first female MP to represent Edgbaston. On the opening day of the Parliament in 1953, Pitt made her maiden speech. She spoke in support of John Morrison's opening address of thanks to Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the new Parliament, and was cheered on by her fellow Members. Following this, former Prime Minister Clement Attlee said of Pitt, "I think the House was impressed by the sincerity and knowledge with which she spoke on subjects very dear to her heart." By 1960, she was a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health. One of the issues she spoke to the House of Commons about was the effect of poorly shaped shoes on children. She launched an independent report into the problem in February 1960. She was made Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1962. At the 1964 general election, Pitt retained her seat. She chaired the Air Corporations Act 1966 through the committee stage until Christmas Recess 1965. She died before Parliament returned and Robert Carr began the tributes to her on behalf of the bill team on 3 February 1966. Following her death, at the 1966 general election, Jill Knight was elected as her successor, who retained the seat for the following eight general elections. Knight and Pitt knew each other well. Death After collapsing at her home in Yardley, Birmingham on 24 January 1966, she was moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and died of a brain haemorrhage on 27 January. Notes References External links 1906 births 1966 deaths 20th-century British women politicians Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Conservative Party (UK) councillors Councillors in Birmingham, West Midlands Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies Ministers in the Eden government, 1955–1957 Ministers in the Macmillan and Douglas-Home governments, 1957–1964 People from Edgbaston People from Yardley UK MPs 1951–1955 UK MPs 1955–1959 UK MPs 1959–1964 UK MPs 1964–1966 20th-century English women 20th-century English people Women councillors in England