Dorothée Pullinger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorothée Aurélie Marianne Pullinger
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| Born | 13 January 1894 Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie, Seine Inférieure, France
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| Died | 28 January 1986 (aged 92) St Peter Port, Guernsey, UK
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| Nationality | British |
| Awards | MBE |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Automobile engineer and businesswoman |
| Institutions | Arrol-Johnston Vickers White Service Laundries Ltd Normandy Laundries |
Dorothée Pullinger (born January 13, 1894 – died January 28, 1986) was an amazing engineer and businesswoman. She was a true pioneer, meaning she was one of the first women to work in the car industry and achieve great things. She was even awarded the MBE for her important work.
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Early Life and First Steps in Engineering
Dorothée Pullinger was born in France in 1894. She was the oldest of 11 children. Her father, Thomas Charles Pullinger, was a famous car designer and engineer. When Dorothée was eight, her family moved to the UK.
She went to Loughborough High School. In 1910, at just 16 years old, she started working at Arrol-Johnston. This was a Scottish car company where her father was the managing director. Dorothée worked as a draftsperson. This meant she drew detailed plans and designs for cars.
World War I and Helping the War Effort
When World War I started, Arrol-Johnston stopped making cars. Instead, they began making airplanes and weapons for the war. Dorothée took on a very important role. She became a supervisor at a huge factory run by Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness.
This factory made high-explosive shells. About 7,000 women worked there. Many of them were refugees from Belgium and France. Dorothée spoke both English and French, which helped her manage such a large and diverse team. In 1916, her father even opened a special engineering college for women. It also had an apprenticeship program.
Galloway Motors: Cars Designed for Women
After the war, Dorothée returned to Scotland. The munitions factory was changed back into a car factory. It was renamed Galloway Motors Ltd. Dorothée became a director and manager there.
Galloway Motors started making a car called the "Galloway." This car was special because it was designed with women drivers in mind. It had a higher seat for better visibility and a smaller steering wheel. The company mostly hired women to work in the factory, with Dorothée leading them. They made cars until 1923.
In 1921, Dorothée Pullinger made history again. She became the first woman to be elected as a full member of the Institution of Automobile Engineers. She was also a keen race car driver. In 1924, she won a cup in the Scottish Six Day Car Trials.
Later Life and Business Ventures
In 1924, Dorothée married Edward Marshall Martin. They had two children, Yvette and Lewis. In the late 1920s, Dorothée and her husband started a laundry business. It was called White Service Steam Laundry Ltd. They grew the company to 17 shops. They sold this successful business in 1946.
During World War II, Dorothée continued to contribute. She was the only woman appointed to the Industrial Panel of the Ministry of Production. This group helped plan for industry during the war. She also helped write a report about post-war problems for British industry.
In 1947, Dorothée moved to Guernsey. There, she started another laundry company called Normandy Laundries in 1950. Even later in life, she was known for driving one of her old Galloway cars around the island! She passed away in Guernsey in 1986.
Amazing Achievements and Legacy
Dorothée Pullinger had many important achievements:
- She was one of the founding members of the Women's Engineering Society in 1919. She remained an active member throughout her life.
- She received the MBE in 1920. This award recognized her incredible work managing 7,000 women munitions workers during World War I.
In 2012, Dorothée Pullinger was honored by being inducted into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame. This shows how important her contributions were to engineering and to women in science.
Commemoration
Her legacy continues to inspire.
- In 2019, an exhibition about Dorothée Pullinger opened at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow. It featured a 1924 Galloway coupe car. Her daughter, Yvette Le Couvey, attended the opening.
- Another exhibition about her life was held at the Devil's Porridge Museum in Eastriggs in 2021.
