Ethel Leach

ETHEL LEACH THE FORGOTTEN PIONEER

100 years ago, Ethel Leach became the first female Mayor for Great Yarmouth. She was a pioneer for women in public service in the borough and a campaigner for the parliamentary vote for women. Ethel is nearly forgotten and in 2023 her grave was in ruins, but now is restored by Project Nova.

Ethel was born on 17^th June 1850 at Victoria Road, Great Yarmouth. Her father, William Appleton Johnson, was a carter. She was baptised in St. Nicholas parish church as Mary Ann after her mother. At 19, she married John Leach (aged 42 years) at the Unitarian Church in Middlegate. He had moved from Wandsworth to open an oil and colour shop at 20 Market Place, Great Yarmouth in 1868. They lived above the shop. John went on to develop a successful business taking over No21, 113/114 King Street and opening two shops in Norwich. They had one son, Bruce, who was born in 1870. In 1872, a serious fire caused major damage and could have caused an explosion as next door held explosives. In 1884, they moved to Gorleston.

John was involved in public life on the Board of Guardians and encouraged Ethel to seek election to the School Board in 1881. Education needed reform with a lack of places, poor kindergartens, poor attendance, low standards and poor teaching. Ethel took up the challenge as the first woman member and secured reforms. In 1895, she was appointed as the Vice Chairman, having won the respect of the members. Ethel Leach also served on the Committee of the Education Association. She continued on the management committees of several schools.

 In 1884, she was elected, as one of the first female members, to the Board of Guardians which over saw the Poor Law and the workhouse in Northgate Street. She found no proper nurses and children living alongside the inmates. She clashed with the Secretary. After being banned from their office on South Quay and told to read documents outside, she sought an inquiry. The inquiry ordered the Secretary be dismissed and reforms followed. She did not seek re-election as the battles had affected her health.

In 1885, she was, controversially, the agent for Helen Taylor in her campaign to stand for Parliament. The returning officer refused the nomination.

In 1902, the School Boards were abolished. Ethel was co-opted, as one of the first women to serve, on the Education Committee. In 1904/5, she refused to pay her rates as she disagreed with state funding for church schools.

 In 1908, she became the first woman candidate in the borough to stand, unsuccessfully, for election to the council in the Gorleston ward.

In 1920, she became the first woman JP in the borough although she had concerns about the justice system.

At the age of 74 in 1924, she was unanimously elected as the first female Mayor of the borough and had a busy year with public engagements and council work whilst continuing as a JP.

In 1925, Mrs Leach was elected to the borough council for the Gorleston St. Andrews ward and re-elected in 1928.

In 1929, she was elected the first female alderman on the council.

In 1932, the Alderman Leach school (now East Norfolk College) was named after her.

Ethel Leach had a major role in the local campaign for the Parliamentary vote for women. In 1879, she joined the Norfolk Committee for Women’s Suffrage and became the secretary for Great Yarmouth. In 1893, she formed the local Women’s Liberal Association to promote the cause. In 1909, she set up the Great Yarmouth Women’s Suffrage Society to promote a non-political party approach. She arranged meetings to espouse the cause. Speakers included Christabel Pankhurst, Mrs Pethwick-Lawrence, Dr. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Cicely Corbett, Mary Sheepshank and Muriel Manners. She disliked the militant tactics of the Suffragettes, who caused several fires in the town. Ethel was elected President of the local branch of the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship in 1920.

She also campaigned on Irish issues and was nearly arrested in a sit in on Lord Ponsonby’s estate.

Mary Ethel Leach died on 10^th April 1936 and is buried in Gorleston Old Cemetery. Her once impressive grave, once in ruins, was restored by Project Nova and her name remembered again with the plaque on her former home.