Marguerite "Daisy" Parsons was born in Poplar as Marguerite Lena Millo. When she was young her parents moved to Canning Town, part of West Ham. Working in a factory showed her how men and women were treated differently. 1908 married trade unionist Tom Parsons and started a family. She joined the suffragette cause and was part of a delegation to the Prime Minister in 1914 - our photo is from that event. She later became a councillor and 1936-7 was West Ham's first woman mayor. Awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours of 1951. Died London.
From at least 2012 until 2020 a substation in Hermit Road Recreation Ground, E16, was covered with a mural, one section of which celebrated Parsons' work. The substation was demolished in 2020.
Much of our information comes from East End Women's Museum which has more information and photos of the mural.
