Sheila Lochhead
Sheila Lochhead | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 December 1910  London |
| Died | 22 July 1994 (aged 83) Swansea |
| Occupation | Prison visitor |
| Parent(s) | |
| Family | Ishbel MacDonald |
Sheila Lochhead born Sheila Ramsay MacDonald (7 December 1910 – 22 July 1994) was a hostess, prison visitor and writer. In 1924 her widowed father became Britain's Prime Minister. Her sister Ishbel MacDonald, became his political hostess and then Sheila took on the role. Sheila gave up politics to become a leading prison visitor leading the National Association of Official Prison Visitors for three years.
Biography[edit]
Lochhead was born in 1910, she was one of the six children of the future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Ramsay MacDonald and his wife Margaret MacDonald ( born Gladstone}.[1] She was head girl at the North London Collegiate School and then she studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in Oxford at Somerville College where she won a hockey blue and graduated with a 2:1. Lochhead at one time hoped to enter politics.[2]
In 1924 her widowed father had become Prime Minister of the Britain's first Labour Government. Her sister Ishbel MacDonald, became her father's hostess while he was at 10 Downing Street and then afterwards. She took over as her father's hostess including when he was sent abroad on missions. She found time to do this while also working at Wormwood Scrubs Prison. Their last trip together was in 1937 to South America when her father died.[1] In 1938 her sister married[3]
Lochhead had worked in prisons and she wanted them reformed. She was chair of the National Association of Official Prison Visitors for three years[1] and she wrote a history of prison visiting in 1993 titled "Outside-in: A Study of Prison Visiting".[4] She and her husband lived in Swansea and she organised a home for the homeless and a hostel for people who had been in prison.[1]
Lochead died in 1994, a year after a stroke left her half paralysed.[1]
Private life[edit]
She married in 1948 and she and Andrew Van Slyke Lochhead had three children. He survived her and died in 2002.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Lyon, Peter (23 September 2004). "MacDonald, Malcolm John (1901–1981), politician and diplomatist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1 (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31388. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "MacDonald Family". Amersham Museum. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Ishbel MacDonald to Wed English House Decorator. The Pittsburgh Press - 14 February 1938 [1]
- ^ Lockhead, Sheila (February 1999). Outside in: Study I Visiting. William Sessions Limited. ISBN 978-1-85072-121-5.
- ^ "Andrew Lochhead". HeraldScotland. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
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