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Dorothée dreamed of becoming an automobile engineer. In 1914, she applied to join the Institution of Automobile Engineers, but was told “the word person means a man”.
At aged 22, she became Lady Superintendent of Vickers Munitions factory in Barrow-in-Furnace, in charge of 7000 women during World War 1. For this she was awarded the MBE.
In 1920, aided by her father, Dorothée designed the ‘Galloway’ car in Tongland by Kirkcudbright, built by women, for women. It had certain distinctive features to make it easier for women to drive. This included a gear stick and handbrake inside rather than outside the car, a smaller steering wheel, a raised driver’s seat, and an inside mirror. It was a light car to drive. Driven out of the automobile industry by rampant sexism, she turned to owning a chain of laundrettes, saying “No man can say that washing is taking away work from men!”
Dorothée was inducted into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame in 2012. A professional cast will play Dorothée, her father, and a narrator/interviewer, with two musicians on cello, accordion and voice.
The show is written and directed by Dave Dewar
Supported by Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival
NB. The Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright is offering a special 10% discount for those attending the play at either Kirkcudbright or Dumfries. This covers a 1 or 2 night stay from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 October, which must be booked directly with the hotel here [https://www.selkirkarmshotel.co.uk/].
Image: With kind permission of the LeCouvey & Martin family archives