Violet Mary Craig Roberton Explained

Violet Mary Craig Roberton
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Death Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Mother:Jane Reid
Father:William Craig Roberton
Nationality:Scottish
Occupation:Politician
Years Active:1921–1954
Known For:Local Politics
Alma Mater:Queen Margaret College (Glasgow)

Violet Mary Craig Roberton, CBE (1888–1954) was a politician and local councillor, active in Glasgow, Scotland from 1921 to 1954.

Early life and education

She was born in Lynedoch Place, Glasgow in 1888. Her parents were William Craig Roberton, a solicitor, and Jane Leney Reid. After her early education at Park School, Glasgow, she matriculated at Queen Margaret College. There she studied English and French Literature between 1905 and 1908. She also studied music for a time in Dresden.

Political career

Roberton filled a vacancy on Glasgow Parish Council in 1912.,[1] and was re-elected in 1919.[2] In 1921 she was elected as magistrate and local councillor for the city of Glasgow. She was a member of a number of committees, including parks, tramways, baths and wash-houses, building regulations and chemical laboratories. She was convenor of the health committee.[3] In the 1923 General Election, she stood unsuccessfully as the Unionist parliamentary candidate for St Rollox ward.[4] During the campaign, she was physically abused at an election meeting.[5] [6] [7]

Roberton was elected president of the Royal Sanitary Association of Scotland in 1937.[8]

Honours

She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in January 1928.[9] [10] She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from University of Glasgow in 1943, and in 1952, she received the St Mungo Prize for "the person who has done most in the past three years for the good of the city by making it more beautiful, healthier, or more honoured."[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: 3 April 1912. Proposal to board Glasgow children in Orkney. The Scotsman.
  2. News: 5 December 1919. The Glasgow Parish Council. Common Cause.
  3. News: Violet Mary Craig Roberton, CBE (Park Ward) . Glasgow Evening News . 21 April 1933.
  4. Web site: Thompson . Clare . Violet Mary Craig Roberton 1888 – 1954 . History Girls . 15 January 2018 . 23 August 2018.
  5. News: Kicked and spat upon by Glasgow roughs at an election meeting. . Illustrated London News . 8 December 1923.
  6. News: Christmas messages from our women MPs and candidates . The Vote . 21 December 1923.
  7. News: Labour scene at Glasgow: Woman candidate kicked . Aberdeen Press and Journal . 1 December 1923.
  8. News: Scottish Hospital Service . The Scotsman . 9 September 1937.
  9. News: Scots in Honours List . Dundee Courier . 2 January 1928.
  10. News: Honours List . Aberdeen Press and Journal . 2 January 1928.
  11. News: Violet Mary Craig Roberton Obituary . Glasgow Herald . November 1954.