Edith Hacon

Born Edith Catherine Mary Dolores Broadbent,[2] to John Broadbent and Margaret Broadbent née Rayment, in 1875, her parents died when she was a young woman.[3] Edith became a socialite in London in her 20s, working as an artist model (known as Amaryllis)[3] and high class escort (known as Muriel)[4] and was the mistress of Arthur Symons. Symons wrote her (partly fantasy) life story in 'The Life of Lucy Newcome', with extracts published in The Savoy, and a poem 'To Muriel: At the Opera' (14 November 1892) published in his collection London Nights.[4] Her social circle included Oscar Wilde, Aubrey Beardsley, Selwyn Image, Herbert Horne and international visitors, such as Paul Verlaine.[4] She married barrister and art collector, and investor in the Vale Press,[5] William Llewellyn Hacon and became known as Rhyllis Llewellyn Hacon and converted to Roman Catholicism.[3]

1910 picture of Oversteps in Dornoch - Hacon and Davidson are thought to be in the picture

Due to her husband's interest in golf, they built a home in Dornoch, Sutherland called Oversteps[6] an Arts and Crafts style house (now a nursing home)[7] which Edith later shared with fellow suffragist Margaret Davidson, a teacher, both of whom volunteered to serve in the WW1 women's hospital (to 1917) and became Girl Guide leaders (1931).[8]

1931- Dornoch Guides - Hacon is 6th from the left of the group leaders and her friend Miss Davidson is beside her.

Hacon and Davidson took part in the 1928 tercentary Dornoch Pageant marking the granting of the Royal Charter to the Burgh of Dornoch by Charles I in 1628.[9]

The Llewellyn Hacons also had a home in Dieppe where they hosted artist Toulouse Lautrec[8] and artist Charles Conder came to Dornoch and painted Edith's portrait in 1896, 'On the Shore at Dornoch' which is in Aberdeen Art Gallery. [1] Prime Minister H.H. Asquith resided at Oversteps on his annual holidays in Scotland.

William Llewellyn Hacon died in 1910.[8]

Hacon then did charity work in 1912-13 in Shetland with 'Irish fisher girls' who were supported by the Catholic church in the 'gutting' season travelling with the fishing fleet, including contributing to building a rest home, called 'The White Rest'.[3]

In 1918, Hacon married a Canadian soldier William Robichaud, whom she met serving in the Scottish Women's Hospital in France;[8] he later became a timber merchant.[2]

Hacon died on 28 August 1952 in Glasgow but is buried next to William Llewellyn Hacon in Dornoch.[2][3]

In 1912, Hacon was a founding member and president of the Women's Liberal Association at Dornoch, and they hosted a tour of leaders from the Scottish women's organisations, encouraging local support for the women's suffrage cause.[10]

In 1914, Hacon became vice president of the Dornoch National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) branch and she was able to report that half of the electors had signed their petition in support of women's suffrage, whilst campaigning at the Northern Burghs by-election that year.[11]

The NUWSS membership had grown to 60 members under her leadership [8] and had regular visiting speakers from the national groups.[6]

At the start of World War One, Hacon volunteered with Margaret Davidson for a role in Dr. Elsie Inglis's WW1 Scottish Women's Hospital at Royaumont [12]and began as an orderly. 'Mrs. Hacon' became the housekeeper and called herself 'Head of Char'. Hacon supervised the kitchen, and seamstress work, making and repairing uniforms[13] and organised hockey matches and tea to keep up morale, and made a rag doll for one of the wounded soldiers.[14] Hacon served for three years, and was awarded a Silver Medal "Medaille des Epidemics"[15] by the French Government,[16] and both the British War Medal and Victory Medal.[17]

As a Roman Catholic, Hacon was not included in the Dornoch Cathedral World War One Role of Honour plaque[18] as was her friend Margaret Davidson.[8]

• Dornoch history blog - in the picture of Guide leaders, Hacon is sixth from the left
• British World War One Medals