Maureen Bell: born 1943

Maureen with her German doll, brought home by Scottish Soldier Arthur Cation.  The photograph was probably taken in Arthur Place.

Maureen with Aunt Nessie (her mum’s sister) Nessie's son and daughter Anne, Maureen's sister Sadie and cousin Alan. 

Maureen also had a brother, John.

With a ribbon in her hair at a wedding reception.

Maureen with her pal Sandra’s dog at 5 Back Dykes, where she lived at the time.

Maureen in her Duster Coat, aged 17.

Maureen  worked at the Co-op in Falkland, having first worked at “Woolies” in Cupar as a Saturday girl.  At Woolworths Maureen was the ice-cream girl and also helped out in grocery.  Whilst working at the Co-op for £2.00 a week, Maureen and her friend Millie Dryborough (a fellow shop assistant), heard that at the factory wages were £3.00 per week.  So Millie decided to change jobs and off she went to the factory.  The next thing that happened was that the Co-op shop assistant's wages were increased to £3.00 a week!

Aunt Nessie and others on a day out.

Weddings have certainly changed! 

L to R:  Mum,  Uncle Bryn (Taffy) and Auntie Betty, Uncle Steve.   Taffy was  a singer from Wales and wherever he went he would burst into song.  Uncle Steve was Sister Sadie’s man.

Front row:  Mum far left,  Aunt Nessie far right and Elma Miles Centre.  

Back row centre Margaret Gould.

If you recognise any of the happy and obviously successful footballers, do please get in touch.  There must be many stories to tell about all the good times in what looks to be a great team!

Scotland is reputed to be the first country in the world to encourage women to play football.  In the 18th century football was linked to local marriage customs in the Highlands.  Single women would play against a team of married women.  Single men would watch the games, good footballing skills equalling good marriage material!  

By the mid 19th century women began to take up association football and the first official women's match was played in May 1865.  Continuing to flourish, with 150 teams in England alone, women's matches were frequently attracting bigger crowds than men's.  The FA had always taken a dim view of women's games but they were tolerated during the war years when very little men's football was played.  The matches raised money for servicemen and local charities, and in Spring 1921, for the 'Locked Out Miners'.  The FA was appalled at what it saw as the women's involvement in national politics and, fearful that the women's game would threaten the Football League, felt compelled to act. 

 In December 1921 the FA banned all women's games from their grounds.

The FA stated:  "Complaints have been made as to football being played by women, the Council feel impelled to express their strong opinion that the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged."

"The Council are further of the opinion that an excessive proportion of the receipts are absorbed in expenses and an inadequate amount devoted to Charitable objects."

They backed this up with the risks to women's health from playing football.  

Dr Elizabeth Sloan Chesser said:  "There are physical reasons why the game is harmful to women.  It is a rough game at any time, but it is much more harmful to women than men.  They may receive injuries from which they never recover."

Dr Mary Scharlieb adding:  "I consider it a most unsuitable game, too much for a woman's physical frame."  

After watching a match Dr Mary Lowry said:  "From what I saw, football is no more likely to cause injuries to women than a heavy day's washing."

Despite opposition the ban went ahead and women's football dwindled.  By the end of the Second World War there were only 17 women's teams the UK.

The ban wasn't lifted until 1971. 

The boys from Falkland Boy's Club.

For many years Maureen helped out at The Falkland Boy’s Club run by John Todd, the village policeman.  The boys paid 20 pence a week and this covered everything, including a residential visit to Elgin, from Friday through to Monday, staying at a centre run by John’s father-in-law.  Maureen’s three sons, Andrew, Gordon and Robert all attended The Boys’ Club and, of course, went along on the residential visits.  Other mums volunteered to help on these visits and below we can see Maureen on the coach to Elgin together with Isobel Kilbain, Catherine Downey and Penny Kilbain.  The coach was driven by Maurice Kilbain, husband of Penny and the driver for the big house, Falkland House.

If you recognise yourself in the photograph and/or have memories of your trips to Elgin; shopping excursions; games; the pictures on a Saturday night, do please get in touch.

L to R:  Front Row:  Isobel Kilbain, Maureen.

Back Row:  Catherine Downey, Penny Kilbain.

L to R:  Maureen, Isobel and Catherine.