She decided to open the Sue Ryder Museum in the Cavendish for the memorabilia collected, gifts given to her, things that testify to the work of the Sue Ryder Foundation.
Among the humble yet unique exhibits due to the circumstances of their creation are pictures of the Virgin Mary and St Francis, made from grains and ears, donated by the Polish Minister of Culture. Among the modest, but unique because of the circumstances in which they were created, exhibits include images of the Virgin Mary and St Francis, made from grains and ears and donated by the Polish Minister of Culture, a vividly coloured kilim woven by Russians in Leningrad during the terrible siege, a crystal vase donated by cancer patients at one of the Foundation's Houses, and an intricate model of a 15th-century galleon made by a young invalid and presented to Sue Ryder in Kotar on the occasion of her being granted honorary citizenship of that city. Valuable paintings, jewellery and books were also among the artefacts on display - with some of these items being the donor's only possessions.
After Sue Ryder's death in 2000, her heirs bequeathed the museum collection and personal memorabilia to the Polish Sue Ryder Foundation. This is the genesis of the Sue Ryder Museum at Rogatka Mokotowska in Warsaw.
Sue Ryder, a British charity activist carried out extensive charitable work in many parts of the world. She established an international foundation in tribute to the victims of World War II. As Lady Ryder of Warsaw, she sat in the British House of Lords. She was a great friend of Poland and Poles. In Poland, she founded nursing homes, hospitals and hospices in 30 towns and cities.
