Lila Clunas

Lila Clunas (born Maggie Eliza Clunas, 10 August 1876 – 29 December 1968) was a Scottish suffragette, educator, and Labour Party councillor.

Biography

Early life and family Lila Clunas was born in Glasgow on 10 August 1876, to parents Elsie Melvin and Hugh Clunas, a dress shop owner. She was schooled at Bell Baxter High School, Cupar, and completed her teacher training in Moray House Teacher Training College, Edinburgh. She was a part of the suffragettes in 1906 until 1914.

Middle years Clunas served on the Dundee Board of Education.

Later life In later life, she lived with her sister Elsie in Broughty Ferry. She was succeeded as secretary by Helen Wilkie. Her sisters were also involved with the WFL Dundee branch; Jessie was a member and Elsie served as treasurer until 1913.

In November 1907, Clunas attended Rt Hon Edmund Robertson's address to constituents in Dundee's Gilfillan Hall with Agnes Husband and Annot Wilkie, in which Clunas asked Robertson if he was in favour of women's right to vote. When he said he was not, Wilkie moved for a vote of no confidence in Robertson. although it has been suggested that she attempted to take a swipe at him. She was charged with obstruction and was sentenced to three weeks in prison. She went on hunger strike, and was released early, "on consideration of all the circumstances and as an act of clemency".

Clunas tried on 11 September 1912 to get into the hall in Dundee where Winston Churchill was about to give a speech, but she was not allowed to enter. She then instead fastened a card on her chest and went to the Post Office. She asked to be delivered by express message to the prime minister's residence. In 1909, the suffragettes Daisy Solomon and Elspeth McLelland tried to do the same, which resulted in the issue of a statement to the post offices in the London region to not accept such actions. However, this instruction did not reach Scotland, so Clunas' request was accepted at the post office. But, just as in 1909, her attempt to be actually delivered was refused.

Offices held In 1943, she was elected as a Labour Party Councillor in the Dundee City Council, and served until 1964.