FEMALE FIRSTS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about

UK women’s firsts

The first Briton in space

In 1991 27-year-old  Helen Sharman from Sheffield became the first British person to go into space. Sharman, a former chemist for the aptly named Mars chocolate company, won her place aboard the Soviet Soyuz TM-12 space capsule in 1989 after answering a radio advert which stated ‘Astronaut wanted – no experience necessary.’

The first woman in space was Russian cosmonaut Lieutenant Valentina Tereshkova, 26, who completed 49 orbits of the earth back in 1963.

Britain’s first Female MP

The first woman to be elected into the British House of Commons was Constance Markiewicz in 1918, to represent the Dublin St. Patrick’s constituency.  However, as an Irish nationalist, she did not take her seat.  Ms. Markiewicz served as Minister for Labour in the unilaterally declared parliament of the Irish Republic from April 1919 to January 1922, becoming one of the first women cabinet ministers in the world.  The Irish Free State was established in 1922 and Ireland became an entirely sovereign state in 1937.

The first woman to take a seat in Parliament was American born Viscountess Nancy Astor. In 1919 her husband, who was Tory MP for Plymouth Sutton, succeeded to the House of Lords she was elected to take his place in the Conservative party.  She held the seat until her retirement in 1945.

First Black Woman To Gain an MBE

Born in British Guiana Sybil Phoenix, 83, started fostering for Lewisham in 1961 before starting her own hostel for girls and becoming a community worker. She was the first black woman to be given an MBE in 1973. She received an OBE in 2008.

The first British woman to conquer Everest.

In 1993 former journalist and Tomorrow’s World presenter Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. She was awarded the MBE in 1994.

The first ever woman to climb Everest was Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei in 1975.

Britain’s first female lighthouse keeper

In 1975 Peggy Braithwaite became Britain’s first female lighthouse keeper at Walney Island in Cumbria.

The first British woman to walk to the North Pole unaided.

In April 2010 27-year-old Amelia Russell became the first British woman to walk to the North Pole unsupported. Miss Russell, a casualty doctor at a south London hospital, completed the trip alongside her boyfriend despite twice dislocating her shoulder during the expedition and resetting it herself. She is also the youngest ever woman to accomplish the feat.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking.