Florence Norman

Florence Priscilla, Lady Norman, CBE, JP (née McLaren; 1883 – 1 March 1964, Antibes) was a British activist and suffragist.

Background Lady Norman was an active supporter of women's suffrage but not a militant. She held the post of Hon. Treasurer of the Liberal Women's Suffrage Union.

Family Lady Norman was the fourth child and second daughter of the Liberal politician Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway and Laura Elizabeth Pochin.

In 1907 she married, as his second wife, Sir Henry Norman, 1st Baronet, In 1914 she accompanied twenty British Red Cross nurses to France where Dr Grey was in charge of the hospital supported by Matron Mary Foster-Elliot. Lady Norman valued the role of the professional nurse at a time when many aristocrats were more interested in individual volunteering: “Professional 'women have done this work in times of peace, and they should certainly, do it now that war has come, bringing them the most interesting opportunities for public service possible. It is their right.” and in 1917 created a CBE for her war services. She was also on the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust later becoming Chair of its Women’s Advisory Council.

In 1922 she became a Justice of the peace for the Children’s Court, London. From 1951 she was on the Boards of Governors for the Bethlem and Maudsley mental health hospitals which both hosted nurse training schools. In January 1965 she wrote a 'Report of visits to Hong Kong and Manila by Lady Norman and Miss Addis, and to Sydney and Melbourne by Lady Norman' for the National Association for Mental Health.

During the Second World War she was a driver for the Women's Voluntary Service in London.

In 1931 she inherited Château de la Garoupe, Antibes from her mother, continuing to manage and develop the gardens.

She died on 1 March 1964 at the family home in Antibes.