Grace Kimmins


Dame Grace Mary Thyrza Kimmins, was a British writer who created charities that worked with children who had disabilities.

Biography

Kimmins was born in Lewes, Sussex, the eldest of four children born to cloth merchant James Hannam, cloth merchant, and Thyrza Rogers. She was educated at Wilton House School in Bexhill.
Juliana Horatia Ewing's 1885 novel The Story of a Short Life inspired Kimmins to start the Guild of the Poor Brave Things to help children with disabilities in London. Grace from Ewing's book. Kimmins was described in Punch as "... in her quiet practical way is probably as good a friend as London ever had".
She became a Wesleyan deaconess and worked in both the Methodist West London Mission and the Bermondsey Settlement, where she moved in 1895. In 1897, she married Charles William Kimmins. She was active in the foundation and continuance of charitable foundations, particularly those concerned with children's play and the welfare of poor and disabled children.
She founded, caused to be founded or was involved in the Methodist West London Mission, Bermondsey Settlement, Chailey Heritage, Guild of Play, and Guild of the Poor Brave Things. She was also a writer; her only published novel, Polly of Parker's Rents explored children living in poverty.

Honours

She was named CBE in 1927 and promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1950.

Family

Grace and Charles Kimmins had two sons:
Dame Grace Kimmins died in Haywards Heath Hospital on 3 March 1954, aged 83.