Mary Kathleen SLADDEN (1881-1953)

Mary Kathleen Sladden (1879-1959), known as Kath or Kathleen, was the third child of Julius and Eugénie Sladden.

Kathleen was born at Seward House, Badsey, on 25^th March 1881, and baptized in St James’ Church, Badsey, on 24^th April 1881.  Kathleen was educated at St Stephen’s High School, Clewer, Windsor, and at Royal Holloway College, Egham, where she had won a scholarship.  She took a second-class in the Honours school of Mathematics of Oxford University and gained a University of London Teacher’s Diploma.

Kathleen’s first teaching post was as Assistant Mistress at Monmouth High School, where she taught from 1904-1906.  She then moved to London and was at the Pupil Teacher Centre, Stepney, from 1906-1908, and had a temporary post at the Pupil Teacher Centre, Chelsea, in 1908.  From 1908-1913, she was Senior Lecturer at Moorfields London County Council Training College, Finsbury Street, which closed down in April 1915 due to war-time measures.  On moving to London, she was able to share a house with her siblings, Jack, George and Cyril, living at 94 West Hill, Sydenham, in 1907; at 43 Peak Hill, Sydenham from 1907 to 1910.  In mid 1910 the siblings moved to 12 Charleville Circus, Sydenham, where they lived for a number of years.

In 1914, Kathleen took up a post as Assistant Mistress at Carlyle Girls’ Secondary School, Chelsea.  She was temporarily transferred to Fulham Secondary School from 1915-1919, but then returned to Carlyle after the war.  The reason for the transfer was because the school’s buildings were taken over for use as a hospital in 1914 and pupils and staff were dispersed to other schools.  Kathleen remained at Carlyle School for the rest of her teaching career, retiring in 1941.  With the coming of the Second World War, the school had been evacuated to Windsor; the 1939 Register reveals that she and two fellow teachers lived at 7 Osborne Road, Windsor.

In retirement, Kathleen remained in Berkshire, living in Beaconsfield with a friend.  She took an active part in local affairs and made a wide circle of friends. 

Kathleen died at Fellside, Maxwell Road, Beaconsfield, on 27^th May 1953, aged 72.  The funeral service was held at Beaconsfield Church on 30^th May, followed by cremation at Oxford.  The committal was in Badsey Churchyard after a service in church.