Wyn Crabtree (1915-2009)
Though her funeral took place yesterday, it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge the lifelong work of Ms Wyn Crabtree.
Born in 1915 in Yorkshire, she moved to Limerick with her father when he was appointed general manager of the Limerick Clothing Company.
On arrival, he got together with a number of local business people and set up what was to become St. Gabriel’s School and clinic for disabled children in Dooradoyle.
But it was through the work of his daughter, Wyn, that St. Gabriel’s is what we know it today. During her time as head of the clinic, she saw the school finally receive recognition from the Department of Education, and then located to it’s current campus in Dooradoyle in 1997. After her retirement in 1999, at the age of 83, she remained on the school’s board until her death.
Ms Crabtree received the Limerick Hall of Fame award in 2005 in recognition of her work with children with disabilities, and in 2008, she received the person of the Month award in November.
On winning the Person of the Month award, she admitted one regret, that her father was not alive to see what the school he founded had become.