Hansa Jadva-Patel writes: It was wonderful to see so many women and a few men joining me to celebrate the International Women’s Day. Despite closure of several underground lines and stations, including where the walk commenced, 23 walkers, including a young female walker (aged 3yrs) arrived sporadically by the time we reached the statue dedicated to Noor Inayat Khan (photo 1), the first female secret agent sent to the Nazi occupied France during 2nd World War and also the first free standing statue of a woman of Asian origin. At a relaxed pace, we walked around Bloomsbury area where there were blue plaques and statues dedicated to so many inspirational women throughout the history. We stopped briefly at each, sharing stories of their achievements and struggles. These included, Virginia Woolf, a literary artist, Damn Louisa Brandreth Aldrich-Blake, first female surgeon / anaesthetist / Dean of Medical School, Lilian Lindsay, first female dentist, Christina Georgina Rossetti, a poet, Lady Ottoline Morrell, artist, Mary Prince, first enslaved ‘black’ abolitionist and author, Fanny Wilkinson, horticulturist, and Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, Botanist. In addition, we also visited the site of first Women’s College (Bedford College set up byElizabeth Jesser Reid) and the Endell Military Hospital (set up by Dr Flora Murray & Dr Louisa Garrett Anderson) which was run entirely by women during 1st world war.
We stopped for lunch at Seven Dials market which offered an array of international cuisine. Here, I lost my youngest walker who was tempted by the nearby transport museum. We continued to the statues of Agatha Christie, author, and Edith Cavell and Florence Nightingale, war time healthcare pioneers, before progressing to Parliament square, dodging hundreds of tourists who were watching the changing of the guards, and a protest opposite Downing Street. At Parliament Square, we admired the first statue dedicated to a woman in the square, that of Millicent Garrett Fawcett, a suffragist and a truly inspirational woman (photo 2). Here, we were also greeted by dancers in vibrant and colourful costumes, celebrating the International Women’s day. A few walkers were enticed to join in the celebratory dancing but were probably not adequately dressed, on reflection, were overdressed! We continued through Victoria Gardens to the statue of Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst (photo 3), suffragettes and activists. The final part of the walk took us along the Covid memorial wall which was lined with red roses marking the Covid-19 Day of Reflection. Our final stop was at St Thomas’s Hospital to admire the statue memorial of Mary Seacole (photo 4), a war time nurse and a first free standing statue dedicated to a ‘black’ woman. Overall, an enjoyable walk, with excellent company and many thanks to the excellent back marker for maintaining the numbers in the crowds!
