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Elizabeth Hawes, Soroptimist

Elizabeth Hawes ( ?-1966), an optician and Soroptimist, was a Founder Member of the Soroptimist Greater London club chartered in 1924.

With a private education, Elizabeth gained fluency in several languages. This was to be one of the many talents that assisted her in her International Soroptimist work. Her great interest was singing, entailing her visiting both Paris and Brussels. Travelling extensively, her enthusiasm for the Soroptimist organisation became a source of inspiration to all who came into contact with her.

Elizabeth studied Optics and was awarded a diploma in the subject, and so as a ‘dispensing optician’ joined the ‘family firm’ of Alfred Hawes and Son Manufacturing Opticians, established by William Hawes at 79 Leadenhall Street, London EC in 1840. By 1914 the firm had two shops and a workforce of 26.

Start of a Transformational Soroptimist Career

Miss Elizabeth Hawes was a Founder Member of the Greater London Club, founded in 1923 and chartered on 14 February 1924. She went on to be President of the Club twice, in 1934 and in 1942. Elizabeth served as President of the Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Federation (SIGBI) in 1938-9.

Hawes was responsible for the organisation and formation of many new Soroptimist clubs. She worked with Dr Margaret Adams to form the Federation of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland in 1928, splitting away from the Federation of Europe. She also worked with Edith Glanville to expand Soroptimist International into Australia, where the Sydney Club was formed in 1937.

Storm Clouds Gather over Europe

The momentous Atlantic City Convention, held in New Jersey, USA took place during Elizabeth’s Presidency of the SIGBI Federation in 1938-39. The records show that by the time of the Convention there were 11,389 members in 191 clubs in 13 countries. As the proceedings commenced, it was clear that improved channels of communication were necessary. This was despite the fact that since 1930 the American, European and British Federations were producing their own magazines. An important step was taken to draw the Federations closer together. The Constitution was amended to provide for an International Liaison Secretary to be appointed as a link between the Federation Presidents and International Committee Chairmen. The person appointed to this crucial post was Elizabeth Hawes, then President of the Federation of Great Britain and Ireland.

With charm and an ability to say the right thing at the right time, Elizabeth Hawes built avenues of friendship that were to be of great value in the war-shadowed years ahead. Elizabeth served in this role until 1948, when she retired.

The Atlantic City Convention agreed that efforts be made to encourage women to enter public life. Although both American and British women had received a modified grant of suffrage simultaneously around 1918, British women generally had played a more active role in local as well as national politics. Participation in politics varied among the European countries. While Scandinavian and Finnish women continued to participate, Nazism and Fascism excluded women. Some hard-pressed, European Soroptimist clubs dissolved even before World War II.

World peace must have occupied the minds of many members at this Convention. In her report, Elizabeth Hawes presented a resolution which received the unanimous approval of all delegates: "The Soroptimist International Association condemns war as an instrument of policy between nations and urges governments to seek other means of settling disputes. The meeting of the Soroptimist International Association affirms its belief that freedom can only be assured and peace maintained by upholding the democratic rights of the individual." This was the first of many future Policy Statements.

The social activities of any international gathering do much to create an atmosphere of goodwill. The Atlantic City Convention was no exception with members meeting on many social occasions. This provided opportunity for a free exchange of views away from formal Convention discussion.

As we look back, knowing that war came only a year after the Atlantic City Convention in 1938, it is perhaps poignant to recall an extract from the Christian Science Monitor reporting on the events: "The Soroptimist International Association closes its Convention in Atlantic City and women business executives of Europe and America prepare to leave the seaside resort to preach a 'league of women for peace’. We don't know just how to define a Soroptimist but we recognize common sense when we see it."

In fact, the Atlantic City Convention in 1938 would be the last International Convention for a decade, until 1948 after World War II had been fought and ended and the world struggled to return to normalcy.

‘Working hard and hopeful’ during World War II

In 1939 Hawes had for twelve months been establishing the post of International Liaison Officer. Elizabeth reminded British Soroptimists that it was essential to keep faithfully to the policy laid down in the International Constitution of maintaining strict neutrality in all national affairs and of avoiding all discussions on political, sectarian-religious and racial questions.

As the storm clouds gathered in 1939, the British Federation of Soroptimists embarked on rescuing members of the Vienna Club and their families, who were threatened by the Nazi regime. Negotiations took place with the Home Office and since each refugee had to be sponsored by someone in England, Elizabeth Hawes did much of the work. Eventually over 30 refugees arrived in England. Under Elizabeth's leadership Soroptimists made themselves responsible for the refugees and subsequently arranged their safe passage to the United States where these brave women were helped by American Soroptimists.

Elizabeth Hawes was personally responsible for shipping parcels of aid, including money and clothing, from Soroptimists in the UK and the USA to stricken cities throughout Europe. How Elizabeth managed to maintain contacts with Soroptimists in Occupied Europe no-one will ever know for certain, but it is certain that she had her own “underground network” of brave women throughout Europe during those dark and dangerous days.

Elizabeth recounted that Dr. Madeleine Garot, President of the European Federation, said that she had to hide all papers and Minutes of the Soroptimist Federation under the coal. Elizabeth sent Dr.Garot a Red Cross telegram saying only “Working hard and hopeful”. Madeleine told Hawes later that she wept tears of joy when she received the telegram. It reassured her that European Soroptimists were not forgotten and it inspired members of the European Federation to hold on.

International Communications and Initiatives

The 1942 Great Britain and Ireland SI Conference was held in London but due to war-time restrictions the 1944 SIGBI Conference had to be cancelled. However on 7 July 1944 Elizabeth Hawes was able to broadcast a message over the BBC to members of the SI of the Americas Federation, then holding its convention in St Louis, Missouri. She mentioned active expansion of clubs in the UK, with many new members from the defence services. She also talked about the formation of groups in towns, representing women’s interests, and the need to plan post-war availability of housing, education and vocational guidance.

In November 1946 the SI Great Britain and Ireland Federation held its conference in London and visitors included members from both the American and European Federations. Elizabeth Hawes was able to give her report (and her thanks) in the presence of American Soroptimists. She introduced the idea of Friendship Links, which are still active today. She challenged those attending Conference: “…interchange of visits possibly on a Club basis, correspondence , conference meetings – these are some of the immediate possibilities before us at the international level, and they have a direct bearing on the work of the United Nations, to which many of us have pledged ourselves to give life service.” The UN was in its infancy, a year old at the time.

Both the British and American Federations were working on the establishment of a ‘Children’s Year’ and Elizabeth foresaw an appeal by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and the UN along these lines.

In 1948 in her role of International Liaison Officer, Hawes presented SI Cambridge in England with its charter.

Harrogate, Yorkshire was the venue for the first post-war international convention in 1948, providing opportunities for many reunions after years of enforced separation. 1500 Soroptimists attended and for the first time the flags of the 15 countries present were carried ceremoniously into the hall, received by Elizabeth, who then placed them on display at the front of the hall. This has become the practice at all Soroptimist Conventions and Conferences since that day.  

Honorary Membership of the Federation of Great Britain and Ireland was bestowed on Elizabeth in 1948 when she retired from the post of International Liaison Officer and was succeeded by Madeleine Garot.

The next year, 1949, marked the 25^th anniversary of the Greater London club’s receiving its charter.  Elizabeth was guest of honour at her own club’s celebrations.  Of Elizabeth it was said: ”…she is the best known and most beloved Soroptimist throughout the world, but is indeed the living embodiment of our Charter.”

Later Years

As a token of appreciation of her work in this post during the war, Elizabeth was asked to exercise her personal taste in the decoration and furnishing of one of the rooms of the Soroptimist Residential Club, Number 63 Bayswater Road.

In 1952 the Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, in conjunction with the Save the Children Fund, opened a play centre for underprivileged children in Hurlock Street, Islington, North London and named it Elizabeth House in recognition of the moving spirit that Elizabeth Hawes had given to the project.

Kathleen Halpin (SIGBI President 1959-60) reminisced “Elizabeth Hawes was like a fairy godmother to younger Soroptimists. We would be invited to her cottage for weekends which could include a concert, a party and a trip to Brighton.”

Elizabeth loved London, children and her cottage garden at Penfield near Haywards Heath where trees were planted by Soroptimists from each Federation.

Elizabeth Hawes in her garden in later life

She died in 1966, having given 42 years of devoted service to Soroptimist International. A photograph of Elizabeth Hawes standing in her lovely garden continues to hang on the wall in the entrance hallway at Number 63.