Helen Caroline Colman

Helen was closest in age to her sister Ethel, and the two became lifelong companions. Helen was Lady Mayoress during her sister's year in office as Lord Mayor.

All the Colman sisters were encouraged to contribute to the public life of their neighbourhood and city and they took over teaching at the Carrow Works Day and Sunday Schools from their mother. After the death of their father in 1898, Helen and Ethel, who were both unmarried, became wealthy and independent. They made excellent use of their freedom, time and wealth, and immersed themselves in philanthropic work. They were also keepers of a substantial portion of their father's art collection, much of which would have fallen into obscurity without their careful management. The sisters jointly donated a vast number of important artworks and artefacts to Norwich Castle Museum.

Helen was one of the key campaigners in the women's suffrage movement. In 1910 she became vice president of the newly formed Norwich Women's Suffrage Society. Her contribution, like that of her sisters Laura and Ethel, was through civic action rather than militant protest. Together, the sisters founded Norwich's Branch of the National Council of Women and demanded better representation of women in politics.  

Helen wrote an extensive memoir about her father Jeremiah James Colman. The book remains a valuable source of information not only about the man, the family and the company, but also the social and cultural life of late Victorian Norwich.