40. My early role models

Inspiring women in Yorkshire? There are so many I could pick from. Here in Holmfirth there are great names in the present and no doubt women from the past. My PhD looked at women who were elected as councillors in the 20’s and 30’s throughout England and Wales. I could find role models galore, including some I would disagree with politically.

A few middle class women who owned property were elected to some councils at an early stage – 1907 (before women had the Parliamentary vote) allowed women on to all types of council. Patricia Hollis, Ladies Elect sets out how they fared on school boards and as Poor Law Guardians. 1919 was a bit of a breakthrough, with far more women able to stand and, if they were over 30, now able to vote and stand for Parliament.

So what happened in Yorkshire? A couple of heroines stand out on the old West Riding. Lady Mabel Smith, related to the powerful Fitzwilliams upset her family by campaigning for better health and childcare for the families who worked the pits her brother owned.  The lovely irony of the Wentworth family home being acquired to set up Lady Mabel college is tribute to her work for education. One day I will write that book about her.

It was some years later when another Smith – our own Jessie, followed in her footsteps. Many Colne Valley folk remember her as chair of school governors, but she was first elected to the West Riding in 1937 and campaigned to make sure the first West Riding comprehensive was on her patch. She was also a great contributor to arts and helped develop the Open University – many women to be thankful for that.

I could go on – Mary Sykes in Huddersfield, Miriam Lightowler, Mayor in Halifax, but want to stop there to ponder one thought. What the early women pioneers had in common as they battled to bring birth control to their communities, or set up refuges, was a strong pattern of women’s organisations helping shape their new democracy. So great to see the WI still going strong. Communities still need women leaders years after those role models.  International Women’s day rooted in the local community. Great stuff – keep up the work.

Anne Baldwin.

http://anniesec.wordpress.com/about/

39. Young girls should be “Be seen and not heard”

Once upon a time there was a young girl who was always being told “be seen and not heard”. Typical of how girls were seen in the 1950s and 1960s, generally not to challenge male domains in particular jobs where males were generally dominant. Unfortunately, some of this lived with her for a long time.

However, times were a-changing, and the young woman (myself) did well in the secretarial job market,  and married and worked abroad for first 2 years.  It was then, seen to be acceptable to have children, but, unfortunately this doesnt always happen, for lots of reasons, so the young woman thought she had better look for other things to do.

She then entered higher education and one day on International Womans Day, met a woman who had entered the world of men driving large lorries and was involved in the haulage industry.  I am afraid I cant remember her name and the company but what I do remember, that she was dressed in a suit, wore high heels and wore make-up. Wow, she thought to herself, one can be different and be confident in doing so.

However, she completed her degree and went into Personnel Management; Worked in the Theatre and then became a College Lecturer to cut a long story short.  She then became interested in politics and was inspired by the female MPs, local female politicians she met and put up at a local election but, did not win, however, the experience it gave her added to her confidence.

This woman  has since travelled extensively, respite fostered 2 boys with her husband, done voluntary work , had breast cancer too but continues to be still open to new challenges.

She must close, however, by thanking the women she met in Education and Politics for showing an interest in her and other like minded women to achieve things, in work and out of work,  which she never thought she would.

As far as picking out one individual woman, it is difficult, because there are many.  However,  Ann Cryer as a political inspiration who was MP for Shipley, Bradford would be one to name.

Angela Payne – Holmfirth WI

38. Who can be a better role model than a mother!

My mother, Ann Morris used to amaze me when I was growing up with her stories around how she set up one of the first Volunteer Centres in England.  She was so petite and I was so impressed by her going to meet various heads of services from Harrogate where we lived; how she set up many projects that are still around today and were highly innovative of its time; and how she would go and give talks on all sorts of topics such as the pill or women’s lib to mens groups!  She made such a difference to our local community and nationally with her creative ideas.

As a result of her I have set up two charities that work with families with disabled children and which have won awards.  I have also brought up 6 children including a severely disabled daughter who also overcomes many challenges in life and works hard to make a difference to other disabled people.  Both my daughter and I have spoken at the Houses of Parliament and have been featured in newspapers, on TV and in magazines.  I am now establishing a Community Interest Company called Visits Unlimited which is about supporting venues and tourist attractions to give families with disabled children an enjoyable day out.

Submitted by Katie Clarke

LinkedIn: Katie Clarke

37. I am very proud of my mum..

There are two inspiring women who are and who have been in my life..that would be my nan and my mum.

My nan’s house was bombed in the 2nd world war, the only thing remained was the garden gate. Her husband away at war..my nan with 4 kids left with nothing but the clothes in which they stood in,. ventured up north to live with her sister.

The 2nd woman my mother, having raised 6 children and losing 2 children (still born), when I was 4, my father had a major heart attack (only 42 years old) my mum was told to be prepared for the worse and that he had 50/50 chance of survival, he survived, however, years later had several strokes which resulted in my father not being able to work due to his disability. My mum, she raised 6 children and looked after her disabled husband, she worked full time to support the family.

At 79 she now suffers with dementia. These are the most inspiring ladies in my life which I wanted to share with you.

Submitted by Mel Ryan

LinkedIn: Mel Ryan

36. Enlightenment from outside God’s little acre

In 1974 when the country was in the grip of local authority reorganization on a big scale and the South Yorkshire County Council came into existence, a family moved into Conisbrough called Payne, the husband, Bill, being appointed as Chief Engineer for the SYCC.

He and his wife, Barbara, settled into a spacious property in the village, and Barbara came into the local Youth Club where I was a Youth Leader and offered her voluntary assistance, something that happened in this area – then – only very rarely!!  The family moved back to England from a post in Nigeria,. so there was quite an environmental difference for them to conquer!

With the onset of the new formation of local authorities, the then Conisbrough Urban District Council went out of existence and we became part of the 300.000 pop. Of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.  This move saw the loss of some 25 local councillors into just three

Representatives for Conisbrough and Denaby, (pop.16500) two mining villages connected by a river, a railway line and not much else.

Barbara persuaded her husband to become Chairman of our soon to be formed Community Association (1976) and her vision for what could be achieved by bringing people together to work for a common cause certainly set me alight, for, as the first and only Secretary the Community Association has ever had, we have not only acquired a purpose built Centre (opened in Sept. 1997) but have won the Duke of York’s Community Initiative on three consecutive periods, gained the International Financial Accountants (IFA) Social Enterprise of the Year 2009 and become proud members of the Yorkshire Society.

And Barbara, well she passed away aged 81, and just prior to her death she could be found litter picking in the park adjoining our impressive Ivanhoe Centre, an outstanding example to all who knew her.  I was very lucky to be one of those people as well as a close friend, and her example is alive and well for all to see.

Submitted by Sheila Rigg, MBE

Sheila was awarded her MBE for more than 50 years service to the town of Conisbrough. She began her community work in 1962 when she became involved with local amateur operatics groups. Sheila founded the Conisbrough Community Association in 1976, which resulted in the building of the Ivanhoe Centre. She served on the boards of local health trusts and was a former chairman of Governors 
at Mexborough School. She also founded the Yorkshire Play Association and launched the Conisbrough Crusaders – a group which successfully fought off plans for opencast mining on Conisbrough Parks

35. And she can explain sporty stuff too!

I wanted a catchy title; something that would sum up my great friend Miranda Coates in a few words. But she’s difficult to sum up in a few words, so I won’t even bother. Instead there are so many things I could tell you in an effort to try and capture just how inspirational she is.

I could tell you about her encyclopaedic knowledge of movies, the theatre, London, cricket, Weightwatchers points, Bettys menu, and her love of the work that she does. When I think of Miranda I think of the laughter: the last three minutes of Boogie Nights and being the only two who got the ELO musical reference; giggling hysterically on a train after an evening of watching luvvie theatre and reading the programme aloud; cricket in Dublin, in the rain; seeing rude images in a logo on a jampot lid (really!).

My daughter adores her, and has followed in her footsteps – she’s currently at Miranda’s old university. My son’s love of film comes from late night chats with Miranda throughout his teens and he’s the first one through the door when she comes to stay.

Miranda inspires because she organises, plans and acts. She makes things happen for herself, and for those of us lucky enough to count ourselves her friends. She’s transformed herself in the past year and in practical terms is less of the woman she was because she wanted to be and made it happen.

A Yorkshire lass with the widest horizons of anyone I know.

Submitted by Deirdre Thackray, http://knowingmoreorless.com/

LinkedIn: Deirdre Thackray

Twitter: @heraldicangel

34. Lisa Clifford, a true master of her art

“Over the years of both my professional and personal life, I have never lacked confidence or determination, but I think it is fair to say that up until about 5 years ago I sometimes lacked focus and direction.  I have always strived to do the best I can in any possible situation, but often without questioning the reason or what I was trying to achieve.

About 5 years ago, through a mutual friend, I met one of the most inspirational and motivating people I have ever met, as well as one of the loveliest – she is called Lisa Clifford.  Lisa is a business coach, inspirational speaker and facilitator, based in York.

Lisa worked with me as a coach and her manner, approach, understanding of issues and resolution is amazing. I was and continue to be amazed by her professionalism, combined with friendliness. She is a true master of her art and a genuine person, who supports all she meets in both a professional and personal capacity. I honestly believe I am a better person for knowing her, and you can make that claim rarely.

Many other women and men have inspired me and I would like to think we all take a little bit of those great people on when we meet them.  Positivity, enthusiasm and motivation are all infectious and wherever possible we should surround ourselves by people with these traits.”

For more information about Lisa you can visit her website: http://www.lisaclifford.co.uk/

Submitted by Susie Brindley, www.willowbusinesssupport.co.uk

LinkedIn: Susie Brindley

Twitter: @SusieBrindley