This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2013/jun/28/hilda-smith-obituary
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Hilda Smith obituary | Hilda Smith obituary |
(about 1 month later) | |
My mother, Hilda Smith, who has died aged 94, was active in the feminist, co-operative and labour movements for more than 50 years. She was committed to social and gender equality, and fought for the things she believed in. | My mother, Hilda Smith, who has died aged 94, was active in the feminist, co-operative and labour movements for more than 50 years. She was committed to social and gender equality, and fought for the things she believed in. |
Born and raised in Burnley, Lancashire, daughter of Herbert, a railway porter, and Alice, a cotton-mill spinner, Hilda started work at 14, earning six shillings a week in a sewing factory. During the second world war, she was a nurse at Brockhall psychiatric hospital, near Clitheroe, and Primrose Bank in Burnley. In 1944 Hilda married Harry Smith and the following year they had twins, me and Peter. Between 1947 and 1950, she had to leave her family behind while she underwent painful treatment for tuberculosis in hospital. | Born and raised in Burnley, Lancashire, daughter of Herbert, a railway porter, and Alice, a cotton-mill spinner, Hilda started work at 14, earning six shillings a week in a sewing factory. During the second world war, she was a nurse at Brockhall psychiatric hospital, near Clitheroe, and Primrose Bank in Burnley. In 1944 Hilda married Harry Smith and the following year they had twins, me and Peter. Between 1947 and 1950, she had to leave her family behind while she underwent painful treatment for tuberculosis in hospital. |
When Harry became branch manager of the Co-operative Society in Woking, Surrey, in 1957 Hilda became a nurse at the town's Brookwood hospital, and started her political career the following year in Woking Co-operative Women's Guild. In 1963 she was elected to the political purposes committee of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society, the only society directly affiliated to the Labour party. Hilda became its first and only female chair, and used her influence to ensure the voices of ordinary women and their families were heard. | When Harry became branch manager of the Co-operative Society in Woking, Surrey, in 1957 Hilda became a nurse at the town's Brookwood hospital, and started her political career the following year in Woking Co-operative Women's Guild. In 1963 she was elected to the political purposes committee of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society, the only society directly affiliated to the Labour party. Hilda became its first and only female chair, and used her influence to ensure the voices of ordinary women and their families were heard. |
She was also studying part-time at Hillcroft College, Surbiton, and Morley College in London to gain a social sciences qualification, and became a part-time social worker in the London borough of Southwark, as well as a member of Woking district council and Surrey county council. | She was also studying part-time at Hillcroft College, Surbiton, and Morley College in London to gain a social sciences qualification, and became a part-time social worker in the London borough of Southwark, as well as a member of Woking district council and Surrey county council. |
For Hilda, the personal was political. She knew from her own experience the importance of access to social, educational and economic opportunities and, as a member of the National Joint Committee of Working Women's Organisations (NJC), campaigned to bring about the introduction of the Equal Pay Act in 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975 and the formation of the Equal Opportunities Commission. | For Hilda, the personal was political. She knew from her own experience the importance of access to social, educational and economic opportunities and, as a member of the National Joint Committee of Working Women's Organisations (NJC), campaigned to bring about the introduction of the Equal Pay Act in 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975 and the formation of the Equal Opportunities Commission. |
She contributed extensively on health policy issues and chaired an NJC national working group, which produced the policy document Health Care for Women in 1977. She helped compile the NJC's evidence to government inquiries and in 1982 authored an NJC statement that recommended a national food policy. | She contributed extensively on health policy issues and chaired an NJC national working group, which produced the policy document Health Care for Women in 1977. She helped compile the NJC's evidence to government inquiries and in 1982 authored an NJC statement that recommended a national food policy. |
Hilda was never concerned with courting popularity. In 1981, against wider conventional opinion, she supported a national minimum wage campaign because she knew this would help millions of women. In 1990 she received a Shadow Ministry for Women award for "her lifetime … fighting for equality for women and for their full representation at all levels of the labour movement". | Hilda was never concerned with courting popularity. In 1981, against wider conventional opinion, she supported a national minimum wage campaign because she knew this would help millions of women. In 1990 she received a Shadow Ministry for Women award for "her lifetime … fighting for equality for women and for their full representation at all levels of the labour movement". |
On retiring to Newport, Gwent, in 1986, Hilda continued to be very active, and in 2013 was made an MBE for her services to frail and vulnerable people. | On retiring to Newport, Gwent, in 1986, Hilda continued to be very active, and in 2013 was made an MBE for her services to frail and vulnerable people. |
Harry died in 1982. Hilda is survived by Peter and myself, three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. |