Margaret McKay M.P.

garinda · 26-08-2009, 00:47

Born Oswaldtwistle, 1911.

Her obituary in The Independent.

OBITUARY:Margaret McKay - People, News - The Independent

steeljack · 26-08-2009, 01:39

thanks for posting that , very interesting , had never heard of her

steeljack · 26-08-2009, 02:14

Would be interesting to know her thoughts during her last 25 years living in Abu Dhabi and watching the change 'petro dollar' wealth brought to Abu Dahbi and the rest of the Gulf ,changing them from small mud walled villages living on Pearl diving and smuggling to todays excesses and how she equated that with the plight of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza that she championed .
Maybe its time for you to do a book , "from Ossy to the Gulf via the Hermitage "

garinda · 26-08-2009, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

thanks for posting that , very interesting , had never heard of her

Neither had I.

She was born the same year as my great aunt and uncle, and there are still lots of Catlows in Ossy, so surely someone must know something about her.

According to this her education was 'elementary only', so it would be interesting to know how a local mill girl got to sit as a MP in the House of Commons, dressed in Arab robes, pitched a Palestinian tent in Trafalgar Square, and had a Jordanian postage stamp issued in her honour.

Centre for Advancement of Women in Politics

garinda · 26-08-2009, 07:21

There's a photograph of her on here, though sadly she's wearing a western style coat and hat.

Gwyneth Dunwoody: a life in pictures | Politics | guardian.co.uk

garinda · 26-08-2009, 07:33

'From an Accrington mill to British MP via a Moscow spy school. The story of Margaret McKay could easily have been the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster.'

Lancashire news, sport and entertainment from Lancashire, Greater Manchester & Merseyside - Margaret's life reads like a film script

Interesting to note from this that she had four books published, including a autobiography A Generation in Revolt, and blamed Robert Maxwell for the fact she didn't have more published.

'In a letter to Jim Ainsworth, author of a book about Hyndburn Trade Unions, Mrs McKay wrote: "..he (Maxwell) was my bitter political foe and aided in driving me out of Parliament.'

At least Jim Ainsworth knows about this local lass, and friend of Lenin's wife!

garinda · 26-08-2009, 08:36

Just found her autobiography, which was published under her maiden name of McCarthy...and bought it from a book shop in Ireland.

Bernard Dawson · 26-08-2009, 09:35

[quote=garinda;739310]'From an Accrington mill to British MP via a Moscow spy school. The story of Margaret McKay could easily have been the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster.'

Lancashire news, sport and entertainment from Lancashire, Greater Manchester & Merseyside - Margaret's life reads like a film script

Interesting to note from this that she had four books published, including a autobiography A Generation in Revolt, and blamed Robert Maxwell for the fact she didn't have more published.

'In a letter to Jim Ainsworth, author of a book about Hyndburn Trade Unions, Mrs McKay wrote: "..he (Maxwell) was my bitter political foe and aided in driving me out of Parliament.'

It's a remarkable story. Jim Ainsworh's a mate of mine, and knew she had written to him about her recollections of Ossy.

cashman · 26-08-2009, 10:20

never heard of her meself, interesting lass it seems, bit funny were just hearing about her now 13 yrs after she croaked.

garinda · 26-08-2009, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

never heard of her meself, interesting lass it seems, bit funny were just hearing about her now 13 yrs after she croaked.

I was looking through old obituaries last night, and I read hers, and she seemed fascinating.

There weren't many mill girls from around here who went on to sit in the House of Commons, dressed in Arab robes, was friends with Lenin's widow, and counted Robert Maxwell as her enemy.

Any interesting local information I gleam from her book I shall post on here.

cashman · 26-08-2009, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I was looking through old obituaries last night, and I read hers, and she seemed fascinating.

There weren't many mill girls from around here who went on to sit in the House of Commons, dressed in Arab robes, was friends with Lenin's widow, and counted Robert Maxwell as her enemy.

Any interesting local information I gleam from her book I shall post on here.

nah was meaning, cant remember seeing owt in local tabloids, mind ya was living in blackpool in 96. but still worked here, so was buying em.

Neil · 26-08-2009, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

counted Robert Maxwell as her enemy.

Did she push him??

Bob Dobson · 26-08-2009, 16:08

I am reminded of Bob Maxwell every night of my life when.at 10.15pm, my wife says,
" Go out for a drink by all means Bob, but don't go overboard"

There was another Ossy lass, whose name escapes me, who became a leading suffragette about the time that Margaret McCarthy was born.

wadey · 26-08-2009, 20:36

Isn't Margaret Beckett's sister local as well?

cashman · 26-08-2009, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by wadey

Isn't Margaret Beckett's sister local as well?

dunno wadey but walking through accy centre i would assume so.