ISABELLA MCLAREN OR SIEVEWRIGHT
Known as “The Butterfly”, petty thief Isabella Mclaren had more than 30 offences to her name. Born into a respectable crofting family in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, around 1838, she married farm servant William Sievewright at Cairnie, near Huntly, in 1854. But her husband married another woman in 1866, and was given a jail sentence for bigamy.
While in court for her 31st offence, a breach of the peace, Isabella attacked a witness. The local press recorded: “She seized the witness with both hands by the whiskers, and tugged away fiercely, and then… still retaining hold of the whiskers with one hand, she planted the other amongst the hair of his head, and tore out a few handfuls.” Isabella continued her life of petty crime and in 1891 appeared in court for a breach of the peace in the village of New Pitsligo. An alcoholic and homeless, her last appearance was in a newspaper after she fell into the water at Peterhead Harbour. Two men tried to save her. The report read: “The body was identified as that of Isabella Mclaren or Sievewright, widow, aged 66 years of age. How she fell into the water is unknown.”
“Really proud to do her bit” is a mum of two involved in the UK’S largest peacetime operation to support the UK Government’s COVID-19 response.
Swansea University scientist by day, Royal Navy reservist Ruth Fleming is key to vaccine roll-out as part of Operation Rescript.
“I was desperate to do my bit. We had a chat about it and, despite having two young kids, knew my husband would support me,” said the 46 yearold, whose furloughed husband Nick, 52, remote teaches their seven year-old son and daughter, aged four.
“I was working really long hours,” explained Ruth, the Joint Military Command Wales Operations Officer. “Each of the vaccines have got different requirements around how they can be distributed and utilised, as well as who can give the vaccine, and the training required.” She added: “I will be at the front of the queue as soon as I get the opportunity to get the vaccine myself.”