Her Stories |
 Octavia Hill
• Born 3rd December 1838 and died 13th August 1912 • Co-founder of the National Trust • Created the Southwark detachment of the Army Cadet Force, the first independent unit • A moving force behind the development of social housing • There is a plaque dedicated to Octavia Hill at Redcross Way in South London.  Amy Ashwood Garvey • Born 10 January 1897 and died 11 May 1969 • Jamaican Pan-Africanist activist and first wife of Marcus Garvey • Opened the Florence Mills Social Club in Carnaby Street, a jazz club which became a gathering spot for supporters of Pan-Africanism • Chaired an enquiry into race relations following the murder of Kelso Cochrane • There is a plaque dedicated to Amy Ashwood Garvey at 1 Bassett Road, London W10.  Claudia Jones • Born 15th February 1915 and died 24th December 1964 • She was deported from the USA during the McCarthy period and was given asylum in the UK • Remembered in the UK as the ‘Mother of Notting Hill Carnival’ • Founded and edited The West Indian Gazette • There is a plaque dedicated to Claudia Jones on Portobello Road, it was unveiled on 22nd August 2008.  Jayaben Desai • Born 2nd April 1933 and lives in Willesden • Born in Gujarat, India, then moved to Tanzania and finally resided in London • Worked at Grunwick film processing factory in Willesden, which was the stimulus for the great strike • The unions were keen to be seen supporting black workers and so, for the first time, the trade union leaders gave full support to black strikers • Up to 8,000 workers from across the country joined the picket. To find out more click here to view the Hidden Herstories magazine |