Published: Monday, 24th February 2025
A special display was launched at Stories of Lynn this morning, celebrating the centenary of the first female Mayor of King’s Lynn, Ada Coxon, and contemporary women in local leadership positions.
Some of the contemporary women featured gathered to launch the display with the great-grandson of Ada Coxon, Tony Bellars.
The display will be in place until 27 March and is timed to coincide with International Women’s Day on 8 March, when there will be free entry for all young people under 16.
Cllr Jo Rust, the Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for People and Communities, said: “West Norfolk has a lot to be proud of, with many key local positions currently being held by women. International Women’s Day seems like the perfect time to tell their stories and celebrate the centenary of the woman who paved the way, Ada Coxon.
“We believe in our young people and it is one of our priorities to improve their educational opportunities and ambition, which we’re doing though a number of schemes such as BOOST and our support for apprenticeships.
“By celebrating Ada and some of the amazing women we have working in West Norfolk, this project aims to inspire our young people and show them that there can be a place at the top table for them.”
Florence ‘Ada’ Coxon became the first female Mayor of King’s Lynn 100 years ago this year, before universal suffrage was introduced in 1928, and she also held a number of other political and educational positions locally.
She also became one of the first women to be called to The Bar, and at 70, she was the oldest ever at that time. She initiated what has become a proud track record of women in leadership locally.
Since Ada 14 women have been Mayor in King’s Lynn and, in 2025, many leadership positions in West Norfolk are held by women. Key positions in West Norfolk currently held by women include:
- Chief Executive of the Borough Council: Kate Blakemore
- Bishop of Lynn: Dr Jane Steen
- Chair of Governors at CWA: Gill Rejzl
- Chief Executive of Freebridge Housing: Anita Jones
- Chief Executive of QEH: Alice Webster
- Police District Commander: Supt Sonia Humphreys
- Station Commander, RAF Marham: Group Capt Leonie Boyd
For International Women’s Day (IWD) a project has been developed in partnership between the Borough Council, the Norfolk Records Office and Norfolk Museums Service. It includes a special display celebrating local female leaders in Stories of Lynn, King's Lynn, and an assembly pack for schools.
A special feature on Ada Coxon appears in the March/April edition of KL Magazine and King’s Lynn Corn Exchange will be lit up in purple, the colour for IWD, on 8 March. The Borough Council is also doing an internal celebration of women in leadership positions within the organisation.