Ada Redwood: controversy and convenience

Ada Redwood was born Martha MacDonald in 1867. Twenty years later, she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Ethel, and her somewhat tempestuous life continued even after she married Frederick Redwood in 1908 and became part of that respected Marlborough family.

Brothers Fred and Joe Redwood were living in the family home at Spring Creek along with their nephew Edmund Eccles and his new wife, Maude.

Maude Eccles took an instant dislike to Ada, as did Joe Redwood. Within four months of her marriage, Ada pointed a loaded rifle at Joe Redwood.

She was arrested, giving the Marlborough Express a field day. But no evidence was offered in court, and the case was dismissed. It was noted that “unusually for Blenheim, a number of ladies occupied seats in the gallery”.

Ada and her gun were indeed great gossip and scandal.

Just eight months later, Ada retaliated by charging Maude with using insulting language toward her and asked that she be bound over to keep the peace. Once again, the pair slugged it out through the newspaper, and this time they dragged Ada’s daughter Ethel down with them.

Ethel was having afternoon tea at Scott’s tearoom in Market Place, when Maude came in and proclaimed to all and sundry that she was “surprised that people would mix with the daughter of Mrs Fred Redwood”.

Once again, the case was dismissed, the judge saying there were no threats of personal violence towards Ada.

Ten years went by, and in October 1919, well-known Councillor Billy Carr lost his seat on the Borough Council because of non-attendance. Ada stood against him and won, the first ever woman Councillor and the only one for another fifty years.

“I am Alice in Wonderland here, I am not yet fully conversant with the procedure,” Ada said at her first Council meeting, where she began advocating for a women’s restroom in town.

“Men are well catered for,” she said, “but women have been suffering real hardship”.

Her campaign bore fruit when Hallensteins provided Blenheim’s first women’s toilets in their Market Street store. Their December 1920 advertisement reads: “In addition to the shopping facilities we have a Ladies Rest Room which should be found a convenience by our numerous lady customers”.

Well done, Ada Redwood: 1867-1943.