Valda James

Valda James (born 1928) is the former mayor of Islington. She was the first black woman elected to Islington Council and the borough's first black mayor.

Life James was born in Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica, and moved to England in 1961, as part of the Windrush generation. Following the end of her marriage, James raised her children as a single parent, 'an experience that later informed her work on the Social Services committee.' In order to support herself financially, James worked from 5.30am as a cleaning supervisor, before the start of her working day as Mayor.

In 2018, as part of the LDN WMN initiative celebrating 100 years since the first women gained the vote in Britain, The artwork 'celebrates the cultural impact left by James on the Borough and is located close to the estate where she lived all her life'.