This Is Your Life: Hilda Rowcliffe

Hilda ROWCLIFFE MBE

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Hilda Rowcliffe, missionary, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews outside the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe she was there to watch a programme about Dunkirk.

Hilda, who was born in Bristol, moved to the French port of Dunkirk in 1926, despite ill health, to work at the Sailor's Rest, a voluntary-run mission for visiting sailors and seamen. When Dunkirk was under siege during the Second World War in 1940, Hilda was forced to leave and spent the war years working at a mission in Fowey, Cornwall.

In 1946, she was invited back to Dunkirk to resume her duties, only to discover that the Sailor's Rest had been destroyed. With the help of locals, the British Consul, and the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, Hilda was able to rebuild the mission and again dispense kindness and support to the crews of visiting ships.

"A pleasure to meet you all at the BBC - I am still in a dream!"

programme details...

Edition No: 120
Subject No: 120
Broadcast live: Mon 25 Jan 1960
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.05pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 5
Edition: 22

on the guest list...

Peter Hodge
Alfred Spencer
Capt C M Powell - via telephone
Rene David
Monsieur David
Bill Smyth
Mervyn Emery
L R Clark
Monsieur Aucoutourier
John Kerm
Dorothy - sister
Audrey - sister
Howerd - brother
Gladys Morgan
Alec Willoughby

production team...

Researcher: Liam Nolan
Writer: Liam Nolan
Director: unknown
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

related page...

A Charitable Life

the unsung heroes

Series 5 subjects