page_title: St Annes-on-the-Sea Carnegie Library
section_title: Library Staff
hierarchical_section_title: St Annes-on-the-Sea Carnegie Library / Library Staff
caption_attribution_description: English: Miss Bertha Barrow, Borough Librarian and Library Assistants. The picture accompanied an article to celebrate St Annes Library's 21st anniversary
context_page_description: The Carnegie Library is in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England.
  The foundation stone of St. Anne's Library was laid in August 1904 and the building was officially opened on 10 January 1906. The land was given by the St. Anne's on the Sea Land and Building Company, and Andrew Carnegie paid for the building itself. This was the first library in the town.
  There is also a library at Lytham.
  The library was administered by the St Anne's on the Sea Urban District until 1922 when the Urban District Council amalgamated with Lytham U.D.C. to form the municipal borough of Lytham St. Annes. The Borough continued to operate the service until 1974 when the Library Service was taken over by Lancashire County Council and became the District Central Library of Fylde District.
context_section_description: The first Librarian in charge, appointed in July 1905, was a Mr T P Thompson who had come from Bolton where he had worked at the Bolton Free Library for 14 years. By March 1906, however, he had been replaced by Miss Bertha M Barrow. The minutes of the Library and Baths Committee of the Council reports that after his resignation, her appointment was accepted on 26 February 1906 at a salary of £60 per annum. The minutes state that it was resolved "That a lady librarian be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr T. P Thompson".  The St Anne's on the Sea Express of 7 March 1906 tells us that "Miss Barrow was an applicant when the council advertised last year, but the committee had, at that time, resolved to appoint a male librarian. The committee therefore knew her qualifications and for that reason the vacant post was not again advertised. The Council, we believe, will not regret their choice."  The Express also commented that as at that time 70% of those who attended St Annes Library were women the appointment was especially appropriate. 
  She found an eloquent champion in the Express - on 18 April 1906, after she had reorganised the library it commented that " ……Miss Barrow has great reason to feel proud of all that she has accomplished in such a short space of time". An enlightened position for the newspaper in an age when women hadn't yet achieved the vote and although, the 1901 census shows that over 30% of women over the age of 10 were in paid employment, 80% of those were in domestic service, other services or manufacturing. At the time less than 9% of working women were in the professions let alone in a management position. Miss Barrow actually served the people of St Anne's for over 30 years and retired from her post just before the start of World War II in August 1939.
  Bertha Barrow was succeeded by Graham Leslie Parish from Sheffield who was 26 at the time of his appointment and was chosen from 50 applicants. His tenure in the post was cut short due to his death in World War Two.
  After the outbreak of war he joined the RAF and in September 1942 he was a navigator on a delivery flight to the Middle East command. When the plane was forced down on rough ground at a Sudan airfield it hit a building and burst into flames. Although the crew escaped unhurt Sergeant Parish went back for a passenger they were carrying, a Sudan government meteorologist called Mr J Flower. Both men were killed in the blazing plane. In April 1943 Graham Parish was awarded the George Cross posthumously for his brave and selfless actions and "gallantry of the highest order". The Times of 3 April 1943 reported "As the passenger could not walk, owing to his broken legs, it is clear that Sgt. Parish had carried him from the emergency door to the rear turret in the hope that both could escape through the turret. Sgt Parish could have escaped through the astro-hatch but his unselfish desire to assist the passenger cost him his life",
caption: Bertha Barrow and Library Assistants,January 1927
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