Cicily Fairfield

Cicily (Cissy) Fairfield aka Dame Rebecca West

Dates: 21 December 1892 – 15 March 1983

Lived at: Fairliehope, 5 Chatham Close

Suffrage organisation(s):

  • Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)

Key roles:
  • None

1911 Census:
  • Cicily and her family evaded the census.

Militant Activities:
  • Cicily took part in suffragette street protests
  • Involved in selling suffragette newspapers from the age of 14.

Other achievements:
  • Wrote for a range of publications, including The Freewoman, a feminist publication (which was banned by WH Smith) and The Clarion
  • Became better known under her pen name of Dame Rebecca West. Became celebrated author of novels, essays, and journalism
  • Awarded: CBE – 1949, DBE – 1959.

Memorialised: There is a blue plaque in her honour at her former home at Hope Park Square, Edinburgh

Read the full description of Cicily Fairfield here
 

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