1 week Ago By [email protected] (Kerry Ashdown)
Staffordshire women who made their mark in politics, science and education are being honoured in the corridors of County Buildings - and a call has been made for a female potrait subject to feature in the council chamber too. Early 20th century astronomer Mary Adela Blagg of Cheadle, Stafford-born suffragette Alice Hawkins and Jennie Lee, who was elected Cannock's MP in 1945 and helped spearhead the founding of the Open University, are among the women featured in a showcase at Staffordshire County Council's main meeting place. The photo display, which visitors can view as they walk along the main ground floor corridor, also depicts women who served their country during wartime, as well some of the first female councillors elected to represent their areas more than a century ago.
They include Daisy Stuart Shaw, who in 1919 - a year after some women were first given the vote - became the first female councillor in Lichfield City. Modern-day Lichfield councillor Janice Silvester-Hall has worked on the showcase. She is aiming to boost recognition of Staffordshire women's achievements.
Speaking at the latest full county council meeting, she said: "All of you, as you made your way into the chamber this morning, would have walked past the pictures of notable women of Staffordshire from yesteryear, covering a range of areas including politics, farming, nursing, teaching and more. As well as the photographs you can read descriptions of their contributions to the communities within Staffordshire. If you haven't had the opportunity to do so, take a closer look as you make your way out of the chamber.
It's an absolutely fascinating read." Councillor Paul Northcott highlighted the inclusion of Silverdale-born Fanny Deakin. The Newcastle-under-Lyme councillor campaigned for better nourishment for young children and maternity care for mothers - and following a meeting with Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald secured free milk for pregnant women and young children across the country.
Councillor Charlotte Atkins said: "I want to say how pleased I am to see these portraits of women as we walk into the corridor, particularly Mary Blagg from Cheadle, who was absolutely groundbreaking, also of course Jennie Lee, who was a fantastic firebrand. I'm hoping too that perhaps, looking around these (portraits of) esteemed gentlemen (in the main council chamber), maybe one day we could have an esteemed lady in a portrait. "I wonder if there are any plans to do just that? I get a bit fed up seeing all these esteemed gentlemen who I have very little idea about, so I am pleased there are notes on the portraits of the women downstairs to tell us what their contribution is.
"I would ask, give us one - or even two - portraits of esteemed ladies. It would really lighten the atmosphere in here I think and I would propose that be taken forward by the next council." Councillor Ian Parry said: "I very much support the idea of a re-hanging in here - it's really long overdue.
I do believe these people were probably members of the council and I'm sure there are lots of suitable former members of this council that could be hung to make this place a bit brighter than it is now." Councillor Victoria Wilson, cabinet member for communities and culture, told members the inclusion of portraits of notable Staffordshire women in the council chamber had been investigated. She added: "That work is ongoing and hopefully going into the next administration we will be able to investigate that more fully.
"I have to say that historically there weren't many of them that were actually painted. Also, because of planning regulations, there are difficulties as well with swapping these paintings over." Councillor Janet Eagland said: "I would like to say thank you to my colleague for drawing everyone's attention to the gentlemen pictured on this wall - and at least we've got some representation down on the ground floor.
That's where everyone comes in, so they probably see more of them than they see of these guys sitting on our (council chamber) walls." Council leader Alan White said: "Councillor Eagland is quite right - they will get seen by far, far more people than these old duffers in this room. I would also say - and it's not an excuse - that I understand this place is Grade II* Listed, which means you can't even polish a door without planning permission, so I'm not quite sure how it works with the portraits on the wall.
"The first female chair of Staffordshire County Council was Erica Bayliss. The council had existed at that point for 120 years and it didn't matter who was in control of the council before that, but no woman had found her way into the chair. "We put Erica Bayliss in the chair (in 2010) and she did a wonderful job.
Maybe it's her portrait that goes up." Notable women featured in the photo display at County Buildings Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you - it’s FREE.
