up for Peace in Swansea
In September 1939, Rosalind returned to Swansea. She started teaching classics at Glanmor Girls' School. At the same time, she became very involved in the peace movement. This was just before World War II began.
Rosalind formed a group for pacifists. She gave speeches about why peace was important. She also sold Peace News newspapers. She sold them from a stall she rented at the Swansea market. She was also one of the first women to join the Peace Pledge Union (PPU). This group worked to end war.
As World War II continued, many people in Swansea felt strongly against pacifists. Rosalind's market stall was threatened. Later, the city council closed and locked her stall. She could no longer use it.
In June 1940, the Swansea Council decided something big. They would suspend any employees who were pacifists. They asked all employees to sign a "Declaration of Allegiance." This paper showed support for the war. Rosalind refused to sign it. Because of this, she lost her teaching job.
Later, the council changed their minds. They said she could have her job back. But Rosalind had already found a new job. She was teaching at Chester Boys' Grammar School. She decided not to return to Swansea.
Life in Bristol and Continued Activism
Rosalind met her husband, Ewart Rusbridge, in Chester. They got married in 1942. In 1948, they moved to Bristol.
Rosalind kept teaching for many years. She often taught at Clifton High School for Girls. She worked until she was almost 70. She never stopped working for human rights and peace.
She was a representative for the southwest region of England. She worked with the Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CCND). This group wanted to get rid of nuclear weapons. Rosalind protested at United States military bases. These included Aldermaston and Greenham Common. She was also very active in her Baptist church. Once, she even ran in a Parliamentary election.
Rosalind Rusbridge passed away in 2004 from cancer. People remembered her at Horfield Baptist Church in Bristol. Her body was later cremated.
Her experiences during the anti-pacifist campaign in Swansea were written down. You can read about them in Swansea Conchie Controversy (1988). Her memories are also in a book called Parachutes and Petticoats (1992).
