#558, Ann Rosemary TREVOR

A friend of Ann's writes:

I knew Ann Cobbold in the 1970's. We were both members of a local group of activists whose remit was to provide a safe place for women and children residents of the borough of Westminster who were victims of domestic violence.

Our group founded Westminster Women's Aid, one of the first Refuges in the UK, after Chiswick Women's Aid.

We spent months house-hunting for a suitable and secure property to rent. We fund raised the money needed to have it converted for multi-occupancy, and after about a year of preparation were able to open our doors for the first referrals, which came from Social Services or the Police. Within about 6 weeks we were full.

Westminster City Council's Housing Department then later rehoused our women residents and children as appropriate.

Ann was a firm but fair chairman, and served with dedication for several years, before stepping down.

I was employed as one of the two paid Refuge social workers. The workers' salaries were funded by Westminster City Council for a limited period of possibly 5 years. (Sorry I do not recall the time exactly)

I resigned from my post at the Refuge in 1977, moved out of London to the Home Counties and lost touch with Ann after that.

I believe Westminster Women's Aid closed its doors sometime in the 1980's when Westminster City Council's Housing Department took over the provision of emergency housing for victims of domestic violence.

kind regards,

Stefanie W. Atkinson.
June 2017