On Monday 7th April 2025, Penarth Town Mayor and current Chair of the Council, Councillor Gwenda Roberts, unveiled a commemorative plaque to honour the achievements of Mrs Constance Maillard BEM — the first woman to hold the position of Chair of Penarth Urban District Council, a century ago.
Elected to the role in the 1924–1925 electoral year, Mrs Maillard was a pioneering figure in local governance, breaking new ground for women in public office. A committed suffragist and passionate advocate for social reform, she played a vital role in shaping the civic and cultural life of Penarth. Her tenure was marked by dedication to social justice, urban improvement, and community wellbeing. Among her many contributions, she proposed the creation of the Italian Gardens, a cherished public space that continues to provide beauty and respite to residents and visitors alike.
Born Constance Vellacott in Penarth in September 1880, she lived at various times on Plymouth Road, Herbert Terrace, and eventually Redlands Road, where she moved around 1920 with her husband, a teacher at Penarth County School (now Stanwell School).
She was secretary of the Penarth Suffragist Society and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1944 for her work as organiser of the Penarth branch of the Women’s Voluntary Service. Her commitment to improving life for women and children was clear in her role helping to establish the Infant Welfare Institute at Beecroft House, Stanwell Road, in 1925.
As Chair of the Council, she officiated at key civic moments including the opening of the new Beach Road in April 1924 and the Athletic Field in June of the same year. It was also during her term that the War Memorial in Alexandra Park was erected. Mayor Roberts noted: “It is appropriate that we are unveiling this plaque in the Italian Gardens, which she was instrumental in bringing about.”
Councillor Roberts continued: “Mrs Maillard’s story is one of determination, service, and vision. She was a tireless advocate for social reform who left a lasting legacy. It’s a great honour to celebrate her life and contribution to Penarth. She was a wonderful role model for women in public life.”
Constance Maillard died in 1984 at the age of 103. Her obituary in the Penarth Times that year remembered her with gratitude “for her pioneer work in social welfare and women’s rights.”
The new plaque, now installed in the Italian Gardens on the Penarth Seafront, stands as a lasting reminder of Constance Maillard’s trailblazing role in local democracy and her commitment to the town she served so faithfully
Constance Maillard BEM
1880 – 1984
Suffragist, Social Campaigner, and Proposer of the Italian Gardens
First Female Chair of Penarth Urban District Council (1924 – 1925)
1919 pamphlet courtesy of Glamorgan Archives
