Margaret, Countess of Jersy first President of the Victoria League.
Mrs. Mary Davis, whilst travelling on a train between Hilton and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa during the Boer War in 1901, said to her companion "I am so weary of the bitterness of this war. Why can't we have a Society of Friendship?" Challenged by her friend, she wrote to No. 10 Downing Street through the Guild of Loyal Women in Cape Town and Lady Edward Cecil, who was in South Africa at the time, brought the request to London. She and Miss Balfour, the sister of the Prime Minister, then summoned on 2nd April 1901 a group of ladies to No.10 Downing Street to discuss the proposal.
The Group decided to form an independent, non-political organisation to promote 'a closer union between the different parts of the British Empire by the interchange of information and hospitality and by co-operation in any practical scheme tending to foster friendly understanding and good fellowship within the Empire.'
An Executive Committee was appointed and the name "The Victoria League" chosen in memory of the late Queen who had died on 22nd January 1901. Margaret, Countess of Jersey, was appointed as President and re-elected annually for 26 years. Membership was open to men and women but the first Committee was composed solely of women who framed a Constitution and enrolled the first General Council. Advice was given by Joseph Chamberlain, Lord Milner and Rudyard Kipling who called The League "the organisation of sympathy."
It is still undertaking good work to this day and for those interested visit the Victoria League web site. |
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