Ida Pick

Mrs Ida Pick pictured in 1974 after
receiving her MBE from the Queen.

Ida Pick

MBE

1888-1975

Mrs Ida Pick was a leading figure in local affairs for over half a century, mainly through her work with several organisations and as a member of Bourne Urban District Council for six years. She was a tireless worker for the community and for many good causes, particularly the formation of the Darby and Joan Club, and as a result she was awarded the MBE in the 1974 New Year Honours List for 50 years of voluntary service.

Ida Elizabeth Stubley was born on 31st July 1888, daughter of Alfred Stubley, a well known painter and decorator and scenic artist, with premises behind the family home at No 28 West Street, and his wife Elizabeth. She was baptised at the nearby Baptist Church and in 1919, she was married there to Harold William Pick, a master baker, who later took over the family business at No 11 West Street. They had one son, Jeffrey Charles Pick, who died on 19th March 1960, aged 36, and was survived by his widow, Audrey.

Mrs Pick’s public work began with the church where she was a Sunday school teacher for 50 years and choir mistress from 1930 until her death. She was also a trustee of Bourne United Charities for 15 years, a governor of Bourne Grammar School, a manager of the Abbey Primary School, president of the Children's Clinic in Bourne, vice-president of the Women’s Section of the British Legion, a keen supporter of the Baptist church, member of the Physically Handicapped Committee and also organised blood donor sessions for the town and district.

Bourne Red Cross detachment

Mrs Ida Pick (front row centre) with fellow officers Mrs Kath Neal (left) and Mrs Alice Baldock pictured with the Bourne detachment of the Red Cross in 1955.

But her main love was the Red Cross to which she devoted so much of her time. Mrs Pick had joined the society in 1933 and was a founder-member of the VAD at Boston. She became commandant of the Bourne detachment and ultimately vice-president and then president of the South Lincolnshire branch and in May 1968, received the society's highest award when she was presented with the Certificate of Honour and life membership by Dame Ann Bryans, national vice-chairman of the society, at the annual meeting of the South Lincolnshire branch.

Mrs Pick was particularly keen on amateur musical comedy productions, as producer for the former Bourne Amateur Operatic Society and, as an accomplished contralto, often took a leading role. Her scrapbook of photographs and programmes from this period, known as the Ida Pick Operatic Memorabilia Book, is on display at Wake House and a most favourable review of her performance as The Dancing Mistress in the 1929 production survives.

Ida Pick in stage pose

One of her greatest achievements was the founding of the Darby and Joan Club in Bourne after seeing a crowd of elderly men sheltering under the archway near the Town Hall on a winter’s day. She arranged for them to meet regularly at various venues in the town and as a result, the Darby and Joan Club was formed in 1950 and ten years later the Darby and Joan Hall in South Street was opened, mainly through her efforts and enthusiasm. When she started the club with such humble beginnings there were just 19 members and when she retired as chairman on the occasion of the club’s silver anniversary, the number had risen to 150.

Her dedicated work in forming the club was acknowledged with the presentation of an inscribed silver salver at the meeting on Monday 17th February 1975 when almost 100 guests attended a sumptuous tea provided by the Bourne detachment of the Red Cross. Mrs Kath Neale, the club secretary, paid tribute to her work, reminding the gathering that Ida Pick had been the first chairman and had remained so for 25 years. "She now feels that she must retire", she said, "although she will not be leaving us, just sitting back."

Mrs Pick always regarded herself as merely an instrument for change within the wider community and on the occasion of being awarded her MBE, she displayed a typical modesty when she said: “The honour is for Bourne as well as myself. In my social activities, I have had a great deal of help from many people and without them little would have happened.”

She died in Peterborough Memorial Hospital on Monday 5th May 1975, aged 86. The funeral service was held at the Baptist Church the following Wednesday before a packed congregation of relatives and friends and representatives from the many organisations with which she had been connected. She is buried in the town cemetery with her son where a marble plaque marks her grave but her lasting memorial is the Darby and Joan Hall in South Street.

Memorial stone

Darby and Joan hall

ON STAGE WITH IDA PICK Pictures from her leading roles with Bourne Amateur Operatic Society