Margery Helen WACE [19066]

  General Notes:

MRS. ORMOND WILSON HONOURED
(By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, January 1.
The New Year honours include the O.B.E. to Mrs. Ormond Wilson, of New Zealand (known as Miss Margery Helen Wace), Empire talks director of the B.B.C.
Ref: Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1942, Page 8

OBITUARY
MRS. MARGERY WILSON Rec 11 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 12. The death occurred on Tuesday of Mrs. Margery Wilson after giving birth to a stillborn child in December last. Mrs. Wilson was the wife of Mr. Ormond Wilson, former M.P. for Rangitikei. She previously gave Empire talks from the B.B.C. Mr. Ormond Wilson is assistant manager for the B.B.C. General Overseas Service.
Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 10, 13 January 1944, Page 3

Wilson Margery Helen O.B.E. of Flat 25 88 Portland-place Saint Marylebone London (wife of George Hamish Ormond Wilson) died 11 Jan 1944 at Nuffield House Guys Hospital Southwark London Administration Llandudno 11 April to the said George Hamish Ormond Wilson farmer and Meridith Maurice Smith Solicitor. Effects L2236 6s 1d in England.

Mrs Ormond Wilson.
From our own correspondent.
London January 14. (1944)
Mrs Ormond Wilson, OBE (Margery Helen Wace), who died in London on January 11, was one of the very few women to make a real mark in international broadcasting, though listeners seldom heard her name or voice. She was the wife of Mr Ormond Wilson, formerly MP for Rangitikei.
Born on December 19, 1904 the daughter of the late Col E.C. Wace and Mrs Wace, she was an exhibitor at St Hugh's College Oxford, and a history graduate of the University. For some time she was secretary to Prof Gilbert Murray and also to the Oxford branch of the League of Nations Union. Joining the BBC in 1930 as a junior assistant in the talks Department, she became general assistant in the adult education Department and in 1936, talks assistant in the Empire Department. The following year she had risen to the post of Empire talks organiser, and in 1941 she was Empire talks director – and thus largely responsible for the direction of British radio to the English speaking countries overseas.
Towards the end of 1940 she married Mr Wilson, who was also concerned with the Empire service of the BBC and who is now assistant manager of the BBC's general overseas service. Mrs Wilson received the OBE in the New Year's Honours list of 1942. Shortly after her marriage she resigned from the BBC owing to ill health but later she rejoined the corporation for part-time work.
Mr Wickham Steed, in a tribute published by "The Times" said: Margery Wace (Mrs Ormond Wilson) was one of the most notable among the many women whose devoted work in these war years should leave and imperishable record".
Ref: Christchurch Press 10 March 1944. (Obit 058 NZ Paper Clippings Service - transcriptions@ihug.co.nz)

  Research Notes:

Wace Margery H - Wilson Cuckfield 2b 545
Ref: Free BMD

Margery married George Hamish Ormond WILSON [19055] [MRIN: 6854], son of George Hamish WILSON [19048] and Ada Mary ORMOND [19049], on 29 Sep 1940 in Ardingley SSX. (George Hamish Ormond WILSON [19055] was born on 18 Nov 1907 in Bulls NZ and died on 20 Apr 1988 in New Zealand.)