The Dyer Trade of Dundee has “brought itself into the 21st century” by inducting the first female member in its 321-year history.
The Rev Dr Janet Foggie, minister at St Andrew’s Church, and chaplain to the Nine Trades of Dundee and the Three United Trades, was inducted at a ceremony at the Royal Tay Yacht Club on Tuesday evening.
Dr Foggie said: “For the dyers in particular, it was a trade that involved women historically so there was nothing in their constitution that said that a woman couldn’t be a member it had just become a social convention.
“What the dyers are doing in my mind is bringing that into the 21st century by widening our view of ourselves.
“Obviously, as chaplain to the trades, it’s lovely that they’ve asked me to be their first women member and that is a privilege.”
Dr Foggie is not the first woman to be admitted to a Dundee trade, as the weavers, of which she is also a member, began accepting female members around four years ago.
Tim Heilbronn, outgoing deacon of the Dyer Trade of Dundee, said: “I am delighted that the coincidence of our 321-year history and the fact that I was the ninth deacon since the craft opened to a wider membership and was thus ‘the ninth of the ninth of the nine’ gave us this opportunity to celebrate this landmark occasion by becoming only the second of the Nine Trades to admit lady members.
“Dr Foggie has been a fantastic supporter of the Nine Trades since her appointment six years ago as chaplain to the Nine Trades of Dundee and the Three United Trades and it is most fitting that she should have this honour of being our first elected lady member.”
Although originally a “closed craft”, protecting the interests of the dyers and their apprentices, as the trade numbers dwindled, in 1996 the final three members of the craft met and agreed to partially open the craft to allow anyone whose occupation involved working with colour, in any sense, to apply for membership.
Membership now numbers about 50 and includes photographers, artists, designers, printers, architects and even those working with plants.