Margaret Simey
Encyclopedia
Margaret Bayne Todd was a political and social campaigner born in Glasgow
, but is usually more associated with Liverpool
, settling there in the 1920s and becoming the first woman to achieve a degree
in sociology
. She married Tom Simey, a political scientist at Liverpool University; he was later awarded a life peerage by Harold Wilson
, but she did not use the title "Lady Simey". They had one son.
She attended St Paul's Girls' School
in London, and was involved, with Elsie J. Oxenham
, in the British Camp Fire Girls' Association
. Oxenham wrote the sixteen-year-old Simey into her novel Abbey Girls in Town and dedicated it to her; as a teenager, Simey had chosen "Thistle" as her Camp Fire
name and later became known to herself and others as a "prickly customer".
She became well-known as a campaigner for the rights of the poor in Liverpool
, served as a Liverpool City Councillor from 1963, was then a councillor on the now defunct Merseyside County Council from 1974, and was chair of the Merseyside
County Police Committee at the time of the Toxteth
riots in 1981, frequently coming into conflict with the then Chief Constable
, Kenneth Oxford
and gaining a reputation for being outspoken about topics in which she believed, usually championing the cause of the underdog against the establishment.
Representing the inner-city Granby Ward, she was well aware of the local tensions which led to the Toxteth Riots; over the preceding decade, use of police powers to stop and search had increased, and the police had recently begun to close nightclubs frequented by black youths. Simey had foreseen that this would cause tension, and had predicted that the closure of one club in particular would lead to a riot. She was correct.
She also served as a magistrate
in Liverpool, was awarded an honorary doctorate
of the University of Liverpool
for her services to the community, and in 2002 was offered the honour of Freeman
of the City of Liverpool, but declined.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, but is usually more associated with Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, settling there in the 1920s and becoming the first woman to achieve a degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. She married Tom Simey, a political scientist at Liverpool University; he was later awarded a life peerage by Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
, but she did not use the title "Lady Simey". They had one son.
She attended St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is a senior independent school, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England.-History:In 1904 a new day school for girls was established by the trustees of the Dean Colet Foundation , which had run St Paul's School for boys since the sixteenth century...
in London, and was involved, with Elsie J. Oxenham
Elsie J. Oxenham
Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley , was an English girls' story writer, who took the name Oxenham as her pseudonym when her first book, Goblin Island, was published in 1907. Her Abbey Series of 38 titles are her best-known and best-loved books...
, in the British Camp Fire Girls' Association
British Camp Fire Girls' Association
The British Camp Fire Girls' Association was a youth organisation in the UK. It was founded in 1921 and was an off-shoot of Camp Fire USA.The association was the focus of an article in the March 1999 issue of Best of British magazine.-External links:...
. Oxenham wrote the sixteen-year-old Simey into her novel Abbey Girls in Town and dedicated it to her; as a teenager, Simey had chosen "Thistle" as her Camp Fire
British Camp Fire Girls' Association
The British Camp Fire Girls' Association was a youth organisation in the UK. It was founded in 1921 and was an off-shoot of Camp Fire USA.The association was the focus of an article in the March 1999 issue of Best of British magazine.-External links:...
name and later became known to herself and others as a "prickly customer".
She became well-known as a campaigner for the rights of the poor in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, served as a Liverpool City Councillor from 1963, was then a councillor on the now defunct Merseyside County Council from 1974, and was chair of the Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
County Police Committee at the time of the Toxteth
Toxteth
Toxteth is an inner city area of Liverpool, England. Located to the south of the city, Toxteth is bordered by Liverpool City Centre, Dingle, Edge Hill, Wavertree and Aigburth.-Description:...
riots in 1981, frequently coming into conflict with the then Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
, Kenneth Oxford
Kenneth Oxford
Sir Kenneth Gordon Oxford CBE, QPM was a senior British police officer and chief constable of Merseyside Police from 1976 to 1989.-Early life:...
and gaining a reputation for being outspoken about topics in which she believed, usually championing the cause of the underdog against the establishment.
Representing the inner-city Granby Ward, she was well aware of the local tensions which led to the Toxteth Riots; over the preceding decade, use of police powers to stop and search had increased, and the police had recently begun to close nightclubs frequented by black youths. Simey had foreseen that this would cause tension, and had predicted that the closure of one club in particular would lead to a riot. She was correct.
She also served as a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
in Liverpool, was awarded an honorary doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
for her services to the community, and in 2002 was offered the honour of Freeman
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of the City of Liverpool, but declined.