Heritage plaque unveiled for Coventry's first female mayor

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The plaque for Alice Arnold will be installed in 2025 at her former home



A blue plaque will be installed in Coventry next year to honour the city's first female mayor. The plaque will be placed at Alice Arnold's former home, 20 Short Street, in the city centre.

The heritage plaque celebrates Alice, who was appointed as the first woman mayor in 1937 and described as a 'passionate' campaigner, socialist, and trade union organiser. Coventry City Council said there are currently over 100 heritage plaques on display in Coventry, with the latest created at the request of trade union Unite.

Alice was elected as an independent Labour councillor in 1919 and campaigned for better living conditions for the people of Coventry. In 1938, she led a protest for 'peace and plenty' and delivered a petition to the Home Office to promote peace and abolish poverty, signed by 60,000 Coventry citizens.

She was born in a Coventry workhouse in 1881, worked in the city's cycle factories, and joined the Coventry branch of the Workers' Union. Alice played an active role in the community by joining the council and serving for 30 years and was a key figure in Coventry's history of women's protests.

Cabinet member for housing and communities, Councillor Naeem Akhtar, said the plaque would be seen as a 'permanent reminder' of Alice's influence on Coventry. He said: "A passionate campaigner for workers, a dedicated public servant and a pioneering Lord Mayor, Alice Arnold is a name every Coventrian should know. I thank Unite for working with us on this project and arranging the installation."