The Society’s November lecture was an illustrated talk by Dr Hanita Ritchie, a Local History Officer for the ELC Library Service on Catherine Blair, a prominent local suffragette, artist and founder of the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute.
She was born as Catherine Shields in Bathgate where her father was a farmer. He was an Episcopalian with an interest in democratic principles and public service. Her mother died at a young age and so she was brought up by her aunt. She was one of 6 children.
Catherine was a star pupil at Bathgate Academy where she excelled at Art.
The family moved to Dolphingston Farm near Tranent. Catherine said she would never marry a farmer but that changed in 1894 when she married Thomas Blair in Tranent in 1894. They settled at Hoprig Mains as tenants of Lord Lamingron and had 4 children. Her husband respected her strong principles and it was a marriage of equals. He resigned as Vice Chair of the local Liberal Party because of the Liberal stance of the suffrage issue.
Catherine took an early interest in the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) known as the suffragettes. She did not take part in military campaigns. However, Hoprig became a sanctuary for women who had been imprisoned under the cat and Mouse Act and a resting point for Scots going to marches in London. She spoke at events and wrote articles and letters to the press and prominent people.
On the night of the 1911 Census, she and her children stayed in a barn so that she was recorded in her own right rather than just as the wife of Thomas Blair.
She became a JP in1921. Having a keen interest in housing improvement she joined various committees.
In 1917, inspired by the Canadian Women’s Institute she formed the first branch of the SWRI at Longniddry. She had a keen interest in equity and wanted rural women to have opportunities to meet, discuss topics, form social networks and develop new skills through talks and practical demonstrations. She wrote a history of the SWRI, Rural Journey in 1940. An interest in art including pottery painting led to the creation of Mak’merry Pottery in a garden studio at Hoprig. The pottery gave local women a creative interest but also a source of income. The pottery was exhibited at the Highland Show where some pieces were sold to the Queen Mother. It also proved popular in America.
In 1932 the Blairs moved to North Berwick where arts and crafts projects continued. During the war, Catherine was active in supporting the work of the Red Cross and Polish Relief. She had an interest in housing improvement and supporting the homeless.
Catherine died in 1946 and was cremated at Warriston. The SWRI continues. At the Centenary is 2017 the original banner was given to her great granddaughter at Longniddry.
A vote of thanks to Dr Ritchie was led by Ian Hardie, Events Organiser for the Society.
(Words by Jacquie Bell)