The Legacy of Mary Seacole
By Mia Morris
Mary Seacole is held in much pride as she brought more
than her skills in nursing to those who admired her. She was
a humanitarian and more importantly took care of people in
a holistic way. 'She was not about just sticking a plaster
on and sending them on their way,' says Sister Monica, a community
worker whose previous roles included working as a Roman Catholic
chaplainry with responsibility for the Caribbean at Westminster;
hence a pivotal person with the Friends of Mary Seacole.
See also "Mary Seacole: Quotes"
It was no surprise to learn that Mary Grant Seacole topped
the Every Generation campaign to find 100 Great Black Britains.
Patrick Vernon has been overwhelmed with positive responses
from various sectors and has since attended meetings with
regard to developing more information for the campaign for
recognition within the community.
Seacole was born in 1805 in Jamaica and made her mark on
British public life when she went to the Crimea (by her own
efforts) to bring comfort to the wounded and dying soldiers,
after her offers to help were rejected by the Government.
She was awarded a Crimean medal, and in 1857 published her
autobiography, The Wonderful Adventures of Mary Seacole in
Many Lands. Seacole died in 1881, and is buried in St Mary's
Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green.
Many black women came from the Caribbean post Windrush to
serve as nurses. The appeal of the UK was that they were given
job status, the opportunity to share their holistic beliefs,
and lodgings all in one fell swoop. Not surprisingly, the
NHS is the third largest employer of people from ethnic backgrounds
in the world.
Royal College of Nurses President, Sylvia Denton OBE, FRCN
said: "As a black Jamaican woman in the 19th century
Mary Seacole stood up against the discrimination and prejudices
she encountered. Against all odds Mary had an unshakeable
belief in the power of nursing to make a difference."
Mary Seacole's efforts would not have been brought to the
fore without the help of 'The Friends of Mary Seacole' an
organization that worked together to ensure that Seacole's
life was commemorated with an annual wreath laying ceremony
which started in 1981.
On Monday 24th November 2003 a campaign for a permanent memorial
of Mary Seacole in London was launched. A public garden in
memory of Mary Seacole is planned for the area close to where
she is buried.
This year, 2005 will be the 200th anniversary of her birth
and so the campaign to erect a statue gathers momentum.
The
question though is should it be erected on the vacant plinth
in Trafalgar Square or in an area more acquainted with the
people Mary represented. For more details and updates about
the campaign go to: www.maryseacole.com
or www.international-womens-month.co.uk
In 1994 the Department of Health announced and launched the
Mary Seacole Nursing Leadership Award. The Award was intended
'to support a BME nurse studying in preparation for a leading
position in nursing which would also benefit the health of
Black and Ethnic communities'.
It was acknowledged in various policy documents and by staff
in the NHS that 'people from the black and ethnic minorities
are significantly under-represented in senior positions, as
in other areas of the NHS workforce'. The Award was intended
to kick start a process that would start to redress the above
situation as well as benefiting the individual to whom it
was awarded.
Ten Awards have been made to 6 nurses, 3 health visitors,
and 1 midwife. Subjects covered range across a wide area of
care including Forensic Mental Health, Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia,
Paediatric Home Care, School Children's Health, Sexual Health,
Stroke Care, Care of the Elderly, Midwifery Care, Women's
Mental Health and Medicine Management for BME patients in
the community.
There is clear evidence to show that the 10 winners of the
Mary Seacole Leadership awards have benefited enormously.
They represent a cadre of nurses who have shown how policy
applied to practice can benefit patients. These individuals
epitomise a successful knowledge and skills framework. Their
success also shows what can be achieved from investing in
BME nurses.
The Department of Health is continuing to support the Mary
Seacole name and heritage and has agreed a further �125,000
to be awarded to 20 BME nurses working directly with patients
at the frontline in the NHS. The new awards were announced
by the minister, Dr. Stephen Ladyman, last November. As with
the Leadership Awards, the new awards will be administered
by the Royal College of Nurses in collaboration with the Royal
College of Midwives, the Community Practitioners an d Health
Visitors Association and UNISON
"Mary Seacole epitomized the
spirit of caring and matched this with a real purpose even
though she encountered 'red tape' and resistance to her plans.
Rising above the obviously difficult she forged ahead against
the odds of the time and made her mark for history. Her strength
was that she did not understand the word no. Today her achievements
remain an inspiration nearly 200 years later".
Nola Ishmael, OBE
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR JAMAICA HER EXCELLENCY
MAXINE ROBERTS, CD
ON MARY SEACOLE, JAMAICAN HEROINE
Among the many outstanding Jamaican women whose name lives
on in the island's history, few rank above Mary Jane Seacole.
She is revered in Jamaica for her skill as a 'doctress' and
nurse to the many ordinary men and women on the island during
the outbreak of cholera in the 1850's and is remembered for
taking her own medicines to help those stricken with the disease
in Panama and Cuba.
She was a strong and caring woman who unselfishly funded
her nursing services from the proceeds of her boarding house
and general store in Jamaica without regard for her own personal
profit.
Her legacy lives on in Jamaica from the Mary Seacole Hall
at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies to
the hundreds of Jamaican nurses who followed her footsteps
and are now playing a key role in this country's National
Health Service.
The High Commission has over the years supported the work
of the Mary Seacole Memorial Association and is represented
on the steering committee seeking to have a permanent monument
to Mary Seacole established in London
Sculpture of Mary Seacole by Fowokan aka George Kelly
Fowokan is a member of the society of Portraits
Additional info:
Mary Grant Seacole was a Jamaican-born nurse who fulfilled
her ambition to nurse soldiers in the Crimean war, despite
being denied the opportunity of enlisting with Florence Nightingale.
Born in 1805 of Jamaican/Scottish parentage, she successfully
raised funds to pay for her passage to the Crimea where she
set up the British Hotel, which provided soldiers with accommodation,
food and nursing care. When the war suddenly ended in 1856
she found herself in financial difficulties. This was resolved
when her supporters in England established and contributed
to a fund championed by the Times newspaper. As a result she
returned to London, published a best selling autobiography
in 1857 and spent her remaining days travelling back and forth
between England and Jamaica. Mary Seacole died in London in
1881 and is buried in St Mary's Catholic cemetery, Kensal
Green. A public garden in memory of Mary Seacole is planned
in Scrubs Lane, close to where she is buried. See further
on for links to more information about Mary Seacole.
Source: Mary
Seacole resource centre
The National Portrait Gallery Trafalgar
Square London now has a recently discovered painting in Room
32 now on permanent display.
See also "Mary Seacole:
Quotes"
See
this 90 second film from the BBC Video Nation exalting
Mary Seacole (Real Media)
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