A new plaque will be officially unveiled ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday 8th March. Positioned on the Council House exterior on South Parade, the plaque will honour the women who were first to hold important political leadership roles in the city.
The plaque unveiling will take place at 1.30pm on Friday 6th March. The plaque will celebrate the following Nottingham women:
1920 First women elected to Nottingham City Council
Helena Dowson and Caroline Harper
1931 First woman Sheriff of Nottingham
Caroline Harper
1968 First woman Mayor of Nottingham
Winifred Joan Case
1983 First woman Leader of the Council
Betty Higgins
1989 First BAME woman councillor
Eunice Campbell-Clark
2010 First woman MP in Nottingham City
Lilian Greenwood
2012/ 2013 First BAME woman Sheriff and Lord Mayor
Merlita Bryan
2019 First BAME woman MP
Nadia Whittome
2019 First female majority Council and Cabinet in Nottingham City.
The plaque has been installed ahead of a special celebratory event to mark International Women’s Day 2020 from 11am to 3pm at Nottingham Council House on Sunday 8th March.
A range of activities has been organised to celebrate the success and strength of women across our city. It is a chance to take stock of what Nottingham women have achieved, see what services are on offer for women and share ideas for continuing the journey to gender equality. Everyone is welcome to take part in the activities and have a go for themselves as we celebrate Nottingham women leading the way.
Women from across the city are invited to drop in to the Council House for free tea and cake as well as free tours of the building.
Throughout the day the Ballroom will host organisations from across the public, private and voluntary sectors with stalls to help women find out about services and activities available for them in Nottingham. Trade Unions will hold stalls in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour and there will also be an exhibition to Nottingham Suffragist hero, Nellie Dowson.
Panel discussions will be held in the Council Chamber, discussing women’s roles in the Community, Workplace and Public Life. Female experts from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University will also be showcasing their skills at an interactive exhibition in the Old Market Square.
Cllr Rebecca Langton, Portfolio Holder for Communities at Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s important that we recognise women’s contributions to public life in Nottingham, and this is a fitting way to do so permanently with a plaque in the heart of our city.
“Usually plaques honour historic figures, and while it’s right to recognise women from Nottingham’s history, I find it quite humbling that the plaque is also honouring relatively recent achievements. So many of the women who were first to hold public titles are not historic figures but are active today. The fact that it’s only recently Nottingham has elected its first women to Parliament reminds us why it’s important to mark women’s achievements on International Women’s Day and throughout the year.
“This plaque, and the programme of events, give us an important opportunity to take stock of what Nottingham women have achieved, and to celebrate the success and strength of women across our city.”