Mabel Maria Clarkson

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

JP (1 June 1875 – 21 March 1950), was a British Liberal, then Labour politician who was Lord Mayor of Norwich.

Background

Clarkson was born the daughter of Richard Clarkson, Solicitor, and Elizabeth Ann Prince of Calne, Wilts. He died when she was three and thereafter was raised by her mother along with her brother and four sisters. She was educated at a private school and then at

Reading University The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as the University Extension College, Reading, an extension college of Christchurch College, Oxford, and became University College, ...

. She was awarded the CBE in the

1931 Birthday Honours The King's Birthday Honours 1931 were appointments by King George V to Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by members of the British Empire. The appointments were ma ...

Political career

Clarkson was a member of the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. Standing as a Liberal, she was elected as a Poor Law Guardian and served from 1905–30. She was elected as a Liberal candidate to Norwich Town Council in 1912, the first woman to be elected to the council. She is described as a quick, sharp and compassionate lady. In her election address in 1912 she said: "I do not hesitate to say that some of the dwellings in which some families are living today, are a disgrace to the City. Those of us who care for the purity of our homes, for the right of little children to opportunities for health and development, for prevention of infantile mortality, and of all the unnecessary sickness and suffering caused by overcrowding and bad housing, are bound to make every effort to get rid of slums." In 1922 she became a Justice of the peace. In 1923 she lost her seat on the town council. In 1924 she joined the Labour Party. In 1926 she won back a seat on the town council standing as a Labour candidate. She was Sheriff of Norwich from 1928–29. She served as

Lord Mayor of Norwich This is a list of mayors and the later lord mayors of the city of Norwich. Norwich had elected a mayor since 1403 when a Charter of Henry IV allowed the Freemen of the city to elect Councillors, Aldermen, Sheriffs and a Mayor serving for one ye ...

from 1930-31. She continued as a councillor until 1932 when she was appointed as an Alderman. Her approach changed over time; initially she pushed the Council to impose compulsory repair notices on properties that were in a very poor state of repair. Later she advocated that the Council should acquire and itself repair properties. Finally, she managed to persuade a Conservative majority Council to build new

Council Housing Public housing in the United Kingdom, also known as council housing or social housing, provided the majority of rented accommodation until 2011, when the number of households in private rental housing surpassed the number in social housing. D ...

. She continued to serve on the town council retiring in 1948.Balls, J. (2004, September 23). Clarkson, Mabel Maria (1875–1950), local politician. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Ed. Retrieved 15 Apr. 2019, from http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-62116.

References

External links

*Clarkson at the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. * http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-62116?rskey=vnAu9w&result=1 {{DEFAULTSORT:Clarkson, Mabel 1875 births 1950 deaths Councillors in Norfolk Mayors of Norwich Liberal Party (UK) councillors Labour Party (UK) councillors Women councillors in England Women mayors of places in England Commanders_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire