St George's House,
Northern Police Orphanage. 1898-1956
Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.
Miss Catherine Gurney. OBE
Born on the 19th June,1848, to an affluent and religious middle class family, Catherine Gurney was a woman who challenged the social mores of the time which dictated that, 'a woman's place was in the home'. She was the youngest daughter of Joseph Gurney of Tyndale Lodge, Wimbledon, a member of the firm of W.B.Gurney, shorthand writers to Parliament and grand-daughter of William B. Gurney who played a leading part in the abolition of slavery.The first indication of her drive & initiative came when, in the early 1870's, Catherine Gurney first began a Bible Class at Wandsworth, she then went on to form the International Christian Police Association in 1883 which was initially based at her home. This Association progressed and resulted in the establishment of branches in many countries. A Police Institute was subsequently opened in London.
Her next project in 1890 was a Police Convalescent Seaside Home at Clarendon Villas, West Brighton and in the first year, over 100 Police officers were cared for.
The
need for this type of care soon dictated a fund raising exercise which
resulted in the
opening in 1893
of the
Southern Police Convalescent Home & Orphanage,
Portland Road, Hove, caring for 457 officers and 5 children from a
Police family, in its first year of operation.
This was later
relocated to Sutton and then Redhill in 1895, where it became known as the
Southern Provincial Police School,
later to be called The Southern Provincial police
Orphanage.
In
1897 whilst visiting Harrogate, Catherine Gurney negotiated the purchase
of St George's
College building and grounds of 12 acres, for the sum of 10,000 pounds. So began
the Northern Police Orphanage
(later called St George's House).
The first child was
admitted to the Orphanage in 1898 and, over the ensuing years,
additional
buildings were added to accommodate the growing number of children being cared
for.
Next to get Catherine Gurney's attention in 1901 was the building of the
Northern Police
Convalescent Home,
being located on part of the original St George's 12 acres. This
was
opened in 1903 and continues to provide care for
members of the Police Force to this day,
under the name
Northern Police Convalescent & Treatment
Centre.
Catherine Gurney was without doubt a remarkable woman, one who had the
character & drive to
plan & carry out a number of major projects, all with the common aim of
assisting members of
the Police Force and their families. She died on the 11th August, 1930 and
at her request was
interred on the 13th August, 1930 at All Saints Church
Cemetery, Harlow Hill, Harrogate, near to St George's and St Andrew's,
the two homes she had originated in Harrogate.
Police Pall Bearers, representing the County,City & All Saints Church,Harlow Hill,Harrogate.
Borough Forces, at Miss Gurney's funeral, 1930.
Catherine Gurney's
original headstone now relocated to St Andrew's,
Catherine Gurney's new headstone located at her
Rose Garden
gravesite in All Saints Church, Harrogate
Catherine Gurney's work is continued through
both The St George's Police Trust
(formed in 2006 after a merger between
the Northern Police Orphans Trust and the St George's Fund) which is based in Harrogate and
The Gurney
Fund for Police Orphans based in Worthing.
Income is derived from regular subscriptions from the Police Forces,
donations, legacies and investment income and being registered
charitable trusts, operate according to the aims of the respective
trust deeds, which is, to provide and distribute grants and assistance
to needy orphan children of the Police.
For further information contact:
St. George's Police Trust.- St. Andrew's,Harlow Moor Road, Harrogate,
North Yorkshire, HG2 0AD
The Gurney Fund for Police Orphans- 9 Bath Road, Worthing,
West Sussex, BN11 3NU
Deus vult