A humanitarian legacy is being honoured in the town where it all began.
A special service will take place at St Mary’s Church in Ellesmere on Sunday, October 18, to mark the 150th birthday of Eglantyne Jebb, the Shropshire-born co-founder of Save the Children.
Moazzam Malik, chief executive of the charity, will join civic leaders, volunteers, and members of the public at the 4.30pm service, which will celebrate Jebb’s life and lasting contribution to children’s rights.
Born on August 25, 1876, at The Lyth near Ellesmere, Jebb founded Save the Children in 1919 with her younger sister Dorothy to help save children suffering mass starvation in Germany and Austria at the end of the First World War.
Mr Malik said: "As children around the world face unimaginable suffering, the most meaningful tribute to Eglantyne is not simply to celebrate her life, but to actively carry forward her vision of a world where every child is safe and equipped to help build a better future."
In the early 1920s, she played a key role in drawing-up the first international charter on children’s rights, now enshrined in a United Nations agreement adopted world-wide.
She died in 1928, aged 52, and is buried in Geneva.
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Richard Jebb, her great-great nephew, will also speak at the service.
Mr Jebb said: "I grew up knowing that Eglantyne founded Save the Children, but did not really know about her as a person until Clare Mulley’s biography of her was published in 2009.
"She grew up in comfort, struggled to find a calling, but eventually was able to direct her passion into humanitarian works, and left a legacy that survives to this day.
"I am honoured that here in her home town of Ellesmere we are able to gather together to commemorate her life."
Among the guests will be Shropshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Anna Turner, the King’s representative in the county, as well as members of Ellesmere Town Council, representatives from local organisations, and volunteers from the Save the Children fundraising branch.
The vicar of Ellesmere, the Rev Pat Hawkins said: "St Mary’s is delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate the life of a remarkable woman, and in commemorating her legacy, to remind ourselves of how much the world needs her inspiration today.
"Everyone is most welcome to join us at the service."
Save the Children now operates in more than 100 countries, providing food, medicine, healthcare and educational support, as well as tackling child poverty in the UK.
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