Memory Monday
Amongst the objects looked after by staff at the Warwickshire Museum can be found a sash and a ribbon once proudly worn by Cicely Lucas, a member of the W.S.P.U. (Women’s Social & Political Union), the leading militant organisation campaigning for women’s suffrage in the early 20th Century.
Cicely was born in Westwood Heath in 1879, the daughter of the Headmaster Edwin Neale and his wife, Sarah, who, having previously been a headmistress at another school, joined her husband in the running of it. Cecily grew up in the School House with her three brothers. She had a love of learning and a determination to follow her own path in life. Her aptitude for teaching became clear at an early age; when her own education finished at the age of 12, she was apprenticed to her father for 4 years as a pupil teacher. Her experience as the only girl in the family, having to do more than her fair share of domestic chores, as well as dealing with the rougher local lads at the school – who would rather be at work on the farms - made her aware of women’s position in society. Moreover, she had little time for the aristocracy – although Lord Leigh was diligent on the dutiful care he showed to his workers. It seems her strongly-held socialist views were formed early in life as a girl growing up in Westwood Heath. Following her father’s abrupt departure from the school under the shadow of an affair with a teaching assistant, her brother Cecil, himself a teacher, stepped in as Head and Cecily assisted as well as supporting her mother through a difficult period.
At 17, she won a place at Derby Teacher Training College. By the age of 26, she was a Headmistress at a girls’ school in Birmingham; a fulfilment of an ambition to teach girls. She bought her own house and her parents came to live with her. She became interested in the suffrage movement and soon became involved. She was a regular speaker on Sundays at Hyde Park and at the Birmingham Open Air Market. She was tough, determined and not upset by hecklers.
After her marriage in 1911 to Edwin Lucas, a fellow teacher, the couple moved to Paris for him to take up position as Head of the British Embassy School. Cicely taught there as well as at the new Berlitz Language School. What an exciting place this must have been at this time, full of poets, artists, writers and musicians.
In 1913, Cicely returned to England for the birth of her daughter, Cicely, returning afterwards to France. The family spent the summer of 1914 in Chantilly, until rumours of war forced Cicely to make a speedy return to England with her daughter; Ernest was to follow later. Cicely and her baby returned to her childhood home in Westwood Heath, where her brother, Cecil, and his wife now lived; her brother was still Headmaster at the school. She was determined to support herself and little Cicely, so she took on supply teaching work in Coventry. On her husband’s safe return, the couple went to live in Claverdon, where Edwin had a post. Shortly afterwards, Cicely became a Headmistress at a girls’ school in Solihull. She was known as a gifted teacher, one who inspired girls to achieve academically and gently encouraged their parents to consider the opportunities their daughters might have.
In later life, Cicely remained very active locally, taking up new challenges. She became a local newspaper correspondent and a parish councillor, fiercely guarding rights of way in the parish and challenging any encroachments upon them. She was still teaching privately right up to the end of her life, which – in spite of her great age of 91 – was cut somewhat short. Whilst out and about, she was knocked over by a car and died of her injuries two weeks later.
Cecily Lucas wrote a memoir later in her life in which she recalled Westwood Heath. We will share some of that with you in coming weeks.
You can read more about Cicely and see images of her W.S.P.U. ribbon and sash here:
Note: I visited the museum recently and the objects are not on display currently.
Sources:
Shirley Reading, Claverdon: A Century of Change
Images: The Headmaster’s House (School House) photo by Ian Harrop
Cecily & Edwin Lucas with their daughter, Cecily. (Warwick County Records Office PH0816/798)
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