Jane Rae
Jane Rae | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 December 1872 |
| Died | 12 May 1959(aged 86) Clydebank,Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | councillor |
| Employer | Clydebank Council |
| Known for | political activism,women's suffrage,temperance movement,anti-war |
| Spouse | Alfred Coates |
Jane Rae(20 December 1872 – 12 May 1959) was a British political activist,suffragist,councillorandjustice of the peace.[1][2]She was one of the activists involved in the 1911all-out strikeat theSinger Sewing Machinefactory at Kilbowie inClydebank.[1]She was also active in thewomen's suffragemovement and in theClydeside Rent Strike.[3]She became Branch Secretary of the Clydebank branch of theIndependent Labour Party,[4]and served as a Labourcouncillorfor Clydebank Town Council from 1922 to 1928.[5]She is commemorated with a plaque in the gardens ofClydebank Town Hall.[6]
Early life
[edit]Rae was born inDenny,Falkirkon 20 December 1872 to Elizabeth Cossens and Livingston Rae, anironmonger.She later moved toClydebankwith her family.[1]
Activism
[edit]Rae worked at theSinger Sewing Machinefactory at Kilbowie inClydebankin the 'Needle Flat' department whereneedleswere made, sorted and checked.[7]Resentful of the working practices imposed at the factory (including wage undercutting, increased workloads, job timing and work reorganisation), she became one of the activists in theall-out strike at the factorythat ran from March to April in 1911. For her involvement in the strike, she and more than 400 of her fellow colleagues lost their jobs.[1]
Rae was described as being strikingly tall, determined, strong-willed and studious, with political conviction in progressing society and improving conditions for workers.[1][4]After hearing the Scottish socialistKeir Hardiespeak she joined the Clydebank branch of theIndependent Labour Party,going on to become its Branch Secretary in 1913.[4]
She was active in women's suffrage, and once chaired a talk given byEmmeline PankhurstatClydebank Town Hall.She was also involved in thetemperance,anti-warandcooperativemovements, and in theClydeside Rent Strike.[3]In 1922 she was elected as aLabour Partycouncillor for Clydebank Town Council, holding her seat until 1928.[5]
By virtue of having won the most votes in the 1922 election Jane was elected to head of the Dunbartonshire Education Authority. Combative from the start, at her first meeting as Chair, she quoted a paragraph fromThe Glasgow Heraldwhile at the same time describing it as “mouthpiece of the oppressor”.[8]
Six years later at a farewell event, prior to her departure for Australia, a fellow committee member and political opponent confessed to being intimidated at the thought of working with her but her fears evaporated after their first meeting when she realised that “our political views were different but the education of our children, stands on a higher plane than that of politics. I believe we have mutual respect for each other.”[9]
She was also a Justice of the Peace, and in carrying out her duties was known for handing out the toughest sentences possible to men that had subjected women todomestic violence.[1][10][11]
Later life and death
[edit]In 1929, after the death of her mother, Rae married her longtime Australian friend Alfred Coates, and emigrated with him toAustralia.In 1938 Rae and her husband returned to the UK, settling in theChannel Islands.[1][10]When theislands came under German occupationduringWorld War II,she witnessed the brutality of theNazistowards Sovietprisoners of warand as a precaution destroyed all of her socialist literature, information and records.
In 1946, after her husband died, Rae returned to Clydebank where she remained until her death in 1959.[4]
Tributes
[edit]A plaque erected byWest Dunbartonshire Councilin honour of Rae is in the gardens of theTown Hallon Dumbarton Road. On unveiling the plaqueProvostDouglas McAllister said "This memorial plaque is in recognition of the many activities, locally and nationally that Jane was involved in. Her determination to help and support others, regardless of the personal consequences to herself was quite remarkable. She cared passionately about her community and was also involved in the Clydebank Rent Strike during the 1920s."[6][12]
Jane Rae Gardens on the Whitecrook housing estate is named in commemoration of her.[13][14]
In 2012 the BBC produced a short film about the strike at theSinger Sewing Machinefactory, and an actor portraying Jane Rae narrated the story.[15]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefgEwan, Elizabeth; Innes, Sue; Reynolds, Siân; Pipes, Rose, eds. (2006).Rae, Jane.Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 295–296.ISBN9780748632930.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^Behan, Paul (16 March 2017). "Reporter comment". Opinion.Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter.
- ^ab"Lasting Clydebank memorial to inspirational woman".Clydebank Post.13 September 2013.
- ^abcdSmith, Morag."Jane Rae".Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland.Archived fromthe originalon 1 December 2017.Retrieved18 November2017.
- ^ab"Glasgow: twenty-four labour candidates".The Scotsman.1 November 1922. p. 12.
- ^ab"Plaque to Jane Rae".Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland.Archived fromthe originalon 1 December 2017.Retrieved18 November2017.
- ^weechookieburdie."Singer Factory Clydebank".Urban Glasgow.Retrieved18 November2017.
- ^"Dumbartonshire Education Committee-The New Chairman "Kirkintilloch Herald - 26 April 1922
- ^Dumbartonshire Education Authority-Presentation to Miss Jane Rae-Mrs Kyle's Tribute-Milngavie and Bearsden Herald - 05 October 1928
- ^ab"Jane Rae".West Dunbartonshire Council.Retrieved18 November2017.
- ^Craig, Maggie (2011).When the Clyde Ran Red.Random House.ISBN9781780571645.
- ^"Activist and councillor remembered".Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland).14 September 2013.
- ^Smith, Morag."Jane Rae Gardens".Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland.Archived fromthe originalon 1 December 2017.Retrieved18 November2017.
- ^Sweeney, Steven."Jane Rae Gardens, Clydebank".Geograph.Retrieved18 November2017.
- ^"1911: Industrial Unrest in Glasgow, 1911 Review of the Year - BBC Two".BBC.Retrieved18 November2017.