Birmingham has a rich history of inspiring women who have made significant contributions to various fields. From philanthropy to the arts to sports and politics - the contributions have been enourmous. They continue to inspire the present generations and hopefully, the ones to come.
There are many inspiring women from yesteryears as well like Dame Elizabeth Cadbury, a philanthropist who dedicated her life to improving the lives of women and children in Birmingham, or Hilda Burkitt - a British suffragette and member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) - who must not be forgotten.
Celebrating their contributions for only a day on International Women’s Day is not enough as they continue to work tirelessly and make the world a better place every day.
It is important to mark their great work and while there are many women, several of them may be in our own lives, who deserve to be applauded, here are nine women who have had impact on society at large:
1. Alison Hammond
Alison Hammond grew up in Kingstanding, Birmingham and has become one of the famous TV personalities in the UK. television personality and actress. She competed in the third series of Big Brother in 2002 and since then become a presenter and reporter on ITV’s This Morning, and has appeared on reality shows such as I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Coach Trip (2012), Strictly Come Dancing (2014), Celebrity Masterchef (2014), and I Can See Your Voice (2020). (Pic:Getty) | Getty
2. Dame Julie Walters
Legendary actress from Edgbaston and the recipient of four British Academy Television Awards as well as two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. The actress has been part of some of the biggest movie franchises and continues to inspire generations of young men who want to be an actress. (Photo - Getty Images) | Getty Images
3. Eleanor Simmonds
Ellie Simmonds is Britain’s youngest Paralympian after entering 2008 Olympics games at age 13. During her career, she won eight Olympic medals - five of which are gold. She was the first person of short stature to take part in the popular ballroom dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) | Getty Images
4. Constable Andrea Reynolds
The founder member of the WMP Black and Asian Police Association, she was awarded a King’s Police Medal (KPM) in 2022. She joined as a PC in the 1990s and was an executive member of the National Black Police Association. She was awarded a lifetime achievement award from them in 2021. (Photo - West Midlands Police) | west midlands police