Beatrix Lyall
Encyclopedia
Dame Beatrix Margaret Lyall, DBE, JP
(27 October 1873– 8 May 1948) was a British
social reformer and London politician.
of Beddington
, Surrey
, and his wife Christina Jane Riley. Her parents had a strong Christian
faith, and were deeply involved in the activities of the Church of England
as well as being active in the Conservative Party
. Beatrix was to follow their lead in both religion and politics.
of Barbados
, to become Beatrix Pile. In 1914 she became Beatrix Lyall when her husband changed his surname by deed poll
, assuming his mother's maiden name. They settled in Chelsea
, London and had one son, Archibald, and one daughter, Christina Marion.
for her services during the conflict.
to stand for election to the London County Council
. In March 1919 she was duly elected as a councillor for Fulham East
. In 1924 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
. She served as vice-chairman of the council from 1932–1933, and was the first woman to hold the post. In 1934 she lost her seat on the council when the Labour Party
took control for the first time. She returned to the council in December of the following year when a by-election was held, but did not stand for the subsequent elections in 1937.
During the Second World War Lyall was appointed head of hospital supplies for South London
, and was a member of the executive of the National Council of Women. She spent her final years at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Kensington
, London. She died, aged 74, at the hotel in May 1948 from heart failure. She was cremated at Golders Green
.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(27 October 1873– 8 May 1948) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
social reformer and London politician.
Early life
She was born in 1873 as Beatrix Margaret Rostron, the daughter of Simpson Rostron, a barristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
of Beddington
Beddington
Beddington is a settlement between the London Boroughs of Sutton and Croydon. The BedZED low energy housing scheme is located here. In Beddington was a static inverter plant of HVDC Kingsnorth....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and his wife Christina Jane Riley. Her parents had a strong Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
faith, and were deeply involved in the activities of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
as well as being active in the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. Beatrix was to follow their lead in both religion and politics.
Marriage and family
On 15 June 1899 she married George Henry Hudson Pile, a childhood friend and son of a former Speaker of the House of AssemblyBarbados House of Assembly
The House of Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament , MPs are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority system for a term of five years....
of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, to become Beatrix Pile. In 1914 she became Beatrix Lyall when her husband changed his surname by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
, assuming his mother's maiden name. They settled in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, London and had one son, Archibald, and one daughter, Christina Marion.
World War One
By 1914 she was well known in her role as leader of the Mothers Union, and was noted for her public speaking skills and her campaigning for child welfare. During the war she gave her services to a number of government departments and served on the War Savings Committee. She gave addresses to munitions workers and miners which were published by the British Women's Patriotic League. In 1919 she was made a Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for her services during the conflict.
Politics
Lyall's high public profile led to her being approached by the Conservative-backed Municipal Reform PartyMunicipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
to stand for election to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. In March 1919 she was duly elected as a councillor for Fulham East
Fulham East (UK Parliament constituency)
Fulham East was a borough constituency in the Metropolitan Borough of Fulham in London. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1955...
. In 1924 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. She served as vice-chairman of the council from 1932–1933, and was the first woman to hold the post. In 1934 she lost her seat on the council when the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
took control for the first time. She returned to the council in December of the following year when a by-election was held, but did not stand for the subsequent elections in 1937.
Later life
Following her retirement from local politics, Lyall continued to be active in the Mothers Union, authoring pamphlets promoting "Christian marriage" and denouncing divorce. She was made a life vice-president of the organisation in 1937. She was to suffer the loss of her daughter in October 1937 and of her husband in May 1938.During the Second World War Lyall was appointed head of hospital supplies for South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, and was a member of the executive of the National Council of Women. She spent her final years at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London. She died, aged 74, at the hotel in May 1948 from heart failure. She was cremated at Golders Green
Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000, and was opened in 1902 by Sir Henry Thompson....
.