Edwina Stewart was born 11 May 1934 in East Belfast to Sadie and Eddie Menzies.
While her family was of the Protestant community her parents were atheists and founders of the Communist Party of Ireland.
Stewart was elected secretary of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association and held the role from 1969 until 1977.
[1][2][3][4] Stewart gave up her job when she was reported to have been one of the speakers in Derry on Bloody Sunday.
The CPI was the first political party in Ireland to adopt the policy of a woman's right to choose.