Ethel Hovey’s name should be synonymous with Colwyn Bay and the history of women’s contributions in Wales. Yet, despite her remarkable achievements and lasting legacy, her name remains largely unknown. In contrast, her sister’s name endures, honored through scholarships at Somerville College Oxford, Bangor University, and a local Housing Trust—partly due to Ethel’s efforts to ensure her sister’s memory lived on after her untimely death.
This digital exhibition seeks to share Ethel’s lifetime of work, though even now, it remains a work in progress. Ethel was a true trailblazer whose determination and sense of civic responsibility led her to achieve many pioneering milestones. She was the first woman councillor in Colwyn Bay, the first woman Mayor of both the Colwyn Bay Urban District Council and the Colwyn Bay Borough Council, the first female Chairman of a UDC in North Wales, the first woman JP in Colwyn Bay, the first female Alderman of Colwyn Bay, and the first woman from Colwyn Bay to receive the Freedom of the Borough. Additionally, she secured North Wales’ first playground and maternity home, among numerous other extraordinary achievements.
Her accomplishments were especially remarkable at a time when women didn’t even have the right to vote. Yet, despite the obstacles, including the infamous “marriage bar,” which prevented women from working once married, Miss Ethel Hovey’s resolve remained unshaken. While there were some battles, such as this one, that she couldn’t overcome, her legacy of championing the advancement of women and girls—especially in music, sports, academia, politics and beyond—remains unmatched. Ethel ensured that future generations of girls had the opportunities they deserved.
Her vision extended to supporting women in their later years as well. She founded Colwyn Bay’s first elderly Rest Home for women, providing care for those without family support after years of dedicated service to the town and in actual Service.
By 1952, Ethel Hovey was widely admired, and her death in 1953 prompted an outpouring of grief. Her legacy was immortalised in countless tributes celebrating her tireless work. While her sister’s name has since overshadowed hers, 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Colwyn Bay—and it is time to celebrate not only the town but the incredible woman who played such a pivotal role in making it great. This year, we honour the enduring legacy of Ethel Hovey.
This digital exhibition was researched and compiled by Colwyn Bay Heritage Group secretary Gemma Campbell