100 Women
Dolly Cooper, Trade Unionist and Politician
Dorothy (Dolly) Cooper (nee McGrath), was born on 21 May 1921. She had 6 siblings. Her parents both died of tuberculosis by the time she was
Janet Looker, Lawyer and Politician
Janet moved to York in 1965, when her husband joined the, then very new, York University. She was pregnant, and looking after a two-year old. She
Sarah Fraser, Medical Officer, Doctor
Sarah Louise Fraser was born in Inverness in 1874. Her father was an iron founder manager, and she was educated at Bedford College, London. Sarah
Christian Howard, Ordination of Women
Christian Howard was the eldest daughter of Gerald Howden of Castle Howard, a Liberal politician and his wife Ethel Christian Methuen. Both her parents died
Nellie Hewitt, Workhouse Nurse
In 1914, when war was about to engulf Europe, a young parlour maid in domestic service applied to become a probationer nurse at the York
Janet Walker, Social Worker
Janet Walker (1935-2017) was a remarkable woman; a nurse, social worker, scholar, teacher, bibliophile, craftswoman and singer. Janet was born Janet Taylor, on 27 October
Marilyn Crawshaw, York Human Rights City
Marilyn (born 24 December 1949) was a social worker for many years, later coupled with her work as a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at
Karen Stanton, Vice Chancellor
After a significant career in higher education, Professor Karen Stanton joined York St John University as Vice Chancellor in September 2015, one of the few
Esme Madill, Refugee Action York
Esme Madill, born in 1966, lived in York for nineteen years (1999-2018). A passionate campaigner on behalf of refugees she co- founded Refugee Action York
Violet Rodgers Wloch, Curator, York Castle Museum
Violet Rodgers Wloch (1914-1978) was born in Bradford and began working for Dr John Lamplugh Kirk in 1938, age 24. Dr Kirk, of Pickering was
Yvonne Copley, Founder of Kyra
Yvonne Copley is the Executive Director and founder of Kyra, an organisation run for women by women in York which provides a safe, supportive haven
Florence Oloman, York Adoption Society
Florence Oloman on the left, next to her husband, Robert Oloman and women from the WVS Meals on Wheels team, 1959/60 Sophie Johnson’s book on
Mary Storey Richmond, Bomb Maker
Mary Storey-Richmond (20 May 1923 – 3 September 2018) was working at Rowntrees as a Centric Filling Maker in 1939 making chocolates. When war broke out,
Janet Kay, Matron, St Leonard’s Hospice
Janet Kay (nee Burdett) 1947 – 31 July 2020 In 1984 Janet became the first Matron of St Leonard’s Hospice. Her career started in York
Helen Little, Restoration of the Five Sisters Window
Helen Drage Beckwith (1872 – 1933) was born in Winchester, Hampshire, the daughter of a clergyman. She had an older sister who died aged two in 1872
Elizabeth Jane Nattrass, Priest
The Reverend Jane Nattrass was for nine years Priest in Charge of many York City Centre Churches, in 2015 amounting to seven churches – All
Brenda Swinbank, Archaeologist
Brenda Swinbank (1929 – unknown) was born in Ackworth, West Yorkshire in 1929. She went to Hemsworth Grammar School where she excelled and achieved a
Hilda Appleby, Women’s Voluntary Service WW2
Hilda Appleby (5 June 1902 – unknown) was living in Fulford at the beginning of the Second World War. While walking her dog, she met
Nicola Spence, CEO, Science City York
Nicola was born into a British forces family, her father being a Royal Airforce Officer. This meant she moved homes and schools every 2-3 years
Margery Gertrude Willoughby, Headteacher
The photograph of Mill Mount School, York has a special memory for me. I am a chronically too early person and used to stand alone
June Hutt (Ayres), Sportswoman
June Hutt June Hutt (née Ayres) has the gift of unusually good hand-eye coordination; she sees the ball before other people. She also plays the
June Hargreaves, Town Planner and Conservationist
Dr June Hargreaves: Planning Officer, conservationist and history enthusiast It was a love of history that prompted June Hargreaves to come to York in 1961 as
Kate Atkinson, Novelist
Kate Atkinson was born on 20 December 1951) and raised in York; an only child of shopkeepers (pharmaceutical supplies – as in Behind the Scenes
Elizabeth Hartley, Archaeologist
Elizabeth Grayson Hartley (1947 – 2018) As the first ever-Keeper of Archaeology at the Yorkshire Museum, Elizabeth held a key role in the City of
Harriet Fawcett, Politician and Trade Unionist
Harriet Fawcett (1881-1930) Harriet was born in 1881 to John and Harriet Turton at Birkin near Pontefract in South Yorkshire. She was one of six
Sally Arnup, Sculptor
Sally Arnup (1930-2015) Sally Arnup was one of the world’s leading animal sculptors.She was born and brought up in Surrey. She remembered being handed a
Canon Linda Ali, York Minster
Linda Ali, born in Trinidad and Tobago, travelled to Britain in 1961 to study Beauty Therapy and Electrolysis. As a result of sustained discrimination, she
Elaine Ruth Barlow, Royal Observer Corps
Elaine (b.1925) was the third daughter of Daisy and Wilfred Williams who owned Eborcraft, a cabinet making company in Huntington (now based outside York). At
Helen Cadbury, Author
Helen (1965 – 2017) was born in Birmingham into the Quaker family of chocolate fame, later moving to Oldham with her older sister and brothers.
Kit Rob, Botanist
Catherine, Muriel ‘Kit’ Rob (1906 – 1975) was an authority on botany and President of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union. I am delighted to be able
Virginia Shaw, Housing Support Services
Virginia ‘Ginnie’ Shaw was initiator and foundermember of East Yorkshire Housing Association (EYHA) in Bridlington in 1980s, arising out of research carried out by the
Janice Peggs, Childcare Campaigner
Janice Peggs is a social entrepreneur, policy reformer and successful campaigner for better childcare provision in York and nationally. In the late 1980s Janice resigned
Juliet Forster, Theatre Director
Juliet Forster became Associate Director of York Theatre Royal in 2007. She has a degree in Theatre from the University of Birmingham. At first she was
Amy Tyro, Footballer
Amy was born in Sheffield in 1987 but from an early age was brought up in York. At a party she was playing football with
Yvie Holder, Founder, York Race Equality Network
Yvie has been promoting diversity and equality for over 30 years, in both a personal and a professional capacity. Born in London, to a Trinidadian
Rose Kent, Accessible Arts
Rose Kent – Creative Director of Accessible Arts & Media, Chair of Tang Hall Big Local, art & music lecturer, sculptor, community artist. Accessible Arts
Joyce Pickard, Peace Campaigner
Joyce Pickard (1921- 2017), Quaker, peace campaigner, and educator, was born in Derby in 1921, and educated at the University of London Westfield College, taking
Susan Blore, co-founder of York Rhematoid Arthritis Group
Susan (1957- ) was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, (RA), in 2001. During a York Hospital appointment in 2006, a health professional told her that York
Irene Faulkner, Educator, Councillor, Magistrate
Irene Faulkner [1918 – 2010], of South Bank, York, trained as a nursery teacher and later worked in further education. A pioneer in the world