Mrs Euphemia Violet Welby CBE (1891-1987)
The daughter of a naval father (Rear Admiral Lyon), she had been born in Stoke Damerel, where she lived for much of her life. After being widowed (her husband was Captain R.M. Welby), she threw herself back into social work. She had been a keen social worker during the previous war, including acting as an honorary secretary of the Plymouth branch of the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association (SSFA, later SSAFA) 1914-22. Her early work in Plymouth had brought her into contact with Lady Astor, and the Astor Institute, becoming the vice chairman in 1934, later becoming chairman. Notably in the interwar period, Mrs Welby was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Girl Guide movement, becoming Divisional Commander for the region in 1935. Mrs. Welbv was appointed, in June 1939, as commandant of the new W.R.N.S. establishment at Plymouth, with the responsibility of recruiting volunteers and training the chosen candidates from local homes. She was the first woman to be appointed to a military office in a British port, and she was determined to use it to ensure the Wrens under her command were not simply confined to mundane administrative support duties. She promoted the use of Wrens as boat crew, and her Wrens proved their competence in patrolling the harbour and Sound, as well as undertaking rescue operations, even under fire. But Mrs Welby, despite her new commitment, did not confine her activities to her official duties and instead, still continued to use her local connections to ensure the wider welfare of both local and incoming service women, ensuring the development of clubs and other leisure facilities for them. She also continued her investment in the Girl Guides locally especially after the Plymouth Blitz. She was awarded the CBE in 1944 for her service, which has been described – in relation to her time in charge of the Wrens during the war – as dedicated and selfless. She was certainly an inspiring leader who dedicated herself to promoting opportunities for women and girls through her work. She later left Plymouth after the war, to settle near Yeovil, Somerset to be near her son, where she continued public service as a JP.