Friday 21 February 2020

Clara Frances Winterbotham MBE, JP (1880 - 1967) - five times Mayor of Cheltenham, UK

Clara Frances Winterbotham was born on 2nd August 1880 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK.  Her parents were James B. Winterbotham, a solicitor, and his wife Eliza Hunter Winterbotham, nee McLaren.

Cyril William Winterbotham, the poet, was a younger brother of Clara’s.  He was killed in action in 1916. See Forgotten Poets www.forgottenpoetsofww1.blogspot.co.uk

Clara was educated at Cheltenham Ladies College,.

During the First World War, Clara joined the local Voluntary Aid Detachment in June 1915 and worked at St John’s Hospital, Cheltenham. 

Clara became a member of Cheltenham Town Council in 1918 and later became Mayor of Cheltenham, a post which she held in all five times.

Clara's WW1 Red Cross Record Card:


Sources:


https://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/news/article/2118/the_return_of_cheltenhams_forgotten_ww1_painting

https://cheltenhamremembers.org.uk/wp-content/files/2018/09/WinterbothamPainting_Brochure.pdf

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BIq8IROixF4C&pg=PA249&lpg=PA249&dq=clara+winterbotham&source=bl&ots=YcF9DA64Jz&sig=ACfU3U3LWy5z-I7KIY1AGb3pdfAKxf-R3A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0x8iw-ODnAhW8TxUIHeayCjoQ6AEwB3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=clara%20winterbotham&f=false