Cicely Mayhew facts for kids

Cicely Elizabeth Mayhew, Baroness Mayhew (born Ludlam; 16 February 1924 – 8 July 2016) was an important British diplomat. She made history as the first woman to become a diplomat for the British Foreign Office. This government department handles how Britain works with other countries.

Early Life and Adventures

Cicely Mayhew was born on 16 February 1924. Her father, C.S Ludlam, was a metallurgist. This means he studied metals. He was also a miner who found copper in Northern Rhodesia, which is now Zambia. He even found a lot of silver!

Cicely spent her early years in Africa. She lived in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. From 1929 to 1932, she went to Loreto Convent School, Pretoria. Her schooling paused for two years when she joined her father. She helped him search for gold in Tanzania and Uganda. They would pan for gold near Entebbe.

At age 10, Cicely moved back to Britain for school. She lived with her aunts and attended Sheffield High School. She later won a scholarship to Cheltenham Ladies College. There, she learned from a German Jewish refugee teacher. Cicely then studied French and German at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She finished her degree in just two years in 1944. She earned top marks.

A Trailblazing Career

In 1944, during World War II, Cicely was recruited by British naval intelligence. She worked at Bletchley Park, a secret code-breaking center. Her job was to translate secret German Navy signals. These messages were decoded from the Enigma machine.

After the war, Cicely became the UK's first woman diplomat. Her first job was as a 3rd Secretary for the Foreign Office. She was sent to Yugoslavia and then to Geneva. In 1949, when she got married, she had to leave her job. This rule for women in the Foreign Office lasted until 1973.

Cicely Mayhew opened doors for women in diplomacy. She became "the king's first female emissary" in 1947. She faced challenges during her time at Bletchley Park. Women often had lower pay and lower ranks than men. Cicely, who had a top degree from Oxford, spoke about these unfair differences.

Personal Life

In 1949, Cicely married Christopher Mayhew. He was a politician, broadcaster, and writer. They met while working in the diplomatic service. They had two sons and two daughters together. Christopher Mayhew passed away in 1997.

Cicely spent her later years in Wimbledon. She died on 8 July 2016.

Lasting Legacy

Cicely Mayhew's impact is still remembered today. In March 2019, a theatre was opened in her honor. It is called the Mayhew Theatre. It is located at the Foreign Office's Diplomatic Academy. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge opened the theatre. Foreign Office staff voted to name the theatre after her. She was the clear winner.