Betty Clay
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Betty St. Clair Baden-Powell, Mrs. Clay, CBE
(16 April 1917 – 24 April 2004) was the daughter of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting
and Olave Baden-Powell
. She was the sister of Peter Baden-Powell, 2nd Baron Baden-Powell
; the aunt of Robert Baden-Powell, 3rd Baron Baden-Powell and Michael Baden-Powell
; the niece of Agnes Baden-Powell
, Baden Baden-Powell
, and Warington Baden-Powell
; and grand-daughter of Baden Powell
.
from the World Organization of the Scout Movement
(WOSM) and a gold Silver Fish
in the form of a brooch from the Guide Association
. She enrolled in the Brownies as soon as she was old enough. While boarding
at St James' School in Malvern, Worcestershire
, she joined the school's Guide company.
While in Northern Rhodesia, she became a Cub Scout
leader for one of her son's group when the leader left. She was an active Guider in Northern Rhodesia
, eventually becoming Colony Commissioner for Guides. When the Clays returned to England in 1964, Betty continued her involvement. She was President of the South West Region for the Guide Association from 1970-91. In 1978 she was appointed a vice-president of the Guide Association. In 1985 she became a vice-president of the Scout Association.
In 1993, she became the second person ever to be awarded an honorary Gilwell Wood Badge
.
), who was returning to England on leave, on 24 September 1936. They settled in Northern Rhodesia
. Gervas Clay later became resident Commissioner of the Barotseland
Protectorate, in which capacity, in 1960, he and his wife entertained Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Gervas and Betty Clay had four children: Gillian, Robin, Nigel and Crispin. (Betty, Gervas and Robin Clay were all born on the 16th April, sharing the same birthday.)
, including the 4th World Scout Jamboree
and 16th World Scout Jamboree
.
, Somerset.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(16 April 1917 – 24 April 2004) was the daughter of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
and Olave Baden-Powell
Olave Baden-Powell
Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...
. She was the sister of Peter Baden-Powell, 2nd Baron Baden-Powell
Peter Baden-Powell, 2nd Baron Baden-Powell
Arthur Robert Peter Baden-Powell, 2nd Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, FRSA was the son of Lieutenant-General Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, and Olave St. Clair Soames...
; the aunt of Robert Baden-Powell, 3rd Baron Baden-Powell and Michael Baden-Powell
Michael Baden-Powell
David Michael Baden-Powell is the heir presumptive to the Barony of Baden-Powell. He is the great-grandson of Baden Powell, the grandson of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell, the great-nephew of Agnes Baden-Powell, Baden Baden-Powell, and Warington Baden-Powell,...
; the niece of Agnes Baden-Powell
Agnes Baden-Powell
Agnes Smyth Baden-Powell was the younger sister of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, and was most noted for her work in establishing the Girl Guide movement as a female counterpart to her older brother's Scouting Movement.-Early life:Agnes was the ninth of ten children, and the third...
, Baden Baden-Powell
Baden Baden-Powell
For the town, see Baden-BadenBaden Fletcher Smyth Baden-Powell, FS, FRAS, FRMetS was the youngest son of Baden Powell, and the brother of Robert Baden-Powell, Warington Baden-Powell, George Baden-Powell, and Agnes Baden-Powell...
, and Warington Baden-Powell
Warington Baden-Powell
Henry Warington Smyth Baden-Powell KC , known as Warington within the family, was Robert Baden-Powell's oldest brother...
; and grand-daughter of Baden Powell
Baden Powell (mathematician)
Baden Powell, MA, FRS, FRGS was an English mathematician and Church of England priest. He was also prominent as a liberal theologian who put forward advanced ideas about evolution. He held the Savilian Chair of Geometry at the University of Oxford from 1827 to 1860...
.
Career
She was the holder of the Bronze WolfBronze Wolf
The Bronze Wolf Award is bestowed by the World Scout Committee to acknowledge "outstanding service by an individual to the World Scout Movement"...
from the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
(WOSM) and a gold Silver Fish
Silver Fish
The Silver Fish is the highest adult award in Girlguiding UK. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding UK combined with service to world Guiding...
in the form of a brooch from the Guide Association
Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of...
. She enrolled in the Brownies as soon as she was old enough. While boarding
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
at St James' School in Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
, she joined the school's Guide company.
While in Northern Rhodesia, she became a Cub Scout
Cub Scout
A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
leader for one of her son's group when the leader left. She was an active Guider in Northern Rhodesia
Girl Guides Association of Zambia
The Girl Guides Association of Zambia is the national Guiding organization of Zambia. It serves 23,662 members . Founded in 1924 as the Guides of Northern Rhodesia, the girls-only organization became a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1966.The Girl Guide emblem...
, eventually becoming Colony Commissioner for Guides. When the Clays returned to England in 1964, Betty continued her involvement. She was President of the South West Region for the Guide Association from 1970-91. In 1978 she was appointed a vice-president of the Guide Association. In 1985 she became a vice-president of the Scout Association.
In 1993, she became the second person ever to be awarded an honorary Gilwell Wood Badge
Wood Badge
Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program and the related award for adult leaders in the programs of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement...
.
Personal life
She married Gervas Charles Robert Clay (16 April 1907–18 April 2009), a District Commissioner in the Colonial Service in Northern Rhodesia (present-day ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
), who was returning to England on leave, on 24 September 1936. They settled in Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
. Gervas Clay later became resident Commissioner of the Barotseland
Barotseland
Barotseland is a region in the western part of Zambia, and is the homeland of the Lozi people or Barotse who were previously known as Luyi or Aluyi. Its heartland is the Barotse Floodplain on the upper Zambezi River, also known as Bulozi or Lyondo, but it includes the surrounding higher ground of...
Protectorate, in which capacity, in 1960, he and his wife entertained Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Gervas and Betty Clay had four children: Gillian, Robin, Nigel and Crispin. (Betty, Gervas and Robin Clay were all born on the 16th April, sharing the same birthday.)
Honours
In 1997 she was awarded the CBE. She attended many jamboreesJamboree (Scouting)
In Scouting, a jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts who rally at a national or international level.The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held in 1920, and was hosted by the United Kingdom...
, including the 4th World Scout Jamboree
4th World Scout Jamboree
The 4th World Scout Jamboree, a gathering of Boy Scouts from all over the world, was hosted by Hungary and held from August 2 to August 13, 1933. It was attended by 25,792 Scouts, representing 46 different nations and additional territories...
and 16th World Scout Jamboree
16th World Scout Jamboree
The 16th World Scout Jamboree was held 30 December 1987 to 7 January 1988, the first World Scout Jamboree held in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first to change the date from the traditional August to January to coincide with summer...
.
Death
She died in her sleep, aged 87, in 2004. A memorial service was held at Wells CathedralWells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
, Somerset.
