27. Elizabeth Andrews
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Elizabeth Andrews OBE (1882–1960) was the first woman organiser of the Labour Party in Wales.
She was born into a mining family at Hirwaun in the Cynon Valley, one of eleven children (two of whom died during childhood). She was obliged to leave school at the age of twelve, in order to help at home. Ten years later, a letter she wrote to the press in support of Evan Roberts gained her some attention, and she joined the women’s suffrage movement at about the same time. She was one of three women who gave evidence before the Sankey Commission in 1918.
As soon as women received the vote, the Labour Party appointed four female organisers, of whom Andrews was one. She campaigned tirelessly for health and education services. One of her great successes was the opening of the first nursery school in Wales in the Rhondda in 1938.She retired in 1948.
She played a key role in pit head baths being installed in collieries.
The Blue Plaque to Elizabeth Andrews was unveiled on 24 April 2009 by Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf Cllr. Margaret Davies and guest of honour Glenys Kinnock MEP.