Helen Taylor Thompson

Helen Margaret Taylor-Thompson OBE (7 August 1924 – 6 September 2020) was a British aid worker who co-founded Europe's first AIDS hospice. She was chosen as one of the BBC's 100 Women celebrated in 2018.

Helen Taylor-Thompson
Born(1924-08-07)7 August 1924[1][2]
Died6 September 2020(2020-09-06) (aged 96)
NationalityUnited Kingdom
Known forco-founded Europe's first AIDS hospice

Life

Thompson was involved with sending coded messages to the Special Operations Executive during World War Two. She signed the official secrets act when aged nineteen and had to keep the details of her work to herself.[3]

Thompson first came to notice in 1952 when she became a member of the board of the Mildmay Hospital.[4] The hospital had been founded by Catherine Pennefather or her husband in the 19th century. The hospital was meant to be closed in 1988 but she led the campaign to keep it open and it became Europe's first AIDS hospital. She became the chairperson.[4]

In 1995, the Community Action Network began to be formed as a result of a meal organised by Adele Blakebrough, Lord Andrew Mawson and Thompson. The meal was known as the Great Banquet as 33,000 people had a meal together. The Community Action Network began formally in 1998 and it is now (2018) known as CAN and it provides support for other charities.[4]

As medication developed and need changed, Mildmay quickly changed its focus from end of life care to specialised assessment and rehabilitation and a new building was opened in 2014.[5]

In 2018, she was chosen as one of the BBC's 100 Women who have made an impact.[6]

Thompson died in September 2020, at the age of 96.[7]

References
  1. "Happy Birthday Helen Taylor Thompson OBE- CAN Founder Turns 94!". can-online.org.uk. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  2. "Happy Birthday to our co-founder, former Chair, Life President & Trustee Helen Taylor Thompson". @CANhq. Twitter. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  3. "The 93-year-old spy still keeping war secrets". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  4. "CAN - Helen Taylor Thompson Biography". can-online.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  5. "Mildmay hospital reopens in new era of HIV treatment". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  6. "BBC 100 Women 2018: Who is on the list?". BBC News. 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  7. "Helen Taylor Thompson, served in the wartime SOE and founded Europe's first Aids hospice – obituary". The Telegraph. 9 September 2020. (subscription required)
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