Page 38 - BPW-UK ANNUAL REVIEW 2023-2024

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 275264

In September 2023, whilst sitting at Mow Cop, a folly, overlooking the Cheshire Plain,
I was again contacted by Leicester Museum who wished to create a heritage panel featuring
Ruth Tomlinson to celebrate her achievements both for the Boot and Shoe Industry and the
United Nations. In 2014 the Mayor of Leicester, began an initiative to bring the City’s 2,000
years of history to life through a series of on-street heritage panels. These cover the period
from Roman times to the present day and celebrate men, women and events that had had an
impact on the working life of the city.

The Trustees have therefore been working with Gurinder
Mann, the Community Heritage Officer of the museum supply-
ing information that they hold about Ruth Tomlinson’s life and
work in Leicester, which they have been happy to supply, as
they have also been researching her life for a paper that they
are writing.
The completed panel was erected in late December
2023, in University Road, between the De Montfort Hall and
the De Montfort University, two places that Ruth Tomlinson
knew well.
The De Montfort Hall, where in 1946, as part of United
Nation’s Week, Women’s Day, she helped to organise a rally of
representatives from 46 Women’s Organisations and the Unions
representing women met to discuss the women’s view on world
peace. Then again in 1952 at the second Women’s Day rally
where she organised a surprise guest speaker, namely, Eleanor
Roosevelt, whom she had met through her work with the Unit-
ed Nations. Mrs Roosevelt had sent her address through a recording.
Also, the De Montfort University, then known as the College of Art and Technology
where she addressed the Technical Students and the young workers of the Boot and Shoe Indus-
try through her work with the National Institution of the Industry.

Hopefully any members visiting Leicester will be able to visit this tribute to an outstand-
ing woman.

“…….Ruth Tomlinson’s are not frequently born, what she did for women altered history………”
The Daily Leicester Mercury (16.09.1972)

The Trustees would welcome enquiries.
Application is simple: write or email the Chair of the Fund along with the reason for applying
for a grant and the amount requested.

Hilarie Tucknott, Chair RTMF
January 2024

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