julia walder “julia the first”   

Community and Voluntary Action, Everyday Life, Business and Enterprise  

Suggested by Suzanne Cosgrave  

Suzanne writes,
“Julia Walder was the first female director of Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, a position she held for 17 years. Born and brought up on island of St Martins, her parents were flower farmers.
She ran St Martin’s post office and shop for many years following in the footsteps of Aunt Daph, and rowed in the gig. Her role in support of her son and husband who have started a rum distillery on the island has been considerable.
She is a woman of many talents forged in the tough and demanding environment of the off island Scilly islands.  

I met her at school in Truro in 1968. We have been best friends ever since. Like so many unsung local heroes she has quietly achieved firsts in her local community and delivered for her family and community, contributing to the cohesion that helps a small community continue to thrive in 21st century UK.  

From Isles of Scilly Travel website:
Julia’s family were involved from the beginning of the Steamship Company as shareholders and customers.  As an ‘off-islander’, she knows better than most the necessity of good transport links.
She was invited to join as a Director in 1998 and served for 17 years.  Ken Christopher, a previous Director and (a cousin on her mother’s side) was also on the board at that time… She felt as an off-islander, it was a unique chance to help shape how the off islands were served by the Company.
At that point, the previous off islander on the Board had just stepped down, so she was the sole female member and sole member not from St. Mary’s.  Since then she has been referred to as “Julia the First” to commemorate the fact she was the first female director! 

Julia The First