Blue plaque for MP Alice will grace her town

The honour, for Alice Bacon, was unveiled in Wakefield One 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. The Express has been backing their work.

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.

The event, organised by Dream Time Creative, Normanton Town Council and The Alice Bacon trust will take place from 1pm until 4pm at Normanton Town Hall, where her plaque will be placed.

Guests from the local community will be invited to share their memories and stories of Alice. And the Forgotten Women of Wakefield project will be performing poems about her.

There will also be an exhibition dedicated to her life and legacy.