1931-1933, Katherine Margaret Fletcher, Chair of Atherton Urban District Council

The first female councillor and the first female chair, Katherine Margaret Fletcher made her mark on the town of Atherton.

Born in Leicester, Katherine was the youngest daughter of John Edward Stocks, the vicar of St Saviour’s Church. John became the Archdeacon of Leicester from 1899 until 1922.

Katherine became a teacher in Falmouth, Cornwall but she later met and married Leonard Fletcher in 1910. Leonard was a director of the local mining firm, Fletcher and Burrows Co. Ltd. The couple had three children together; Barbara, Maragaret and Leonard. In 1916 tragedy befell the family when Katherine’s husband Leonard died.

After his death, Katherine took an active role in local government serving first of all on the Leigh Board of Guardians. In 1924, Katherine stood as a Labour candidate for Atherton’s west ward and became the first female councillor to serve Atherton UDC as well as Atherton’s first female chair from 1931 to 1933.

In 1928 Katherine defeated Miles Bullough in the Lancashire County Council election.

Katherine took a keen interest in health and education. She was a manager of some of the senior schools in Atherton and Hesketh Fletcher. In fact, when the new Hesketh Fletcher School was being developed Katherine was invited to lay the foundation school. In 1939 Katherine was appointed Chair of the Atherton and Tyldesley Elementary Education Committee.

Atherton was one of the first places to open a sunlight clinic and Katherine is believed to have been instrumental in supporting the opening. She also became a member of the County Council Public Health Committee and of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee.

A regular attendee at Atherton Parish Church and a member of the Atherton Parochial Church Council, Katherine also found time to Captain of the Howe Bridge Company of Girl Guides.

In 1961 Katherine was awarded a C.B.E. in the Queen’s Birthday list and a few years later an honorary degree from Lancaster University.

Moving to Wilmslow in 1962 to live with her daughter, Katherine gave her home the “Woodfields” in Orchard Lane, Leigh to the county council for use as a children’s home.

Katherine died on the 1 January 1966. A service was held for her at Atherton Parish Church and the funeral took place at Atherton cemetery.

References

‘First Woman Councillor dies suddenly’ Leigh Reporter 06 January 1966

‘Mrs Fletcher left £40,212’ Leigh Reporter 11 August 1967

‘Atherton Personalities: Mrs K. M. Fletcher, J.P., C.C.’ Leigh Journal 20 May 1938

‘Mrs. K. M. Fletcher’ Leigh Chronicle 15 August 1924

‘Marriage of Mr L.R. Fletcher’ Leigh Journal 15 April 1910

‘Education Committee Meeting: Mrs K. M. Fletcher, J.P., C.C. appointed chairman’ Leigh Chronicle 30 June 1939

‘The Archdeacons of Leicester, 1092 – 1992’ by Terence Y Cocks

http://www.le.ac.uk/lahs/downloads/CocksvolumeLXVII-5sm.pdf