Blue Plaque Honors Coventry’s Pioneering Female Mayor

A blue heritage plaque has been revealed, commemorating Alice Arnold, Coventry’s inaugural female mayor. This plaque recognizes Arnold, described as a “passionate” campaigner, socialist, and trade union organizer, who assumed the role of the city’s first woman mayor in 1937. The plaque is scheduled for installation next year at 28 Short Street, her former residence. According to Coventry City Council, this new plaque, initiated at the behest of the trade union Unite, joins over 100 other heritage plaques already present across the city. Born in a workhouse in 1881, Miss Arnold’s early life included factory work and involvement with the city’s workers’ union. She subsequently dedicated over three decades to serving on the local authority. Recognized as a notable figure in Coventry’s history of women’s activism, she once spearheaded a procession that traveled from London Euston station to the Home Office. The purpose was to submit a petition advocating for a more peaceful society, which had garnered 60,000 signatures, representing almost a third of Coventry’s population at that time. Councillor Naeem Akhtar, the cabinet member for housing and communities, stated that the plaque would function as a “permanent reminder” of Miss Arnold’s impact on Coventry. He remarked, “A passionate campaigner for workers, a dedicated public servant and a pioneering Lord Mayor, Alice Arnold is a name every Coventrian should know.” He also added, “I would like to thank Unite for working with us on this project and for arranging the installation.” BBC Coventry & Warwickshire content is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Details on our external linking policy can be found.