2019

Nottinghamshire’s first women MP honoured with sculpture in Carlton.

Date Posted: 4:30 PM on Wed, 6 March 2019

A sculpture of Nottinghamshire’s first woman MP, Florence Paton, is set to be unveiled in Carlton on International Women’s Day.

The stainless steel bust will include visual references that represent Florence Paton’s beliefs and life work. It will be installed in the Garden for the Blind on Carlton Hill on Friday 8 March, which is also International Women’s Day.

Designed by sculptor Hilary Cartmel, it includes details of miner’s picks and a lamp to show Florence Paton’s connection to the borough, books to represent her work with education and the Crowned Portcullis, the official logo of the Houses of Parliament to represent her role as a Member of Parliament.

Representing the Rushcliffe Constituency from 1945-1950, which at the time included Gedling, Colwick and Carlton within its boundaries, Florence campaigned for better working conditions in mines as well as improved health services for woman and children. A former school teacher, she was particularly interested in the education of children who had special education needs, and fought for their rights for equal treatment and resources.

The Mayor of Gedling, Councillor Barbara Miller and event organiser, Councillor Roxanne Ellis, will be unveiling the sculpture this Friday 8 March at 11.45am in the garden as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations.

Gedling Borough Council Cabinet Policy Advisor, Councillor Roxanne Ellis said;

“It’s fitting that on the first International Women’s Day since the centenary of women getting the vote, we are unveiling a sculpture to pay tribute to an inspirational woman. Not only was Florence Paton the first woman elected to represent the local area, she was the first woman to preside over a debate in the House of Commons and also a parliamentary delegate to the United Nations.”

Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said;

“This is a tremendous tribute to Florence Paton who played a very important role for the progression of women in politics. I would like to thank everyone involved, especially Councillor Ellis for her work to get this sculpture installed and to the researcher, Val Wood and the designer Hilary Cartmel, who has produced an outstanding piece of work that Florence would’ve been proud of.”