Joint secretary of the Nottingham NUWSS

28

Married

The Manor House, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottingham

NUWSS

Complies

Hilda was born in Cheshire and moved to Nottingham on marrying her cousin Gerard Dowson – son of Alice and Benjamin Dowson – they had a son Waldo and daughter Rhonda. She moved to Radcliffe on Trent renting the Manor House from 1905-1921 (now 52 main Street, Radcliffe on Trent) and then buying the Grange where she lived from 1922-1956. She worked with her mother and sisters in law to help women gain the vote in various ways. For instance, participating in a national Votes for women march in London in 1908, helping to organise NUWSS meetings in Nottingham, collecting signatures outside Newark polling station in 1910 and becoming joint secretary of the Nottingham NUWSS branch in 1910. She also acted as a speaker throughout the East Midlands in Northants, Derby, and Bottesford in 1911-12. In 1911 when the census was taken, Hilda was visiting her mother and sisters with husband Gerard in Cheshire (see image). She continued to attend NUWSS meetings between 1918-1924 – when it became the Council of Women - campaigning for legislation to improve the position of women and children. She was active in both WW1 and WW2; was also a founder of Radcliffe Women’s Institute; a part of the Nursing Association; and was a County Magistrate sitting at Bingham. On August 24th, 2019, a plaque was unveiled at her later home the Grange, celebrating her life. Researched and contributed by Nottingham Women's History group www.nottinghamwomenshistory.org.uk. Sources: No Surrender! Women's Suffrage in Nottinghamshire, Rowena Edlin-White (Ed.) Nottingham Women's History Group ISBN:978-1-900074-31-