A Glimpse into the Life of... Stella Cunliffe

Stella is probably best known locally as one of the Independent District Councillors for Ashtead Village Ward of Mole Valley District Council from 1981-1999. Stella knew how to get things done and her advice was in constant demand. She served on the governing Council of the Guide movement, having acted in many capacities including developing units in disadvantaged areas in south London. To all these and many other interests, she brought a sharp mind and expressed her views clearly and concisely. Frustrated by arthritic hips, she has now been forced to give up most of these activities.

Behind this is a successful businesswomen and civil servant. Born in Battersea in 1917, she was taken, when two, to Singapore where her father was a merchant trading in rubber and other commodities. A few years later, the family returned first to Holmwood and then Ashtead where her father bought a large house, since demolished, in fields between The Marld and Peace Memorial Hall. Her brother Foster attended Downsend School, she and her sister Nancy, Parsons Mead.

Stella was one of the first Parsons Mead pupils to attend university. She read statistics at the London School of Economics. As war was breaking out, the Danish Bacon Co in Smithfield recruited Stella. Before the end of war, she volunteered for the Guides International Service, part of the Council of British Societies for Relief Abroad, to go to Holland. The Relief Team was sent to Rotterdam, which had been flattened by the allies, where people were starving, amidst piles of rotting rubbish. For eight weeks the GIS organised food to provide at least one meal a day and clothing. The unit was then moved to Belsen, which left an indelible memory with Stella and then to the Herman Goring Works, south of Brunswick. After this, much matured by the experience, Stella returned to England and Ashtead with no money, to look after her elderly parents.

	A Glimpse into the Life of… Stella Cunliffe Stella Cunliffe is one of many who have helped make Ashtead the vigorous and interesting community we all enjoy.
	Stella is probably best known locally as one of the Independent District Councillors for Ashtead Village Ward of Mole Valley District Council from 1981-1999. Stella knew how to get things done and her advice was in constant demand. She served on the governing Council of the Guide movement, having acted in many capacities including developing units in disadvantaged areas in south London. To all these and many other interests, she brought a sharp mind and expressed her views clearly and concisely. Frustrated by arthritic hips, she has now been forced to give up most of these activities. Behind this is a successful businesswomen and civil servant. Born in Battersea in 1917, she was taken, when two, to Singapore where her father was a merchant trading in rubber and other commodities. A few years later, the family returned first to Holmwood and then Ashtead where her father bought a large house, since demolished, in fields between The Marld and Peace Memorial Hall. Her brother Foster attended Downsend School, she and her sister Nancy, Parsons Mead. Stella was one of the first Parsons Mead pupils to attend university. She read statistics at the London School of Economics. As war was breaking out, the Danish Bacon Co in Smithfield recruited Stella. Before the end of war, she volunteered for the Guides International Service, part of the Council of British Societies for Relief Abroad, to go to Holland. The Relief Team was sent to Rotterdam, which had been flattened by the allies, where people were starving, amidst piles of rotting rubbish. For eight weeks the GIS organised food to provide at least one meal a day and clothing. The unit was then moved to Belsen, which left an indelible memory with Stella and then to the Herman Goring Works, south of Brunswick. After this, much matured by the experience, Stella returned to England and Ashtead with no money, to look after her elderly parents.	Stella in the uniform of the Guides International Service 1945-6

		Stella then joined Guinness. Based in Park Royal Brewery in Ealing, she was part of Guinness's extensive experimental programme. Lord Iveagh had in 1908 decided to employ top grade staff as management, so brewers came only from Oxbridge, had to have a good degree and have rowed or kicked a ball for their university. Unable, as a woman, to progress to director, Stella left after 25 years to become Head of the Research Unit into Crime at the Home Office, with a staff of 100, mainly graduates, and was later promoted to Under Secretary of State (the Rector of Statistics). Roy Jenkins was one of five Home Secretaries whom she served. Having examined homicide throughout the world, Stella told him that there was "no evidence that capital punishment made any difference to homicide rates". Jenkins replied "It may go against my political future, but I am going to get rid of capital punishment". After normal retirement age, Stella worked with Sir Monty Finneston on his Enquiry into the Engineering Profession, which aimed to raise the status of engineers in Britain. There followed two years as a consultant with the Applied Statistics Unit of Kent University. Through her Guinness connections, she became a governor at Burwood Park school for the deaf. Following retirement she became involved in local affairs, which led in turn to other involvements.
	She served on several school boards as governor, as a Board member of Mount Green and Prospect Housing Associations and chaired the local (Mid-Surrey) Community Health Council. She returned to her old school, Parsons Mead, as a governor and then as Chairman of Governors. At home she kept bees and chickens, as well as enjoying gardening. Ever active, her contribution to local and national life has been significant and in 1993 she was honoured with the MBE.

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