Wakefield Museums and Castles

(Article originally published 3 February 2016)

We have recently added a fantastic set of objects to our collection related to the life of a remarkable local woman, the late Stephanie Park.

Stephanie Park née Hopley (1940 - 2012) was a nurse and midwife from Wakefield. She became a disability pioneer when she had her left leg amputated following a car accident.

Stephanie took up shooting, competing for Great Britain and winning many prizes. Later, she gave up much of her time to coaching others. Stephanie helped to establish the disability advice telephone line, DIAL.

She also served as secretary of the Yorkshire branch of the British Sports Association for the Disabled (now part of Activity Alliance / English Federation of Disability Sport).

Stephanie in action

Stephanie qualified as a midwife in 1963.

Stephanie's Midwifery Certificate, dated 30 September 1963

Her midwife's medallion was made by the jewellers Thomas Fattorini Ltd. It features Juno Lucina, a Roman goddess of childbirth.

Stephanie's midwife's medallion

After losing her leg in a car accident, Stephanie took up sport. She adopted shooting as her preferred discipline.

This certificate below from the National Small Bore Rifle Association officially gave her permission to compete from her wheelchair.

This brass chalice for first place was the first trophy Stephanie won in her shooting career. She won it in 1985.

Stephanie came first in her event at the Disability Air Rifle World Championships held at Appledoorn, the Netherlands in 1987.

She received this Delftsche Huys beer stein as part of her prize.

This is a target shot from the National Small Bore Rifle Association Championship in Cardiff, 1989.

Stephanie won first place in the 10 metre air rifle event. Non-disabled and disabled athletes competed on an equal basis at this event.

Stephanie was very proud of this achievement, getting all 10 shots through the central ring. Her target shot is one of the 100 objects in our 100 Years of Collecting online exhibition. 

Stephanie also gave up her time to coach and support other disabled athletes. She was an adviser to the Sport Aid Foundation.

Many of the athletes she helped went on to compete in the 2012 London Paralympics. 

Stephanie at the Disability Air Rifle Championships

Stephanie died in 2012. Friends and family remembered her warmly. 

This trophy was awarded posthumously as recognition for all Stephanie’s efforts for disability sport.