Mary Anne "Marian" Belcher (12 March 1849 – 15 December 1898) was an English educator and school administrator, the second headmistress of Bedford High School.
Belcher passed the General Examination for Women in 1870.[2] She taught at Cheltenham Ladies' College from 1871 to 1883, and was the school's vice-principal from 1877, under the mentorship of headmistress Dorothea Beale.[1][3]
In 1883, Belcher became headmistress of Bedford High School, after the founding headmistress, Ada Benson McDowall, died suddenly in the school's first year. "She it is, therefore, to whom the school chiefly owes its original organization and its present traditions," a 1906 report noted of Belcher.[4] Under her administration, the school enrollment and facilities grew "with such marvelous rapidity", with new buildings to serve over 500 students, ages 7 through 20.[4][5][3] Belcher's approach emphasised high moral purpose and set public service as a priority over private needs;[5] "her rule was one of love, not of fear," recalled one account, "yet her sternness, where sternness was deserved, prevented any abuse of her gentle methods".[4]
Belcher helped establish the high school's alumnae organization, the Old Girls' Guild, which held reunions and made charitable contributions in Bedford.[4] She remained as headmistress at Bedford for fifteen years, until her death in 1898 from illness.[3] She was succeeded by another Cheltenham-trained teacher, Susan Collie.[6][7]
Personal life
Belcher died in 1898, aged 49 years.[1] She is buried at Foster Hill Road Cemetery in Bedford.[8] The school established a Marian Belcher Leaving Scholarship in her memory in 1901, and a window in the school's chapel was dedicated to Belcher in 1902.[5] Her nephew Gordon Belcher was a noted cricketer before he died in World War I.[9]
References
^ abcHunt, Felicity (2004). "Belcher, Mary Anne [Marian] (1849–1898), headmistress". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48640. Retrieved 30 October 2018. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Carter, Phillip (2018-10-02). "Education, to the power of Nine". Talking Humanities. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
^ abcd"Our Schools IX. Bedford High School". School: A Monthly Record of Educational Thought and Progress. 6: 102–104. October 1906.
^ abcAyres, Linda. "Marian Belcher - Second Head Mistress of Bedford High School". Foster Hill Road Cemetery. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
^Roach, John (2012-10-12). Secondary Education in England 1870-1902: Public Activity and Private Enterprise. Routledge. ISBN978-1-134-96008-8.
^"Bedford Girls' School". Daily News. 1899-03-18. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-03-01 – via Newspapers.com.
^Parsons, Sue. "Belcher memorial". Foster Hill Road Cemetery. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
^Jones, Michael (2014-08-03). "Cricketers who died in World War 1 — Part 1 of 5". Cricket Country. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
External links
Bedford Girls' School website.
January 21, 2023
marian, belcher, mary, anne, marian, belcher, march, 1849, december, 1898, english, educator, school, administrator, second, headmistress, bedford, high, school, born12, march, 1849great, faringdon, berkshiredied15, december, 1898bedfordnationalityenglishoccup. Mary Anne Marian Belcher 12 March 1849 15 December 1898 was an English educator and school administrator the second headmistress of Bedford High School Marian BelcherMarian BelcherBorn12 March 1849Great Faringdon BerkshireDied15 December 1898BedfordNationalityEnglishOccupationEducatorKnown forHeadmistress Bedford High School 1883 1898 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditMary Anne Belcher was born in Great Faringdon Berkshire the daughter of Thomas Belcher and Mary Anne Saunders Belcher Her father was a grocer Her brother Thomas Hayes Belcher was a noted cricketer who became principal of Brighton College She was educated at Hillersdon House in Barnes and at Cheltenham Ladies College 1 Career EditBelcher passed the General Examination for Women in 1870 2 She taught at Cheltenham Ladies College from 1871 to 1883 and was the school s vice principal from 1877 under the mentorship of headmistress Dorothea Beale 1 3 In 1883 Belcher became headmistress of Bedford High School after the founding headmistress Ada Benson McDowall died suddenly in the school s first year She it is therefore to whom the school chiefly owes its original organization and its present traditions a 1906 report noted of Belcher 4 Under her administration the school enrollment and facilities grew with such marvelous rapidity with new buildings to serve over 500 students ages 7 through 20 4 5 3 Belcher s approach emphasised high moral purpose and set public service as a priority over private needs 5 her rule was one of love not of fear recalled one account yet her sternness where sternness was deserved prevented any abuse of her gentle methods 4 Belcher helped establish the high school s alumnae organization the Old Girls Guild which held reunions and made charitable contributions in Bedford 4 She remained as headmistress at Bedford for fifteen years until her death in 1898 from illness 3 She was succeeded by another Cheltenham trained teacher Susan Collie 6 7 Personal life EditBelcher died in 1898 aged 49 years 1 She is buried at Foster Hill Road Cemetery in Bedford 8 The school established a Marian Belcher Leaving Scholarship in her memory in 1901 and a window in the school s chapel was dedicated to Belcher in 1902 5 Her nephew Gordon Belcher was a noted cricketer before he died in World War I 9 References Edit a b c Hunt Felicity 2004 Belcher Mary Anne Marian 1849 1898 headmistress Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 48640 Retrieved 30 October 2018 Subscription or UK public library membership required Carter Phillip 2018 10 02 Education to the power of Nine Talking Humanities Retrieved 2020 03 01 a b c Mirian Belcher The Guardian London December 28 1898 p 26 a b c d Our Schools IX Bedford High School School A Monthly Record of Educational Thought and Progress 6 102 104 October 1906 a b c Ayres Linda Marian Belcher Second Head Mistress of Bedford High School Foster Hill Road Cemetery Retrieved 30 October 2018 Roach John 2012 10 12 Secondary Education in England 1870 1902 Public Activity and Private Enterprise Routledge ISBN 978 1 134 96008 8 Bedford Girls School Daily News 1899 03 18 p 8 Retrieved 2020 03 01 via Newspapers com Parsons Sue Belcher memorial Foster Hill Road Cemetery Retrieved 30 October 2018 Jones Michael 2014 08 03 Cricketers who died in World War 1 Part 1 of 5 Cricket Country Retrieved 2020 03 02 External links EditBedford Girls School website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marian Belcher amp oldid 1113343744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
