Blue plaques honour for two women

TWO exceptional Carmarthen women will be honoured on Saturday with the unveiling two blue plaques.

The unveiling of the plaque to Alice Abadam will take place at 26 Picton Terrace at 11am followed by the unveiling of the plaque to Rachel Barratt at 7 Morley Street at approximately 11.15am.

Both events are open to the public.

Alice Abadam was born in London in 1856, but spent her childhood in Middleton Hall. In 1880 she became a Roman Catholic and was the organist and choir mistress of St. Mary’s in Union Street. In 1886 she moved to 26 Picton Terrace. After returning to London she became chair of the Federated Council of Suffrage Movements. She was a very strong minded woman who published many leaflets on feminist subjects.

Rachel Barratt was born in Union Street in 1874 and the family moved to Morley Street when she was a small child. It is believed that the family were part of the Unitarian community in the town She taught at the County Girls’ School in Carmarthen for three years and she became an organiser for the suffrage movement in Wales.

Eventually, she was appointed assistant editor, with Christabel Pankhurst, of The Suffragette magazine.

Both fought so valiantly to get women the vote.

As a tribute to these two women, two 18-year-old Carmarthen women, Eva Jones, head girl of Ysgol Bro Myrddin and Branwen Waghorne, head girl of Queen Elizabeth High School will perform the unveilings.

There will be a short talk on the lives of Alice and Rachel in the Falcon Hotel after the unveiling ceremonies.

The people of the Parish of Llanddarog sponsored the cost of the plaque to Alice Abadam.