Image from Sky News
A Proud Day…
As a city, Plymouth has proudly played a key role in many historic moments. With the 28th November 1919 one of those moments in history. It was a monumental day for both Plymouth and Women. The day marks Nancy Astor being elected to represent Plymouth Sutton in Parliament. Nancy Astor won her Plymouth seat in 1919. She was still then the only female MP in the Commons for two years after.
The 28th November 2019 will now also go into the history books. It was a truly emotional day, even the weather couldn’t rain on the cities parade. A statue honouring the first female MP, Lady Nancy Astor, was unveiled. Just moments away from Strathmore House Apartments on Elliot Terrace, a century after she was voted in.
In honour of the pioneering MP, former prime minister Theresa May unveiled a bronze statue near Lady Astor’s former family home.
On the same day, Lady Astor was also commemorated with a Great Western Railway. A train was named after her and travelled from London Paddington to Plymouth. Plymouth City Bus also now has a bus which not only celebrates her in it’s fine art work on the outside; but inside celebrates all the great women in and around our city thereafter.
Mrs May told the hundreds-strong crowd that she was “honoured” to be unveiling the statue. She also said she was “especially pleased to do so, as our country’s second female prime minister”.
The statue was sculpted by artist Hayley Gibbs after £125,000 was raised through crowdfunding by the Nancy Astor Statue Appeal. Practically in the ‘back-yard’ of Strathmore House Apartments it is a truly magnificent work of art; but also telling a truly gripping tale. Well worth a see!