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- From the tree of Rod Willis on Rootsweb.com
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE IN "D.K. ELVIDGE" ALBUM:
DEATH OF MISS S. B. CULPIN: A DEVOTED STEVENAGE INHABITANT. DISTINGUISHED NURSING CAREER.
In the passing of Miss Sarah Barrett Culpin on Sunday at the age of 80 years, Stevenage has lost one of its oldest and most devoted inhabitants. Miss Culpin was the second daughter of Mr. Millice Culpin of Stevenage. Her long life was filled with skilful and beneficient activities which were all marked with the seal of her strong personality. Her chief interests in early life were centred in temperance and choral work, and in Wesleyan Church work. At the bazaar held in 1876 for the raising of funds for the building of the present Wesleyan Church at Stevenage - at which she was the first communicant - she was treasurer and stall-holder. It was therefore fitting, that at the jubilee celebration she should be asked to open the sale of work on the second day, Her church activities were renewed during 1922-28, when she resided with her sister Mrs. James Roome, at Upminster, previous to her final return to Stevenage.
Desiring a fuller outlet for usefulness Miss Culpin entered the London Hospital in 1877 as probationer. She was the youngest member of the staff to be appointed operation nurse. The fact that her eldest brother was a student in the Hospital at the same time gave an added zest to her work. After three years training she became attached to the Warneford Hospital, Leamington, as staff nurse and when, on her leaving the hospital, the choice of a present was put to her by the Committee, she asked if it might take the form of 16 new beds for the use of the patients, which request was granted.
In 1882 she entered the Simpson Memorial Hospital, Edinburgh, and became one of Sir Halliday Croome's staff of private nurses. From 1899 until her retirement in 1906 she was matron of a private hospital in Graham-Street, Edinburgh. She nursed almost exclusively in Scotland, where her experiences as private nurse were unusually interesting. On one occasion, when nursing at Mar Lodge, Braemar (the Duke of Fife's) where the then Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prince George (now King George) and Princess Victoria were staying, Princess Alexandra asked her to accept a further engagement, which Miss Culpin regretfully declined, as she had already promised to nurse another case. After the Royal party left the room the Lady-in-Waiting said, "Oh Nurse, you have made a mistake; a royal wish is a Royal command and you ought to have consented." Miss Culpin went to the Princess and explained that the case she was already engaged for was an exceptional one, and that a change of nurse might be harmful to the patient. It was characteristic of the loving disposition of H.R.H. that she replied that it was not a royal command and that in the circumstances, she thought most highly of Miss Culpin for declining the engagement.
Wherever Miss Culpin went, her patients heard of her love for Stevenage. When nursing the family of the Earl of Minto she mentioned the town, and as a curious coincidence his lordship remarked, "Stevenage? Why that is where my great grandfather, the first Earl of Minto, died; at the Swan Inn in 1814 when returning from India to Scotland on relinquishing the Governor Generalship of Bengal."
To be suffering, and in need of skilful nursing, was a sure passport to Miss Culpin's largesse of devotion.
Her end was undoubtedly hastened by grief, and by the supreme sacrifice she made in insisting that her only available sister should leave her to help nurse her eldest sister, Mrs. Kirby, of Ramsgate, whose death on Jan. 2 was recently notified in this paper.
Two brothers, Dr. Millice [spelled Millais] Culpin, of Taringa, Australia, and Mr. G. F. Culpin, of Bishop Stortford, and two sisters, Miss Culpin, of "Barbrook," Stevenage, and Mrs. Roome, survive her.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral, which took place from the Stevenage Wesleyan Church on Wednesday, afternoon, was attended by a large congregation of her friends and fellow townsmen. The service was conducted by the Rev. Leonard Harrison, minister of the Church and the Rev. Charles Millice Hardy, her cousin.
In a short address Mr. Hardy spoke feelingly of the beautiful life that had been so well rounded out. The interment took place in the old Parish Churchyard. The family mourners were Mr. G. F. Culpin (brother). Miss Culpin (sister), Dr. and Mrs. Millais Culpin, Mr. and Mrs . H. B. Culpin, Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Roome, Miss Roome, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Culpin, Mrs. Waldron, Miss M. Culpin (nephews and nieces), Rev . C. M. Hardy and Mrs. Hardy (cousins), Miss Kirby, Mr. F. Hunt and Nurse French.
Wreaths and flowers were sent by "Sophie, George, and Bertha," Dr. and Mrs. Millais Culpin, Mr. and Mrs. H. and John." "Millice, Clara, Elsie," "Maggie," Miss Roome and Mr. Palmer, Friends at the Wesleyan Church Mrs. Featherstone, Lizzie and Niel McKilliam, and Miss Field, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Louie, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Day, "Molly," Nurse French, and Miss Parsons. [8]
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1851 - 1932 (81 years)
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Mother's Maiden Name