Violet Grantham

Violet Hardisty Grantham (15 February 1893 – 20 May 1983) was a British politician, the first woman to serve as Sheriff of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Lord Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Born Violet Hardisty Taylor in Gateshead on 15 February 1893, the second of three children born to Thomas Taylor, a schoolmaster at St Cuthbert's High School, and Sarah Taylor (née McKelvie), formerly a pupil-teacher.

She was educated privately and married John Grantham in 1924. Her husband, a cinema proprietor, was elected to Newcastle City Council in 1912, later holding the titles of Sheriff of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1924-1925 serving until the reorganisation of local government in 1974, when she retired.