Grantham Museum – Lincolnshire Police – PC Edith Smith Exhibition
I have been on the Board of Directors at Grantham Museum for a little while now and it is without doubt one of the most interesting roles I have given my time to. This project was quite literally a labour of love… a love of discovering the path and the history of a truly remarkable woman – her life – and her staggering contribution to British Policing… the first female warranted Officer in Britain – PC Edith Smith.
An Officer during the Edwardian era and brought to Grantham, Lincolnshire to help bring some discipline back to the town, which was somewhat ‘overun ‘ with prostitution because of the nearby army camp at Belton House, Edith worked in a very challenging environment dealing with a wide range of issues from corralling the women who were prostitutes, rebuking the soldiers and the inevitable social problems that occurred while doing so. A tough lady in tough times she earned herself the respect and admiration of many for her steady and determined manner, she worked tirelessy. Often she went without rest between shifts such was her dedication to the Town and the women she felt responsible for. Her notable efforts were rewarded when she even recieved a pay rise from the Borough in recognition of the hours and hours she gave to duties… so relentless was she in her work she eventually retired exhausted from Policing and returned to her previous vocation of nursing, Imagining how she did her work with little or no protection, in a combersome and restrictive uniform and at time when the streets would have been ill lit and very dangerous is enough to put many off Policing, let alone a lady, but Edith did and was a pioneer in every way for doing so.
The project to recognise Edith came about as a result of a Radio debate on BBC Radio Lincolnshire in February 2019. This was between myself and another local member of the public and member of the local Labour Party. Ironically the debate was to determine if it was right to recognise another pioneering lady of Grantham – Margaret Thatcher – with a statue on St Peters Hill. This debate led to me being presented with the challenge to recognise Edith as another worthy recipient of an exhibition . Never one to back down from a challenge – I duly accepted – and set about raising the funds to pay for the build of the Exhibition… Edith’s Cell – with my ‘Buy a Brick’ Campaign.
Just over twelve months later the build was underway and after two weeks of hard work to complete it, on February 27th 2020, a Reception was held at Grantham Museum to open the Exhibtion. In attendance were Lincolnshire Police – the Constabulary to which Edith belonged – and Ediths own Granddaugher Margaret Smith. We were delighted to have ACC Kerrin Wilson attend and for her [ and her ] colleague PCSO Holly Farmer to share their experiences of women in policing today and how Ediths work has translated to their roles even now. Margaret shared her own memories and findings about her Grandmother and brought with her many articfacts from her own research as well as some much treasured photos and family items, some of which were over 100 years old!
I am delighted to share the this special project and with it a few of my own memories of the build, reception and public launch which was held on International Womens Day – March 8th 2020. Seeing this project come to life from my conception to my design and then its completion is without doubt one of the most rewarding things I have acheived. I was very emotional when done and bursting with Pride!
The best of it, that it brought together all my skills, my love of History and married it together with one very special lady and my admiration for the Police. Perfect!
