The lady (Miss Neligan) who had voluntarily gone into training at Charing Cross Hospital had been there for about three weeks. She had looked at once at the office to report that she had been present at an operation, without wincing. She had come again in tears. She had broken down at the first dressing after an amputation, and feared that her nerve might not serve her as she hoped, and that she must give up the wish to help in the good work. But determination stood her in good stead. The next day she had decided to go on. At the end of three weeks, Dr. Pollock reported that Miss Neligan's nerve, determination and intelligence were excellent, and he considered that she might be allowed to go to the front as a hospital nurse.

Thousands of people gathered in Parliament Square and thronged the approaches to the Houses of Parliament long before the expected suffragette deputation to the House of Commons left Caxton Hall last night.

In anticipation of a general disturbance nearly 3,000 police had been drafted from all parts of London with Rochester Row and Cannon Row stations as early as five o'clock in the afternoon.

The meeting at Caxton Hall which prefaced the raid began at 7.30. The hall was packed with suffragettes, wearing scarves and ribbons and sashes of purple, white, and green, the colours of the Women's Social and Political Union.

Mrs Pethick Lawrence was in the chair and Mrs Pankhurst and the other members of the chosen deputation – limited to eight women – supported her on the platform. The deputation that ultimately set out consisted of: Mrs Pankhurst, Mrs Mansell, Mrs Saul Soloman, Miss Catherine Margenson, Mrs Haverfield, Dorinda Neligan, Miss Maude Joachim and Mrs Frank Corbett.

Of the above Mrs Pankhurst is of course, one of the original leaders of the militant suffragettes. Mrs Mansell, the wife of Colonel Mansell, is a granddaughter of the late Lord Wimborne and the first cousin of Mr. Ivor Guest, M. P. one of the founders of the Anti-Suffrage League.

Mrs Saul Solomon is the widow of a former Premier of Cape Colony, Miss Margesson is a daughter of Lady Isabel Margeson, Miss Joachim, a niece of the famous violinist, and the Hon Mrs Haverfield, a daughter of the third Lord Abinger.

Mrs Corbett is a sister-in-law of Mr C. H. Corbett, M.P., Miss Neligan is seventy-nine years of age…

Inspector Scantlebury handed her (Mrs Pankhurst) a message from the Premier's private secretary, stating that it was not possible for Mr Asquith to see them, as he had already expressed the opinion upon the subject.

"We can't accept that!" exclaimed Mrs Pankhurst, and immediately afterwards endeavoured to push the two inspectors away. "If we can't get anything else we must assert our rights."

A long conversation ensued, and then a scrimmage, during which Inspector Jarvis was rather roughly handled. Mrs Pankhurst it is alleged, striking him violently on the face with her hand.

Immediately the police closed round the women, who were taken into custody, struggling violently. 

Since her retirement from the school, Miss Neligan, who lived with her sister Miss Annie Neligan and a niece at Oakwood House, Sydenham Road, Croydon, had devoted herself mainly to suffrage work in which, like her sister, she was intensely interested. The late Miss Neligan was associated with the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies from the commencement of the Croydon branch, and she was also a member of the Women's Tax Resistance League, having on more than one occasion had her goods sold by public auction, because of her refusal to pay taxes. Of later years Miss Neligan's sympathies turned in the direction of the WSPU, although she never took part in any act of violence. On one occasion, however, she was arrested with Mrs Pankhurst, the charge being one of obstruction arising out of a deputation to Mr. Asquith.

Miss Neligan, who was a Protestant, was an ardent Home Ruler, and up to within a short time of her death, she followed the course of the present events with keen interest. She was of Liberal persuasion, but owing to what she considered the unjust dealing of the Government with the women, she did not take an active part in party political matters. Other organisations with which the deceased lady was connected were the Croydon Guild of Help and the Humanitarian League.

Heart trouble had affected Miss Neligan for a long time past, and her death on Saturday evening was due to acute bronchitis, following heart disease. On the 9th of the last month, Miss Neligan celebrated her 81 st birthday.

In accordance with her own wishes, Miss Neligan will be cremated at Golders Green on Thursday, and afterwards the remains will be laid to rest in Queen's Road cemetery. A memorial service will be probably held at the Croydon Parish Church, where Miss Neligan was a worshipper.

Dorinda Neligan was born in 1833. Her father had been an officer in the British Army, and had taken part in the sieges of Badajoz and Ciudad Rodrigo, and in the battle of Salamanca. He lived in the country near Cork, and brought up his large family under conditions of the strictest frugality and discipline. 

In 1860 Miss Neligan left home to make her own way in the world. In France and Germany she acquired a thorough knowledge of the French and German languages, and on her return to England she earned a precarious livelihood as a governess in private families, and not infrequently, as she used to tell her friends, she found herself without the means of purchasing a meal. In 1870, owing to her knowledge of languages, she was selected as a nurse in the Franco-Prussian war. After six months training at Charing Cross Hospital, she started for the seat of war. She was at Metz and Sedan, and she spent two days in Paris, and heard the first shots fired in the struggle with the Communists. On her return to England she was decorated with the Red Cross medal. She again took up teaching, and for a short time conducted a private school in partnership with another lady.

When the time cause for the Council of the Girls' Public Day School Company to appoint a headmistress for the school which they were about to establish at Croydon, they made a happy choice in the selection of Dorinda Neligan. At that period the movement for the higher education of women was in its infancy, and the field of candidates who were fitted by education and training to occupy the position was far more restricted than it would be at the present day. The time when women were to win the highest academical distinctions had not yet arrived. The old ideal of graceful deportment and elegant accomplishments was passing away, but the substitution of a more solid training and a sounder type of education was only just beginning.

The headmistress to whom the Council entrusted the task of establishing their school at Croydon had had no opportunity of taking university honours, or of being trained in any large educational institution. But in another sphere of action she had proved that she possessed in a high degree many of the qualities which go to the making of an efficient school mistress.

In the war Miss Neligan had left her country and devoted all her energies to the care of the sick and wounded soldiers of the German Army. It was the enthusiasm, vigor, patience, tact, good sense and sympathy that she showed in the discharge of her onerous and trying task, which attracted the attention of the Council, and led them to think that in Dorinda Neligan they had found the right person to start their school.

The experiment of appointing one who had previously had a little experience of organised education to an important educational post may have appeared to some to be a somewhat hazardous experiment but the selection of the Council was fully justified by the event… The newly-appointed headmistress soon made it apparent that she was as capable of applying her high qualities to the education of the young as she had been of using them for the breaking and consolation of the sick.

The school was opened in 1874 in a house in North End, which very soon became inadequate to the accommodation of the numbers of those who desired to attend. On July 12 th , 1879, Archbishop Tait laid the foundation stone of the building in Wellesley Road, and from 1880 onwards, in the new quarters, the school continued increasingly to flourish and abound… Full of enthusiasm, tempered by common sense, intensely earnest in the performance of all her duties, endowed with an indomitable strength of will, and an imperturbable tenacity of purpose, which those around her soon found it was futile to resist, Miss Neligan was able not only to create out of a heterogeneous assembly of girls a well-organised and efficient school, but to breathe into her creation a goodly portion of her vigorous vitality, and her own ardent and enthusiastic spirit.

These cannot perhaps be a better summary of her character than that implied in the words of one of her pupils: "We had a whole-some fear of Miss Neligan, and never dared do anything of which she disapproved – and we loved her with all our hearts.

The following particulars of the life of a great woman will be read with deep interest, tinged with the regret that so staunch a supporter of the Women's Movement did not live to register her vote as a badge of citizenship.

Miss Darinda Neligan, who passed away on July 18 at the age of 81, when a daughter of the late Lieutenant Thomas Neligan of Cork, who served in the Peninsula War, Miss Neligan served as a Red Cross nurse in the Franco-German War in 1870. She spent some years both in France and Germany as a governess and obtained a French diploma. It was her great knowledge of modern languages which helped to secure for her the appointment as Head Mistress of the Croydon High School for Girls in 1874, which position she held for 27 years.

She always took a keen interest in the higher education of women, and it was natural she should become a strong suffragist. On June 29, 1909, she went on a deputation to the House of Commons and was arrested for refusing to go away. In November of the following year, she went on another deputation to the House of Commons, the Black Friday memorable deputation. She succeeded in entering the yard of the House and sat for some hours with Mrs Pankhurst and others on the steps of the Strangers' Entrance. She went with the deputation, as she was afraid, she might be a hinderance to the others in their rush to Downing Street. She always regretted the fact that she had not been to prison for the Cause.

Miss Neligan was a Tax Resister for several years; the fact became so well known that one of the local papers, in giving an account of her last sale, headed it "Miss Neligan's Hardy Annual", and another "No Surrender". It was always the same silver teapot that was sold.

When she sent her last subscription to the WSPU for the great meeting at Holland Park Skating Rink a friend said to her supposing you are prosecuted for subscribing to the funds of the WSPU and sent to prison". She replied: "Let them; I do not mind!"

Her last illness was a very short one. She had a heart attack on Friday afternoon, July 17, on her way home from lunching with a friend. After lying down on her bed. She seemed better, but afterwards became worse; and the doctor was called in. The next morning, before breakfast, she declared she was getting on famously and kept very bright during the evening, and she passed away at 8.30 p.m.

Among the many wreaths sent was one from the Headquarters of the WSPU with the following message attached from Mrs Pankhurst: "With love and remembrance for a brave veteran, whose life was spent in noble work for women and for the race." There were also lilies from the Croydon WSPU, and a wreath from the Croydon Branch of the Women's Freedom League.

The Headmistress of Croydon High School, Miss Dorinda Neligan, was an excellent choice, although she had no previous teaching experience. The daughter of an Army officer who had served in the Peninsular War, Miss Neligan had herself served with the Red Cross in France during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 and had been left in sole charge at Metz during the siege. Keen-faced and blue-eyed, Miss Neligan like Miss Jones showed a distinctive taste in dress: she always wore a lace mantilla over her head and shoulders in school and almost always a black silk dress. Personality and natural intelligence, practical ability and a sense of humour combined with a beautiful and effective speaking voice were Dorinda Neligan's chief assets. She also had a highly developed sense of justice and plenty of moral and physical courage. These qualities carried her successfully through twenty-seven years as headmistress of Croydon and on into old age when, incensed at the long delay in giving women the vote, she became a militant Suffragette. On one occasion she protested by refusing to pay her rates: her silver teapot was distrained but redeemed and return to her by the grateful parent of one of her former pupils. On another occasion she assaulted a policeman but was not sent to prison, presumably because of her age.

I have often wondered what Dorinda would have thought about ‘her' school, if she were somehow able to visit us today. I honestly think she would be extremely proud.

The school she founded began in a very small way and only 88 pupils were on the roll when Croydon High School opened in September 1874. The numbers increased rapidly (an excellent Admissions and Marketing department clearly) and some six years later 230 pupils moved to purpose-built premises in Wellesley Road, Croydon.

Miss Dorinda Neligan was a formidable character. She had served with the Red Cross in France during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 where legend has it, she was left in sole charge of the wounded at Metz. I am sure she would have enjoyed sharing some of her stories with Mrs Bloxsome, whose room also feels like a field hospital sometimes! She remained Head of Croydon High for twenty seven years and after retirement, so incensed at the long delay in giving women the vote, she became a militant suffragette. On one occasion, she protested by refusing to pay her rates and on another she assaulted a policeman but escaped prison presumably because of her age! We know that this sense of justice and equality of opportunity has been passed down through the generations of Croydon High girls – although of course we always stress the importance of operating within the law!

How proud Miss Neligan would have been to witness the campaigning spirit of our Amnesty Groups throughout the years, and their passionate response to issues of equality and human rights. Croydon High was the first school in the local area to educate girls and despite the scandal it caused amongst the gentlefolk of Croydon, Miss Neligan simply would not accept that young women did not deserve the same educational opportunities as their brothers. She not only educated them but she ensured Croydon High was at the forefront of creating opportunities for girls.

In 1885, hitherto almost unheard of for girls, chemistry was introduced to the curriculum. Of course, at the beginning, no practical work was allowed – it was considered far too dangerous! But in 1902, about a year after Miss Leahy succeeded Miss Neligan as Headmistress, a science demonstration room, forerunner of the laboratories, was built – no doubt instigated by Miss Neligan. One can only imagine her delight at the numbers of Croydon High pupils excelling in the sciences both here and at university and at the opportunities presented by Enterprise Technology and available in our Mac Suite and podcasting room. I would love the opportunity to introduce Miss Neligan to the remarkable pioneering pupils in our Junior School, who are so passionate and so committed to so many important issues, even at such a young age and who see no barriers in what they seek to achieve.

In Dorinda's school, gender was certainly not allowed to be a barrier even when it came to sport. Although the pupils did not wear a uniform, by 1896 moderately short skirts were allowed for those girls who attended Swedish drill classes. (Even in 1918 the gym mistress was requested to wear a long raincoat over her tunic when moving around the school – I somehow doubt Ms Head and her team would comply with that regulation! )

Everything we know about Miss Neligan tells us that her principles were unwavering and that she was ready, always, to stand up for what is right. I have no doubt that if she were able to be with us today, she would be leading the charge when it comes to promoting and celebrating diversity and inclusion. She would certainly be an active supporter of the GDST's ‘Undivided' programme which we follow here at Croydon High and which is striving to address diversity, inclusion and real change, more widely within the education sector. To find out more, please visit the GDST's website here.

The principles underpinning the GDST's Undivided Charter for Action is something that all individual schools and indeed, we as individuals within the schools, acknowledge and seek to incorporate into our own lives and interactions. We are proud to be part of such a forward thinking and reflective organisation.

On Thursday 9 June, Mrs Pattison led a special assembly where she talked to the Senior School about how we are marking Dorinda Day this year. She reminded them of Miss Neligan's legacy and the school's commitment "… to ensure our school is a place where the individual is celebrated and championed, within a community that offers a safe place to rehearse the challenges of the real world." In the Junior School, pupils also discussed the idea of ‘difference' and what that means to them. To mark Dorinda Day 2022, we will be reflecting upon the journey we have made as a school community and encouraging each other to continue on this path. Each member of the school is being asked to make their own Ivy Pledge; something that will make a difference to their understanding of what it means to be ‘undivided at Croydon High' to help us on our journey to ensure every pupil has a deep sense of belonging to their school community. Pupils will be encouraged and guided toward appropriate resources to read, listen, watch and discuss. From this, they will identify their own Ivy Pledge which will be displayed as part of our whole school commitment to Dorinda Neligan's remarkable legacy.

For me personally, I will be considering my own Ivy Pledge of course, but I will also be looking to apply the following mantra to my daily life…WWDD. What would Dorinda do?

I think that will keep me on the right path. To find out more about Croydon High's own interpretation of Undivided and the journey we are on together, you may like to take a look at our website here.

Dorinda Neligan was born in Cork, Ireland, on 9th June 1833, the daughter of Elizabeth Spiller (1794-1864) and Lieutenant Thomas Neligan (1790-1856), a decorated army officer. Dorinda's father, Thomas Neligan, served as an officer in the 83rd Regiment of Foot, an Irish infantry unit of the British Army, and had fought during the Peninsula War (1808-1814), seeing action at Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, and Salamanca.

In 1828, at Ross, County Cork, Thomas Neligan married Elizabeth Spiller and this union produced several children, including a son named Thomas Neligan (born 18th August 1837, Cork) and three daughters - Martha Matilda (born 1832, Cork), Dorinda (born 9th June 1833, Cork), and Annie Neligan (born 15th February 1839, Cork)...

On her return to England after the Franco-Prussian War, Dorinda Neligan set up a school in North London with Celestine Cassal (born c.1834), a "Teacher of Languages" who originated from the French region of Alsace. The school was based at No. 3 College Villas, Finchley New Road, South Hampstead, North London. The partnership between the two schoolmistresses was dissolved on 12th September 1873.

In the Autumn of 1874, the Girl's Day School Trust, a foundation created by four suffragists – Mrs Maria Georgina Grey, Miss Emily Shirreff (Mrs Grey's sister), Miss Mary Gurney and Henrietta Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley – established the Croydon High School for Girls in Croydon, Surrey. The High School was opened on 1st September 1874. Dorinda Neligan was appointed as the first Headmistress of the Croydon High School for Girls, a position she held until her retirement in 1901.

The Croydon High School for Girls proved popular and between 1874 and 1880 the school increased the number of pupils on the school roll. When the school opened in September 1874, eighty girls were enrolled; by 1875 the number of pupils had risen to 123 and by 1879 the school had 175 pupils on roll. Because of the demand for places and the need to provide better facilities, larger premises were built on Wellesley Road, about midway between East and West Croydon Railway Stations. The new school, when completed, could accommodate 300 pupils...

When the 1881 Census was taken, Dorinda Neligan was residing at a house in Wellesley Road, Croydon, the location of the newly constructed High School for Girls. On the 1881 census return, 47-year-old Dorinda Neligan gives her occupation as "Head Mistress of High School for Girls". Residing with Miss Neligan at the house in Wellesley Road was her aunt, Jane Spiller, the younger sister of her mother; a niece, 23-year-old Emily M. Julian, who was employed as a teacher at Croydon High School for Girls; and four domestic servants – a housekeeper, a cook and two housemaids.

Ten years later, when the 1891 Census was carried out, Dorinda Neligan was recorded at No. 36 Wellesley Road, Croydon. Her niece, Emily, was still residing with Miss Neligan, but she is now entered on the census return as Emily M. Neligan rather than "Emily M. Julian'. In the 1891 Census, Miss Emily Nelligan is described as a 33-year-old "Assistant Mistress", while Miss Dorinda Neligan, the 'Head of the Household' gives her profession as "Head Mistress of Girls' Public School". Also living at 36 Wellesley Road were Miss Dorinda Neligan's four servants - a cook and three maids.

The 1901 Census was taken on 31 March 1901. The 1901 census again records Dorina Neligan at 36 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey. On the census return 67-year-old Dorinda Neligan is recorded as "Head Mistress of Public School (Employer)". Residing with Dorinda Neligan was her younger sister, 62-year-old Annie Neligan, who was "Living on Own means" ; a visitor, a 73-year-old, Irish-born widow named Mrs Harriet Kingsley; and three domestic servants – a cook, a housemaid and a kitchen maid. Later that year, Miss Dorinda Neligan retired as Headmistress of Croydon High School for Girls and was replaced by Marion Leahy.

Two of Dorinda Neligan's sisters had come to live in England. On 26th March 1856 at St Anne Shandon, Cork, Ireland, Martha Matilda Neligan (1832-1901) had married her cousin Thomas Neligan Kearney (1819-1884), a clergyman. Reverend Thomas Neligan Kearney was appointed Vicar of the parish of Throwley, a village near Faversham in Kent. Mrs Martha Neligan Kearney lived with her husband and daughter at Throwley Vicarage in Kent until her husband's death on 30th March 1884. After the death of her husband, Mrs Martha Neligan Kearney land her daughter, Mary Alice Kearney (born 1867, Ireland), settled in Canterbury, Kent, where Mrs Kearney died on 10th January 1901. Dorinda's younger sister, Annie Neligan (1839-1932) came to England to live with her older sister Dorinda in Croydon, Surrey. At the time of the 1921 Census, 82-year-old Annie Neligan was visiting a friend in Croydon. Annie Neligan died in Croydon, Surrey, in 1932 at the age of 93.
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Dorinda Neligan, described as a spinster of Oakwood House, 5 Sydenham Road, Croydon, Surrey, died on 18th July 1914 at the age of 81. She left effects valued at �2,166. 8s. 6d. which she left to her surviving sister, Annie Neligan.