#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
Closed with follow up
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Community Member 5 years agoI would like to nominate Margaret and Rachel Mcmillan, the educationalists - who opened the first school clinic and open-air nursery and training centre in Deptford - and whose understanding of how young children learn seems to have been...
Show full commentI would like to nominate Margaret and Rachel Mcmillan, the educationalists - who opened the first school clinic and open-air nursery and training centre in Deptford - and whose understanding of how young children learn seems to have been completely forgotten today by the DfE, Ofsted and certainly every academy chain in existence!
Ada Salter also needs a mention for her work in Rotherhite and her committeement to living and working amongst those she served. She was Rotherhithe's, and later London's, first woman councillor.
Show less of commentjgreatwich
Community Member 5 years agoDefinitely Mary Wollstonecraft , author of 'Vindication of the rights of women' and a woman far ahead of her time
Until you write and express the situation that needs to be changed , you cannot change it.
AJP
Community Member 5 years agoI would like to nominate Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979), composer and violist, who was born and grew up in Harrow.
She was one of the first women to perform professionally in symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles during her years in...
Show full commentI would like to nominate Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979), composer and violist, who was born and grew up in Harrow.
She was one of the first women to perform professionally in symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles during her years in London.
Her compositions include many that are very fine indeed, and her proper standing as a composer is increasingly - and justly - recognised.
Show less of commentpeste de Londres
Community Member 5 years agoEleanor Marx as she worked tirelessly for the poor of London
Yvonne Kirtlan
Community Member 5 years agoI would like to nominate Ellen Wilkinson. She was born in Manchester to a poor family but her activities and what she achieved in her life make her a national figure. She was an early advocate of women's suffrage; in June 1913, she became...
Show full commentI would like to nominate Ellen Wilkinson. She was born in Manchester to a poor family but her activities and what she achieved in her life make her a national figure. She was an early advocate of women's suffrage; in June 1913, she became a paid worker for the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. In July 1915, she was appointed as a national organiser for the Amalgamated Union of Co-operative Employees, with particular responsibility for the recruitment of women into the union and in this post she fought for equal pay for equal work. She also became joint secretary of the Fabian Society. As the minister for education in the Attlee government, she was foremost in implementing the 1944 Education Act and introduced such measures as free school milk and fought for raising the school-leaving age. She did so much else besides, she: was active in the Jarrow March; was a representative of the Relief Committee for the Victims of Fascism; set up the Spanish Medical Aid Committee and the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief, among many other things.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 5 years agoI would like to nominate Sue Terpilowski OBE, FSB London's Policy Lead. Sue loves London and has run her own business in the capital for many years, employing many people. She is an active advocate of small and micro businesses operating in...
Show full commentI would like to nominate Sue Terpilowski OBE, FSB London's Policy Lead. Sue loves London and has run her own business in the capital for many years, employing many people. She is an active advocate of small and micro businesses operating in London and beyond, fighting for their interests and for them to be valued and recognised as a vital part of the economy and local communities.
Show less of commentpaulataylor
Community Member 5 years agoMargaret Thatcher.1st female PM.
AlanMoore
Community Member 5 years agoAda Salter is something of a local heroine in the Bermondsey/Rotherhithe area
I'd also second Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
I would not appreciate a tribute to Margaret Thatcher who did indeed change the face of British politics - for the...
Show full commentAda Salter is something of a local heroine in the Bermondsey/Rotherhithe area
I'd also second Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
I would not appreciate a tribute to Margaret Thatcher who did indeed change the face of British politics - for the worse. She certainly set back the feminist cause by decades :-(
Show less of commentTalk London
Official Representative 5 years agoHi AlanMoore
Thanks a lot for your suggestions! Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was chosen a few weeks ago and was featured on the Mayor's Instagram account.
Talk London
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 5 years agoI believe the most influential women in London in the last 100 years was Margaret Thatcher. A key driving force behind the redevelopment of London's Docklands and supporting necessary infrastructure including extending the London Tube...
Show full commentI believe the most influential women in London in the last 100 years was Margaret Thatcher. A key driving force behind the redevelopment of London's Docklands and supporting necessary infrastructure including extending the London Tube network and adding the Docklands Light Railway, she ensured bringing an area of London little changed from early Victorian times into a modern City within a City and helped ensure the successful growth of banking and related businesses in London in asharp competition with Paris, Dusseldorf, New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo and others. Helped the cause of female equality by demonstrating that leadership is no prerogative of males, nor of the . Flawed in some ways - as we all are - and disliked my many, again as many of us are, nonetheless the outstanding female having impact on London and Londoners.
Show less of commentAnonymous - account deleted
Community Member 5 years agohit wrong button, apologies was adding
Helped the cause of female equality by demonstrating that leadership is no prerogative of males, nor of the born rich and powerful
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 5 years agoEdith Summerskill GP MP and so much else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Summerskill
Kelly Ottley
Community Member 5 years agoThe women of Woolwich wspu who feed the homeless every week and ask for nothing back.
Kelly Ottley
Community Member 5 years agoI would to nominate Denise Hyland Greenwich borough councillor who held our community together at its hardest time.
Kelly Ottley
Community Member 5 years agoEdith Smith (1880-1924) was the first female police officer in the United Kingdom with full power of arrest.
Kelly Ottley
Community Member 5 years agoDiane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953)
Kelly Ottley
Community Member 5 years agoMargaret Mary Damer Dawson OBE (12 June 1873 – 18 May 1920) a head of her time andwas a prominent anti-vivisectionist and philanthropist who co-founded the first British women's police service
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 5 years agoAna Soubry, for courageously going against party leadership to save this country from economic hardship. A true hero.
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 5 years agoGina Miller. For being the only voice of reason and try BGNJ to save this country from economic hardship.
Kelly Ottley
Community Member 5 years agoConstance Antonina (Nina) Boyle (21 December 1865 – 4 March 1943) was a British journalist, campaigner for women's suffrage and women's rights, charity and welfare worker, and novelist. She was one of the pioneers of the women's police...
Show full commentConstance Antonina (Nina) Boyle (21 December 1865 – 4 March 1943) was a British journalist, campaigner for women's suffrage and women's rights, charity and welfare worker, and novelist. She was one of the pioneers of the women's police service in Britain; in April, 1918, she was the first woman to be nominated to stand for election to the House of Commons, which paved the way for other female candidates in the general election held in December of that year.
Show less of commentPatti12
Community Member 5 years agoKatarina Schopflin a great GP who was awarded a OBE for her services to women, she guided and insured that women found their life potential. She opened Steeles Lane clinic in Commercial Road E1, probably the first multi purpose medical...
Show full commentKatarina Schopflin a great GP who was awarded a OBE for her services to women, she guided and insured that women found their life potential. She opened Steeles Lane clinic in Commercial Road E1, probably the first multi purpose medical centre in the East End. A fantastic lady.
Show less of commenttimtrimingham
Community Member 5 years agoJoan Littlewood. A socially and politically conscious performing arts pioneer.