Images: 1) Plaque©Robert Pankhurst 2) The Grange©Tim Boatswain 3) Betty Entwistle (left) ©Evening Standard
At 1.30 pm on Friday 23 February, a blue plaque commemorating the life of Betty Entwistle will be installed at her place of work (The Grange) which is now the pub The Saint & Sinner, 16 St Peters Street St Albans. Betty was the first female Town Clerk in England and went on to be the first Chief Executive Officer of St Albans City & District Council. The plaque will be officially installed by the Guest of Honour, St Albans Member of Parliament, Daisy Cooper.
The general public is very welcome to attend the installation.
This is the eleventh plaque to be installed by Blue Plaques St Albans (BPSA), a voluntary organization, which was established to commemorate famous men and women who have lived and worked in St Albans, by placing blue plaques on buildings or sites associated with their lives. The initiative resembles the well-known blue plaque scheme run by English Heritage in London.
Professor Tim Boatswain, the Chairman of Blue Plaques St Albans, stated:
Betty Entwistle was a wonderful role model of female empowerment at a time when there few women in senior positions in local government. She had a deep commitment to the community of St Albans and is fondly remembered. We are delighted that another female role model, Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has agreed to officially install the plaque. Blue Plaques St Albans is also very grateful to McMullen's & Sons, who not only given permission for the installation but have also sponsored the blue plaque itself. I hope this blue plaque will inform more people about the important contribution Betty Entwistle made to the city.
Daisy Cooper MP for St Albans, said:
Betty Entwistle was a trailblazer here in St Albans and it was an honour to join in the unveiling of her blue plaque. Betty’s life is an inspiration for the next generation of women here in St Albans to get involved in the civic and political life of our area. I would also like to thank McMullen’s & Sons and Tim Boatswain, the Chairman of Blue Plaques, who have made this possible.
Betty Vivian Entwistle was born in Lancashire, the daughter of Joseph Entwistle and his wife Nora (neé Buckley). She attended Lancaster Girl’s Grammar School and then obtained an Honours degree in Law at Manchester University. She worked in the Morecambe and Heysham Town Clerk's office until she moved to St Albans in 1939 as a Legal Assistant to the City Council. She then became Assistant Solicitor and Deputy Town Clerk (1944) before being appointed Town Clerk in 1960 – in competition with 67 other applicants.
She was the first woman in England to be appointed to such a position. The Council Offices at this time were in The Grange in St Peter’s Street. During her tenure she conducted the ceremony when the Queen Mother was given Freedom of City in 1961 and also in May 1962 when freedom was given to Herts and Beds Yeomanry.
She became Chief Executive Officer of the new St Albans City and District Council in 1973. She was closely associated with the expansion of leisure services, including those of Westminster Lodge and the Civic Centre, and was greatly respected for her dedication to the city community.
Betty was also active in local arts and conservation societies, and was Secretary of the Eastern Orchestral Association.
She died suddenly on 2nd August 1975 at her home at 4 York Road.
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Blue Plaques Saint Albans website: https://blueplaquesstalban.wixsite.com/my-site-1
If you are interested in becoming involved or want to donate to Blue Plaques St Albans, please contact: blueplaquesstalbans@gmail.com
Ends
For images, interviews, or additional information and quotes, please contact: Tim Boatswain at blueplaquesstalbans@gmail.com or +447873 586074
NOTES TO EDITOR
Blue Plaques St Albans was set up in 2019.
Its aim is to commemorate and celebrate the famous people of St Alban.
Blue Plaques St Albans is made up of representatives from:
Conservation 50
St Albans Civic Society
St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society (SAHAAS)
St Albans City Tour Guides
St Albans Abbey Cathedral
St Albans Museum + Gallery
St Albans Business Improvement District (BID)
St Albans City & District Council
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