Jenny Coutts

Jenny Coutts (née Janet Maxwell Barclay) was the first female provost of Kirkintilloch.[1][2]

Jenny Coutts
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Born(1909-11-18)18 November 1909
Carnwath, Scotland
Died18 March 2008(2008-03-18) (aged 98)
Kirkintilloch, Scotland
NationalityScottish
OccupationPolitician
Known forLocal Politics

Early life and education

Janet Maxwell Barclay was both in Carnwath, Lanarkshire in 1909, the daughter of Gavin and Janet Barclay. She attended Lanark Grammar School, and later became a secretary, working in offices in Bath Street, Glasgow. She met her husband, Willie Coutts at the International Club. The couple and their two sons moved to Lenzie in 1949, where she became involved in local politics.[3] Both Jenny and her husband were pacifists during World War II.[1]

Political career

She became an independent councillor for the area in 1958, by a majority of five votes.[4] By 1964, she was provost of Kirkintilloch.[5] in 1973, she was awarded an MBE for her services to social work.[3] As a magistrate, she was known for her liberal approach to crime and punishment and was in favour of abstinence from alcohol.[6] She believed that party politics had no place in local councils.[1]

References
  1. "Jenny Coutts". Glasgow Herald. 25 April 2008.
  2. "Farewell to our first lady provost". Kirkintilloch Herald. 26 March 2008.
  3. "Local Heroes EDLC". Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  4. "Town's first woman councillor". Bulletin. 5 February 1958.
  5. "First woman provost". Kirkintilloch Herald. 13 May 1964.
  6. Steel, Andy (26 July 1972). "Local magistrate on crime and punishment". Kirkintilloch Herald.
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