City women celebrated with trail

Janet Keiller was a marmalade manufacturer in Dundee

The role females have played in Dundee's history is being celebrated in a new women's trail.

Twenty-five bronze plaques have been placed around the city, accompanied by a website, leaflet and book.

Those recognised include the missionary Mary Slessor, marmalade maker Janet Keiller and suffragette Ethel Moorhead.

There is also a marker to an "Anonymous Maidservant", a trade unionist who hid her identity because she would have been sacked if her boss had found out.

'Pioneering women'

Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said: "I am delighted to launch Dundee Women's Trail, a fitting tribute to 25 pioneering women who shaped and enriched this city.

"Scottish women have a proud and passionate tradition of fighting for equal rights and social justice in Scotland.

"I am sure this project will inspire many people, especially the pioneering women of tomorrow."

Folk singer Sheena Wellington sang at the launch of the trail.

"I couldn't be here today and not sing 'The Women o' Dundee' or 'Eh'm a Dundee Lassie'," she said.

There are 25 plaques in place across the city

"I've long held that Dundonian women are an inspiration to us all and I see that in the work I do in schools here. I'm delighted that the resources launched today will be used to feed hungry young minds in Dundee and, hopefully, beyond."

Jean Annand, a history teacher, is chairwoman of the group who brought the Dundee Women's Trail to fruition.

She said: "Down the centuries, the footsteps of these notable women echo and resonate with us today.

"They fought against the tide of their time and yet received remarkably little credit for their achievements.

"Today, this has changed. We're a small group of strong Dundee women, but I hope we have shown what can be done with passion, determination and feistiness to achieve our goal.

"We have much to celebrate in our own past and it remains relevant to our lives today - in a just society, there will always be a need for challenge to authority, for talent, for passion and for sheer guts in the face of overwhelming adversity."