EDITH MAUD ELLAM. 1915 – 2006.
Whilst we may feel that this is a sad day in many ways, I feel sure that Maud Ellam would wish everyone to celebrate her life and not to make this a sad occasion.
How many of you have known her as Maud? How many have known her as Ellie? May be some of you will have known her simply as Miss Ellam! A lady with many names indeed and a lady of many talents and rare qualities!
Maud was a very special lady to a great many young people. She was always involved with the younger generation – both in her job in children’s homes and in her other life as a Cub Scout Leader.
Born in Stockport, she attended Banks Lane School where the first record that we have was her certificate for swimming seventeen yards, signed by the Head Teacher Vernon Lowe and dated 22nd December 1927.
She took an active interest in both the Red Cross and Girl Guide movements and received her Certificate of Membership of the 12th Stockport – St George’s Rangers, signed by Lady Baden Powell, in April 1935. Was that a key part of the journey that resulted in her wonderful contribution to Scouting?
We do know from her family that she worked as a Nurse in Children’s Homes before she came to Bromsgrove and we also know that she was Cubmaster of the 1st Stockport Pack from 1949 to 1951. Then came a decision that brought Maud to Bromsgrove.
Those of you who knew her well, will recall the stories that tell us that Maud was a very organised person and will note that it did not take her long to get everyone else organised as well! Perhaps Bromsgrove was not really ready for this determined lady from Stockport because it actually took her a considerable time to become involved with Cubs in Bromsgrove despite her continuous offers of help. This was definitely not the way Maud had planned it! After lots of pressure from Maud, she was eventually asked to help with the 3rd Bromsgrove Pack in the group known as “The Evergreens” and that was a continuation of a series of many wonderful chapters in her life.
Thus, in 1953 Maud became the Assistant Cubmaster of the Evergreens Pack as an assistant to Miss Woodward – known locally as “Woodie”. That was a formidable partnership that lasted for a few years before Woody moved from the District and Maud took over as Cubmaster and became known as Akela. You certainly did not pick an argument with those two and expect to win – except of course, if you were right in the first place but you had to be sure of your facts! Not satisfied with the simple working of a noisy and enthusiastic Cub Pack, Maud then took on an additional role of Assistant District Commissioner for Wolf Cubs – as they were known then - and went on to obtain the “Wood Badge”, the highest level of training within Scouting.
With her love of young people and with her determination to help them to succeed, she worked hard to help the Evergreens to develop into one of the largest groups in the Midlands and could always be heard saying those special words “ If you don’t behave I shall put your name in my Book – the word “book” being uttered in distinct Stockport dialect and one completely unknown to the youngsters in Bromsgrove. They may not have known what a “book” was but they certainly didn’t want their name in it!
Now the names begin to change! As Evergreens grew in size and more and more leaders joined, Maud became “Ellie”, a name given to her with great affection by her colleagues, a name that remained with her to this day.
Ellie was a wonderful organiser - as I have said before - and her Camps were legendary. One problem though, Ellie could do most things but one in particular was not her strong point. The other Leaders in the Camp always made sure that there were some good cooks amongst their number because, if it had been left to Ellie to cook, Cubs and Leaders might have written home asking for food parcels! Ellie was never happier than when she was leading a Camp Fire around dusk, with her magnificent Camp Blanket around her shoulders, with her Cubs all attempting to be better than the others at performing their comical “sketches” in front of their friends and, looking longingly at the refreshments that were on offer at the end of proceedings.
Ellie retired from work at the age of sixty and moved into Lingfield Walk in Catshill. How proud she was of her house and her garden. We saw many willing – and well-organised – helpers doing all kind of jobs for her. Yes, she was a good organiser!
Her second retirement was as a Leader in Scouting at the age of 65 – not because she wanted to, but because it was a requirement! She retired having been awarded Scouting’s Medal of Merit and numerous Long Service Awards - her most recent one being for 40 years of service to the movement. She continued to help with various tasks for many years as a lay member within the District and never lost the ability to shout louder than the cubs whenever necessary!
As she retired from active Leadership, Ellie received a letter from the World Chief Scout Sir William Gladstone in which he said
“Now that the time has come for your retirement as a warranted leader in the Movement, I want to send you my warmest personal thanks for all you have done for scouting over so many years. I am full of admiration for this splendid record of service.
He continued;
"I
know that your real reward will be in the knowledge that you have been able to
help so many boys and adults who have come within your influence and I hope that
you will accept that this expression of gratitude, although it comes from me, is
echoed by the whole movement."
Ellie then became Maud to many people in Catshill and, particularly to those associated with this Church where she loved to attend the services and to be a part of the activities. Maud was a lady who had a remarkable sense of humour and knew far more about life than many of us. She was a colourful character and loved to be creative - you see her camp blanket covering her coffin at this moment. This is history itself and it tells the very special story of a lady who became a Scouting legend in Bromsgrove in her own lifetime!
To the people of Catshill she was the lady who was often seen wearing her favourite red hat on her various excursions. Comment about her hat was not for the faint hearted!
There are many people in Bromsgrove who owe a great deal to Ellie. She taught them how to make the best of their life and instilled in them the very qualities that would help them to become leaders themselves in the society in which they live - this, together with many life skills that would underpin their success – except of course, the culinary art!
Maud had many friends, and two in particular during her recent years as her health began to give cause for concern. Roy and Marie Tilsley were shining examples over a number of years as they made sure that she was cared for and was able to remain in the comfort of her own home until the end.
We will all miss Maud! She leaves to our safe keeping however, a strong foundation on which to build our own lives and the lives of others. This is a legacy that we should always remember, respect and use to continue the work that she did in the community.
To her relatives may we say – thank you for letting us have this wonderful member of your family as a friend, a source of wisdom and as a mentor. She was a credit to your family name and to her Parents and Brothers of whom she was so fond all her life!
Maud “Ellie” Ellam – this was your life – for which we thank you!
Page Maintained by Peter Dodman Last Updated 06/04/2006