Trailblazing 1980s mayor 'hero' for granddaughter

Pauline Dee was the only woman with 11 men when she joined Wem Town Council

A woman who became the first female town councillor in Wem in 1981 has shared her experiences of politics with her granddaughter.

Pauline Dee, 84, was an independent councillor and later joined Shropshire Council. She was on both authorities until she retired in 2021.

She was the only woman with 11 men when she joined Wem Town Council aged 39 and said: "Being the first woman there was really an honour."

Her 12-year-old granddaughter Mia said she was "really proud" of her grandmother, adding: "My grandma is one of my number one heroes and she's so inspiring. For me to have her as a grandma, that really means a lot."

Mia said she believed that women could still face barriers but she added: "I think grandma has really helped me not really care about it as much, just so I can prove people wrong."

Mia (left) described her grandma as "inspiring"

Ms Dee's time as Wem's first female mayor, from 1985 to 1986, has inspired an exhibition looking back at life as it was in the town then - 40 years on.

A presentation at Wem Town Hall on Friday showed photographs, anecdotes and memorabilia recording the lives of about 400 residents.

Asked by her granddaughter if she had faced any setbacks, Ms Dee said: "Yes I did, because of being the only woman."

She described how the glass ceiling at that point affected many other women of her age, adding: "I wanted to encourage more women to come on the council and I did."

She said one of her own heroes had been Betty Boothroyd, the Labour MP and first female Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000.

Ms Dee, who once met her at an event in Shrewsbury, said: "I just thought she was so amazing, the way she could control all those people [in Parliament]."

Wem Town Hall General Manager Pam King (left) and North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan attended Friday's presentation

Ms Dee also described how she combined her role as a councillor with a family as well as working for an architect and as a school dinner lady.

At school, children sought her help with questions and problems, some of which were "hair-raising", she revealed.

Ms Dee, who as a local councillor was in a position to help, said: "Being able to do something for those young people was really great."