Co-founder with her husband of Hill House School. Née Beatrice Lord, she married H. Stuart Townend in 1936 and together they set up and ran Hill House School. Their son, organist Richard Townend, ran the school's music department and, on his father's death he took over as headmaster.
Source the for her husband.
Beatrice May Lord was born on 28 May 1904 in Watchet, Somerset, the second of the four children of Richard Lord (1872-1948) and Lizzie May Lord née Goodenough (1883-1976). Her birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1904 in the Williton Registration District, Somerset.
When her father completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 she was shown as Beatrice Lord, aged 6 years and at school. She was living in a four roomed property at 47 Magor Street, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, with her parents and three siblings: William Frank Lord (b.1902); Elsie Lord (b.1905) and Frank Lord (1908-1993), together with a female boarder. Her father described himself as a general repairs carpenter.
When the census was compiled on 19 June 1921 and she was listed as aged 17 years, 0 months and a domestic servant employed by and residing in the six roomed home of Mrs Elizabeth Ellen Bainbridge and her family at Corsby Villa, Gills Road, Newport.
The Register of Nurses shows that she undertook her training at Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1, from 1928 to 1931 and qualified in London on 27 November 1931. The 1934 register shows her address to have been 18 Morden Road, Newport.
She married Henry S. Townend in the 4th quarter of 1936 in the Kensington Registration District, London.
The electoral register for 1937 lists her and her husband occupying the Ground Floor, 9 Hornton Street, Kensington, but the registers for 1938 and 1939 show them both at Flat 4, 105 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London.
In the England and Wales Register that was compiled on 29 September 1939 her date of birth was given confusingly as 28 May 1906. She was recorded as on unpaid domestic duties, but also as a state registered nurse, living at No.1 Cottage, The Little Rest, Heatherside Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey, with her husband who was listed as the General Secretary of The Hotels and Restaurants Association of Great Britain, her mother and a female housekeeper.
The birth of their son, Richard F. S. Townend, was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1942 in the Leicester Registration District, Leicestershire.
Electoral registers from 1948 to 1952 list her and her husband at Flat 3, 100 Lancaster Gate, London, W2. From 1954 to 1958 they were at 17 Hans Place, London, SW1 and from 1959 to 1961 at 16/17 Hans Place, London. From 1962 to 1965 they were listed at 16 Hans Place, London and from 1966 to 1972 they continued to be listed there together with their son.
She died, aged 79 years, on 14 February 1984 in Switzerland.
She is shown as Mrs H. Stuart Townend on the Hill House School - Founders' Hall memorial at 2 Radnor Walk, London, W2.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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