May Baird

Matilda Deans "May" Baird, CBE (née Tennent; 14 May 1901 – 16 August 1983) was a Scottish doctor and social pioneer. She was a town councillor in Aberdeen, and the first woman to hold the position of Chair of a regional hospital board. She was National Governor of the BBC from 1965–1971.

May Baird

CBE
Born
Matilda Deans Tennent

(1901-01-14)14 January 1901
Larkhall, Scotland
Died16 August 1983(1983-08-16) (aged 82)
NationalityScottish
EducationUniversity of Glasgow
Occupationphysician, town councillor
RelativesSir Dugald Baird
2 daughters, 2 sons

Early life and education

Baird was born in Larkhall on 14 May 1901.[1] She was educated at a local school before going on to the Glasgow High School for Girls. She studied science and medicine at the University of Glasgow, graduating with a BSc in 1922 and an MBChB in 1924.[2]

Career

After leaving university Baird worked as a junior doctor in Glasgow hospitals. In 1928 she married Dugald Baird, a gynaecologist and obstetrician.[2] She and her husband moved to Aberdeen in 1936 when he took up the position of Regius Professor of Midwifery.

Her desire to reduce the hardships experienced by the poor and neglected led her being drawn into public life,[3] and in 1938 she was elected as a Labour Party councillor for Aberdeen Town Council. From 1938 to 1954 she was Chair of the Council's Public Health Committee.[4][5] In 1947, she was appointed as the first female Chair of the North Eastern Regional Hospital Board, with which she served until 1960.[6]

In 1951, she served as a member of the Royal Commission on the law of marriage and divorce.[5]

She was the BBC's National Governor for Scotland 1965−1971.[7][8]

She was a member of the Maternity Services Review Committee of the Department of Health.[4]

Personal life

She had two daughters and two sons. Her daughter Joyce Baird worked as a doctor specialising in diabetes at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.[9] Her son, Professor David Tennent Baird is Emeritus, and Senior Professorial Research Fellow at Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh.[1][4][10]

Death and legacy

Baird died on 16 August 1983.[1]

The Baird Family Hospital due to open in Aberdeen in 2020 is named for her, her husband, their daughter Joyce and son David, in recognition of the medical contributions they have made in Scotland and to the profession. The hospital will offer maternity, gynaecology, breast screening and breast surgery services, as well as a neonatal unit, a centre for reproductive medicine, an operating theatre suite and teaching facilities.[11]

Awards and honours

In 1960, Baird received an honorary LLD from the University of Aberdeen.[3]

She received Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1962.[12]

In 1966, she and her husband were both awarded Freedom of the City of Aberdeen. An Aberdeen street was named in her honour. She and her husband are commemorated by a plaque at 38 Albyn Place, their home.[13]

References
  1. "Obituaries: Lady May Baird". BMJ. 287 (6396): 918–919. 24 September 1983. doi:10.1136/bmj.287.6396.918. PMC 1549257.
  2. "University of Glasgow Story: People: Lady May Baird". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  3. "The Honorary Graduands". Glasgow Herald. 9 July 1960. p. 13. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  4. "Who's Who". www.ukwhoswho.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. "Seven Scots on divorce law inquiry. Glasgow and Aberdeen Women Councillors". Glasgow Herald. 23 August 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  6. "Heritage: People : Lady May Baird (1901-1983)". Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  7. "BBC Governor for Scotland". Glasgow Herald. 30 November 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  8. "Full List of Boards of Governors of the BBC" (PDF). BBC. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  9. "Obitiuary: Joyce Baird, Doctor, 85". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  10. "Who's Who". www.ukwhoswho.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  11. "NHS Grampian - The Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre". www.nhsgrampian.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  12. "Supplement 42683". The London Gazette. 25 May 1962. p. 4316. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  13. "Commemorative Plaques Record Details: Lady May Baird (1901 - 1983)". Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
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