Continuing our celebration of International Women’s Day 2023 we share a interview with another of our inspiring clients, Trixie, who was a qualified dentist and then moved onto a flourishing career in politics becoming a Conservative member of the British House of Lords.
Trixie was born in Australia and had come from a large family. She had eight brothers and sisters. Family meals could be very noisy, and everyone had to be able to fight their corner and argue their case. In 1957 Trixie moved to London and met and married her Australian husband, Kevin. They soon after set up a dental practice in Clerkenwell. Trixie said of the impetus to embark on a career in politics:
“I really wanted to be involved in public service and I started out in politics at a local level.”
Trixie’s recalls her biggest and proudest achievement in her career in politics was being appointed a life peer in 1981, the first Australian in the house of Lords. Commenting on this poignant moment she talks of the unfailing support of her family, saying:
“I don’t believe it would have ever happened without Kevin’s and my three daughters’ support to allow me to pursue my political career.”
Times were very different in the world of politics back in the seventies and one anecdote Trixie refers to was the first general election she fought in 1970 in Blackburn. Trixie stood against Barbara Castle. Trixie said:
“I had a great opponent in Barbara. She was an outstanding Labour Cabinet Minister. However, despite the fact that we had serious policies to discuss, the Sun newspaper wrote us up as ‘Babs ‘n Trixie’ and announced that ‘it’s a right luvverly, all woman, scratch-your-eyes-out battle for Blackburn. Virtually every article that appeared about us, mentioned our hair colour and what we were wearing! And of course, who was dealing with the washing up and the children when we were out on the election trail?”
When asked what advice Trixie would offer anyone looking to reach the top of their career, she eloquently says:
“It’s very simple really. Make the most of all the opportunities that come your way. My family motto is “keep going“ and it’s something I have always kept true to.”
