THE first woman to be elected provost in Scotland was commemorated at a special ceremony in Dollar last Wednesday.

In 1907, 11 years before women received the right to vote, Lavinia Malcolm was elected to Dollar Town Council.

Her election came only months after women were allowed to stand and in 1913 she went one stage further and was granted the honour of provost – the first woman to be so in Scotland.

A plaque was unveiled at Burnside House, in West Burnside, which was home to Lavinia for most of her married life.

Mick Rice, Chairman of Dollar Community Council, wearing the former Dollar Provost’s robes and gold chain, was joined by current Clackmannanshire Provost Tina Murphy at the ceremony.

Janet Carolan, curator of Dollar Museum, which organised the plaque installation, said, “Lavinia Malcom is undoubtedly Dollar’s most famous woman and has the distinction of appearing in The Dictionary of National Biography.

“Dollar Museum thought it fitting that her achievements should be recognised and organised the setting up of the plaque.” Originally from Forres, Lavinia moved to Dollar after meeting Richard “Dickie” Malcolm, an English master at Dollar Academy.

“The couple had a son, Dick, who died aged eight, and after his death they undertook a great deal of work in the community resulting in her election to councillor, then provost.

In comparison with Dollar, Glasgow did not have a female provost until 1960 and Edinburgh until 1988.

Funding for the plaque was provided by Mr and Mrs Dugdale Bradley.