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| Edith Spackman. Mayoral Portrait, 1937. Calne Town Council Collection. |
Edith had a career as a nurse spanning around 25 years. This career included working under the Queen's Nursing Institute, and served under the role of County Superintendent for nursing in Derbyshire, before being appointed as Nursing Superintendent for England of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses.
As a nurse with the Queen Alexandria Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve and serving in France during the first World War, Edith received the 1914 Star in January 1918.
As a nurse with the Queen Alexandria Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve and serving in France during the first World War, Edith received the 1914 Star in January 1918.
Edith married solicitor, Bertram John Spackman at St. Gabriel's Church, Warwick Square, London on 16 September 1922. Bertram passed just days after their 10th wedding anniversary in 1932.
It took Edith three attempts to gain a seat on the Council, becoming Calne's first woman councillor in 1929, on the third occasion beating another female candidate, a Miss Ferguson.
It was Alderman Strange who said that the ancient Borough of Calne was about to open a new page in its book of history as he proposed Spackman as Mayor.
Mr. Stanley, who seconded her nomination, wanted it known that in the previous five year, Spackman had attended 200 meetings out of a possible 211. She sat on the Health and Housing Committee, the Gas and Electricity Committee, and the Rating Committee.
Previously, Mrs. Spackman and other women of the town had successfully raised a large sum to ensure the fire brigade received the necessary new uniforms.
Clearly a worthy person for the Mayoral Chair, Mrs. Spackman was unanimously elected as Mayor of Calne on 9 November 1937 in front of a large audience from St. Mary's school.
During International Women's Day 2025, Calne Town Mayor Cllr Jon Fisher, unveiled artwork he had commissioned by digital artist, Holly Webb.
References:
'Calne's First Woman Mayor' Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 13 November 1937 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19371113/085/0005 [Accessed on 14 January 2020]
Strange noted that Mrs Spackman, a nurse and first female councillor for Calne, was said to have a wide experience of public service, along with a warm interest in the spiritual and material welfare of the town.
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| Image of Edith Spackman. |
At the time Spackman was proposed as mayor, she had served on the council for eight years.
Mr. Stanley, who seconded her nomination, wanted it known that in the previous five year, Spackman had attended 200 meetings out of a possible 211. She sat on the Health and Housing Committee, the Gas and Electricity Committee, and the Rating Committee.
Previously, Mrs. Spackman and other women of the town had successfully raised a large sum to ensure the fire brigade received the necessary new uniforms.
Clearly a worthy person for the Mayoral Chair, Mrs. Spackman was unanimously elected as Mayor of Calne on 9 November 1937 in front of a large audience from St. Mary's school.
Edith also served on the County Council Public Assistance Committee and the Chippenham Joint Isolation Committee, along with being known for her active contributions to the Red Cross, the Boy Scouts, the YMCA, and other causes.
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| Minutes from Calne Town Council, 25 July 1938, noting Edith at Mayor. |
Edith became ill in 1938 and did no seek re-election from this point. The North Wilts Herald reported on 14 October 1938 that Speckman had given a house in the town to the British Legion for the use of ex-Serviceman. While this sounds accurate considering Edith's career and life of public service, I have been unable to confirm this with other sources.
Edith Mary Spackman died in a Bath nursing home in May 1957. Her funeral was held in Calne.
International Women's Day 2025
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| Edith Spackman Portrait by Holly Webb, commissioned by Town Mayor Cllr Jon Fisher. |
This artwork depicts Calne first female Councillor and first female Town Mayor, Edith Spackman, who served a term as the town mayor in 1937-1938.
Below is a video of the unveiling.
References:
'Calne's First Woman Mayor' Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 13 November 1937 [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19371113/085/0005 [Accessed on 14 January 2020]
Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. (2025). Register | British Newspaper Archive. [online] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/19291109/150/0007 [Accessed 3 Mar. 2025].
