Lucy Baldwin, Countess Baldwin of Bewdley, GBE, DGStJ (née Ridsdale; 1869 – 17 June 1945) was the wife of British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. They were married from 12 September 1892 until her death 53 years later.
The daughter of Edward Lucas Jenks Ridsdale and Esther Lucy Thacker of Rottingdean, Sussex [1][2], she was a keen sportswoman, dancer and partygoer.
She was invested as a Dame of Grace, Order of St. John of Jerusalem and a Dame Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire. She was styled as Countess Baldwin of Bewdley on 8 June 1937.
Apart from her home-making, raising of six children and tireless support of her husband, she was also a formidable personality in her own right. She was the founder of the Anæsthetics Appeal Fund of the National Birthday Trust Fund, and associated with the Lucy Baldwin machine for self-administration of nitrous-oxide/oxygen analgesia in obstetrics. She was involved in the Young Women's Christian Association and other charitable bodies for women, especially those concerned to improve maternity care, after having herself suffered difficult pregnancies. She was also a member of the White Heather Club, the first women's cricket club, founded at Nun Appleton Hall near Appleton Roebuck, Yorkshire in 1887.
In 1928 she was vice-chairman of the newly established National Birthday Trust Fund to address the high incidence of maternal mortality. Its original aims were to support maternity hospitals and contribute to the development of midwifery practice. In 1929 she helped found the Anæsthetics Appeal Fund with speeches, broadcasts and fund-raising.
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One of her supporters and donors built the Lucy Baldwin Maternity Hospital in Stourport-on-Severn.
Her political lobbying was also key to the 1936 Midwives Act, which created a national midwifery service.
She also wrote valuable notes of two major episodes, the fall of the Lloyd George Coalition and the Abdication crisis.
The Baldwins had six surviving children (their first was stillborn):
Following her death in 1945, she was interred on the grounds of Worcester Cathedral.
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| Preceded by Annie Bonar Law |
Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1923 – 1924 |
Vacant
Title next held by
Herself |
| Vacant
Title last held by
Herself |
Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1924 – 1929 |
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| Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1935 – 1937 |
Succeeded by Anne Chamberlain |
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