Walsall pupils search for Sister Dora in project bringing historic figure’s story to life

The story of one of the West Midlands’ most famous historic figures is being bought to life thanks to an exciting new project involving 240 Year 5 pupils from across Walsall.

Led by Birmingham-based theatre company Stan’s Cafe, Sharing Sister Dora finds students from four Walsall schools embarking on a year long creative Key Stage 2 research project to discover more about the life of Victorian nurse Dorothy Wyndlow Pattison - aka Sister Dora - leading to the publication of a new illustrated book in 2027.

Born in 1832, in Yorkshire, Dora moved to Walsall in 1865, where she worked in a small cottage hospital. Although initially treated with suspicion by town folk, her patience, dedication and understanding had a significant impact on not only the local community, but also the wider medical profession.

Dora was held in such high esteem that when she died in 1878, she became the first non-royal woman in the country to have a statue erected in her honour – a monument which still stands proudly in Walsall’s town centre today.

Stan’s Cafe’s James Yarker said: "Although she’s largely forgotten today, Sister Dora was an extraordinary figure, a Victorian nurse every bit as remarkable as Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. To learn her story is to learn about the place of women in Victorian society, the history of medicine and the industrial revolution. She was self-sacrificing, medically innovative and entrepreneurial.”

For the project, Stan’s Cafe have been working closely with young students from New Invention Learning Academy, Croft Academy, Birchills Church of England Community Academy and Woods Bank Academy. This has included taking groups of learners to significant sites across the town to explore Sister Dora’s life and legacy, among them Walsall Leather Museum, St Paul's Church and Walsall Archives.

Sharing Sister Dora, which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will culminate in the publication of an illustrated book (with printed copies going to every primary school in Walsall), plus ebook, audio book and website, all written by the students.

Said James: “We're really enjoying working with the pupils. They're really eager and so inspired by Sister Dora’s story. We can't wait to see what they'll uncover as the project continues.

"It is our collective mission to share her story so she becomes a household name."

Croft Academy's Jo Rutherford added: "The pupils come back to school from these trips absolutely buzzing! The staff have been so positive too! We all really look forward to the next sessions."

Participating Year 5 pupils have been equally enthusiastic about Sharing Sister Dora, and the opportunity to discover more about the history of their area, commenting:

"I like trips to museums and art galleries. There are beautiful artefacts and interesting things to see. Things I've never seen before."

"It's crazy we're walking somewhere Sister Dora would have walked!"

To find out more about the Sharing Sister Dora project, see: stans.cafe.