Fieldwork

Mary Coulcher: our first female town councillor

‘I am coming forward as a citizen’

Ipswich’s first female town councillor was Miss Coulcher (1853 – 1925), a Conservative.  The Evening Star carried an interesting pre-election interview with her in October 1909:

‘I do not belong to any Suffragette organisation at the present time because I do not believe in the militant tactics adopted.  The recent proceedings of the women agitators have, I think, put the clock back as regards the realisation of their hopes.  I am coming forward as a citizen.  The Legislature, having given women the right to seek election on the Town Council, I think they ought to take part in the work the same as men.  It is now part of their duty.  For some years past I have been a co-opted member of the General Purposes Committee of the East Suffolk County Council, but when the women on that committee have given their views, they have no voice in the council and cannot take part in the final stages of the proposals they support.

‘I do not propose to canvass the ward personally.  I really have not time and, besides, I think a person should be elected on their merits and not ask for votes’ [which she will leave to her election committee].

‘Just as a man does’

Asked about any particular interests, she replied that she had no particular ‘grievance to ventilate upon the Town Council’.  She was prepared to take her share in any work that the Town Council saw fit to give her to do, ‘just as a man does’.

When the election results were announced the following month, the Evening Star commented:

‘The return of Miss Coulcher at Ipswich is the more interesting inasmuch as this lady is the second elected in East Anglia.  She took the seat from the Liberals by a majority of over 400 votes.’

Miss Coulcher did not stand for re-election after her one term of office, but kept very much in the public eye with her work for the St John Ambulance Brigade during the First World War. This was always dearer to her heart than politics. 

Miss Coulcher, front row on the right, at VAD summer camp 1914

’77 sheets, 23 night-shirts, 10 draw-sheets and splints’

Once war started, Miss Coulcher was at the forefront of arranging first aid and nursing training for civilians. She also collected medical and nursing supplies, as the East Anglian Daily Times reported in August 1914.

Towards the end of 1914, Miss Coulcher became the Commandant in charge of Broadwater and Gyppeswyck military hospitals in Ipswich and was later awarded the CBE for her war service.

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