Evelyn Denington, Baroness Denington
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Joyce Denington, Baroness Denington DBE (née Bursill; 9 August 1907 – 22 August 1998) was a British
politician
. She served as chair of the Stevenage
Development Corporation from 1966 to 1980 and chair of the Greater London Council
from 1975 to 1976.
, Bedford College and Birkbeck College
, where she attended evening classes. In 1927, she became an editorial assistant at Architecture and Building News, leaving in 1931 to retrain as a teacher. Denington became secretary to the National Association of Labour Teachers (1938–1947), and taught in London junior schools until 1950.
She married Cecil Dallas Denington, a stockbroker's clerk but later a schoolteacher, in 1935.
in 1945, serving until 1959. She was also elected to the London County Council
in 1946, and its successor the Greater London Council
in 1965.
She served as a member of the Stevenage
Development Corporation (Stevenage became a new town following the New Towns Act 1946
) from 1950. She became its chair and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966, continuing as chair until the Corporation was dissolved in 1980. During her time as a member of the Corporation, Stevenage town centre became Britain's first pedestrianized town centre. The local art gallery was named after her, and she became an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
and an honorary member of the Royal Town Planning Institute
.
Denington became a member of London County Council's new and expanding towns committee, and served as chair of the design subcommittee. Following the creation of the Greater London Council, she became chair of the housing committee with responsibility for around 200,000 homes. During opposition (1967–1973), she became Labour
's deputy leader on the Council, before serving as chair of the transport committee from 1973 to 1975, establishing free buses for pensioners and stopping the construction of urban motorways in London. In 1974, she was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and from 1975 to 1976, she became chair of the Greater London Council.
She retired from the Greater London Council in 1977 and was created a life peer
as Baroness Denington, of Stevenage in the County of Hertford, on 10 July 1978.
and they had no children. She died of heart failure on 22 August 1998 in Brighton
, aged 91.
Evelyn Denington Road in Newham, London
was named in her honour.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She served as chair of the Stevenage
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
Development Corporation from 1966 to 1980 and chair of the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
from 1975 to 1976.
Early life and career
Denington was born Evelyn Joyce Bursill in 1907 to Philip Charles Bursill and Edith Rowena Montford. She was educated at Blackheath High SchoolBlackheath High School
Blackheath High School is situated near Blackheath Village in southeast London, England. It was founded in 1880 as part of the Girls' Day School Trust. The Senior Department is located in Vanbrugh Park after moving from Blackheath in 1993/4. The school in Blackheath village then became the Junior...
, Bedford College and Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
, where she attended evening classes. In 1927, she became an editorial assistant at Architecture and Building News, leaving in 1931 to retrain as a teacher. Denington became secretary to the National Association of Labour Teachers (1938–1947), and taught in London junior schools until 1950.
She married Cecil Dallas Denington, a stockbroker's clerk but later a schoolteacher, in 1935.
Politics
She, and her husband, were elected to St Pancras Borough CouncilMetropolitan Borough of St Pancras
The Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras was a Metropolitan borough of the County of London between 1900 and 1965, when it was amalgamated with the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead and the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn to form the London Borough of Camden...
in 1945, serving until 1959. She was also elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
in 1946, and its successor the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
in 1965.
She served as a member of the Stevenage
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
Development Corporation (Stevenage became a new town following the New Towns Act 1946
New Towns Act 1946
The New Towns Act 1946 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which allowed the government to designate areas as new towns, and passing development control functions to a Development Corporation. Several new towns were created in the years following its passing...
) from 1950. She became its chair and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966, continuing as chair until the Corporation was dissolved in 1980. During her time as a member of the Corporation, Stevenage town centre became Britain's first pedestrianized town centre. The local art gallery was named after her, and she became an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
and an honorary member of the Royal Town Planning Institute
Royal Town Planning Institute
The Royal Town Planning Institute is a body representing planning professionals in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1914.-Members:...
.
Denington became a member of London County Council's new and expanding towns committee, and served as chair of the design subcommittee. Following the creation of the Greater London Council, she became chair of the housing committee with responsibility for around 200,000 homes. During opposition (1967–1973), she became Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
's deputy leader on the Council, before serving as chair of the transport committee from 1973 to 1975, establishing free buses for pensioners and stopping the construction of urban motorways in London. In 1974, she was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and from 1975 to 1976, she became chair of the Greater London Council.
She retired from the Greater London Council in 1977 and was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baroness Denington, of Stevenage in the County of Hertford, on 10 July 1978.
Death/legacy
She and her husband retired to HoveHove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
and they had no children. She died of heart failure on 22 August 1998 in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, aged 91.
Evelyn Denington Road in Newham, London
London Borough of Newham
The London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
was named in her honour.