Plaque honours first female MP in region

A BLUE plaque recognising the achievements Yorkshire’s first female MP will be displayed in her hometown for the first time.

The honour, for Alice Bacon, was unveiled in Wakefield on International Women’s Day earlier this year.

It was revealed during a day of events, organised by The Forgotten Women of Wakefield project and Wakefield Council to celebrate Baroness Bacon’s legacy and mark 100 years since women over the age of 30 gained the right to vote.

The plaque will now make its way to Alice’s hometown of Normanton, where it will go on permanent display.

Sarah Cobham of Dream Time Creative, has been running the Forgotten Women project, researching and sharing the stories of some of the district’s most inspirational women, including Alice. Ms Cobham said: “What strikes me about Alice is how tenacious she was, and how ambitious. “The few letters we have to her or about her, show she was kind, and generous, charming and funny.” Alice was elected to the Leeds North East seat in 1945 and served as an MP until 1970. She was a powerful force in opening up educational opportunities, legalising abortion, scrapping the death penalty and decriminalising homosexuality. Alice’s blue plaque will be unveiled in Normanton on June 1 with a strawberry afternoon tea. There will also be a display of her life