Elaine Carlisle Bellew-Bryan, Baroness Bellew (1885 – 7 March 1973), served in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

as a nurse and was one of the first women to be a member of the corporation in Kilkenny, from 1955 until 1973.

Early life

Elaine Carlisle Leach was born in 1885 in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

to John Benjamin Leach and Emma Frances Leach (née Fichat), known as Dolly. Bellew married Herbert Lloyd-Dodd in South Africa where she was trained as a nurse. He died in 1914. She served during the

, first in the Richmond Military Hospital and then as part of the

Voluntary Aid Detachment The Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The most important periods of operation for these units we ...

She was mentioned in dispatches during the war.

Life in Ireland

She then married George Bellew-Bryan, 4th Baron Bellew, on 9 April 1927. She met him while he was on a trip to

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

, which was then part of the

Italian Empire The Italian colonial empire ( it, Impero coloniale italiano), known as the Italian Empire (''Impero Italiano'') between 1936 and 1943, began in Africa in the 19th century and comprised the colonies, protectorates, concessions and dependencie ...

. She became known as Elaine, Lady Bellew. She moved to Jenkinstown House outside

Kilkenny Kilkenny (). is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2016 census gave the total population of Kilkenny as 26,512. Kilken ...

city and became very involved in local activities. She became a member of the

Kilkenny Archaeological Society The Kilkenny Archaeological Society is an archaeological society in County Kilkenny, Ireland. History The Kilkenny Archaeological Society was founded in 1946.. An older society with the same name existed,. which developed into the Royal Society ...

. She ran auctions from the house. She was well known as speaking her mind. Lady Bellew was also known for her gardens. Butler House

Lady Bellew began a fete in Jenkinstown and this continued until the 1940s. Proceeds were given to the Jubilee Nurses Organisation. She also held dances to support the District Nursing Association of which she was President. Her husband died in 1935 and the property in Jenkinstown passed to his heir. As a result, Lady Bellew moved into the city to live. Initially she lived in Rosemount House and then moved into Butler House. She was given an annuity of £500 per year. This was when she became more involved in the activities in the city itself. She became a councillor for Kilkenny from 1955 until 1973. The Rt Hon. Elaine, Dowager

Baroness Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher th ...

Bellew, died on 7 March 1973, and is buried at St. Kieran's Cemetery in Kilkenny.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryan-Bellew, Elaine 1885 births 1973 deaths Irish women in politics Irish baronesses People from Kilkenny (city) South African nurses People from Queenstown, South Africa Female nurses in World War I Members of Kilkenny Archaeological Society