Dame Grace Mary Thyrza Kimmins, (''née'' Hannam; 6 May 1870 – 3 March 1954) was a British writer who created charities that worked with children who had disabilities.

Biography

Kimmins was born in Lewes, Sussex, the eldest of four children born to cloth merchant James Hannam, cloth merchant, and Thyrza Rogers. She was educated at Wilton House School in Bexhill.

Juliana Horatia Ewing Juliana Horatia Ewing (née Gatty, 3 August 1841 – 13 May 1885) was an English writer of children's stories. Her writings display a sympathetic insight into children's lives, an admiration for things military, and a strong religious faith. L ...

's 1885 novel ''The Story of a Short Life'' inspired Kimmins to start the

Guild of the Poor Brave Things The Guild of the Brave Poor Things was a British charity for disabled children. It was established in 1894 by Dame Grace Kimmins (1871–1954) ''et al.'' to provide resources for disabled boys to enable them to make a productive place for themselv ...

to help children with disabilities in London. Grace (and later Ada Vachell took their motto ''Laetus sorte mea'' ("Happy in my lot") from Ewing's book. Kimmins was described in ''

Punch Punch commonly refers to: * Punch (combat), a strike made using the hand closed into a fist * Punch (drink), a wide assortment of drinks, non-alcoholic or alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice Punch may also refer to: Places * Pun ...

'' as "... in her quiet practical way is probably as good a friend as London ever had". She became a

Wesleyan Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan– Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charle ...

deaconess The ministry of a deaconess is, in modern times, a usually non-ordained ministry for women in some Protestant, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox churches to provide pastoral care, especially for other women, and which may carry a limited l ...

and worked in both the Methodist West London Mission and the Bermondsey Settlement, where she moved in 1895. In 1897, she married Charles William Kimmins. She was active in the foundation and continuance of charitable foundations, particularly those concerned with children's play and the welfare of poor and disabled children. She founded, caused to be founded or was involved in the Methodist West London Mission, Bermondsey Settlement,

Chailey Heritage Chailey Heritage School is a special school located in North Chailey, East Sussex, England. It is owned and operated by the Chailey Heritage Foundation. The school is for children and young adults, aged between 3 and 19, with complex physical ...

Guild of Play The Guild of Play was founded by Dame Grace Kimmins (1871–1954) and others from the Passmore Edwards Settlement to provide structured play for city girls. Objective To provide a civilising influence away from the city streets by reviving the o ...

, and

. She was also a writer; her only published novel, ''Polly of Parker's Rents'' (1899) explored children living in poverty.

Honours

She was named

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in 1927 and promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1950.

Family

Grace and Charles Kimmins had two sons: *Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Charles Hannam Kimmins (30 July 1899 – 15 November 1979), British military commander who served as the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland District. * Anthony Martin Kimmins (10 November 1901 – 19 May 1964), British actor, director and producer.

Death

Dame Grace Kimmins died in Haywards Heath Hospital on 3 March 1954, aged 83.

Bibliography

* * * *Posthumous publication * *

Notes

References

External links

*
"Botches"
(Scroll down to find "Botches")

Heritage Craft School in Chailey
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimmins, Grace 1870 births 1954 deaths British activists British women activists British feminists British philanthropists British Methodists Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire People from Lewes