Basingstoke's first woman Mayor to be celebrated by plaque

Councillor Edith Alice Weston served as a town councillor from 1929 until her death in 1956 at the age of 72. She became the Mayor in 1937.

Cllr Weston, a Labour councillor, had a glowing obituary in the October 5, 1956 edition of the Hants and Berks Gazette, according to historian Debbie Reavall. 

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Cllr Edith Alice Weston (Image: Contributed)

There, she is credited with her work to get Basingstoke its first maternity home, The Shubbery in Cliddesden Road, which opened in 1946.

The home served women in the town who contributed whatever they could afford before the National Health Service took over in 1948.

She was a sportswoman, enjoying playing tennis, badminton, golf and hockey, and donated a cup to the Girls’ High School for the youngest girl to learn to swim in her first year.

Cllr Weston was also noted for her contribution to the arts and culture as a keen promoter of the new Willis Museum in New Street.

She was recognised as a prime mover for the establishment, along with Thomas Alnutt and George Willis, who complimented her ability to overcome councillors’ misgivings about the election of a woman mayor.

Cllr Weston lived in Crossborough Hill in a house which she gave to the Basingstoke High School for Girls, a building still used by The Costello School today.

The installation of the blue plaque, which was organised by the Basingstoke Heritage Society, will be the society's 24th marker, placed at locations of notable events in the town's history.

Mayor of Basingstoke, Cllr Dan Putty, will unveil the plaque with Women's Equality Party councillor, Stacy Hart on Wednesday, October 23 outside the Costello School gates in Crossborough Hill.