Person

Alexandra Fisher was born on 1 August 1874 in Moate, Ireland. She was the daughter of Edward Alexander and Lucretia Fisher nee O’Brien, who had married on 25 August 1869. At the time of her birth her father was working as a bank accountant. Census records show that Alexandra had at least two sisters.

Having been educated in Ireland, Alexandra gained a scholarship and went to study at the Mount School in York in January 1892. At the time of her admittance to this school her residential address was given as Mill Street, County Cork, Ireland. Having left this school in June 1893 she then went to the University College of Wales. She later gained both an M.A. degree from London University and a D. Lit degree.

At the time of the 1901 census, at the age of 26, Alexandra was living in Lancaster and was working as a teacher in a private school. Her family were still living in Ireland in 1901 where Alexandra’s mother died in 1906. In 1907 Alexandra became the senior English mistress at Birkenhead Secondary School where she remained until 1911. The 1911 census records her as living with her widowed father and her older sister Myra Lucy.

In 1912 Alexandra moved to Norfolk and became the head mistress at East Dereham County secondary school. Alexandra moved to County Durham to begin working as the headmistress at the Girl’s County School in Bishop Auckland in 1917.

Under the headship of Dr. Fisher, Esperanto was introduced to the curriculum at the Girl’s School in Bishop Auckland. Its introduction was discussed in 1917 before it was first taught in September 1918 as a basis for the study of modern languages. Dr. Fisher went on to lecture on the benefits of teaching Esperanto in other parts of the country.

In 1939 Alexandra retired as the headmistress of the Girl’s County School in Bishop Auckland after working there for 22 years. On the 1939 register she was living with her sister, Myra, who was also unmarried. In 1941 Alexandra was awarded an OBE. During the Second World War, she took an active interest in the Women’s Voluntary Service. She died on 17 November 1958 in Cheshire.

Civil Parish: Bishop Auckland

Birth date: 01-Aug-1874

Death date: 17-Nov-1958

Armed force/civilian: Civilian

Residence: Moate, Ireland (Birth place)
Mill Street, County Cork, Ireland (1892 School Admittance records)
9 Morley Road, Southport, Lancaster (1901 census)
14 Alfred Road, Birkenhead (1911 census)
6 Kensington, Bishop Auckland (1939 Register)
Sharon Bevyl Road, Parkgate, Cheshire (Address at time of death)

Education: Friend’s Provincial School, Mountmellick
Mount School, York
University of Wales

Religion: Quaker

Employment: Senior English mistress, Birkenhead Secondary School for Girls (1907-1912)
Head mistress, East Dereham County secondary school (1912-1917)
Head mistress Bishop Auckland Girl’s County School (1917-1939)

Family: Parents: Edward Alexander Fisher, Lucretia Fisher nee O’Brien
Siblings: Myra Lucy Fisher, Ethel Lily Fisher

Gender: Female

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham