Thelma Cazalet-Keir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thelma Cazalet-Keir
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| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education | |
| In office 26 May 1945 – 26 July 1945 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | Chuter Ede |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Jenkins |
| Member of Parliament for Islington East |
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| In office 27 October 1931 – 26 July 1945 |
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| Preceded by | Leah Manning |
| Succeeded by | Eric Fletcher |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thelma Cazalet
28 May 1899 London, England |
| Died | 13 January 1989 (aged 89) Eaton Square, London, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
David Edwin Keir
(m. 1939; died 1969) |
Thelma Cazalet-Keir (born Thelma Cazalet; 1899–1989) was an important British politician. She was a member of the Conservative Party and a strong supporter of feminism, which means she believed in equal rights for women. She worked hard to make sure women were treated fairly in society.
Early Life and Education
Thelma Cazalet was born in London, England, on May 28, 1899. She was the only daughter in her family, with three brothers. Her father, William Marshall Cazalet, was a wealthy person who knew many famous people of the time. Thelma met important figures like the writer Rudyard Kipling when she was a child.
Her mother was a Christian Scientist and a feminist, which greatly influenced Thelma. Thelma was taught at home by private teachers. Later, she attended classes at the London School of Economics, a famous university. She was also good friends with Megan Lloyd George, whose father was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Megan later became a Member of Parliament herself.
Thelma's eldest brother, Edward, sadly died in World War I in 1916. Her middle brother, Victor, also served in the war and was awarded a medal for his bravery. Her youngest brother, Peter, was still a schoolboy during World War I.
Political Journey
Thelma Cazalet started her political career in local government in Kent, where her family had a country home. In 1924, she was elected to the London County Council, which was like the local government for London. She served as a councillor for seven years.
In 1931, Thelma decided to run for a seat in the national Parliament. She ran in a special election for the Islington East area but did not win that time. However, she tried again in the general election later that year and won the seat for the Conservative Party. She became a Member of Parliament (MP).
Thelma held her MP seat until 1945, when she lost in the general election to the Labour candidate. While in Parliament, she worked alongside her brother Victor, who was also an MP.
Family and War
When World War II began, Thelma's brother Victor returned to military service. Sadly, he was killed in 1943. Her youngest brother, Peter, also fought in World War II and survived. He became a Major and later became a famous horse-racing trainer. He even trained horses for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Peter Cazalet was known for a famous moment in the 1956 Grand National horse race. His horse, Devon Loch, was very close to winning but fell just before the finish line.
Later Life and Achievements
In 1939, Thelma married David Edwin Keir, who was a journalist reporting on Parliament. She decided to use both her maiden name and her married name, becoming Mrs. Cazalet-Keir. This was partly because she was a feminist and partly to keep her political name recognition. She and David did not have any children.
Thelma Cazalet-Keir was a strong advocate for equal pay, especially for women teachers. In 1944, she proposed a change to the Education Bill that would demand equal pay for women teachers. This change passed by just one vote! However, Winston Churchill, who was Prime Minister at the time, disagreed with it. He made it a big issue and personally attended Parliament to make sure it was defeated a few days later. This event made Churchill and the Conservatives seem old-fashioned to some people, which contributed to their loss in the 1945 election.
After leaving Parliament, Thelma continued her public service. She was a member of the Arts Council, which supports arts and culture. She also became a Governor of the BBC, the British broadcasting company. In 1952, she was recognized for her public service and given the honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Thelma Cazalet-Keir remained a dedicated feminist. She supported the Fawcett Society, an organization that campaigns for women's rights, and became its President in 1964. She also worked closely with the Women's Engineering Society to promote equal pay. In 1967, she wrote a book about her life.
For many years, she lived in Kent, near her childhood home. After her husband died in 1969, she moved to a flat in London. Thelma Cazalet-Keir passed away in 1989 at the age of 89.
