The Birmingham Post Power 50 2009 – the Women

On July 30, the Birmingham Post launched it’s Power 50 list.  The 50 most powerful folk in Birmingham – the people who drive the city’s fortune.  I love it.  As I spend more and more time working with people around the city I am familiar with many more of the faces, a few are friends, which makes me enormously proud.

So, how do women fare.  As is my way, I thought I’d start by simply capturing a list of the women who feature.

11. Christine Braddock – Birmingham Metropolitan College (2008 – 45)

12. Julie Moore – UHB (2008 – 16)

18. Suzie Norton – Screen West Midlands (2008 – 15)

24. Salma Yaqoob – Respect Councillor (mine as it happens!) (2008 – 11)

30. Justice Williams – Inner City Creative Media Group

31. Clare Edwards – Gigbeth

37. Helga Henry – Fierce/Creative Republic

40. Julia King – Aston University (2008 – 3)

41. Kerry Thomas – Fused Magazine

So there we are: 9 women – 18%.

Last year there were 12 women in the list , so we’ve fallen 6% points from 24%.  Julia King was at No. 3 – I’m not sure what she’s done this year that is so less impressive…  So last year 5 of the top 20 were women, this year only 3.  Two of my friends – who I know are no less impressive this year have been dropped from the 50: Dorothy Wilson & Sara Gee – is there a rota, maybe it’s your turn again next year.

I wonder how all of this compares with the % of women in senior roles – similar I suspect.  None in the Top Ten.  Some big hitters though and for me it’s great to watch these impressive women – so much to learn from them.  So my challenge for next year – Brimmin – is to get at least 1 back in the top ten and over 20 in the list.  Go for it.

 

Birmingham Women recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours list

I was so delighted to hear today that Carol Coombes – who part inspired me to set up this blog site – was today awarded an OBE.  Truly well deserved, she spreads optimism, joy and confidence wherever she goes.

So I went to take a look at the list and see how many other Birmingham Women are on the list.  I thought I’d tweet them.  No chance, there are far too many for 140 characters.  So clearly, it warrants a post instead.  Here they are:

Ms Jane SLOWEY CBE

Chief Executive, Foyer Federation.
For services to Disadvantaged
Young People.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Ms Carol Lesley COOMBES OBE

For services to the Voluntary Sector
in Ladywood, Birmingham and to
Leadership across the UK.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Fiona, Mrs LARDEN OBE

Principal, Fircroft College,
Birmingham. For services to Adult
Education.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Miss Zena Jane WOOLDRIDGE OBE

Director of Sport, University of
Birmingham and Chair, England
Squash. For services to Sport.
(Stourbridge, West Midlands)

Mandy, Mrs BRIDGE MBE

Executive Officer, Jobcentre Plus,
Department for Work and Pensions.
For public and voluntary service.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Gemma, Mrs CARTWRIGHT MBE

For services to the community in
Longbridge, Birmingham.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Ann Violet, Mrs CONWAY MBE

School Crossing Warden, Solihull
Council. For services to Education.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Patricia, Mrs SHERIDAN MBE

For voluntary service to Stockfield
Community Association, South East
Birmingham.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Sister Sabina STAFF MBE

Co-Founder, Fireside Day Centre.
For voluntary service to Homeless
People in Birmingham.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

Ms Justice Amariah WILLIAMS MBE

For service to Young People in
Birmingham.
(Birmingham, West Midlands)

So wow, far more women then men honoured in Birmingham this year.  Are these my modern day Philanthropists?  Congratulations to you all and thank you.

[I really hope I've got the awards right - I found a very awkward list to search them on...My apologies if I've messed them up, please let me know!]

The Birmingham Post has done a full Brummie run down…

 

Birmingham’s hidden women

Karen Strunks, she of the marvellous 4amProject fame, posted a fabulous photo on twitter today. It has given me a hunger to prowl in Birmingham’s subways and a topic to research on my next trip to the Library…

Take a look here

Nice find Karen…

 

Pageant of Birmingham 1938

In 1938 Birmingham had been a Borough for 100 years.  The city was determined to celebrate in style and set about staging an ambitious Pageant telling the story of the city.  On 11-16 July 1938 at Aston Park, the Pageant came to life.  Over 8,000 people took part and the whole project was pulled together conceptually by a council committee.  So who was a member of this type of committee in 1938 – much the same likely souls as today it would seem: Councillor Rigby as chairman (sic) was joined by 34 others including the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (1 of 4 women), 8 Aldermen, 2 professors, 1 Colonel, 2 Doctors and 1 “Sir”.  so who were the women?  Well, as well as the Lady Mayoress were Miss Barling and Mrs GP Achurch.  But the key player was Gwen Lally, described as the Pageant Master (!), I’m prepared to guess that means she’s the one who really made it happen.

In the supplement to the Official Programme – 9d (old pence) for a programme -  is the text of the Prologue.  You can trace the Birmingham spirit tracking back through those words:

Prologue

To be spoken by Mrs Frank Forrest

From far off ages and from many lands, for visions of the future that shall be

Stepping along the silver centuries she comes to you – Spirit of Pageantry!

Failed in the mists of ceaseless years of time wherein is held in fee each rainbow hue

Ready to balzon forth in banners bright at the first call that there is need of you;

She comes to bless your purpose. She will bring swift inspiration, that shall worthily build once again your far famed history;

The benison of true sincerity shall, both in pomp and and splendid panoply or in the soft light of simplicity, imbue your living pictures -

You shall see the true story of your happy heritage spring into being, decked with heraldry.

She conjures in your hearts, and in your homes, your history to life – may these things be.

And so, Great City, prove your enterprise: Pageant of Birmingham! I bid you rise!

written by Phyllis Philip Rodway

21st May 1938

The writer of this prologue also wrote the rest of the story.  The whole event concluded with a raft of floats in a parade.

I have only seen a few photos, but what an impressive production.  Take a look at these Birmingham City Library photos of the event.

 

Brummie Women listing

1. Alice Beale (1st President of Birmingham Settlement, Philanthropist)
2. Alison Hammond (Television Presenter)
3. Ann Jones (Tennis player)
4. Anne Wood (Founder of Rag Doll Productions)
5. Barbara Cartland (Novelist)
6. Bertha Ryland (activist & feminist)
7. Bessie Rayner Parkes (Poet, Essayist and feminist.  Mother of Hilaire Belloc)
8. Cat Deeley (Television Presenter)
9. Catherine Hutton (Writer and historian)
10. Catherine O’Flynn (novelist and wit)
11. Christine McVie (Musician – Fleetwood Mac)
12. Clare Morrall (Novelist)
13. Clare Short (MP)
14. Constance Naden (Poet & Philosopher)
15. Denise Lewis (Athlete)
16. Dame Elizabeth Cadbury (philanthropist and wife of George Cadbury)
17. Edith Willis (Birmingham’s first woman MP)
18. Edwina Currie (Politician)
19. Elizabeth “Tetty” Porter (wife of Samuel Johnson)
20. Emma Jane Worboise (author)
21. Estelle Morris (Former MP, politician)
22. Gail Troth (Artist)
23. Gisela Stuart (MP)
24. Harriet Martineau (journalist, political economist, abolitionist and life-long feminist.)
25. Jamelia (R&B singer)
26. Jane Bunford (world’s tallest woman at 7′9″)
27. Jasper Carrot’s mum
28. Joan Armatrading (Singer/Songwriter)
29. Joan Blaney (trainer, author, social entrepreneur)
30. Judith Cutler (novelist)
31. Julie Walters (actress)
32. Karren Brady (Football Club Manager)
33. Kathleen Deyus (author)
34. Lindsey Davis (author)
35. Lisa Clayton (Solo yachtswoman)
36. Louisa Ryland (philanthropist)
37. Lucy Davis (actress, Jasper Carrot’s daughter)
38. Mandy Rice-Davies
39. Margery Fry (Prison reformer, magistrate and Hall Warden at Birmingham University)
40. Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (Theologian, abolitionist and theorist)
41. Mary Showell Rogers (founder of the Ladies Association for the Care of Friendless Girls)
42. Dr Mary Sturge (2nd Female Dr in Brum, helped establish B’ham Women’s hospital)
43. Mollie Randle (Established mac)
44. Noel Gordon (TV presenter and actress)
45. Ruby Turner (Soulful music’s best kept secret)
46. Rustie Lee (Soulful food’s best kept secret)
47. Ruth Badger (Business & Sales Consultant and Apprentice Finalist)
48. Sadie Plant (Author)
49. Salma Yaqoob (Leader of the Respect Party, BCC Councillor)
50. Shazia Mirza (Comedian)
51. Shefali Oza (TV Anchor person)
52. Shirley (OK, she’s technically in Solihull),
53. Sonia Lannaman (Athlete)
54. Sue Howell (Watercolour Artist)
55. Sue Lawley (TV & Radio presenter)
56. Sue Reeve (Athlete)
57. Sylvani Merilion (Artist, Co-founded Ikon gallery)
58. Theresa Stewart (Politician)
59. Toyah Willcox (Singer, actress and television presenter)
60. Una White (Subject of public art-work)
61. Zena McNally (Singer – Mis-Teeq)

 

Kathleen Dayus

I find myself very drawn to this woman.  She was born in 1903, about the same time as my own grandparents, had children young – who were born at about the same time as my mother-in-law.  I’ve regretted for a long time that I never talked to my grand-parents about their lives.  Kathleen’s story has reinforced this.

I thoroughly recommend you read it if you are interested in Birmingham a hundred years ago, or the life of a fighting woman.

Click on the Amazon link to take a look at the compilation of her auto-biographical novels.

 

Great Brummie women, back in the day

The more I search for great Brummie women the more philanthropists and suffragettes I stumble over.  It seems a number of others have been also drawn to these women.  The Birmingham Disability Resource Centre web site includes a blog post of the subject, which they describe as a slight aside from the history of disabled people in Birmingham”.  In my research I have also found an essay “Moral Regeneration: Women and the Civic Gospel in Birmingham 1870 – 1914″ by Paula Bartley of the University of Wolverhampton.  Both of these offer fascinating insights and resources, and I owe some of the information here to them.

Elizabeth “Tetty” Porter – 1689–1752

Her marriage ceremony to Samuel Johnson is re-encated very year at St. Werburgh’s Church, Derby. Her dowry of over 600 pounds was invested in setting up Edial Hall, a private school at Edial near Lichfield. She gained a poor reputation in her time, mainly as a result of her 2nd marriage to Samuel, who was 21 years her junior.

Louisa Ryland 1814 – 1889

Louisa made a massive contribution to her home city, including donating Cannon Hill Park.  She inherited a significant wealth from her grandfather, becoming a millionnaire.  Even after many philanthropic acts in her life, her estate was valued at £2m on her death.

Emma Jane Worboise 1825-1887

Emma was a prolific writer, publishing over 50 volumes.  She began writing at an early age and her first book, Alice Cunningham was published in 1846, when she was twenty-one.

Bessie Rayner Parkes 1829-1925

She worked with her friend Barbara Leigh Smith (later Barbara Bodichon), to establish the English woman’s journal in 1858.  Their aim? To advance ideas on the reform of women’s education and legal rights.  More impressively, from these writings emerged a women’s employment bureau, reading room, clerical school, and the Victoria Press.

Bertha Ryland 18?? – 19??

Bertha slashed a painting by Romney in the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in 1911.  The gallery closed and remained so for 6 weeks.  She was one of many to use this somewhat extreme form of direct action to draw attention to the suffragette cause.

Constance Naden 1858 – 1889

She was a prolific writer, as a poet & Philosopher, creating a body of work in poetry and essays.  She studied botany and was a member of the natural history society.

Dame Elizabeth Cadbury 1858 – 1951

Philanthropist and wife of George Cadbury, she made lots of great contributions to Brum: hospital, holiday home for children living in slums; founder of the Birmingham Union of Girls’ Clubs in (now BAYC) 1898 and so much more.

Margery Fry 1874 – 1958

Prison reformer, magistrate and Hall Warden at first female students’ hall of residence at the University of Birmingham.

 

Women on their Way

I should’ve posted this link a while ago. Ten awards for Women with wow. Often suspicious of awards, I confess I do like a good set of nominations and the suspense of waiting for a winner. So, I think these are worth a look and I’m certain the women are worth keeping an eye on. Congratulations to the winners. In particular my twittering friend Joanna Geary, social media queen of Brum, who’s sadly been snapped up by London. Remember, you learnt it all here Joanna!

 

Brimmin’ Organisations

As you’d expect in a large city, there are a myriad of women’s organisations covering a raft of different interests, topics and concerns.  Here are hyperlinks to a random few:

• Aaghee Pakistani Women’s Association
• Family Action
• Roshni Birmingham
• Townswomen’s Guild
• Women Acting in Today’s Society, especially this fabulous link: Directory of Women’s organisations in Birmingham
• Women in Business Association
• Women’s Institute
• Women and Theatre

 

Why Brimmin’?

There are many reasons why I thought it would be interesting to create this website.  Not least, for me to explore different techniques for getting content onto a website.  But coincidentally, my good friend Carol Coombes was energising about recording the fantastic contributions women have made to creating Birmingham.

So I’ve made a start by pulling together a list of women who have made a signficant contribution to Birmingham.  My aim is to start categorising and adding information.  In time we will amass resource which really starts to tell a story.

So, don’t hold back feel free to suggest women in the comments section.  If you want to contribute more, let us know and we’ll get in touch.