Landmark Project to Honor Trailblazing Women to Be Presented to City Council.
Senior councillors in the city are poised to review ambitious plans aimed at commemorating the pioneering women who have significantly shaped the history of Leeds. Next week, Leeds City Council’s executive board will consider a proposal to honor six remarkable women by inscribing their names in the council chamber at Leeds Civic Hall. If approved, these women will be the first to have their names permanently displayed in the esteemed chamber, alongside notable men from the city’s history.
The proposal includes adding beautifully crafted panels that match the existing ones in the chamber, dedicated to:
- The Barnbow Lasses: These women were workers at the Barnbow Munitions Factory, where an explosion during World War I resulted in the tragic death of 35 women and girls — the largest loss of life in Leeds’ history.
- Leonora Cohen OBE: A Leeds-born leader in the Suffragette movement, Cohen was arrested for smashing a display case at the Tower of London as a protest against the government’s stance on women’s suffrage.
- Gertrude Paul: A pioneer in community building, Paul was the first black head teacher in Leeds and a founding member of the Leeds West Indian Carnival. She also established several key organizations including the Leeds International Women’s Group and the Afro Asian Organisation.
- Alice Bacon MP CBE: As Leeds’ first female MP and a minister in the Home Office during the 1960s, Bacon was instrumental in passing progressive reforms such as the abolition of the death penalty, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, and the legalization of abortion.
- Beryl Burton OBE: An unparalleled force in cycling, Burton won over 90 domestic championships and seven world titles, setting numerous national records in the process.
- Ivy Benson: Originating from Holbeck, Benson was a notable saxophonist and bandleader of an all-female swing band, which was the first entertainment group to perform at the VE Day celebrations in Berlin in 1945.
The executive board will review these proposals on September 18, potentially making a significant addition to the chamber’s legacy. Since its construction in 1933, Leeds Civic Hall has honored men closely associated with the city or who significantly contributed to its history by inscribing their names on the walls of the council chamber.
In recent decades, there has been a concerted effort by the council to also recognize influential women from Leeds’ past. Earlier this year, a public consultation was conducted to select appropriate names to add to the chamber. Additionally, the executive board will be considering a proposal for ongoing initiatives to acknowledge more inspirational women in the council chamber in the future.
Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for resources said:
“This project has really captured the city’s collective imagination, and it’s clear that each of these exceptional women and their remarkable accomplishments have a very special place in the hearts of the people of Leeds.
“Honouring their legacy in this unique way will also make a very poignant and powerful statement about Leeds, it’s commitment to equality and our desire to ensure that women and girls living and growing up here can have the belief that anything is possible.”
The funding for the project will be sourced from the savings accumulated due to the outgoing Council Chief Executive, Tom Riordan, opting not to take a pay award for several years.
Tom Riordan added: “During my time in Leeds, I’ve been fortunate to witness many historic moments for equality, including the first female leader of Leeds City Council and the first black Lord Mayor of Leeds.
“This project is a fitting tribute to the legacy of those who paved the way, and will stand as a lasting monument and inspiration for many years to come.”
