Helen Ekins (9 November 1879 – 4 June 1964) was a British horticulturist and educational administrator associated with

Studley College Studley Horticultural & Agricultural College for Women was a horticultural and agricultural college for women, near Studley in Warwickshire, England, which operated from 1898 until 1969. History The college was founded by Daisy Greville, Counte ...

which trained women in agriculture, in Warwickshire.

Life

Ekins was born in

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...

. Her parents were Elizabeth Ann Childs and Arthur Edward Ekins. Her father was a pharmaceutical chemist and she was one of the first students at

St Albans High School for Girls St Albans High School for Girls is a selective, Private schools in the United Kingdom, private day school for girls aged 4 – 18 years, which is affiliated to the Church of England and takes girls regardless of their faith or lack of faith. Th ...

. After she left school she spent an unusual decade dedicating her spare time to growing vegetables and volunteering for work. The vegetables inspired an interest in horticulture that would last a lifetime. Studley College 1910 garden students

In 1909 there was mutual benefit to herself and Studley College for Women when she became a full-time student of horticulture. This college was established in 1898 to train women for careers in agriculture and horticulture. In 1909 it was led by Dr

Lillias Hamilton Lillias Anna Hamilton (7 February 1858 – 6 January 1925) was a British medical doctor and writer. She was born at Tomabil Station, New South Wales to Hugh Hamilton (1822– 1900) and his wife Margaret Clunes (née Innes). After attending scho ...

who had become the warden the year before. In 1920 she completed a part-time degree in Horticulture at

Birmingham University The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

. Hamilton lauded her as the "most highly qualified... in horticulture in England". Hamilton had to retire due to ill health four years later and Ekins became her successor. The college offered a Diploma in Horticulture from 1924 and this was a three-year course. In 1934 the college offered a degree course of the University of London leading to a BSc in horticulture. Ekins was to serve as warden until after the war. In 1946, Mrs. K.G.Woolacott, became the new warden.

Death and legacy

Ekins died in

Hitchin Hitchin () is a market town in the North Hertfordshire Districts of England, district of Hertfordshire, England. The town dates from at least the 7th century. It lies in the valley of the River Hiz at the north-eastern end of the Chiltern Hills ...

in 1964. She left a substantial bequest to Studely College, but it closed several years later. Reading University gives a prize each year for a leading woman student in horticulture - the Helen Ekins Memorial prize.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekins, Helen 1879 births 1964 deaths People from St Albans British horticulturists People educated at St Albans High School for Girls