Tree planted in memory of St Albans' first female town clerk

Betty Entwistle, who was the first female town clerk in England and the first chief executive of St Albans City and District Council, is to be remembered by a tree at the city's prestigious new £64 million development.

The flowering dogwood tree is to be planted in the landscaped walkway at the Jubilee Square development, which features social housing, shared ownership properties, and commercial space.

The tree, donated by Aylett Nurseries, is expected to grow to around 8ft within the next decade and will blossom each spring.

The tree is in honour of pioneering local government officer Betty Entwistle (Image: Supplied) Councillor Jacqui Taylor, lead for housing, said: “Betty was a trailblazer as a woman and an important figure in the history of local government.

“I like to think she would have been proud of our Jubilee Square development which includes 33 social housing properties and is providing new homes for dozens of people.

“A tree in the centre of the walkway, in sight of our current council offices, is a perfect way of paying tribute to this formidable woman.”

Others attending the ceremony included Amanda Foley, SADC's chief executive, and Professor Tim Boatswain, chairman of St Albans Blue Plaques.

The tree, donated by local firm Aylett Nurseries, is a Flowering Dogwood that should grow to a height of around 8ft (Image: Supplied) Prof Boatswain said: “I hit upon the idea of a tree when spotting a photograph of the sheltered accommodation block in Holyrood Crescent that was named after her.

"It included a tree that had been planted in her honour.

“That block has since been demolished and replaced and the tree has also gone.

"It occurred to me that it would be appropriate to plant another tree in her memory at this new Council development.

“The St Albans community owes Betty a lot.

Betty was England’s first female town clerk and the first chief executive of St Albans City and District Council (Image: Supplied) "She was an amazing role model, very energetic and associated with many different causes.

"The tree will be a reminder of all her good works.”

Ms Entwistle, born in 1912, moved to St Albans in 1939 for a job as a legal assistant at the council.

She became town clerk in 1960 and chief executive of the newly formed council in 1973, before her death in 1975.