Edna Annie Crichton

Edna Annie Crichton (9 May 1876- 5 March 1970) was Lord Mayor of York from 1941 to 1942, the first woman to hold that position.

Edna Annie Crichton Cllr. Ald.
Lord Mayor of York
In office 1941–1942
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	William Horsman
Succeeded by	Edward Lacy
City of York Councillor
In office 1919–1955
Personal details
Born	Edna Annie Crichton 1876
Died	1970
Political party	None (independent)
Occupation	Politician

Biography

Crichton was born in Gloucester on 8 May 1876. Her father, Joseph Marshall Sturge JP was a mechant, her mother was Anne (Annie) Burke, and her sister was Mary Sturge Gretton, historian. Crichton attended Sidcot School and worked on the Passmore Edwards settlement in Bloomsbury, London. In the early 1910s, she took on a role in York, serving on the national health insurance committee and on the board of guardians for the city. [1]

In 1919, Crichton was elected to City of York Council, a position she would go on to hold for 23 years.[1] Crichton was Lord Mayor of York from 1941 to 1942, the first woman to hold that position.[2] As lord mayor, she led the city through the Baedeker raids.[3] She spent her time visiting hospitals and many of the bombed houses.[1]

Crichton was also the first female Alderman in York, a position she took on in 1942 and she held for 13 years, concerning herself with social interests such as health, housing and education, sitting on committees for each. She led initiatives on the housing front, establishing a committee on housing and ensured construction of new houses and removal of dilapidated ones.[1] In 1955, on her retirement, she became the second woman to receive the Freedom of the City of York.[3][4][5]

She married David Sprunt Crichton on 22 August 1901 and that had two children together. After retirement in 1955, she continued to live in York until her death at Clifton on 5 March 1970.[1]

References

1. Reid, Ellie (9 April 2020). "Gretton [née Sturge; first married name Henderson], Mary Gertrude Sturge (1871–1961)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
2. "Lord Mayors of York 1801-2000". York Mansion House. 2013-12-03. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
3. "The indomitable Mrs Crichton of York". York Press. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
4. "York's blue plaques: Edna Annie Crichton". York Press. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
5. "Edna Annie Crichton(1876-1970) | York Civic Trust". yorkcivictrust.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-11.

Civic offices
Preceded by William Horsman	Lord Mayor of York 1941–1942	Succeeded by Edward Lacy