Scottish woman Evelyn Clarke dies in Dubai fall
A British woman has died after falling from a building in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Evelyn Clarke, 28, was originally from Scotland, and based in Dubai working as member of airline cabin crew.A tribute page on social media described her as "treasured and loved" as well as "beautiful, graceful and glamorous".
In a statement the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it was providing assistance.
A spokesman for the FCO said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Dubai. We are providing Consular assistance at this very difficult time."
Wigan's first female councillor Martha Hogg celebrated
Martha Hogg served as a midwife, councillor and magistrate in her life
A plaque commemorating the life of Wigan's first female councillor has been unveiled in the town.
Martha Hogg was elected to the town's council in 1920, becoming one of only a few women in public office at the time.She was born into poverty in 1872 and left school at 13 but later trained to be a midwife and also served as a magistrate after joining the council.
Councillor Myra Whiteside, who unveiled the plaque in Wigan Town Hall, said Martha was "a true trailblazer".
A council spokesman said Mrs Hogg had been "largely forgotten" and would have remained that way but for the work of local history enthusiast Thomas Walsh.
Mr Walsh said Martha was a "very formidable woman"
'Pioneering career' He said he had discovered a "very formidable woman [who was] one of the greatest figures to hail from Wigan, or given the circumstances, from anywhere in the country".
"There were very few women involved in politics when she was elected and most of them were drawn from the aristocracy or the better-off middle-classes," he said.
"Martha was a working woman who was so moved by her experiences as a midwife, she decided to go into politics to do something about it.
"When she died, Wigan came to a standstill to recognise her contribution, yet there has been no lasting memorial to her [so] it's fantastic this is now being put right."
Ms Whiteside said Mrs Hogg had "had a deep social conscience and a strong commitment to helping the poor and that's what drove her pioneering political career".
She said it was "a matter of regret it has taken so long for her to get the recognition she so richly deserves."Welsh Asian women's achievements celebrated with awards
Meena Upadhyaya says her experience is driving her to help others
Asian
women from all walks of life have been celebrated an awards ceremony in
Cardiff pioneered by a university professor who wants to share her
experiences and empower others.
A total of 21 women were nominated for the Welsh Asian Women Achievement Awards (WAWAA).Prof Meena Upadhyaya was inspired when she was put forward for another award.
"I looked round the room and saw there were no other Asian women. That was the catalyst," she said.
Prof Upadhyaya, who is now internationally recognised in her role as professor of medical genetics at Cardiff University, said although she did not win, being at those awards drove her to do more.
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WAWAA winners 2013
- Science, technology and medicine: Indu Deglurkar; Chandrika Joshi
- Management and leadership: Rakhshanda Shahzad
- Arts: Banani Sinha-Ray Sunita Menon
- Social and humanitarian: Nirmala Pisavadia
- Business: Madhvi Dalal
- Self-development Dr Bablin Molik
- Lifetime achievement Dr Minakshi Choksi; Angela Kwok; Valbai Keshra
"I had dedicated my life to
work," she said. "I feel that all my life I have done science, but now I
wanted to give something back to the wider community and to share my
experiences with women."
It could have all been so different, as she readily admits.She moved to the UK from what she calls a comfortable and privileged life in Delhi more than 30 years ago.
While her husband was initially a student in Scotland, she was happy to live as a housewife and as a mother to their young daughter.
But then, she admitted, she got bored and accustomed to going round shopping centres, and wanted to get a job.
"I expected I would get a job at Woolworths. But my husband was horrified. He said he could not go out to work because my family back in India would think he could not support me."
Instead, a long and successful medical career was to follow - an MSc from Edinburgh to add to the BSc she had gained in India, and then a PhD from Cardiff, and a fellowship from the Royal College of Pathologists.
But for most of those years Prof Upadhyaya was on her own after her husband's early death at 35.
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"Winning the Welsh Asian Small Business Woman of the Year
award in 2011 was one of the most momentous events of my life," she
said.
"At the ceremony I was left speechless (well almost!), but afterwards I felt that it was a confirmation that all the hard work in setting up my business had been worth it and gave me renewed confidence in my abilities.
"Since then, there have been a number of developments in my business, much of which can be attributed to the publicity surrounding the award and the kudos associated with it.
"I am receiving enquiries from as far afield as Ilford, Bristol and Birmingham and there has been an increase from Cardiff and the surrounding areas.
"Also, following media coverage, the proportion of my clientele from non-Asian background has significantly increased giving my business a wider base."
Make-up and henna artist Farhana Ali: Previous winner
"At the ceremony I was left speechless (well almost!), but afterwards I felt that it was a confirmation that all the hard work in setting up my business had been worth it and gave me renewed confidence in my abilities.
"Since then, there have been a number of developments in my business, much of which can be attributed to the publicity surrounding the award and the kudos associated with it.
"I am receiving enquiries from as far afield as Ilford, Bristol and Birmingham and there has been an increase from Cardiff and the surrounding areas.
"Also, following media coverage, the proportion of my clientele from non-Asian background has significantly increased giving my business a wider base."
She said it had been difficult rising to the top of her chosen career path being Asian and a woman.
"I felt excluded, I had to work so hard to achieve in a world
dominated by men. And now I want to pass on all my experiences and help
others," she said."But my experience also shows it's never too late to change. Everybody has potential."
The awards have grown since their launch two years ago, with about 300 guests attending the Cardiff City Hall ceremony on Saturday night.
Prof Upadyaya said as well as an extra category - life achievement - this year's ceremony had invited women from more Asian countries and gained sponsorship.
She was "privileged and inspired" to be involved with the those taking part - role models not just for their communities but also for women as a whole.
"Our aim is to empower these women so that they can be role models, not only for the Asian community, but also Welsh women," she said.
In the future they intend to use the platform to tackle issues which affect women in the community such as domestic violence, sex trafficking and education.
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni