Kathleen Chambers

Kathleen Chambers CBE (born Ethel Kathleen Mee, 28 October 1879 – 15 April 1965) was a pioneer female politician who was the first woman to be Lord Mayor of Bradford holding that position in 1945–1946. Early life Chambers was born in Leeds in 1879, the third daughter of Thomas Mee and Ellen Mee. Her father died in 1891 and she was raised by her guardian, Conservative MP, Ernest Gray in London where she became his private secretary. She became disenchanted with the Conservative party over the party's stance on women's suffrage and after meeting teacher and union official T. P. Sykes she began to support socialist causes. She and Sykes married in December 1911 and she moved with him to Bradford where he was headmaster of Great Horton Elementary School. In 1919 Mr Sykes was elected as a Labour councillor to the West Riding County Council but died only a few weeks later. Chambers was adopted as Labour's candidate in the ensuing by-election but lost the contest. Bradford political career The following year, 1920, Chambers was adopted as Labour candidate for the South ward in the elections for Bradford City Council but was defeated. Adopted as Labour candidate for the same ward in the 1921 municipal election, Chambers was this time successful and became one of the first woman to be elected to Bradford City Council and the first to win a full election. In October 1924 she became the first female alderman of Bradford. Re-elected in 1927, in November 1930 Chambers was nominated to be Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford. During her tenure as Deputy Lord Mayor Chambers presided over council business for a period in March and April 1931 when the Lord Mayor, Alfred Pickles, was admitted to hospital. Chambers also recorded a speech on film in conjunction with the forthcoming Bradford Pageant.