Bring on the blue badges
The dames have long been supporters of the London Blue Badge scheme, where notable people’s birthplaces and residences are recorded with a blue plaque on the wall of the relevant property. Indeed, we have highlighted them in previous damesnet blogs, including Plaques for Women and Birthday Dames
While to date the Blue Badge scheme has been confined to London, there are of course many cities and communities which have set up their own system of plaques or memorials to celebrate local history. Indeed, as a Battersea resident I am fortunate to benefit from the tireless efforts of Jeanne Rathbone, whose efforts to ensure the women of Battersea get the appropriate recognition were featured in our blog Think National, Act Local
However, there are plans to extend the London blue plaque scheme across the country, which opens the door for dames in different parts of the UK to finally get some of the recognition they so deserve. This also is a cue for all of us to make suggestions for women from our respective necks of the woods.
To get the ball rolling and hoping for a good geographical spread, how about Clare Balding, born in the village of Kingsclere, Hampshire? I’m sure the village would welcome a plaque honouring its famous daughter. Fun fact: in her youth Balding was a leading amateur flat jockey and Champion Lady Rider in 1990. At an all-party parliamentary group on women’s sport in 2012 she stated that ‘Women having freedom to play sport leads directly to women having political freedom’. Kingsclere had better enter their submission for a plaque as soon as possible.
Heading to the other end of the country, Edinburgh will no doubt be proud to honour Dame Julie Katharine Maxton, Executive Director of the Royal Society. Maxton is a barrister and has been a legal scholar and academic administrator. Fun fact: while at school she represented Scotland in lacrosse and hockey. At this point I am beginning to wonder if there is a link between sporting prowess and high lifetime achievement.
On to Northern Ireland now: Ellvena Graham was the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Ulster Bank. She hails from Co. Down and started working for the bank straight from school. She is Chairman of Tourism NI, Chairman of Catalyst Inc and a Non-Executive Director of Dale Farm Ltd. Until Aug 2022, Graham was President of the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry for two terms and is a past Chair of the NI Economic Advisory Group. I see no evidence of sporting ability here, so my theory does not hold water.
We end our UK tour of prospective blue badge worthies in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, where Dame Shirley Bassey was born. She was obviously extremely busy singing and developing her musical career, with no time to pick up a lacrosse stick or jump on to a horse. However, she has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Who needs hockey with a skill like that?
Hi Verity and Barbara, thanks for the mention. We are unveiling a plaque this Friday 29th September at 11.00 to Evelyn Dove 1092-1987 singer/cabaret performer and first woman of African heritage to sing on BBC radio in 1925. She was the daughter of a barrister Francis Dove and his English wife Augusta.
It is a joint Nubian Jak/Battersea Society/Sony Music UK.
At the time of the 1911 census she living at 25a Barnard Road SW11. She went on study at the Royal Academy of Music. She toured with various troupes, replaced Josephine Baker at the Casino de Paris and was as well known as Vera Lynn during the war and singing to the troops. She hosted and co-hosted radio programmes.
The English Heritage plaques scheme only commemorates those who have been dead for twenty years so local schemes can introduce their own rules but most comply with the 20 year rule. There will, undoubtedly be more of these initiatives. The EH process is lengthy, costly and the unsuccessful 75% then have to wait ten years before reapplying.
We have only got the first EH plaque to a woman in Battersea with the one for Marie Spartali Pre-Raphaelite artist.
There were seventeen to men and the Evelyn one will be the tenth to a woman in Battersea Not bad eh!
Anyone can put up a plaque with owners permission, even on listed buildings if screwed into the mortar. They can be crowd-funded or sponsored. We use Signs of the Times and a plaque costs under £500. As you can, see I am a believer in DIY plaques to women -the only way to do catch up on the under-representation of women.
I encourage and advise others, currently aiming to get one to Eleanor Roosevelt who boarded at the Allenswood Academy in SW19 which I’m sure you would support!
Thanks Jeanne – as ever a fount of knowledge, information and useful tips. Congratulations on the plaque for Evelyn Dove – I may even get there!
And we definitely support the proposed plaque to Eleanor R!
Dame B
It’s about time the Blue Badges were extended throughout the country. In our town we have commemorated our famous local suffragette by naming the link road after her. Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy Way. She should have her own Blue Badge .
It would be interesting to hear suggestions of suitable women candidates from other parts of the country.
An interesting article as always!
Elizabeth Wolstenholme is a most worthy candidate! I hope she can be suitable honoured in this new scheme!
Dame B