Page 9 - Thrapston Life May 2025

MISS
BARBARA
SOUSTER
A devoted life 1928-2007
Many Islipians will remember Miss Barbara
Souster MBE who lived in Mill Lane for most
of her life. She lived a simple life and devoted it
to the Christian Church – in particular serving
the young people of Islip.
Miss Souster formed The Guild of
St Nicholas as a vehicle for her active
efforts to share her Christian faith and
her belief in the love of God with the
young people of Islip. She would hold
weekly meetings and summer holiday
camps with her young Guild members
(who referred to her as ‘Miss’), at
Nicholas House next door to the village church.
During the summer half term, Miss Souster
would take Guild members on pilgrimages,
visiting various locations in the UK including
Holy Island and Durham. They would stay
in self-catered accommodation, and the
young people were encouraged to take part in
preparing meals and domestic chores to develop
their skills and create a sense of team spirit.
Miss Souster would subsidise the trips from her
own pocket, and one attendee remembers her
driving everyone to St David’s in a minibus for
what he thinks was the last Guild pilgrimage in
Miss Souster
was awarded
an MBE at
Buckingham
Palace
the early 2000s, when she would have been in
her early seventies.
Miss Souster taught R.E. at Islip and
Aldwincle Primary Schools, as well as at St
Peter’s School in Kettering. She was
somewhat of a village matriarch, well
respected and still remembered fondly
by many who knew and were guided
by her. She was of strong character;
steadfastly committed to her cause,
willing to action big ideas with or
without support from others in the
congregation.
A past Guild member and friend of Miss
Souster says; ‘I have never met anyone else who
has had such a positive and lasting impact on
so many young lives through true humility and
strength of character. I count myself privileged
to have known her and worked with her.’
Unusually for a woman of her time, Miss
Souster attended university. She read Social
Studies at St Mary’s College, Durham,
graduating in 1957. Letters written by family
members show that the Sousters were a close
family. Her father was a very important figure
in her life and encouraged her in her studies.
9