Webster, Helen, 1923-2007 : Helen Webster was born in Bakou (Azerbidjan) May 20th 1923. She was the daughter of Anastasi and Mania Manuelides. Mr. Manuelides was a tradesman originating from Taraki, North of Greece, and President of the Hellenic Mediterranean Ship Lines. Her mother originated from Ocetia. When the communist troops arrived in Bakou in 1925, the Manuelides family moved to Tiflis in Georgia, before moving again to Athena in Greece in 1928. Helen Manuelides went to Krikou School in Athena, and then obtained a diploma of "professorat français" from l'Institut français d'Athènes. She spoke many languages including Russian, her mother tongue, Greek, French, English and Spanish (learned from her governess). During the Second World War, Helen became an assistant nurse at the Greek Military Hospital and later, a secretary at the Anglo-Greek Information Service in Athena. In May 1946, she moved to London, England, with her sister. She obtained a BA in Modern languages and literature from the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at King's College, University of London. During this period, she met Clifford Johnston Webster, a Canadian student, in a Russian class. Helen Manuelides and Clifford J. Webster married in London on July 2, 1949. Some weeks later, they boarded the SS Mauritania and settled in Ottawa, Canada. Clifford J. Webster became a professor and taught Soviet economic history at Carleton College; Helen became a professor of language and literature. In March 1950, she gave birth to her son, Ion. In 1956, Clifford J. Webster was recruited by the Department of External Affairs and appointed to the European Branch. He published a report on the history of the soviet economy and presented his report in Paris and London in November 1958. He was appointed to many missions in different countries around the world. Helen Webster accompanied her husband to Djakarta (Indonesia) from 1959 to 1961, to Moscow (Russia) from 1961 to October 1963 and to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) from October 1963 to April 1965. In Phnom Penh, Clifford J. Webster was Chief of the Canadian legation for Peace and Security. In October 1966, Helen Webster moved to Geneva (Switzerland) where her husband was appointed chargé d'affaires adjoint for the Canadian Commissioner of the Disarmament Commission. Clifford Johnston Webster died suddenly April 23, 1967 during a hike.
Helen Webster came back to Canada in the Spring of1967. Some weeks later, Norah Michener (Norah Evangeline Willis) asked her to become her lady-in-waiting. Her husband, Daniel Roland Michener, had become Governor General of Canada in April 1967 and during the Centennial year of Canada, Mrs. Michener needed help to organize her social obligations. The two women had met in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) during Roland Michener's official tour of South East Asia as Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi. On May 23 1967, Helen Webster settled at Government House and began to share the everyday life of Norah Michener. She was responsible for writing Mrs. Michener's correspondence, for organizing her agenda, for preparing receptions and events as well as other activities related to her job as lady-in-waiting. The Centennial Year of Confederation and the Montreal World's Fair brought many visitors from foreign countries to Canada. Helen Webster was in charge of organizing the Royal family's visits, the visits of Heads of State and dignitaries and th Governor General's tour of Canada (Québec, the Atlantic Provinces, Western Canada) and the Caribbean. Helen Webster left her position in May 1970, becoming the last lady-in-waiting officially hired by Rideau Hall.
Helen Webster then became a civil servant for the Department of the Secretary of State. Among other positions, she was appointed Head of the Official Protocol Branch, Executive Secretary to Canadian Consultative Council on Multiculturalism, and Coordinator of the hospitality and protocol activities for the Secretariat of the Ottawa Summit. She was involved in the organization of many activities including royal and official visits, conferences, meetings, festivals, receptions, and political events such as the Ottawa Summit.
In November 1981, she became Head of Protocol at the National Library of Canada. She was involved in the creation of a cultural events programme and was responsible for its planning and management. This programme aimed to improve the public image of the National Library and to increase the visibility of musical and published heritage of Canada. Helen Webster supervised exhibitions, public lectures, musical events and special movie presentations. She retired in December 1987.
Helen Webster was chairman of the Canadian Mediterranean Institute (Ottawa Chapter) from 1981 to 1996. She was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order in 1996. The Royal Victorian Order was established by Queen Victoria in 1896 as a reward for extraordinary, important or personal services performed for the Sovereign or the Royal Family. The Order is conferred by the Queen of Canada to recognize services rendered to the Sovereign or to members of the Royal Family during Royal Visits to Canada.
Helen Webster died March 20, 2007, in Ottawa.
