#BehindEveryGreatCity
Nominate women born or having worked or campaigned in London.
The Mayor’s #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign celebrates 100 years since the first women won the right to vote in the UK. Women are behind some of the greatest achievements and discoveries in London, in the past and the present. We want to shine a spotlight on these women and their achievements, and we’d like your help.
The discussion ran from 05 February 2018 - 05 May 2018
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Official Representative 6 years agoA few more suggestions from our feedback form, thanks everyone for sharing!
Dr Comfort Momoh MBE, leading national FGM public health specialist clinic at St Thomas' Hospital, in London for women victims of FGM. Women and girls who have undergone FGM had a terrible shock and may present longlife FGM-related problems such as recurrent urinary tract infection or pain during menstruation.
Tabitha Goldstaub, born and bred Londoner supporting the London AI community.
Sharmadean Reid. Founding Wah nails in London and now creating an app for beauty professionals.
Jess Wade. The coolest Physics professor at Imperial.
Jayaben Desai. The union of women in the Grunwick Film Processing Lab, in the face of sexism, racism and elitist attitudes.
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HuwC
Community Member 6 years agoBehind every great city are people
Not just women, not just ‘minorities’ but all people.
From one of those excluded from all I&D initiatives for being a white, heterosexual, British male
Vitruvius
Community Member 6 years agoSpot on but on this site you'll find that white, hetersexual males are considered as the enemy of modern London. The only group in contemporary society it's politically acceptable to treat with contempt and derision. I wish my family hadn't...
Show full commentSpot on but on this site you'll find that white, hetersexual males are considered as the enemy of modern London. The only group in contemporary society it's politically acceptable to treat with contempt and derision. I wish my family hadn't sacrificed so much for this country over the last 4-500 years - What a waste of men.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoI nominate Sylvia Pankhurst. She saw the WSPU as undemocratic and set up the East London Federation of Suffragettes. She opened suffragette headquarters in Bow and later moved to 400 Old Ford Road, believing the extension of the women's...
Show full commentI nominate Sylvia Pankhurst. She saw the WSPU as undemocratic and set up the East London Federation of Suffragettes. She opened suffragette headquarters in Bow and later moved to 400 Old Ford Road, believing the extension of the women's movement to the East End would help "to fortify the position of the working woman, for the existence of a strong, self-reliant movement amongst working women would be the greatest aid in safeguarding their rights when the vote is won."
Show less of commentS.olech
Community Member 6 years agoI second this nomination!
rbiellik
Community Member 6 years agoI am an alumnus of Bedford College, London University, now merged with Royal Holloway and moved to Egham, Surrey (after Mrs. Thatcher sold our beautiful building in Regent's Park and over a century of history to the private sector, but we...
Show full commentI am an alumnus of Bedford College, London University, now merged with Royal Holloway and moved to Egham, Surrey (after Mrs. Thatcher sold our beautiful building in Regent's Park and over a century of history to the private sector, but we won't talk about that!!).
Bedford College was an all-women's college founded by Elizabeth Jesser Reid in 1849 -- see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_College,_London. Bedford College firsts include:
· first woman professor at an English university (Caroline Spurgeon)
· first Social Sciences department in the UK, established 1918
· first woman Vice-Chancellor
· first women factory inspectors under the 1913 Health Act
· first woman to be appointed to the Companionship of the Order of the Bath
· one of the first two women Fellows of the Royal Society
· fourth woman chairman of the TUC - Trades Union Congress, Marie Patterson
· the first art school in England where women could draw from life
Male students were first admitted in 1965. I was admitted in 1968.
This year, both Bedford and Royal Holloway are hosting major events to honour the suffragists/suffragettes:
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/alumni/eventsandreunions/bedfordsuffrag…
https://educationcollegewomenandsuffrage.wordpress.com/
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/aboutus/vote-100-at-royal-holloway/even…
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/aboutus/vote-100-at-royal-holloway/even…
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/notablealumni/hidden-h…
As you see, these Bedford (and Royal Holloway) College alumnae were deeply engaged in the women's suffrage movement and promoting women's education and independence.
Show less of commentTalk London
Official Representative 6 years agoThanks for all your suggestions. Here are a few more we received via our feedback form:
Olive Morris 1952-1979. Organiser and Activist. Died aged 27. Co-founder of Irganisation if Women of African and Asian descent, Brixton Black Womens Group, Brixton Law Centre. Black Panther member. Arrested and beaten aged 17 when she intervened in police stop and search of a Nigerian diplomat out shopping. Fearless activist.
Margaret Thatcher. She was our first female Prime Minister. She was an inspiring woman, from an aspiring working class family, who got there by sheer hard work and dedication. She was no more flawed than most of the men who preceded or followed her. Yet, that achievement is never stated as simply as my first sentence. Sadiq Khan is our Labour London Mayor & in these times of division, it would be glorious if he could reach across the divide.
Emer Coleman. Being Director of Digital Projects in the Greater London Authority and pioneered open data in London by establishing the London Data Store and continues to do solid work for tech engagement with communities.
Talk London
London GP
Community Member 6 years agoI nominateProfessor Wendy Savage, who spoke up for the rights of women while a consultant in O&G at the Royal London, even to her own detriment. In her "retirement", she has been active in the BMA, at the GMC, and as a governor at the...
Show full commentI nominateProfessor Wendy Savage, who spoke up for the rights of women while a consultant in O&G at the Royal London, even to her own detriment. In her "retirement", she has been active in the BMA, at the GMC, and as a governor at the Camden and Islington NHS Trust. She has worked to defend the NHS from privatisation and outsourcing as co-chair of "Keep Our NHS Public". A hard working and principled inspiration to us all!
Show less of commentJanice Taverne
Community Member 6 years agoI would support her too - she made life better for many.
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoI would support her too - she made a great difference in the face of great opposition
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Official Representative 6 years agoA few more suggestions from the feedback form:
Valerie Amos. First black female Cabinet Minister.
Professor Mary Davis. Her devotion to Trade Union and Women's studies and educating the working class can not be ignored, her lectures are inspirational and enlightening and her commitment to participation from disenfranchised mainly poorly-educated working class Londoners such as myself are a true inspiration.
Annie Besant. ... the empowerment of working class women in the Matchgirls' strike in East London. She also strove for equality around the world, and fought against the religious oppression of women.
Talk London
Louise Rogers
Community Member 6 years agoPlease could we also consider group of women, ordinary women who have stood together, to act for change like the women from Ford at Dagenham. Women often work together in groups- we should be celebrating this approach.
Talk London
Official Representative 6 years agoHi Louise
All suggestions are welcome, thank you for sharing yours.
Talk London
Talk London
Official Representative 6 years agoThanks everyone! Below are a few more submissions we received via our feedback form:
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. 1st British woman to qualify as a doctor, pioneer of health services for women
Dany Cotton. Highest ranked operational fire fighter, the only female recipient of Queens Fire Service Medal. Spoke movingly and honestly at Grenfell Tower disaster (2017).
Miriam Margoyles. Openly gay actor/presenter/comedian. Very out-spoken, funny and forthright. A national treasure and torch-bearer for minorities, especially LBGT community.
Talk London
Janet Marks
Community Member 6 years agoClaudia Jones, who although she wasn't born in London, came to live here and founded the Notting Hill Carnival as a community response to the Notting Hill riots on August Bank Holiday 1958.
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoI agree with Claudia Jones. She also did more than found the carnival, supporting the black community.
Talk London
Official Representative 6 years agoThanks Janet and Amore! Claudia Jones was chosen as this week's hidden credit on the Mayor's Instagram account.
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Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoSiobhain McDonagh
https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/siobhain-mcdonagh/193 is our MP. She is from the area and still lives here. She is always out and about and stood up for her beliefs against the party.
Erif
Community Member 6 years agoI would nominate Lynne Gavin, headteacher of Pakeman Primary School in North Islington. The achievements and the atmosphere in this school, where I am just a volunteer, are amazing. The old red brick building may look a little intimidating...
Show full commentI would nominate Lynne Gavin, headteacher of Pakeman Primary School in North Islington. The achievements and the atmosphere in this school, where I am just a volunteer, are amazing. The old red brick building may look a little intimidating from the outside, but once you're in, the sense of purpose and happiness is overwhelming. A high percentage of the pupils are from poor families and many have English as a second language, but the academic level is excellent. The artwork is wonderfully creative. Lynne knows every child and is utterly inspiring.I was privately educated, but I don't believe any of my schools were as good as this state school, thanks to Lynne's leadership.
Show less of commentIrisYauFRSAFHEA
Community Member 6 years agoTerry Finnigan, Head of Widen Participants, London College of Fashion. Terry a remarkable woman, educator, role model in higher education. I am so awe-inspired by the energy, changes and passion she brings into arts education, she does...
Show full commentTerry Finnigan, Head of Widen Participants, London College of Fashion. Terry a remarkable woman, educator, role model in higher education. I am so awe-inspired by the energy, changes and passion she brings into arts education, she does not just raise awareness on race and gender discriminations, she is doing something about it !!!
Terry empowers her colleages and students at Univeristy of the Arts London, especailly for those are from ethic minority backgrounds...
#DeedsNotWords
Show less of comment#TheSilverLining
#Studentvoices
IrisYauFRSAFHEA
Community Member 6 years agohttp://www.studentstories.co.uk/assets/pdfs/20100310153604_2003409879.p…
IrisYauFRSAFHEA
Community Member 6 years agoEducate the educators https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/resources/eedc_art_and_design_…
Talk London
Official Representative 6 years agoThanks everyone for sharing your great suggestions. Below are a few we received via our feedback form:
Sue Vincent. As a councillor in Camden she is tirelessly standing up for vulnerable people in her borough. Not only that though, she runs Urban Design London and is constantly inspiring people to do better, be more compassionate and continue to learn and improve. She is an inspiration and a great role model for young women.
Daisy Froud. She is striving to make consultation and engagement more meaningful, standing up for communities and vulnerable people while also helping explain why London is changing and why it needs to change. She is intelligent and incredibly hard working. London needs Daisy.
Angela Burdett-Coutts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Burdett-Coutts,_1st_Baroness_Burde…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Burdett-Coutts,_1st_Baroness_Burde…
Charlotte Despard. She was a pioneering Suffragette, first female MP for Labour Party in Battersea, human rights campaigner, anti vivisectionist, pacifist, supporter of the Irish, author and more. She needs to be as widely remembered and revered as the Pankhursts
Marin Alsop. First woman conductor at Last Night of Proms (2013)
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Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoTwo suggestions: Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and is sometimes referred to as "the first feminist".
However, I would say "the first feminist" was Katherine Chidley - who was a leader of Leveller...
Show full commentTwo suggestions: Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and is sometimes referred to as "the first feminist".
However, I would say "the first feminist" was Katherine Chidley - who was a leader of Leveller women and involved in women petitioning of Parliament.
Both these women were political and feminist and contributed hugely to the progress of women's rights.
Also - Aphra Behn who was one of the first women to be recognised as a writer and to earn her living from writing. She wrote during the Restoration era, for theatre as well as poetry and translation. I believe she's buried in Westminster Abbey.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoSorry - I should have said 3 suggestions - Mary Wollstonecraft, Katherine Chidley and Aphra Behn.
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoHere, here on Margaret Thatcher but also Queen Elizabeth II = dedication to duty, great role model etc etc
IrisYauFRSAFHEA
Community Member 6 years agoAisha Richards, she is the founder of “Shades of Noir”, making a real difference on closing the attainment gap, equal opportunities, inclusive teaching and learning at University of the Arts London, Higher Education. The world will be a...
Show full commentAisha Richards, she is the founder of “Shades of Noir”, making a real difference on closing the attainment gap, equal opportunities, inclusive teaching and learning at University of the Arts London, Higher Education. The world will be a much better place to have more remarkable women, mentor, role models like Aisha Richard.
shadesofnoir.org.uk/aisha-richards/
#UnitedWeStand
Show less of commentIrisYauFRSAFHEA
Community Member 6 years agohttps://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/resources/eedc_art_and_design_…
IrisYauFRSAFHEA
Community Member 6 years agoHelen Pankhurst, the great grandaughter of the suffergatte leader Emmeline Pankhurst, Helen keeps the ledgacy ‘Deeds not Words” alive, continue to inspire and empower women internationally
Looking forward to read her new book “Deeds not...
Show full commentHelen Pankhurst, the great grandaughter of the suffergatte leader Emmeline Pankhurst, Helen keeps the ledgacy ‘Deeds not Words” alive, continue to inspire and empower women internationally
Looking forward to read her new book “Deeds not Words” The Story of Women’s rights, Then and Now. https://g.co/kgs/KKpJFy
#UnitedWeStand
Show less of commentIrisYauFRSAFHEA
Community Member 6 years agohttps://g.co/kgs/Hx8bmD
julietk
Community Member 6 years agoAda Lovelace - one of those who helped establish computing...
Blyth2608
Community Member 6 years agoElizabeth Garrett Anderson (9 June 1836 – 17 December 1917) was an English physician and suffragist, and the first woman to qualify in Britain as a physician and surgeon. She was the co-founder of the first hospital staffed by women, the...
Show full commentElizabeth Garrett Anderson (9 June 1836 – 17 December 1917) was an English physician and suffragist, and the first woman to qualify in Britain as a physician and surgeon. She was the co-founder of the first hospital staffed by women, the first dean of a British medical school, the first female doctor of medicine in France, the first woman in Britain to be elected to a school board and, as Mayor of Aldeburgh, the first female mayor and magistrate in Britain.
Show less of commentTalk London
Official Representative 6 years agoHi Blyth2608
Thanks for your contribution. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was chosen as this week's Hidden Credit on the Mayor's Instagram account.
Talk London
Blyth2608
Community Member 6 years agoAmazing! Thank you, glad she was recognised. x