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

Levellers

Levellers

A group of political radicals during the Civil War and the interregnum.  Its origins lie in discussions within the New Model Army concerning soldiers' individual rights.  They promoted: law reform,...

Group, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Steve Bullock

Steve Bullock

Politician. Born in Redcar, Yorkshire. He was the first directly elected Mayor of the Borough of Lewisham, holding the post 2002-18. Knighted in 2007.

Person, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Sir William Walworth

Sir William Walworth

Fishmonger and Mayor 1374 to 1375 and 1380 to 1381. During the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 King Richard II met the rebels, led by Wat Tyler, at Smithfield to discuss their demands. A scuffle broke out...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
John Carpenter

John Carpenter

Town Clerk. Endowed the City of London School in 1442. Our picture is of his statue high up on the wall of the City of London School's glassed ceiling atrium standing over the door to the balcony...

Person, Education, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Viscount Cecil of Chelwood

Viscount Cecil of Chelwood

Politician and peace maker. Born Robert Cecil at 11 Duchess Street, Portland Place. Son of the Prime Minister, the Marquess of Salisbury. He practised civil law for several years before entering pa...

Person, Law, Peace, Politics & Administration

1 memorial