New museum exhibition will focus on the lives of women in Fleetwood

Calling all Fleetwood women!

We would like people to get in touch with stories for our planned 2021 exhibition celebrating Fleetwood women.

The exhibition will explore women’s lives in Fleetwood from the town’s founding up to the present day, and how aspects of life have changed for women over time in Fleetwood.

We will tell women’s stories around themes such as work, leisure, sport and school life.

We will also add more stories of women into our current gallery themes that include war, the fishing industry and RNLI.

The exhibition will celebrate women who have been an inspiration in our town.

Women such as five-time world champion Jane Couch, who battled outside of the ring to become the first officially licensed British female boxer.

Another formidable woman of Fleetwood was Headmistress of Bailey School, Miss Black.

She was a very strict yet fair teacher who made it possible for many girls in Fleetwood to get a good level of education.

She was Headmistress for over 20 years up to 1970, and always pushed for the absolute best out of her students. Did you go to Bailey School, or Fleetwood Grammar School in the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s?

Perhaps you worked at one of the many factories that existed in Fleetwood? Are you a Mullard’s girl, or did you work in the fishing industry as a braider, or in the offices at the docks?

We would love to see pictures of you at work and hear about your experiences.

We also want to hear about what life was like on the weekends for women in Fleetwood.

From cinema trips and bingo, to dances and days at the pier - what did you do to let your hair down and how are things different from today?

From 1950 until 1974, a Bathing Beauty competition was held at the open-air baths - at the end of the summer a girl would be chosen as Miss Fleetwood.

Two well known winners of the competition are Audrey King and Sidney June Walker.

Events like this represent a different time, but they are important to remember.

Do you have any memories of the open-air baths?

We are also keen to recognise women past and present in our “unsung heroes” section. Whether it’s a relative who has volunteered for 20 years, or a friend who runs a small business, who is your inspiring Fleetwood woman? Send us your nominations!

If you have a story, object or photos that can help us tell the story of women in the town, get in touch by emailing [email protected] or call (01253) 876621