This Blue plaque is part of Rosie’s Plaques,(https://rosiesplaques.com/).

These plaques are hand made to celebrate women of note, but not yet recognised by the Blue Plaque system.

 Norah Wellings

(1893 — 1975)

has been chosen by SI: The Wrekin

 

Norah was a successful female entrepreneur. She built and ran her own business when women were expected to be homemakers. She is considered to be the finest English designer of soft toys. She both designed and made toys.

Born in 1893 in Wellington, Norah left school at 14, and studied with the London School of Art through the post.

She started her doll-making career in 1919 with Chad Valley Co. and went on to become one of their chief designers.

In 1926, she opened her own toy factory in Wellington, Victoria Toy Works. The factory initially had six employees, including some family members. At the height of her success, Victoria Toy Works employed around 250 workers.

Norah managed all the designs herself; dolls were often made of cloth such as felt and velvet and represented children, adults, and storybook characters.  The manufacturing process involved moulding buckram over a layer of wood, overlaid with felt. The faces were then hand painted on, with a waterproof coating to make them washable.

Norah’s dolls were sold in some of the most exclusive stores and Norah designed toys for Harrods’s famous Christmas toy window.

During World War II Norah made dolls representing characters from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Airforce, including Harry the Hawk, which were used to raise money for the Royal Air Force Comforts Fund. She also made a number of ‘Jolly Boy’ felt sailor figures, which were sold as souvenirs aboard cruise liners.

By 1941 70% of the company’s toys were exported and many were sold by cruise ships. The Sailor ‘Jollyboy’ was introduced in 1929, it became her most popular doll.

Every doll was individually labelled.

Norah was good at making the most of publicity and selling opportunities. For example: When Queen Mary, wife of King George, visited Shropshire in 1927, Norah presented her with a ‘Cora’ doll, creating a demand for such a doll. She also displayed her designs at the British Industries Fair in London.

For further information see:

https://norahwellingsjournal.blogspot.com/

https://nationalmuseumpublications.co.za/norah-wellings-and-her-novelty-dolls/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norah_Wellings

 

Soroptimists International: SI The Wrekin

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL IS A GLOBAL VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT

Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement with a network of just under 65,000 club members in 118 countries. Advocating for human rights and gender equality, at the heart of Soroptimist International’s advocacy is its work across seven UN Centres, where our UN representatives ensure that the voices of women and girls are heard. Our membership work on grassroots projects that help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in communities worldwide

(https://www.soroptimistinternational.org/)