COVENTRY’S first woman mayor has received a heritage plaque which will be installed in the new year.
The plaque will be located at 28 Short Street which is her former home – there are currently over 100 heritage plaques in Coventry which have been installed by a variety of organisations.
Alice Arnold was born in a Coventry Workhouse in 1881 – in her early years, she worked in Coventry’s Cycle factories and joined the Coventry branch of the Worker’s Union.
Later in life, Alice took on her active role in the community by joining the council and serving for 30 years and was appointed as the City’s first female Mayor in 1937.
The new plaque comes at the request of Unite West Midlands who wished to pay tribute to the former Lord Mayor who was also a staunch trade unionist.
Councillor Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, formally handed the new plaque to Bill Smith and Phillip Street from Unite.
Coun Akhtar said: “A passionate campaigner for workers, a dedicated public servant and a pioneering Lord Mayor, Alice Arnold is a name every Coventrian should know.
“We have a rich, storied history in Coventry that we should be proud of. This plaque is a permanent reminder of that history and her influence on the city.
“I would like to thank Unite for working with us on this project and for arranging the installation.”
