Life Membership

NWR's three Honorary Life Members were Betty Jerman, Maureen Nicol and Mary Stott. Sadly Mary Stott died on 16th September 2002 aged 95. These three women were NWR's first trustees, appointed in 1980 when the organisation aquired its charitable status.

Betty Jerman: Honorary Life Member

Betty Jerman sparked the correspondence that would lead to the formation of NWR by writing an article for the Manchester Guardian in 1960 on how boredom affected young mothers' creativity and opportunities for making friends. When NWR was granted charitable status in 1980, Betty was appointed one of the three trustees - a position she would hold for nineteen years. She is the author of various publications, including The Lively-Minded Women charting the history of the first 20 years of NHR/NWR.
Betty Jerman

Maureen Nicol OBE: Honorary Life Member

Maureen Nicol OBE wrote the letter calling for the formation of a national register of housewives to the Manchester Guardian in response to the article written by Betty Jerman. This led to the formation of the National Housewives Register (renamed the National Women's Register in 1987). Maureen was appointed a trustee of the organisation when it gained charitable status in 1980, retiring in 1993. In 1995 she was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday honours for her services to women in founding NWR in 1960.
Maureen Nicol

Gill Vine and Jean Stirk: Life Members

This category was introduced in 2001 for retiring Trustees who had served for ten years and who were not members of a local group at the time of retiring. Life Members Gill Vine (left) and Jean Stirk at the 2001 National Conference Jean Stirk is a former Chair of the National Group and was elected a trustee in 1991, resigning ten years later. Gill Vine is a former National Organiser and was elected a trustee in 1991 a post she held for ten years.

Betty Jerman: Honorary Life Member Betty Jerman sparked the correspondence that would lead to the formation of NWR by writing an article for the Manchester Guardian in 1960 on how boredom affected young mothers' creativity and opportunities for making friends. When NWR was granted charitable status in 1980, Betty was appointed one of the three trustees - a position she would hold for nineteen years. She is the author of various publications, including The Lively-Minded Women charting the history of the first 20 years of NHR/NWR.

Maureen Nicol OBE: Honorary Life Member Maureen Nicol OBE wrote the letter calling for the formation of a national register of housewives to the Manchester Guardian in response to the article written by Betty Jerman. This led to the formation of the National Housewives Register (renamed the National Women's Register in 1987). Maureen was appointed a trustee of the organisation when it gained charitable status in 1980, retiring in 1993. In 1995 she was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday honours for her services to women in founding NWR in 1960.

Gill Vine and Jean Stirk: Life Members This category was introduced in 2001 for retiring Trustees who had served for ten years and who were not members of a local group at the time of retiring. Life Members Gill Vine (left) and Jean Stirk at the 2001 National Conference Jean Stirk is a former Chair of the National Group and was elected a trustee in 1991, resigning ten years later. Gill Vine is a former National Organiser and was elected a trustee in 1991 a post she held for ten years.