East End Women’s Museum: Ethel Scott

Ethel Scott was the first woman of Caribbean descent to represent Great Britain at an International athletics competition. She was born in 1907 and lived in Upton Park. After the death of her father and needing to provide for her family, Ethel joined the Ministry of Labour at 14. It is through her job that she joined the Civil Service Athletics Club, where her skill at sprinting became prominent. On 10 June 1929, The Times reports that Ethel won the 100-metre race, representing the Ministry of Labour, in a time of 11.4 seconds.

Middlesex Ladies Athletic Club and Women’s World Games

Ethel was also a member of the Middlesex Ladies Athletics Club, where she competed in championships at Stamford Bridge. By 1929, only one year into her athletics career she had amassed a unique trophy haul of silverware. Through her number of victories in the 100m and 60m races she was called up to represent Great Britain at the Third Women’s World Games in 1930, held in Prague. On 8 September 1930, The Times reported that she won her 60m heat in front of 15,000 people, but did not make it into the 60m final, she did however, alongside her teammates win silver in the 4x100m relay, coming second to Germany. 

Image credit: JJ Heritage Blog

After the games

Unfortunately not much else is documented about Ethel after her success in the 1930 Women’s World Games. Her family were unlikely to be wealthy, and so her ability to travel would have been limited. Despite this, her victories at the Women’s World Games are documented and she is considered to be a trailblazer by many women of colour in sport. 

Later in her life, Ethel became a medical secretary and died at her home in Barking in March 1984.