Vice-Chancellor attends Daphne Steele blue plaque unveiling

Professor Bob Cryan CBE, University of Huddersfield Vice-Chancellor, has attended the unveiling of a blue plaque honouring Daphne Steele, the UK’s first black matron.

A new building named after Daphne on the University’s National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC) is currently nearing completion, but the blue plaque has been placed at the former maternity home in Ilkley where Daphne, who came to the UK from Guyana, was appointed as matron in 1964. She later worked at Wharfedale children’s hospital and the University of Leeds before becoming a health visitor in Ilkley and Bingley.

It is the first official blue plaque outside of London as Heritage England begin to widen the scheme to honour notable people all over the country.

The Vice-Chancellor met up with Robert Steele, Daphne’s son, who recently unveiled a plaque at the topping out ceremony for the new building at the site on Southgate in Huddersfield.

“It was a real honour to be asked to attend the unveiling of the blue plaque commemorating Daphne Steele in Ilkley,” said Professor Cryan. “She was a true pioneer, and it’s wonderful that she is one of the first people to be remembered with a blue plaque now that they are rightly appearing outside of London and all over the country.

“It was also lovely to see her son Robert again so soon after the topping out ceremony with us a few weeks ago to celebrate the Daphne Steele Building at the University’s new National Health Innovation Campus. He is very proud of Daphne and her achievements, and we cannot wait to open the building that will honour her by training future generations of healthcare professionals.”

The Daphne Steele Building is scheduled to open in autumn 2024.