Marjorie Vinson MBE (21 May 1905 – 30 November 2000) was a British-born teacher. After moving to the Falkland Islands she became the first woman to be elected to the islands' Legislative Council in 1964.
Marjorie Vinson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Council | |
| In office 1964–1968 | |
| Preceded by | George Bonner |
| Succeeded by | Robin Pitaluga |
| Constituency | East Falkland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 May 1905 Liverpool, United Kingdom |
| Died | 30 November 2000 (aged 95) Datchet, United Kingdom |
Biography
editVinson was born in Liverpool in May 1905, the oldest of five children of Florence (née Greaves) and Ernest Downs, a ship captain.[1] With her father often at sea, she raised her younger siblings during her teenage years.[1] After training as a primary school teacher, she worked at several schools in Liverpool.[1]
Following World War II Vinson moved to Stanley in the Falkland Islands to start a three-year contract as deputy head of the town's primary school.[1] While in the Falklands, she met Dick Vinson.[1] The couple married and she moved to North Arm, where they had two children and Vinson often taught children in the area when the visiting teacher was absent.[1] The family moved to Darwin in 1964. In the same year she contested the elections to the Legislative Council. Winning the East Falkland by three votes,[2] she became the first woman elected to the Legislative Council. During her term in the council she focused on education in Camp.[1]
After leaving the Legislative Council, Vinson was awarded an MBE in the 1969 New Year Honours.[3] When Dick retired in 1971, the couple moved to Datchet in England. She died in November 2000.[1]