Person    | Female  Born 13/1/1926  Died 14/3/2014

Rita Leggatt

Rita Sylvia Smith was born on 13 January 1926 the daughter of Francis Albert Smith (1888-1957) and Annie Smith née Turner (1892-1957). Her birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1926 in the Edmonton registration district and her father was a plasterer.

The 1939 England and Wales Registers show her parents listed at 57 West Beech Road, Wood Green, but she is shown as a schoolgirl living at 10 Sloe Hill, Halstead, Essex, the home of Reginald E. Goodman (b.1891), a bread salesman, and his wife, Lilian L. Goodman (b.1892). 

On 7 June 1958 she married Arthur Leonard George Leggatt (1935-2018) in the Wood Green registration district and they had three sons: Martin F. Leggatt (b. 1963) and twins Paul G. Leggatt & David A. Leggatt (b.1964). Electoral registers in 1963 and 1964 show her and her husbamd listed at 7 Lombard Avenue, Ilford, Essex.

Described as the Mayoress of the London Borough of Redbridge in 2005, we initially thought that she had been the Mayoress in her own right and were rather surprised to learn that she was given that title as the wife of the Mayor, Arthur Leggatt. We thought that quaint custom had died out many years ago.

Electoral registers from 2003 to 2007 listed her and her husband at 42 Beaminster Gardens, Ilford, IG6 2BW. She died, aged 88 years, on 14 March 2014 in Ilford, Essex and was laid to rest on 27 March 2014.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Rita Leggatt

Creations i

End of WW2 - 60th Anniversary

'In unity progress' is the motto of Redbidge Council.

Read More

Redbridge - 40th anniversary of election of first mayor

This plaque to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the election of the first ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Henry Reader Williams

Henry Reader Williams

JP, chairman of the Hornsey School and Hornsey Local Board. Active in the Poor Schools movement, he was an early campaigner for the education and welfare of children. He also led the campaign to ...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Lord Monteagle

Lord Monteagle

William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle. See Guy Fawkes for Monteagle's role in the Gunpowder Plot.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
William Sidney

William Sidney

Mayor of the Borough of Chelsea in 1906 - 8. Represented Chelsea in the LCC, 1922-34. LondonWiki says: "Following the death of his two elder brothers, the 3rd and 4th Barons De L'Isle and Dudley, h...

Person, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Lord Aberdare, Henry Austin Bruce

Lord Aberdare, Henry Austin Bruce

1st Baron Aberdare. Born Dyffryn Aberdare, Glamorgan. Statesman, serving as Home Secretary and President of the Council. He reformed British licensing laws and headed a commission that established ...

Person, Politics & Administration, Wales

1 memorial
F. C. L. Turner

F. C. L. Turner

Councillor in the Borough of Hammersmith in 1948.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Percy & Mary Shelley

Percy & Mary Shelley

WC1, Marchmont Street, 87

After their elopement in July 1814 the Shelleys lived here with Claire Clairmont, Mary's step-sister. Their son was born, presumably here...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Princess Charlotte of Wales

Princess Charlotte of Wales

As the only child of George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) and Caroline of Brunswick Charlotte was second in line to the throne. Born Carlton House (where Carlton House Terrace now stands) and ...

Person, Royalty

1 memorial
Billy Fury

Billy Fury

Singer-songwriter.  Born Liverpool as Ronald William Wycherley.  Hits include: "Halfway to Paradise" and "Jealousy".  Produced for a time by Joe Meek.  His girlfriend, the singer Lee Middleton late...

Person, Music / songs

2 memorials
Furnival's Inn

Furnival's Inn

One of the two Inns attached to Lincoln's Inn, the other being Thavie's Inn (which has a street and building just south of Holborn Circus). At Staple Inn we share with you our meagre understanding ...

Building, Law

1 memorial
King George Tupou V

King George Tupou V

Former king of Tonga. His full name was Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Manumataongo Tukuʻaho Tupou V. Educated in New Zealand, Britain and Switzerland and trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He su...

Person, Royalty, China/Hong Kong, New Zealand, Switzerland

1 memorial