Anna Suckling
English Girl Guide leader (1863-1946)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anna Suckling (1863 – 9 April 1946) was the first County commissioner for Girl Guides in Warwickshire. She was recipient of the Silver Fish Award, the Girl Guide movement's highest award for adults.[1]
1863
Anna Suckling | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anna Maria Jerome 1863 Sutton Coldfield, England |
| Died | 9 April 1946 (aged 82–83) Oxford, England |
| Occupation | Girl Guide leader |
| Spouse |
Cornelius William Suckling
(m. 1881) |
| Children | 2 |
Personal life
Anna Maria Jerome was born in 1863 to John and Mary Jerome. She was the oldest of five children. The family home was Holland House, Sutton Coldfield.[2] She married Cornelius William Suckling (1856–1935), a surgeon, in 1881.[3] They lived in Edgbaston[4] and had two sons, John and Cornelius. She was living in Oxford when she died.[5]
Girl Guides
Suckling became involved with Girl Guiding in 1910, one year after the movement's foundation.[6] Between 1913 and 1921 she served as the first County Commissioner for Girl Guiding in Warwickshire.[7] Suckling organised the movement across the Midlands with membership increasing so significantly during her time that between 1912 and 1921 six additional Division Commissioners were appointed.[8] In July 1913, Lord and Lady Baden-Powell inspected 150 Girl Guides representing nine companies at the Suckling's home.[9]
Suckling received the Silver Fish Award, Girl Guiding's highest adult honour, in 1921. It was presented by the Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell, at Warwickshire's first Guide Rally, at Shrubland Park in Leamington Spa.[10] Suckling resigned from her position as County Commissioner in October 1921[11] but continued to be involved in Guiding until at least 1924.[12]
