Sheila McKechnie
Encyclopedia
Dame Sheila Marshall McKechnie, DBE (3 May 1948 – 2 January 2004) was a Scottish trade unionist, housing campaigner and consumer activist.
Sheila McKechnie was born in Camelon
, Falkirk
, in 1948. She read Politics and History at the University of Edinburgh
, where she was a friend of future UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown
. She was a member of the Students' Representative Council
, holding the posts of Secretary and 2nd Junior President. After graduation, she took an MA in Industrial Relations from University of Warwick
.
After working as a trade union official in the 1970s, during which she was active in the Women's Movement, she became director of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter
in 1985.
After ten years in charge, she left to become head of the Consumers' Association
, campaigning on a wide range of issues, often using headline-grabbing stunts. In 2001 McKechnie said: “I am a fully paid-up member of the awkward squad and will remain so for the rest of my life. No government would ever feel entirely comfortable with me or the association because we are both fiercely, fiercely independent.”
She was made an OBE in 1994 for her work with Shelter, and DBE in 2001 for her work on behalf of consumers. She was chosen as the University of Edinburgh alumnus of the year in 1991. She has been on the Board of Trustees of The Architecture Foundation
.
McKechnie was diagnosed with cancer in 1997. Following her death in 2004, the Sheila McKechnie Foundation
was established to support a new generation of campaigners.
Sheila McKechnie was born in Camelon
Camelon
Camelon is a large settlement within the Falkirk council area, Scotland. The village is in the Forth Valley, west of Falkirk, south of Larbert and east of Bonnybridge...
, Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, in 1948. She read Politics and History at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where she was a friend of future UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
. She was a member of the Students' Representative Council
Students' Representative Council
A Students' Representative Council represents student interests in the government of a university, school or other educational institution. Generally the SRC forms part of a broader Students' Association which may include other functions such as societies, entertainments and sports Universities...
, holding the posts of Secretary and 2nd Junior President. After graduation, she took an MA in Industrial Relations from University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
.
After working as a trade union official in the 1970s, during which she was active in the Women's Movement, she became director of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter
Shelter (charity)
Shelter is a registered charity in England and Scotland that campaigns to end homelessness and bad housing. It gives advice, information and advocacy to people in need, and tackles the root causes of bad housing by lobbying government and local authorities for new laws and policies to improve the...
in 1985.
After ten years in charge, she left to become head of the Consumers' Association
Consumers' Association
The Consumers' Association is the umbrella organisation that houses the trading arm Which? Ltd. The Consumers' Association is a charity, registered in England and Wales No 296072. Which? Ltd is its wholly owned trading subsidiary....
, campaigning on a wide range of issues, often using headline-grabbing stunts. In 2001 McKechnie said: “I am a fully paid-up member of the awkward squad and will remain so for the rest of my life. No government would ever feel entirely comfortable with me or the association because we are both fiercely, fiercely independent.”
She was made an OBE in 1994 for her work with Shelter, and DBE in 2001 for her work on behalf of consumers. She was chosen as the University of Edinburgh alumnus of the year in 1991. She has been on the Board of Trustees of The Architecture Foundation
The Architecture Foundation
The Architecture Foundation was Britain's first independent architecture centre. Established in 1991, it aims to promote contemporary architecture.The Architecture Foundation has organised public exhibitions, design initiatives, competitions and debates....
.
McKechnie was diagnosed with cancer in 1997. Following her death in 2004, the Sheila McKechnie Foundation
Sheila McKechnie Foundation
The Sheila McKechnie Foundation is a charity based in the United Kingdom. It was set up in 2005 to support new and inexperienced campaigners, and to champion the right to campaign....
was established to support a new generation of campaigners.