Today's Feature

November 28th

Janet Olufunmilayo Adegoke will go down in history, not only as a former mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, but also as the first Black woman in London to be made a Mayor.

Janet Adegoke was born in West Africa in the Nigerian town of Ibadan. She came to England in 1961, aged nineteen, to study nursing. Later she became involved in community work, and was especially concerned with the issue of improved housing and living conditions. She was a popular local figure and gained a reputation as a tireless worker for the community. Janet Adegoke became well known as Secretary of the Emlyn Gardens Tenants’ Association, a role she held for 12 years before joining the council. She was elected a councillor for the Starch Green ward in 1986 and became Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham in May 1987.

Janet Adegoke was co-founder of Hammersmith African Link,

an organisation formed to support her fellow Africans in the borough. Equally she is remembered as a moderate who worked hard to unite Black and white communities. Alongside her dedicated work for the community she had a full time job and, as a single parent, brought up three children.

Hammersmith Town Hall Phoenix Leisure Centre & Janet Adegoke Pool

Sadly Janet Adegoke died of cancer in October 1987, but she continued to carry out her official duties and engagements until a week before her death, aged 45.

The new Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool in White City was opened in March 2006. The old leisure centre, knocked down in 2003, had been named as a tribute to Janet Adegoke and the new pool keeps her name.