Muriel Craigie
[4][5] Craigie became the British National Townswomen's Guild vice-president (1951-1954), and in total served 25 years, from launching Montrose branch to leading the North East Scotland Federation.
[8] Craigie attended the Montrose Academy, where she performed well, winning class prizes in history,[9] English and sewing,[10][11] and physical drill.
She died at Stracathro Hospital, on 9 December 1971, aged 82[18][1] By 1913, Craigie was presiding over or speaking at meetings of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and organising events in different parts of the country.
The Provost of Ladybank said he supported their cause in his introduction, and in most cases, the audience voted unanimously in favour of Craigie's proposal to ask the Prime Minister to introduce a Bill for women's enfranchisement.
[21] In October that year, Craigie toured West Lothian with suffragist leaders who visited seven towns, and had found supportive audiences.
[22] At Blackburn, where Foggo and Craigie based the society headquarters temporarily, they collected 'Friends of Women's Suffrage' signatures, sold merchandise and '24 dozen copies of the NUWSS The Common Cause' newspaper.
[23] And In November 1913, at Whitburn, West Lothian, Craigie convened an event where speaker Alice Low addressed a large and supportive audience, explaining the legislative barriers and the case for women to have the vote.
[24] In June 1914, Craigie was asked to speak about 'The Glasgow Demonstration' at the Edinburgh NUWSS bi-annual members only business meeting, and was again sharing the platform with Muriel Matters and Alice Low.
Its role was to support the Serbian government, travelling to the war zone with the British Admiralty, despite the UK's military hierarchy refusing to accept the all-women medical and nursing team.
[29] Craigie served as Press and Appeals Secretary at the SWH headquarters and was awarded a medal in recognition of her service to the Serbian Red Cross, by the Crown Prince of Serbia[30] with a letter from His Excellency M.
[32] Craigie became the recruiting controller of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) for Scotland, by September 1917, and she ensured that calls went out for cooks and domestic workers, as 'the pay is good'.
[40] Craigie served the Townswomen's Guild (TWG) organisation 'enthusiastically' for twenty five years, initiating the Montrose branch and representing the town at regional and national federation levels.
[6] By late 1935, when Craigie was appointed the vice-president of the Montrose Townswomen's Guild and one of two delegates for the North of Scotland Federation,[41] the membership and attendance had grown beyond 200,[42] then 250,[43] needing larger venues.
[54] She stepped down properly from leading TWG in 1941 'due to pressure of other duties,'[55] but returned for the Guild's seventh anniversary to give the 'Immortal Memory' address at their 1942 Burns supper.
[59] She later scripted a play for the 1953 Aberdeen Coronation Year Rally, of the TWG North East Federation drama competition, which had a covenanting theme, acted out by amateur women from Montrose showing a Conventicle, as had been led by preacher James Renwick.
[69] In the debate on a major swimming pool versus a playing field investment, Craigie suggested a local survey of what is needed.
[76] In 1940, she was co-ordinating the WVS depot for comforts for the troops, under the county of Angus scheme, pulling together activities of the local churches and eventually seventeen women's groups, and managing out-posts in seven country parishes.
[77] In her first WVS annual report, Craigie said 600 items had then been sent via Black Watch plus sweet goods and 'three footballs for Christmas' to the British Expeditionary Force.
A mobile first aid post was provided with bedclothes, sandbags, hot water bottles and other equipment including over 80 splints, ready to use.
services were wound down, with Craigie reporting that volunteers asked about coal and furniture, blankets and clothes for evacuees up to VE-Day, and a re-homing scheme for bomb-struck Stepney had delivered 2 tons of goods as well as financial support.
The knitted goods were still going to naval and merchant navy personnel or European Relief projects after the cessation of hostilities, but most civil defence services were now closed.
Her group were also recognised in a letter from the Earl of Airlie, Lord Lieutenant of the county and key volunteers were given a card of thanks from Lady Dalhousie.
And noting that the adult or leisure elements of the Act, covering handicrafts, drama or physical drill classes with professional trainers was, she said, at risking of attracting 'cranks'.
The next speaker confirmed that point and linked hard work to a confidence and a willingness to take responsibility, and in the closing vote of thanks, Miss Craigie was said herself to be 'doing a useful job' in chairing two of the county education sub-committees and that she was 'an asset to Montrose'.
[91] When she retired from the committees, after twenty years, Craigie was described as 'a noted educationist', 'a fluent speaker', and a 'most efficient chairman' and it was said that the 'town and county are in her debt for the ungrudging public service' she had given.
