Lilian Saatweber

Lilian Russell Leicester was born in Stretford in 1864. She was the daughter of Frederick Leicester, a woollen salesman and Eliza (neé Shelmerdine), teacher of dancing and music. At the 1881 census, the family were living at Throstle Bank, Chester Road, Stretford and Lillian’s occupation is shown as a dance teacher. In 1884, she married Gustav Adolf Saatweber, a merchant of silks and braids, at the Church of St Mary, Hulme. After their marriage the couple resided at 6 Trafford Terrace, Stretford Road. They then moved to 38 Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, followed by Oak Avenue, Stretford. The 1911 census lists their address as ‘Elsinore’, Old Trafford and by 1914, they had moved to 1 Kings Avenue, Old Trafford.

Lilian Saatweber was a pioneer of women’s golf and one of the first women in Manchester to take up the game. Trafford Golf Club opened in 1891 and it was here that her interest in golf began. She formally opened the clubhouse when her husband Gustav, was Captain. Lilian joined Timperley Golf Club and won the Jubilee Challenge Trophy in 1897, later becoming lady Captain at the club from 1899 – 1900. She was also a member of Lytham St Anne’s Golf Club.

Manchester Golf Club, previously located at Manley Park, Whalley Range, moved to Trafford Park in 1898. The land was leased from the Trafford Park Estates Company, who had purchased the de Trafford’s family estate in 1897.  Trafford Hall became the Clubhouse and the new course was hailed as the most prestigious in the area. In 1904, a committee of women associated with Manchester Golf Club, decided to form a women’s club. Lilian Saatweber took on the role of Secretary and wrote to the Captain and Council to request more independence.

 In A History of The Manchester Golf Club 1882-1982, M.W. Peers writes:

The women made their first move towards gaining a greater independence from the men by sending a letter to the Captain and Council asking if it would be possible for the ladies to take complete control of their part of the Club. They also requested that a certain amount of the money paid by them in the form of subscriptions should be allocated directly to them to buy their own prizes and pay their Secretary’s expenses. They even suggested that £15 might be given for the first year because they would “like to buy something in the form of a cup to be played for annually and to provide a memento”.

At first the Council were not keen to let the women manage their own affairs and after much deliberation taking over a year, the Council finally agreed. On 17 March 1905, the First A.G.M. of the Manchester Ladies’ Golf Club was held at Trafford Park Hall. It was unanimously agreed that Lilian should be Captain and after that she was elected Honorary Secretary, a position she held until her death. Lilian was largely responsible for making the women’s part of the Club a success. In 1912, she was made an honorary life member of the Manchester Golf Club, in recognition of her valuable service.

In 1910, Lilian also became Honorary Secretary of the Lancashire Ladies’ County Committee and President and Secretary of the Manchester and District Ladies’ Golf Association.

During the afternoon of Saturday 23 May 1914, Lilian felt unwell and decided to rest at home. Sadly she died later that day. Lillian is buried in Brooklands Cemetery, Sale. 

The Manchester Evening News dated 25 May 1914 reported Lily’s death in an article entitled ‘A Pioneer of Women’s Golf’:

Manchester lady golfers will hear with regret of the death of Mrs G.A. Saatweber, which occurred suddenly on Saturday afternoon at her house in Old Trafford. Lily took part in the mixed foursomes at Timperley and was one of the first women to play golf in the Manchester district. She was an ex-captain of the Timperley ladies Golf Club and Hon. Secretary of the Manchester and District Ladies’ Golf Association and other associations connected with women’s golf. She had played with her husband over a hundred golf courses.    

She won many prizes at golf, but she will be remembered as a lady who worked hard and unselfishly for others in the clubs to which she belonged.

The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser dated 2 June 1914:

It was a sad coincidence that Mrs Saatweber should have been buried on her birthday, but there were a magnificent lot of flowers sent by friends and golf clubs with which she had been closely associated. Mr G.A. Saatweber has had so many kind letters of sympathy. 

Sources

M.W. Peers, A History of Manchester Golf Club 1882- 1982

Manchester Evening News, 25 May 1914

The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 2 June 1914

Manchester Guardian dated 25 May 1914

Trafford Lifetimes