Elizabeth Andrews, a Pivotal Figure in Early 20th Century Welsh Activism, Honored with New Statue

A new statue is set to commemorate Elizabeth Andrews, a profoundly influential Welsh female political activist whose contributions have largely been overlooked. Andrews, an ardent internationalist and suffragist born in the former mining village of Hirwaun in 1882, dedicated her life to championing the rights of women and children. Her likeness will be permanently installed at Rhondda Heritage Park on Thursday, marking the final unveiling in the Monumental Welsh Women campaign, which aims to recognize five real, named women.

The campaign has already honored Betty Campbell, Elaine Morgan, Sarah Jane Rees (known as Cranogwen), and Lady Rhondda. Andrews, one of eleven children from a poor, working-class mining family in Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, left school at the age of 13 to assist her parents. Community councillor Eryl O’Neill remarked on the lack of local awareness, stating, “The people of Hirwaun were not really aware of her. I’ve got to confess, I didn’t know anything about her either.”

‘Educate, Agitate, Organise’: Andrews’ Driving Philosophy

Andrews’ engagement with politics began at a young age, influenced by discussions at her father’s side, according to her great-great-niece, Melinda Hawthorne. “She started quite young because she sat at her father’s knee, and there was a lot of discussion about politics,” Hawthorne explained. “She wasn’t fully educated, but she was able to go out and talk to people. She was amazing, and quite a remarkable woman.”

Her extensive work included being a suffragist, the first secretary for the women’s guild in the Rhondda, and the first woman Labour Party Organiser for Wales. Hawthorne described her as “another one of these women that have been hidden.” Local women affectionately knew her as “Our Elizabeth” for her unwavering pursuit of “better equality.” Her personal motto, “educate, agitate, organise,” encapsulated her approach: empowering individuals with knowledge of their rights, mobilizing them to demand change, and coordinating their efforts.

Advocacy for Miners’ Families and Children

Andrews was a relentless advocate for improved maternity and childcare services and played a key role in establishing one of Wales’s earliest nursery schools. As the first Labour Party Women’s Organiser for Wales, a position created after some women gained the right to vote in 1918, she established women’s sections, referring to them as “working women’s universities.” A significant early task involved translating English leaflets into Welsh to encourage women to exercise their newfound suffrage.

Her successful campaign for the introduction of pit-head baths for miners significantly eased the burden on women who previously had to transport heavy tin baths of scalding water from home. Andrews also made vital contributions during the tumultuous 1926 General Strike and its aftermath, a period marked by a six-month lockout for miners who ultimately accepted wage cuts.

Historian and professor Angela V. John detailed Andrews’ involvement during this time: “She was involved in trying to get food parcels, in sewing organisations. She also gave endless talks in the Rhondda, trying to encourage women in particular to pull together and to work, to try and alleviate the hardship that existed even before 1926.”

Alongside fellow campaigner Beatrice Green, Andrews orchestrated a relief effort to mitigate financial distress for families. This initiative involved sending children from mining communities to stay temporarily with volunteer families in cities such as London following the strike.

A Sculptural Tribute to a Legacy

The sculptor of the 6.5ft (2m) bronze statue, Billie Bond, revealed that these stories were central to her design, which incorporates a young child. The depiction of the child is based on Rhona Allen, who hailed from a large mining family in Llwynypia, Rhondda. “A child had to be a part of it,” Bond stated. “What struck me when I first learned about what she achieved was what she did for the mining community and families.”

Bond highlighted other elements of the statue: “Her achievements with the compulsory pit-head baths, that was another thing that stood out for me, so I have her standing on an upturned tin bath. She’s very accessible, you can go up to her and touch her. This is the first life-size public statue that I’ve done. It’s been so interesting and fascinating.”

Elizabeth Andrews passed away in Ton Pentre in 1960. Helen Molyneux, chair of Monumental Welsh Women, expressed that Andrews’ statue, along with the others, will “act as an inspiration to women and girls.” She added, “Before the statue of Betty Campbell was unveiled in Cardiff, there was not a single statue of a named Welsh woman in Wales. Now Wales has five statues telling the stories of these wonderful women who stand as an example to everyone of what can be achieved when women use their voices to speak up for change.”