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Soroptimist Llandudno Celebrating Martha Hughes Cannon

Celebrations have taken place on both sides of the Atlantic

To honour the memory of Martha Hughes Cannon.

Martha Hughes Cannon was the first female senator anywhere in the USA. Martha Hughes Cannon was born in Llandudno to a mormon family who moved to Utah to escape persecution- there she became a prominent doctor and suffragist.
Soroptimist International have been involved with both ceremonies, as an International Organisation whose aim is to educate, empower and enable  women, and the Soroptimist Clubs in both countries have been in touch with each other to communicate details about both ceremonies.
 

In Washington D.C.

A statue of Martha Hughes Cannon was unveiled in the National Statuary Hall. There is already a plaque in the centre of Salt Lake City to commemorate her achievements which says: “In memory of Martha Hughes Cannon. Pioneer Doctor. First Woman State Senator in the US. Author of Utah sanitation laws. Member of the first State Board of Health.”   

In Llandudno

At Llandudno Town Hall another plaque was unveiled by the Mayor and Mayoress to  celebrate the work of Martha Hughes Cannon, who was  a native of Llandudno. Soroptimist International, Llandudno and District, worked with Wil Aaron, who researched Martha’s life, and the Town Council to organise the event and host a reception afterwards.
Speakers included Wil Aaron who outlined her life , Celia Blomeley who spoke on behalf of Llandudno Soroptimists about her role as a woman  pioneer in medicine, the struggle for women’s suffrage and politics and Harry Saville who described the task of getting to the point where Martha was suitably commemorated in her home town.
 
The impressive plaque is in a prominent position outside Llandudno Town Hall and well worth a visit.
Celia Blomeley, SI Llandudno
(Photo by kind permission of Llandudno – Cyngor Tref Llandudno/Llandudno Town Council, Neuadd y Dref/Town Hall