User:Caliandris/Maria Isabel Richardson

Maria Isabel Richardson, nee Spivey, was awarded the MBE for her services to the women and children of Wallsend who were left behind when their husbands and fathers were called up for service in the First World War.

Maria Isabel Spivey was born in Carmarthen on 27 December,1868, the daughter of William Smith Spivey, a solicitor's managing clerk, and Maria Elizabeth Hughes. She was educated at Carmarthen High School and Whitelands College, Chelsea, and moved to Newcastle in January 1895 to join the teaching staff of the Durham College of Science, as teacher of the Methods of Education.

She married William Richardson on 23 May, 1900, at went to live at Willington-on-Tyne. He later wrote a history of the parish of Wallsend.

In a dedication to that book, her husband wrote: "When the war broke out, the wives of the men "called up" were directed by the War Authorities to apply to the nearest Town Hall, or to the local "Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association" (S & SFA), for financial assistance, until their pay could be arranged by the Army Paymaster. There was no S & SFA in Wallsend, and for a few days the authorities at the town hall met the increasing applications.  But the need for some proper organization became imperative, and at the request of the Borough Treasurer, Mrs Richardson took in hand the formation of a branch of the S and SFA for the Borough. In five days she had made the necessary inquiries, received the official authority from the Central Association, and August 18th she entirely took over the work...."

Notably, Maria Isabel Spivey's brother, Charles Henry Hughes Spivey, was also awarded the MBE.