Lavinia Malcolm

Lavinia Malcolm nee Lavinia Laing (c. 1847 – 2 November 1920) was a Scottish suffragist and local Liberal politician, the first Scottish woman to be elected to a local council and one of the first women 'mayors' in the UK, as the first female Provost in Scotland in 1913: in the burgh of Dollar, Clackmannanshire.

Early life and entry to politics She was born Lavinia Laing in Forres, daughter of an ironmonger and councillor, and granddaughter of a former Provost of Forres and became a teacher in Edinburgh. She appears as a "teacher of drawing" living at 3 Elder Street in Edinburgh's First New Town in 1875.

Lavinia visited Dollar Institution (now Dollar Academy), and fell in love with one of its English teachers, Richard Malcolm FRSGS (1840–1926). Richard was still married to his first wife, Lizzie Halley, when they met. Lizzie died in 1878, which then permitted Lavinia to marry him.

She married him and moved to Dollar.

Supporter of women's rights Malcolm is one of the first women to be elected lead their town council in the UK prior to 1914, after Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (Aldeburgh 1908), Sarah Lees (Oldham 1910), Gwenllian Morgan (Brecon 1910).

She is stated as the 'most famous' Provost on Dollar community website where her picture in full ceremonial robes appears. "She wanted women to have the vote but she was against doing anything militant or violent," said Janet Carolan, the curator of the Dollar Museum who has spent 20 years researching Malcolm's background.

She died in Dollar on 2 November 1920 and is buried in Dollar churchyard, close to her home. The grave lies on the north wall at the point where stones are enclosed for safety reasons.

Leaving a legacy During her life, Malcolm recognised her own place as a role model for other women.