Pat Washington (Beauchamp was her pen name) joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry at the age of 21. She was sent to France in 1915, driving ambulances and heavy vehicles, losing a leg and gaining the Croix de Guerre in the process. She went on to drive a canteen for the Free Poles during World War 2. Evacuated from Dunkirk (after driving her canteen over a cliff to stop the Germans getting hold of it) she went on to train American women in civil defence, became a Woman's Hour cooking expert and, in her later years, a rally driver. She spent the inter war years travelling Britain as a home economy demonstrator addressing large audiences of women coming to grips with the post war world.
Course aim
To learn about the life of Pat Washington (Beauchamp) and, in doing so, to see how women's lives changed during the 20th Century.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This is a live lecture delivered by a subject specialist in an online webinar video learning platform. You will need to be able to access the internet on a device with speakers or earphones. There will be opportunities to take part in discussions and chats. If you’d like to know how to use Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- No skills or experience needed
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Discuss the treatment of amputee women in the early part of the 20th century
- Discuss the changing domestic and social roles of women after World War 1
- Make a crinoline lady out of jelly - one of Pat's recipes!
How will I be taught?
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
- We will use breakout rooms for discussion and Canvas to show some film clips.
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- Nothing else is needed
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- Become involved with the WEA in a range of voluntary work and other activities including campaigning as a WEA member
- Become involved as a volunteer for a WEA partner or another organisation
- Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
Download full course information sheet







