Susan Lawrence 1871 - 1947 (Lady Who Stood Tall)

I went to school in Poplar East London, during the late sixties and early seventies. My school was called Manorfield, Primary School. They were good days and I have kind memories of that time. Our school was close to an old railway line that had an old push and pull system of coal carriages passing by. I think it is part of the new Docklands rail today. There was a walkway bridge that people used to cross if they wanted to go to Crisp Street Market. Also, on the other side, was another primary school which we children were always competitive with. Sometimes we played them in football matches and the girls of our school played the girls of the other school at netball.

This primary school was called Susan Lawrence and probably is still so today. At the time I thought it was a strange thing for a school to be called a girls name when boys went there - little chauvinist in the making - some might think.

Some time later I heard about my old district of Poplar being in the history books of London concerning a great revolt of the local council against the government back in 1921. East London's poplar district was very poor in the 1920s and the government introduced a rate bill upon the district that had to have an equal return with rents from all other London borough councils. It meant if a rich borough with high rents paid so much; their rates would be low. Because poplar had low rents due to its poverty - the rates were put up higher then in wealthier districts because the government wanted the same return for Police, fire brigades and other services.

These rents were very severe upon the poor tenants - many of which were unemployed or in low income jobs. The elected council members agreed at a meeting not to collect the rates. This was in defiance of the British Government. Among many of the councillors were a number of women who were trying to bring about social change - one of them was Susan Lawrence after who, the primary school was named. She and many of her councillors were sent to prison for refusing to collect the unfair rate charge and they were held for six weeks.

Many people marched at political rallies and the woman prisoners were driven by Taxi to the men's prison in Brixton so they could all be at council meetings that were conducted from prison. After six weeks of stubborn defiance all the councillors (Susan Lawrence among them) were released from prison.

Susan Lawrence is the lady before the policeman.
Other ladies of the imprisoned councillors are there too.
The crowd are jubilant at their release.

Under strong pressure, the British Government had rushed a new bill through parliament rectifying the situation concerning the unfair rates. Susan Lawrence and her fellow councillors had stood firm and won a victory for the Poplar residents, all of who, were grateful at their councillors noble stand.

Susan Lawrence Primary School was named after her. The brave Lady died in 1947 age 76. I mention her for what she did in the district where I lived as a child from 1961 to 1972. Now days, I think Susan Lawrence Primary School is a wonderful name and I take back the silly boyish notion of the school not sounding good.