International Women’s Day: Four Trailblazers Who Changed Britain

To mark International Women’s Day next Tuesday, we look at four British women who made history in their respective fields. A three-minute, fantastic females-themed read.

International Women’s Day: Four Trailblazers Who Changed Britain
They may not be household names, but these four pioneering British women deserve our admiration and respect.
 
Helen Sharman  Britain’s first astronaut
The Sheffield-born chemist was working at Mars (the makers of those chocolate bars) when she responded to an advert for volunteers to embark on a space mission. 
 
After a rigorous selection process, Sharman was chosen from 13,000 candidates to spend 18 months training with cosmonauts in Russia to prepare for the mission.
 
And in 1991, she lifted off, spending eight days in space and visiting the Mir space station. After returning to Earth, Sharman dedicated her life to science education.
 
Madge Easton Anderson – Legal pioneer
In 1920, Madge Easton Anderson became the first woman to work professionally as a lawyer in the UK.
 
The daughter of a bookseller and a cutlery salesman, Easton Anderson studied law at the University of Glasgow. However, it wasn’t until 1919, when the law changed to enable women to join the profession, that she could officially qualify as a solicitor in Scotland – and so she did a year later.
 
In 1937, Easton Anderson passed her English law exams and became the first female qualified solicitor in England and Scotland.
 
Nicole Cooke – Cycling star
The tenacious Welshwoman made history twice in 2008. She was the first British woman to win an Olympic gold medal in cycling (she took the road race in Beijing). 
 
That year, Cooke also won gold at the World Championships – the first rider to ever achieve such a double in the space of 12 months.
 
Cooke battled a fair amount of sexism during her career, but her success raised the profile of women’s cycling and paved the way for future GB cyclists.
 
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson – Britain’s first woman to qualify as a doctor
Inspired by the early women’s rights movement, London-born Garrett Anderson dreamt of becoming a doctor. But when British medical schools refused to admit her, she had to find another way in.
 
She studied nursing and chemistry before sitting exams with the Society of Apothecaries in 1865 and securing a licence to practise medicine. (This loophole was quickly closed to prevent other female students from following suit.)
 
Garrett Anderson later established a dispensary for women and the first teaching hospital to train women doctors in Britain.
 
Who are your #IWD inspirations? Get in touch with us at @greyandcoestateagents and tell us about the woman/women who changed your life. 

Get in touch with us

First Name*
Last Name*
Your Email Address*
Mobile Phone*
Are you looking to*
Please enter message here*
Please confirm that it is okay for us to contact you about this information as well as products and services. (You will always be given the right to unsubscribe at any point in the future)*

Register for Property Alerts

Ever missed out on the perfect property just because you heard about it too late, or the Estate Agent never told you about it as it was slightly outside of your criteria? Never miss out again by using our “Heads Up Property Alerts”.

Latest Properties

2 bedroom apartment boasting a private roof terrace with stunning panoramic views on Popes

Guide Price

£590,000

2 Beds2 Baths1 Reception
Abelard Place Popes Lane South Ealing London W5 4BZ

Striking and Contemporary 2 Bedroom Apartment on Popes Lane in South Ealing

Built in 2015 in a striking small luxury mixed development of 3 houses and 2 apartments

Private roof terrace with motorised roof access providing 360 degree views of West London

A superb rental investment or a fantastic first time buyers option. This property can be both!

Guide Price

£350,000

3 Beds1 Bath1 Reception
Poplar Grove Wembley Middlesex HA9 9DB

Top Floor Flat

3 Double Bedrooms

Spacious Reception Room

Spacious 3 Bedroom House with extended family home and off-street parking in Monks Park, Wembley.

Guide Price

£590,000

3 Beds2 Baths2 Receptions
monks park, wembley

three bedroom semi detached house

extended family home

close to oakington manor primary school

Meet Abigail

  Hello, my name is Abigail, and I am the Grey in Grey & Co. I started working here in 2002 as a Junior Negotiator and have worked my way up the ranks since then. I took over running the company in 2014 and have been enjoying the roller coaster that is leadership ever since.   During my 20 plus years at Grey & Co I have dealt with the sale of over £100,000,000 worth of property and overseen the management of assets worth £250,000,000 for clients around the world.   I also had the pleasure of working with my father, the founder of Grey & Co, for 15 years before he sadly passed away and from him, I learnt the work hard ethic and our values today are still the ones that he founded the company on all those years ago.   Be Remarkable, Be Passionate, Be Humble and Be Better.   As a community centric boutique family agency, you couldn’t find a better partner to take with you on your property journey.

Meet All The Team

Should You Move or Improve? Which Option Offers the Best Value in Wembley?

With rising labour and materials costs, is it now more cost-effective to move rather than renovate?

Latest News on the Renters’ Rights Bill

The Renters’ Rights Bill has just passed its latest stage in the House of Commons. Here, we’ll look at what happened and at what it could mean for landlords, tenants and anyone considering selling their rental property investments.

Three Ways Trump Could Influence the Wembley Property Market

Next Monday (January 20th), Donald Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States of America for the second time. And whether you love or loathe him, there's no escaping from the fact that he's one of the world's most powerful person (again).