Ethel Venton
Ethel Venton | |
---|---|
Born | 1891 East End of London |
Died | February 1988 |
Nationality | English |
Occupation(s) | Labour Party councillor and animal welfare activist |
Known for | Secularism |
Ethel Venton (1891 – February 1988) was an English secularist, Labour Party councillor and animal welfare activist. She was the first female president of the National Secular Society, from 1971–1972, having previously served as a vice-president.
Biography
Ethel Johnstone was born in the East End of London, and married Laurence (Laurie) Venton (died 1957) in 1915.
Labour party activism
During the 1930s, Venton served as a Labour Party councillor in West Ham and was a member of committees concerned with hospitals and child welfare.
Secularist activism
Venton joined the National Secular Society and was a friend of Chapman Cohen, serving as a vice-president of the Society for some years. When, in 1971, long-serving president David Tribe unexpectedly decided not to stand again, Venton was elected his successor. She was the only candidate and served as president for only one year before being replaced by Barbara Smoker in 1972.
According to her obituary in The Freethinker,[1]
Becoming NSS president in her late seventies, she had a hard act to follow by succeeding David Tribe, the Society's most effective post-war president... Mrs Venton had difficulty in adjusting to new methods of campaigning. However, she realised times were changing and accepted that the NSS had to alter its style and image. Although unable to cope with modern public relations techniques, she recognised that ability in others and gave credit where it was due. Ethel Venton followed the example of her immediate predecessor by always putting the Society's interests first and leaving it in a sound condition.
Animal welfare activism
Venton was a vegetarian, and a committed opponent of animal cruelty. She was secretary of the National Council for Animal Welfare,[2] organising the annual "Animal Fair" at the old Royal Horticultural Hall (Lindley Hall, London) in that capacity for many years before a fall at the age of 86 led to declining health and the decision to merge the NCAW into the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Final years and death
According to her obituary in The Freethinker, March 1988:[1]
Despite failing health and infirmity, Mrs Venton remained independent and lived alone until a few months before her death. Last September, in the early hours of the morning, she had a serious fall and was not found for several hours. After that she never left hospital.
There was a secular committal ceremony at Southend-on-Sea Crematorium.
References
- ^ a b "Former President Dies". The Freethinker. 108 (3): 36. March 1988.
- ^ "National Council for Animals' Welfare". The Spectator. 228 (1): 59. 1972.
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- Abandoned pets
- Blood sports
- Chick culling
- Cormorant culling
- Livestock dehorning
- Eating live animals
- Eating live seafood
- Intensive animal farming
- Intensive pig farming
- Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals
- Dairy farming
- Poultry farming
- Puppy mill
- Vivisection
- Welfare of farmed insects
- Wild animal suffering
- Wildlife farming
- Feedback (pork industry)
- Foam depopulation
- Ventilation shutdown
- Abnormal behaviours in animals
- Animal psychopathology
- Animal shelter
- Animal welfare science
- Anthrozoology
- Behavioral enrichment
- Compassionate conservation
- Conservation welfare
- Ethics of uncertain sentience
- Ethical omnivorism
- Five freedoms
- Humane law enforcement
- Intrinsic value in animal ethics
- Rescue group
- Three Rs principles
- Welfare biology
nonhuman animals
- ASPCA
- Animal Defenders International
- Animal Welfare Party
- American Humane
- Animal Aid Unlimited
- Animal Welfare Board of India
- Animal Welfare Institute
- Badger Trust
- Battersea
- Blue Cross
- Blue Cross of India
- Cats Protection
- Compassion in World Farming
- CAWF
- Cinnamon Trust
- Dogs Trust
- DSPCA
- Eurogroup for Animals
- Four Paws
- Hedgehog Care
- HSUS
- International Animal Rescue
- IFAW
- International Society for Applied Ethology
- ISPCA
- List of animal welfare organizations
- League Against Cruel Sports
- Marine Connection
- Network for Animals
- Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research
- MSPCA-Angell
- National Animal Welfare Trust
- National Anti-Vivisection Society
- OneKind
- Party for Animal Welfare
- People for Animals
- People's Dispensary for Sick Animals
- RNZSPCA
- RSPCA
- RSPCA Australia
- Save Me
- SSPCA
- Tiggywinkles
- UFAW
- Wildlife Aid Foundation
- World Animal Protection
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- Animal Welfare
- Our Dumb Animals
- The Zoophilist
and workers
and writers
- Animal advocacy parties
- Animal killing
- Animal rights
- Animal welfare and rights legislation
- Animal sacrifice
- Animal sanctuaries
- Animal testing
- Animal welfare and rights by country
- Cruelty to animals
- Dishes involving the consumption of live animals
- Fur trade
- People associated with animal welfare
- Whaling
considerations
festivals
- Blessing of animals
- Bous al carrer
- Cock throwing
- Combat de Reines
- Eid al-Adha
- Gadhimai festival
- Goat throwing
- Goose pulling
- International Primate Day
- Kapparot
- Lychee and Dog Meat Festival
- Monkey Buffet Festival
- October Horse
- Pushkar Camel Fair
- Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo
- Running of the bulls
- Surin Elephant Round-up
- Toro embolado
- World Animal Day
- Animal testing regulations
- Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (UK)
- Animal Welfare Act 1999 (NZ)
- Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (US)
- EU Directive 2010/63/EU (EU)
- EU Directive 1999/74/EC (EU)
- Horse Protection Act of 1970 (US)
- Hunting Act 2004 (US)
- List of international animal welfare conventions
- Philippine Animal Welfare Act 1998 (Philippines)
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