10 Facts About Nan Hardie

Agnes "Nan" Paterson Hardie was a Scottish labour movement activist.

Hardie was born in Cumnock in Ayrshire, Hardie was the daughter of Keir and Lilian Hardie.

Nan Hardie was then a prominent mining trade unionist, and he later became the first leader of the Labour Party.

Keir believed that Nan Hardie would be his political heir, and spent a large amount of time discussing politics with her, and introduced her to other leading figures in the movement; notably, John Bruce Glasier, with whom she retained a long-term friendship.

Nan Hardie left school at the age of fourteen but, three years later, became seriously ill, suffering from pleurisy and appendicitis; although she recovered, she suffered with poor health for the remainder of her life.

Nan Hardie accompanied her father on many speaking trips, including one to Nova Scotia in 1912, until 1915 when he became ill; Nan and her mother looked after him until he died, later in the year.

In 1924, Nan Hardie married Emrys Hughes, a socialist journalist, and she spent much of the next decade assisting him in his journalistic and political career.

Nan Hardie took a particular interest in children's activities, founding a park and lido in the town, and promoted cycling.

Nan Hardie was appointed as a magistrate, and during World War II chaired the Cumnock War Work Party; although, like her husband, she opposed the conflict, she was keen to assist in the welfare of those serving in the force and their dependents.

In 1946, Hughes became seriously ill, and Nan Hardie tried to resign as provost.