Ida Copeland

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COPELAND,(1876–1964), Mrs Ronald (Ida), FRSA, Silver Medallist

[edit] Family and Early Life

Ida Copeland [née Fenzi] (1876–1964), Politician, was born in Florence, Italy in about 1875/6. Daughter of Senitor Cav.Camillo Fenzi ( d. August 1883) of the noble Florentine banking family, and his wife, Evelyne Isabella, daughter of Sir Douglas Strutt Galton. She was brought up in Florence, but came back to England when still young. After her father's death her mother married, in 1898, Leonard D. Cunliffe of Juniper Hill, Mickleham, near Dorking, in Surrey. Ida was to live there until 1915 when she married Richard Ronald John Copeland Esq (1884–1958), Staffordshire, the second son of Richard Pirie Copeland Esq. and grandson of William Taylor Copeland. They had two sons (Spencer 1918- 2003 & Geoffrey 1920-1953). From 1913 Ronald Copeland. was president and chairman of the Spode-Copeland firm of bone china manufacturers in Staffordshire. They travelled widely abroad in order to promote the quality of Spode bone China.

Ida was also active in Girl Guides and was on the International Council of Girl Guides from 1920–28 and 1940-?. She was throughout her life dedicated to all forms of social and welfare causes. Mrs Copeland and her husband were good friends with Baden-Powell and played an important part in the developing of the Girl Guide movement. She served as a division commissioner for the north-west of the county from 1918, while her husband Ronald was a county commissioner for the Boy Scouts Association.

[edit] Elected MP

In 1920 she became chairman of the Stoke division of the Women's Unionist Association. She was chosen as Conservative candidate for Stoke on Trent in 1931 for the general election. One of her main opponents was Sir Oswald Mosley (also known as the fascist), leader of the New Party and who maintained strong connections with the Nazi Party in Germany which were strengthened by his wife Lady Cynthia Moseley’s personal connections with Adolf Hitler. Lady Cynthia Mosley, had won Stoke for Labour in 1929. Although Mosley spent less than a week campaigning in the constituency, directing his efforts instead at a national campaign, Mosley met with enthusiastic support there, especially among younger voters. In spite of this, and to the amazement of her supporters, the electoral tide ran in Copeland's favour. She benefited from her husband's position as a leading china manufacturer in the Potteries, while her 'moderate and straightforward appeal' won her an audience even outside factory gates ( The Times, 23 Oct 1931). She won by an impressive majority of 6654 votes.

Copeland made her maiden speech in May 1932 on import duties, which she approached 'entirely from the point of view of the pottery industry' ( Hansard 5C, vol. 265, col. 1204). It was an industry under threat from foreign competition and she welcomed the protection that tariffs afforded. She believed that overseas manufacturers paid starvation wages to their workers, and it was with a critical eye on the opposition benches that she asked:

Can we allow goods manufactured under those conditions to come into this country and lower the standard of living of our own people? I say 'no', and I firmly believe that, if we raise these tariffs, the time will come when our industry will be on its feet again. (ibid., col. 1206)

[edit] Accomplishments

  • Served on the International Council of Girl Guides from1920-1928 and in 1940,
  • Division Commissioner for N.W. Staffordshire Division of Girl Guides from 1918;
  • Chairman of Stoke Division Women's Unionist Association, 1920;
  • MP (U) Stoke Division of Stoke-on-Trent, 1931-1935;
  • Chairman of the Staffordshire Anglo Polish Society 1943-;
  • President of the Staffordshire Allotment Holders Association in 1948-;
  • President of the Women's Advisory Council, Truro Division 1955.
  • Sister of Order of St John of Jerusalem, 1949.
  • Polish Gold Cross of Merit, 1952.
  • Donor of the Trelissick Gardens Estate to the National Trust in 1955.