{"id":4742,"date":"2021-03-13T20:10:58","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T20:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/rossendale\/?p=4742"},"modified":"2021-04-12T15:47:22","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T14:47:22","slug":"our-women-of-rossendale-project-for-international-womens-day-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/rossendale\/2021\/03\/13\/our-women-of-rossendale-project-for-international-womens-day-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Our ‘Women Of Rossendale’ Project For International Women’s Day 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]International Women’s Day is a significant day for Soroptimists ordinarily, but in 2021 it not only falls in our Centenary year<\/em><\/a>, but also occurs in the middle of a global pandemic<\/em><\/a>. This year, perhaps more so than for generations, women are facing pressure like never before.<\/p>\n

As such, SI Rossendale decided we want to do something significant to mark the day, hence we’ve taken on 3 very different projects<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of them – the most retrospective of the three – is to look at Rossendale women from the past and present and acknowledge some of the contributions they have made, to both their local and global community. In order to do this, we teamed up with students from Accrington & Rossendale College<\/a><\/em> who, along with members of SI Rossendale, each chose and researched a woman from Rossendale.<\/p>\n

So, read on for our ‘Women of Rossendale’ Project for International Women’s Day<\/em><\/a> 2021.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Introduction To Our ‘Women Of Rossendale’ Project For IWD 2021<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This project was a joint enterprise between members of SI Rossendale and students from Accrington & Rossendale College<\/a><\/em>. Here’s the project leader, SI Rossendale member Tricia Calway, to explain more;[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/DuM4r19tu0g” align=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the ten women chosen to be included in the project.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Ada Rhodes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"PictureThe following information on Ada Rhodes was written by our current President, Alison Driver.<\/p>\n

Ada Rhodes MBE: A \u201cBusy And Familiar Little Figure\u201d In Bacup.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Born Ada Whipp on 14 March 1885, Ada\u2019s first husband, John Aked, died in 1939. She married her second husband, Arthur Rhodes in April 1949 and was his Mayoress in 1948-49.<\/p>\n

Ada was a teacher for over 50 years, which left its mark on her voluntary work. It gave her a keen interest in education at every stage, locally and up to county level. She was a keen organist, playing regularly in her local church St Saviours where she had lifelong connections.<\/p>\n

Rationing didn\u2019t come to an end in England until 1954. In 1951, six years after the end of the second world war, local papers reported on the efforts of the \u201cgood folk\u201d of East Lancashire to celebrate Christmas. Ada was described in the article as the only woman member of Bacup Town Council. It was reported that she \u201cwent one better than the traditional Christmas boxes, she knitted festive stockings and filled them with sweets, cigarettes, fruit, nuts, and money, for her milkman, grocer, butcher, and dustmen\u201d.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Ada was the first female Mayor of Bacup in 1956-57, and one of only two women who were Mayors of the Borough in their own right. Ada was an Alderman on Bacup Council and a Lancashire County Councillor for four years. As a Conservative councillor, Ada is said to have never let politics interfere with her efforts on behalf of those in need.<\/p>\n

Ada was granted Freedom of the Borough of Bacup in 1959, one of only 16 people, and the only woman, to ever have been given this honour.<\/p>\n

1958 was a busy year for Ada. In January she was elected the first ever woman President of the Rossendale Organists\u2019 Association. At the annual dinner in Burton\u2019s Caf\u00e9 in Waterfoot, Ada made an appeal for each member of the organisation to obtain one new member for the association<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

The first meeting of the Bacup Cancer Research Committee, at the time called the British Empire Cancer Campaign, was on 15 September 1958 in the Council Chamber at Stubbylee Hall, Bacup. The Committee was formed from representatives \u201cfrom every place of worship, the fire services, civil defence, the police, nurses, doctors etc\u201d. Ada Rhodes was elected as the Secretary of the Committee, a post that she held for 20 years.<\/p>\n

One of the first events that Ada helped organise for Bacup Cancer Research Committee was a caf\u00e9 held for a whole week in October 1958 in the Electricity Showrooms in Bacup. The records of that week show that they used 68 quarts of milk bought from Mr Isherwood the milkman; 22 dozen finger teacakes, 17 dozen currant teacakes, 67 dozen small meat pies and 34 dozen assorted cakes from Schofields Bakers and Committee Memebrs cooked 80lbs of marrowfat peas to serve with the pies. The Committee made an astounding profit of \u00a3210 from the caf\u00e9 which is equivalent to \u00a34,938.66 in 2021.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoThe following year, 1959, the Committee organised a garden party in Moorlands Park on 22 August 1959. The Coconutters opened the event, there was a treasure hunt and pony and trap rides. Volunteers served almost 300 cups of tea and ice cream. This event raised \u00a3124 for Cancer research (the equivalent to \u00a32390.92 in 2021).<\/p>\n

Ada was awarded the MBE in January 1960 for \u201cpublic services in Bacup\u201d, living much of her life on Ribble Street in Bacup. In newspaper articles of the time, Ada\u2019s vigour was commented on when working towards a charitable end, she \u201cis to be envied by people much her junior and scores can speak personally of the efforts she puts into whatever organisation requires her help\u201d.<\/p>\n

In 1978 Ada was elected President of Bacup Cancer Research Committee<\/em><\/a> \u201cin respect and thankfulness\u201d for all her years in office.<\/p>\n

An Impressive List Of Firsts For Ada Rhodes:<\/strong><\/h3>\n