Lila Clunas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lila Clunas
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| Born |
Maggie Eliza Clunas
10 August 1876 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | 29 December 1968 (aged 92) Dundee, Scotland
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| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater | Moray House School of Education |
| Known for | Scottish suffragette and Labour Party councillor |
Lila Clunas (born Maggie Eliza Clunas, 10 August 1876 – 29 December 1968) was an important Scottish woman. She fought for women's right to vote, known as a suffragette. Later, she became a Labour Party councillor, helping to make decisions for her city. She was a key leader for women's rights in Dundee.
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About Lila Clunas
Lila Clunas was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 10 August 1876. Her parents were Elsie Melvin and Hugh Clunas. Hugh owned a dress shop. Lila had two sisters, Jessie and Elsie.
She went to school at Bell Baxter High School in Cupar. After that, she trained to be a teacher. She studied at Moray House Teacher Training College in Edinburgh.
After finishing her training, Lila moved to Dundee. She worked there as a teacher. She taught at the Brown Street Elementary Public School. In her later years, she lived with her sister Elsie in Broughty Ferry.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Lila Clunas became very active in politics. In 1906, she joined a group called the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This group worked hard to get women the right to vote. People who supported this cause were called suffragettes.
The next year, in 1907, she joined another group. It was called the Women's Freedom League (WFL). Lila was the secretary for the Dundee branch of the WFL. She held this important role from 1908 to 1912. Her sisters, Elsie and Jessie, were also members of the WFL. Elsie was the treasurer until 1913. Helen Wilkie took over as secretary after Lila.
How Lila Fought for Change
Lila used many ways to get her message out. She joined special groups that went to talk to leaders. She also spoke out loudly at public meetings. This was called heckling. She even wrote articles for newspapers.
In 1908, she was asked to leave a meeting. This happened when Winston Churchill was giving a speech. In 1909, Lila was part of a group of nine women. They went to the House of Commons to speak to politicians.
Later that year, Lila was arrested. She was trying to give a petition to Prime Minister Asquith. She was accused of blocking the way. She was sentenced to three weeks in prison. Lila was held in HM Prison Holloway in London. She was the first suffragette from Dundee to be sent there.
While in prison, Lila went on a hunger strike. This meant she refused to eat. Because of this, she was released from prison early. This showed how determined she was for the cause.
A Special Delivery Attempt
On 11 September 1912, Lila tried something unusual. She wanted to get into a hall in Dundee. Winston Churchill was going to speak there, but she was not allowed in.
So, Lila put a card on her chest. She went to the Post Office. She asked to be delivered by express message to the prime minister's house. Earlier, in 1909, two other suffragettes, Daisy Solomon and Elspeth McLelland, had tried this. This led to a rule for post offices in London. They were told not to accept such requests.
However, this rule had not reached Scotland. So, the post office in Dundee accepted Lila's request. But just like in 1909, her attempt to be actually delivered was refused.
Later Political Work
In 1914, Lila was again asked to leave a meeting. This meeting was for Ramsay MacDonald. This event caused some disagreement. It led to a split between the suffragettes and the Labour Party in Dundee.
Years later, in 1943, Lila was elected. She became a Labour Party Councillor. She served on the Dundee City Council until 1964. As a councillor, she was especially interested in education. She wanted to make schools better.
Lila Clunas passed away on 29 December 1968 in Dundee.
Remembering Lila Clunas
In 2008, a special plaque was put up. It was placed on the building that used to be Brown Street Elementary School. This was done to honor Lila Clunas and her important work.
