Wendy Wood
Encyclopedia
Wendy Wood (1892-June 1981) was a well-known campaigner for Scottish independence
and founder of the Scottish Patriots. An eccentric and colourful figure, she was also an artist and writer, and her antics often created controversy.
, England
, before her parents moved to South Africa
, where her father was a brewery manager and landscape painter, and was brought up in the latter country. Wood adopted her mother's maiden name in 1927 to emphasize her artistic connections. Her mother's father was the sculptor S.P.Wood, and his brother was the painter T.P. Wood. Her birth name was Gwendoline Meacham. If challenged as to her Scottish birthright, she would reply, 'One does not have to be a horse to be born in a stable', echoing the old proverb
that is sometimes misattributed to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
, albeit for a different purpose.
In 1928 Wood was one of the founders of the National Party of Scotland
, which grew into the Scottish National Party
, but, in the 1930s, decided that a non-party approach to Scottish independence
was more effective.
In 1932, Wood led a group of nationalists into Stirling Castle
, then an Army barracks as well as being open to tourists, to tear down the Union Flag
and replace it with Scotland's lion rampant
. Eric Linklater
wrote that she flushed the Union Jack down the toilet, and she sued him for libel, eventually settling out of court for a farthing damages.
In the 1930s she also founded the Scottish Watch, a youth organisation, which was very successful while she ran it. (This group is not to be confused with a later, unrelated extremist organisation of the same name.) In 1949, she had founded the Scottish Patriots, which, at the time of her death in June 1981, were some 2,000 strong.
In the 1950s came protests against the use of the regnal title
"Elizabeth II
" in Scotland, as Scotland had not had an Elizabeth I
(see also the case of MacCormick v. Lord Advocate
).
In 1960, Wood spoke to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
, to try to mobilise them behind the re-convening of the Scottish parliament
(which she asserted had not been properly dissolved in 1707, merely adjourned). This request was turned down.
Wood engaged in many international campaigns, for Irish
causes, to the remembrance of the British
concentration camps during the Second Boer War
which killed thousands, to supporting the Indian independence movement
and supporting the Iceland
ers in their 1970s cod war
over fishing grounds.
In 1972 came Wood's hunger strike
for home rule
, which effectively failed, but in 1979, Scots were given a referendum
on the matter: Scotland referendum, 1979
.
In the early 1970s Wood often read Scottish stories on the BBC
children's TV programme Jackanory
under the name Auntie Gwen. Having spent over a decade as a crofter in Moidart
(moving to Edinburgh
in 1952) she had a wide span of experience to call upon. In all she wrote ten books, the last being her aptly titled autobiography, Yours Sincerely for Scotland.
Wendy was the aunt of physicist J. B. Gunn and musician Spike Hughes
. She was the sister-in-law of both Egyptologist Battiscombe Gunn
and musician Herbert Hughes
.
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
and founder of the Scottish Patriots. An eccentric and colourful figure, she was also an artist and writer, and her antics often created controversy.
Biography
Wood was born in KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, before her parents moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where her father was a brewery manager and landscape painter, and was brought up in the latter country. Wood adopted her mother's maiden name in 1927 to emphasize her artistic connections. Her mother's father was the sculptor S.P.Wood, and his brother was the painter T.P. Wood. Her birth name was Gwendoline Meacham. If challenged as to her Scottish birthright, she would reply, 'One does not have to be a horse to be born in a stable', echoing the old proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
that is sometimes misattributed to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, albeit for a different purpose.
In 1928 Wood was one of the founders of the National Party of Scotland
National Party of Scotland
The National Party of Scotland was a political party in Scotland and a forerunner of the current Scottish National Party.The NPS was formed in 1928 after John MacCormick of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association called a meeting of all those favouring the establishment of a party...
, which grew into the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
, but, in the 1930s, decided that a non-party approach to Scottish independence
Scottish independence
Scottish independence is a political ambition of political parties, advocacy groups and individuals for Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state, separate from England, Wales and Northern Ireland....
was more effective.
In 1932, Wood led a group of nationalists into Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
, then an Army barracks as well as being open to tourists, to tear down the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
and replace it with Scotland's lion rampant
Royal coat of arms of Scotland
The royal coat of arms of Scotland was the official coat of arms of the monarchs of Scotland, and was used as the official coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland until the Acts of Union of 1707...
. Eric Linklater
Eric Linklater
Eric Robert Russell Linklater was a British writer, known for more than 20 novels, as well as short stories, travel writing and autobiography, and military history.-Life:...
wrote that she flushed the Union Jack down the toilet, and she sued him for libel, eventually settling out of court for a farthing damages.
In the 1930s she also founded the Scottish Watch, a youth organisation, which was very successful while she ran it. (This group is not to be confused with a later, unrelated extremist organisation of the same name.) In 1949, she had founded the Scottish Patriots, which, at the time of her death in June 1981, were some 2,000 strong.
In the 1950s came protests against the use of the regnal title
Regnal title
A regnal title is the title held by a monarch while in office. Monarchs can have various titles, including king or queen, prince or princess , emperor or empress , or even duke or grand duke or duchess...
"Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
" in Scotland, as Scotland had not had an Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
(see also the case of MacCormick v. Lord Advocate
MacCormick v. Lord Advocate
MacCormick v Lord Advocate was a Scottish legal action in which John MacCormick and Ian Hamilton contested the right of Queen Elizabeth II to style herself ‘Elizabeth II’ within Scotland...
).
In 1960, Wood spoke to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
, to try to mobilise them behind the re-convening of the Scottish parliament
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
(which she asserted had not been properly dissolved in 1707, merely adjourned). This request was turned down.
Wood engaged in many international campaigns, for Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
causes, to the remembrance of the British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
concentration camps during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
which killed thousands, to supporting the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
and supporting the Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ers in their 1970s cod war
Cod War
The Cod Wars, also called the Icelandic Cod Wars , were a series of confrontations in the 1950s and 1970s between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic....
over fishing grounds.
In 1972 came Wood's hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
for home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
, which effectively failed, but in 1979, Scots were given a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on the matter: Scotland referendum, 1979
Scotland referendum, 1979
The Scottish referendum of 1979 was a post-legislative referendum to decide whether there was sufficient support for the Scotland Act 1978 among the Scottish electorate. This was an act to create a devolved deliberative assembly for Scotland...
.
In the early 1970s Wood often read Scottish stories on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
children's TV programme Jackanory
Jackanory
Jackanory is a long-running BBC children's television series that was designed to stimulate an interest in reading. The show was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, the first story being the fairy-tale Cap o' Rushes read by Lee Montague. Jackanory continued to be broadcast until 24 March 1996,...
under the name Auntie Gwen. Having spent over a decade as a crofter in Moidart
Moidart
Moidart is a district in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland.Moidart lies to the west of Fort William and is very remote. Loch Shiel cuts off the south-east boundary of the district. Moidart includes the townships of Dorlin, Mingarry, Kinlochmoidart and Glenuig. At Dorlin is located the ancient fortress...
(moving to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1952) she had a wide span of experience to call upon. In all she wrote ten books, the last being her aptly titled autobiography, Yours Sincerely for Scotland.
Wendy was the aunt of physicist J. B. Gunn and musician Spike Hughes
Spike Hughes
Patrick "Spike" Cairns Hughes was a British jazz musician, composer and music journalist. He was the son of Irish composer, writer and song collector Herbert Hughes...
. She was the sister-in-law of both Egyptologist Battiscombe Gunn
Battiscombe Gunn
Battiscombe "Jack" George Gunn was an English Egyptologist and philologist. He published his first translation from Egyptian in 1906. He translated inscriptions for many important excavations and sites, including Fayum, Saqqara, Amarna, Giza and Luxor...
and musician Herbert Hughes
Herbert Hughes (musicologist)
Herbert Hughes was an Irish composer, music critic and collector of folk songs.He was born and brought up in Belfast, Ireland, but completed his formal music education at the Royal College of Music, London, graduating in 1901...
.