Clara Martineau

Clara Martineau (1874 – 29 January 1932) was an English councillor and social activist. She was the third woman to serve as a councillor on the Birmingham City Council, representing Edgbaston for 19 years.

Personal life Clara Martineau was born in 1874, the daughter of solicitor Sir Thomas Martineau and Emily Kenrick. Thomas Martineau served on Birmingham's Town Council 1876–1893, and was mayor 1884–1887.

Between 1908 and 1909 Martineau acted as Lady Mayoress for her uncle, Sir George Kenrick. There, she was the first woman churchwarden, and occasionally conducted services. She represented Edgbaston for 19 years. from 1916, and the Mental Deficiency Act Committee which she chaired from 1921 to 1932.

Martineau was also a justice of the peace, and local president of the Brabazon Work Society.

In 1920, she wrote a pamphlet for the Women's Local Government Society: The Work awaiting Women on County Borough Councils (1920).

Clara Martineau died on 29 January 1932. In her will, she left money for the establishment of a seaside school for children with special educational needs. A bronze tablet in the hall of the house read:This house was purchased in February, 1935, from moneys partly provided by a bequest from the late Councillor Clara Martineau and partly by the subscriptions of colleagues and teachers in recognition of her devoted services to these children and as a memorial to her.

Today, the Clara Martineau Charity exists to:Promote the residential education of children under the age of 19 years who have special ed. needs, and who are attending any school maintained by Birmingham City Council as local education authority. To provide facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation for the benefit of such children with the object of improving their condition of life, with the same priority as aforesaid.