There are numerous Sue Ryder charity shops throughout the UK, but few
shoppers know much about their founder. Miss Ryder was a determined and
philanthropic woman who created homes for those who were damaged by
trauma and injury experienced in the Second World War. She was born into
a privileged family and, when only 16, left school to join the First Aid
Nursing Yeomanry. This led to Special Operations Executive work where
she met Polish airmen. This was the beginning of her admiration of Poles
and Poland. In the chaos of the post-war period she provided food,
medicine and clothing to those who were abandoned and had nothing. In
1953 she established the Sue Ryder Foundation as "a living memorial to
the victims and opponents of tyranny". This required her physical and
psychological strength in addition to her strong Catholic faith. In 1955
she married the famous Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, and the couple
co-operated on more projects. Sue Ryder made a huge and positive
difference to thousands, despite - or perhaps because of - having a
character which could be as downright difficult as it could be
inspiring. Over the years she was awarded civic, military and academic
honors, including several from Poland. In 1979, when she was made a life
peer, she took the title Lady Ryder of Warsaw. Sue Ryder was brought up
to help others and she committed her life to doing so. Unfortunately,
after decades of charitable work, there was a bitter, fundamental
disagreement between her and her trustees, which ended in them
separating. She died soon after this, in 2000. This book is written so
that Sue Ryder's name, work and life are not forgotten.
