Wiltshire is brimming with inspirational women; and it’s only right on International Women’s Day to recognise a few of them who have made the world a better place through noble campaigning, remarkable careers or by simply being themselves.
At this newspaper, we have had the joy of interviewing some incredible change-makers, risk-takers and community heroes; many of whom are unaware of just how much impact they have really had in their corner of the world, yet continue to fight to make a difference every day.
Here are a few of them.
Celia Pool
One entrepreneur who has made a name for herself in championing women’s equality is Celia Pool. The former student at St Mary’s school in Calne is dedicated to her company Dame’s mission is to make eco-friendly period products.
She has been reforming the industry, making products that use less plastic.
Celia wants to open up the conversation around periods for women and reduce the stigma many of them feel.
She told us: “I didn’t really feel much had changed since I was a teenage girl in terms of conversation or product.
“And people were still sticking tampons up their sleeve on a good day.”
Tze Ching Yeung
Founder of Chippenham’s community-led project and sustainable business: ‘Refashion My Town’ Tze Ching-Yeung is passionate about seeing real change in the way of sustainable clothing in Wiltshire.
She told us her thoughts on the current understanding around environmentalism and fashion: “People like deals, and I think that’s where education comes into play. We don’t get taught about the value of things anymore.
"The value is only valued at the cost value, and we need that change of mindset where cost is not everything, there is an environmental and social prices to play as well.”
Tracey Hannam
The 54-year-old who has taken on the fierce challenge of walking the entire coastline of Britain told us all about why she first got started on the mammoth walk, noting that after she lost her job working in a Chippenham shop, ‘she felt like she had nothing.’
Ms Hannam said: “My heart was in tatters, and my mind was confused as to what I would do at the age of 53-years-old.”
She decided to take it back to basics and quickly bought a tent for a challenge she set herself the bold challenge, all to raise as much money for the mental health charity MIND as possible.
She added: “I am doing it because I can and because I want to. I love being feral and free in the great outdoors by living, feeling, seeing, doing all I can to empower myself as a woman and a human being.”
Marie McCluskey MBE
Marie is an excellent example of a woman who has been committed to her work and brightened the lives of many.
She established Swindon Dance in 1979 and led the organisation from its beginnings in the Community Arts Department of Swindon Borough Council - formerly Thamesdown Borough Council - through to its transition as an Independent Charitable Trust in 2005.
She retired in 2015 after 34 years of being at the forefront of the organisation.
Marie told us: “It has been an amazing privilege to have led Swindon Dance and I have been very fortunate to have been supported by outstanding and dedicated staff, teachers and dance artists throughout this time."
Achaynie Blake
Achaynie Blake was integral to the Black Lives Matter protests which took place in Chippenham in the summer of 2020 as a co-organiser for the event.
She said: "It has gone really well, and the fact we had so many people stand up to the open mic and say what they said was amazing."
After the crowd knelt in symbolic silence for eight and three quarter minutes - the amount of time George Floyd was said to have had a policeman's knee on his neck - she set a run of around ten the speeches going, with an impassioned cry that "racism is a pandemic."
"I am not an aggressive black woman," she told the crowd. "It is not white versus black, it is everyone versus the racists."
Taya Penny
This 20-year-old of Lambrok Road, Trowbridge, who used to have long, thick hair all the way down to her waist, opted for a new, shorter hairstyle when she had her hair cut to donate to The Little Princess Trust.
It was all to raise money for West Wilts Special Needs Activity Scheme, a cause she is deeply passionate about.
Karina Hooker
The former Wiltshire Times media executive was in for a challenging year back in 2015, tackling first a 60-mile one-day trek from London to Brighton, followed by the Three Peaks Challenge and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
The 28-year-old, from Paxcroft, Trowbridge, raised money for charity Headway. She was joined by her dad Malcolm, 57, on the first trek and is walking up to 10 miles a day in training.
Kate Farrar
Has been commended for her work with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children in Wiltshire, and has even previously been shortlisted for an award.
The Willtshire Council social worker has achieved national recognition for her outstanding dedication and commitment to children and families at a prestigious awards ceremony in 2021.
Tabitha Taya
Former John of Gaunt pupil Miss Taya found out she had the syndrome, which affects one in 5,000 women, at 15, just three months after her mother, Niki Pang, died of a rare and incurable form of cancer, called sarcoma.
Miss Taya, a former model, said: “Through Living MRKH, I want to support those with MRKH and let them know there is help out there.
“Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, in London, is the only hospital in the country that treats the condition and it took me many years to find that out, so I just want to make things easier for others.”
Kate Tivney
In 2020, Kate Tivney, chairwoman of Selwood Housing’s Customer Scrutiny Team was been named as one of the UK’s twenty most inspiring women leaders in housing.
Selected from over 350 nominations, the awards highlight the most influential women working in social housing who bring their passion and expertise to help to solve the UK’s housing crisis.
In her role as volunteer chair, Mrs Tivney leads an independent group of customers that review Trowbridge-based Selwood Housing services to ensure they are effective.
Mrs Tivney said: “No one is more delighted than me to be named among this group of amazing women doing such important work. It was one thing to be nominated, that was an honour. To be selected was just incredible!”
Lana Smith
Ms Smith, 45, who is transgender is a remarkable example of someone who has taken ownership of who she is to improve her life. In 2019, working at the Co-operative in Gloucester Road, she was finally able to be herself at work after getting in touch with Respect, the Co-op’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender network.
Miss Smith realised she was different when she was about 10, but it wasn’t until recently she felt comfortable and confident being a woman while at work.
“I got in touch a few years ago when society’s attitudes were starting to change and I needed a bit more support,” she explained.
Teresa Hibbs and Vivienne Skinner
Two Trowbridge care workers each received a long service award in 2019 for working with people with autism and disabilities for 40 years.
Teresa Hibbs first worked as an agency worker at a Trowbridge care home, The Old Rectory and became the manager here as well as at another care home, Newtown, almost 12 years ago.
She said: "What I enjoy most about the role is seeing people achieve and get the most of out their lives.
“Over the last 20 years, people with learning disabilities have become more integrated into society, and they now feel part of the local community.”
Vivienne Skinner, support worker across the Trowbridge services, also received the accolade for 20 years of service.
She said: "The best thing about my job is the variety, working across the different services and no two days are ever the same. I hope to carry on working until 2025 when I will be 75."
Felicity Stafford-Wood
Mrs Stafford-Wood co-founded ‘The Rosebud Foundation’ in May last year after with her husband after their daughter Isobel Rose tragically died in January, and she is determined for conversations around the deaths of infants to be less taboo.
She said: “Part of the reason why we started ‘The Rosebud Foundation’ was because we needed something to keep us going when life was very dark. We also wanted to thank the N.E.S.T. Team for their support.”
“Part of our grief is that we want the whole wide world to know that she existed. When we lost our daughter, it felt like a piece of us had gone. And there’s an emptiness. There was a terrible emptiness.”
Sue Deedigan
The Calne Without Parish Councillor who is part of various environment action groups is on a mission to help people become more climate conscious.
She said: “COP 26 has brought it to the forefront of people’s minds, but at the same time we’re not really doing enough.”
“However, there is a collection of people from the Calne area that are concerned about the environment.”
Ms Deedigan has been working to improve understanding in the community, through initiatives like the Eco Fest which took place in November last year.
She added: “It’s those little conversations going on. So we thought, if we put on a Fest we’ll be able to promote awareness and also be able to produce a space for people in the area that are building sustainable businesses and give them an opportunity to sell their stuff. So all the people there selling their stuff from the local area which is brilliant really.”
What Wiltshire woman is inspiring you this International Women's Day? Tell us in the comments.
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