Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Mrs WATSON and Mrs WOOD BEM
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Madge Watson and Elsie Wood, Fishermen's Mission Superintendents, were surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe they were there to attend a meeting.
Madge Watson and Elsie Wood were both born to fishermen in the Aberdeen area, and, despite working at the same munitions factory during the First World War, did not meet until they sang in the same local concert. Having both decided to devote their lives to the service of fishermen, they joined the Royal National Mission of Deep Sea Fishermen in 1920 as general assistants at the Peterhead Mission. In 1932, they transferred to the Milford Haven Mission and two years later became superintendents.
During the Second World War, the mission doubled as a naval hospital, and in addition to the mission's regular duties, which included scrubbing floors, cooking meals, providing shelter for mariners, and offering welfare care and spiritual guidance to their families, the ladies also cared for up to 60 seamen. After the war, the ladies worked at missions throughout the country, including those at Grimsby and Fraserburgh, before retiring in 1963, with the distinction of being the first female superintendents appointed by the RNMDSF.
programme details...
- Edition No: 243
- Subject Nos: 242-243
- Broadcast date: Thu 30 Jan 1964
- Broadcast time: 8.50-9.15pm
- Recorded: Mon 6 Jan 1964 8.00pm
- Venue: BBC Television Theatre
- Series: 9
- Edition: 17
on the guest list...
- Rev David Sweet
- Robert Buchan
- Margaret - Madge's mother
- Mary Craig - Elsie's sister
- John MacPherson
- Dora Noble
- Edith Ewels
- Capt Treby Heale
- Elizabeth Heale
- William Tait
- Helen Tait
- John Tait
- Bryan Tait
- James Strachan
- John Buchan
- Jim McGee
- Andrew Cowe
- James Maclean
- Peter Bruce
- George Nicol
- Andrew Reid
- William George Duncan
- William Strachan
- Fifi Gauthier
- Mark - Madge's brother
production team...
- Researcher: unknown
- Writer: unknown
- Directors: Michael Goodwin, Mark Patterson
- Producer: Vere Lorrimer
- Executive Producer: T Leslie Jackson
Photographs of Madge Watson and Elsie Wood This Is Your Life
Unknown source and date
From the Mission's earliest days Lady Superintendents were the backbone of the work ashore, whilst Mission skippers continued the caring work at sea, in all weathers, out in the fishing grounds.
In recent history two ladies epitomised the great work among fishing families by the Mission. Even today they are remembered with great love and affection, particularly by the fishing communities of North-East Scotland.
Miss Elsie Wood and Miss Madge Watson live on in the memory of NE fishers for their devotion to duty and commitment to Christian care which stretched over several decades.
War clouds in Europe were gathering when they were serving in the Milford Haven Centre in the late 1930s. On the outbreak of hostilities the Centre was taken over by the Royal Navy to support all seafarers in need or distress. The ladies continued their service in the Centre throughout the war and it was nothing for them to serve refreshments to almost 200 in the canteen where it was standing room only. Miss Wood recalled one night with enemy action in the Irish Sea at its peak, having 120 shipwrecked men with many wounded on stretchers or on the tables until they were removed to local hospitals.
All too often the dreadful task of breaking news of those lost at sea or seriously injured fell to the ladies and their staff. One evening after a very busy day they visited the families of eleven missing men, returning at midnight to continue working in a packed Centre.
As true 'partners in service' Miss Wood and Miss Watson continued their service after the war, often tackling the most difficult situations which arose in the ports. Fiercely loyal to the Mission, they took over, at short notice, the Hostel at Grimsby in Riby Square – a difficult assignment for even a physically strong male Superintendent to manage – and looked after it with great accomplishment. It was here that the ladies were featured in the first ever Mission film, 'Toilers of the Deep'.
But it will be in the ports of Peterhead and Fraserburgh that they will be remembered most. During their work in the North East they served alongside fishermen and their families earning the love, gratitude and respect of the whole community.
In 1962, BBC Television's This Is Your Life featured this unique partnership. The then host, Eamonn Andrews, introduced the ladies to the television audience as he unveiled a remarkable record of life-long service for God and the Mission. In 1972 over 250 people gathered in the Fraserburgh Mission to celebrate their 50 years of service. After the many expressions of thanks and gratitude to them, Miss Watson, in true tradition, spoke first of their gratitude to God for the privilege of service amongst fishing folk.
As the Mission moves today into new areas of service, we still look for dedicated people like these two ladies. We need men and women who seek to serve within the ranks of the Fishermen's Mission, building on the example, dedication, courage and Christian commitment of many generations of Mission Port Staff.
Series 9 subjects
Stratford Johns | Alice Stern | Robert Boothby | Bessie Love | Joan Stanton | Harry Worth | John Dodd | Ralph ReaderAlbert Guerisse | Margaret Lockwood | Franklin Day | Frederick Spencer Chapman | Thora Hird | Evelyn Bark
Madge Watson and Elsie Wood | Petula Clark | Derek McCulloch | Bert Matthews | Ted Moult | Dot Palmer | Teddy Winn
Barbara Mullen | Paul Burrough | Sydney Scroggie | Ninette de Valois | Dominique Pire | Olivia de Havilland | Mary Hawkins