Isabella (Bella) Lappin (1880-1961) was a political activist and local councillor in Clydebank, Scotland, associated with Red Clydeside and one of its leading figures, Davie Kirkwood. In 1919 she was one of a small number of women in Scotland who stood as candidates in the first municipal elections held in 1919 after the extension of the franchise arising from the Representation of the People Act 1918.[1] Not as well known as her contemporary and colleague Jane Rae, she did however have a longer and more extensive career.[2]

Early life

Born in 1880 on the southside of Glasgow, Bella Williams, met and married her husband, William in Clydebank; both gave addresses a few doors down from each other in Trafalgar Street, Dalmuir. Bella worked in a fishmonger, William as a grocer for the Co-operative. They married in St Stephen’s, Dalmuir in September 1909.[3]

Activism

Lappin was elected as an Independent Labour Councillor to Clydebank Burgh Council in 1919. For the next thirty or more years she was involved in politics, locally and nationally. She served as a member of the Executive of the Scottish Labour Party,[4] was a leader in the Women's Guild of the Co-operative movement,[5] served on the local government Education Committee[6] and on the local executive branch of the National Health Service.[7] During the period of the Rent Strike she was Treasurer of the local branch of the Scottish Labour Housing Associations.[8]

A 1925 correspondent to The Suffragist wrote to correct the record that Glasgow had appointed the first women Ballies in Scotland. At that time two out of five Baillies in Clydebank, were women: Jane Rae and Bella Lappin.[9]

In celebrations marking Red Clydesider David Kirkwood's 25 years as an MP in 1948, 400 people gathered in Clydebank Town Hall. Among the speeches of congratulations, Bella Lappin was the only woman speaker[10] since she had been among the first to propose Kirkwood as a parliamentary candidate in 1918.

Later life

In 1951, now aged 70, Bella was a key speaker at an 'eve of poll' Labour Party rally supporting the Labour candidate Mr Bence against a novice Conservative candidate William Whitelaw.[11]

Bella died in January 1961 and is buried in Clydebank.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Scottish Borough Elections "Common Cause - 21 November 1919
  2. ↑ "Councillors to retire" Daily Record - Tuesday 09 October 1945
  3. ↑ National Records of Scotland, Statutory Registers Marriages 501/130. 15th September 1909
  4. ↑ "Glasgow Conference and Saltcoats Example" Sunday Post - 25 January 1920
  5. ↑ "Women's Guild Conference" Milngavie and Bearsden Herald - Friday 06 April 1928
  6. ↑ "Apprentices in HM Dockyards and Royal Navy" Milngavie and Bearsden Herald - 29 January 1938
  7. ↑ "National Health Service Dunbartonshire Executive" Milngavie and Bearsden Herald - 24 January 1948
  8. ↑ "The Rent Question, The Clydebank Method, To the Editor of Forward " Forward (Glasgow) -14 October 1922
  9. ↑ "Re : Scottish Women Baillies ! "Vote - Friday 02 January 1925
  10. ↑ "Twenty-Five Years as an MP" Milngavie and Bearsden Herald - Saturday 10 April 1948
  11. ↑ "Cumbernauld" Falkirk Herald - 27 October 1951
  12. ↑ The Scottish Catholic Archives: ref MP/411/1/5/3
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