People and communities
Annual thanksgiving service for Walsall heroine Sister Dora
Published on
Walsall will come together to commemorate the life and work of Sister Dora with a thanksgiving service on Sunday 19 January 2025.
The service will take place at St. Paul’s Church at The Crossing, Darwall Street, WS1 1DA at 11am.
Dorothy Wyndlow Pattison, commonly known as Sister Dora, had a special relationship with Walsall.
Sister Dora selflessly ministered to the people of Walsall, and today, her legacy is still marked every year with a commemorative service and the laying of floral tributes under her town statue.
“ Sister Dora’s statue stands in our town centre to commemorate just how adored she was by the people of Walsall.
“I have had the honour of continuing this tradition both as Deputy Mayor and this year, as the Mayor of Walsall.
“Sister Dora’s legacy is one of putting the needs of others first. I would recommend that people read up on her, to really understand why we still remember her to this day.
"We will continue to honour her contribution to Walsall and the world of nursing. “
Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Anthony Harris and Mayoress, Mrs. Christina Harris, will be joined by David Frost, Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands and the Deputy Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Louise Harrison.
At 11.45am, the congregation will walk to the Sister Dora statue on The Bridge, where the Mayoress will lead the laying of floral tributes.
The church service is also open to the public and anyone who wishes to remember the tremendous contribution that Sister Dora made to the town.
Anyone who would like to learn more about Sister Dora is encouraged to view the wealth of resources available at Walsall Archives, situated in the Lichfield Street Hub.
The Archives hold more than 1,700 collections of documents, from c1200 to the present day, including, institutional material from Walsall Council and its predecessors.
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To find out more about using the Walsall Archive service then please either email LocalHistoryCentre@walsall.gov.uk, telephone 01922 652 212 or visit https://go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries/lichfield-street-hub/walsall-archives-services
