Jessie Burgess

Jessie Burgess
CBE
Mayor of Camberwell (United Kingdom)
In office
1945–1947
Personal details
Died1981
Political partyLabour
Known forThe first female mayor of Camberwell and eponym of Burgess Park

Jessie Burgess was a British politician. She was the Labour councillor for the Camberwell Metropolitan Borough Council from 1934 to 1951, the first woman to be Mayor of Camberwell.[1] She was made an Honorary Freeman of Camberwell in 1958 and made a CBE in the 1966 Birthday Honours.[1] Burgess Park is named after her.[1]

Early life and education

Burgess was originally from Brighton and lived in the Peabody Buildings, Camberwell Green.[1]

Political career

Burgess was the Labour councillor for the Borough of Camberwell from 1934 to 1951, and a two-term Mayor of Camberwell, first appointed in 1945-6, and again in 1946-7.

She was supported by the (then) 17 year old Pamela Phillips as Mayoress.

Pamela was a student of Mary Datchelor School, and was chosen by Burgess to represent young people who had had challenging times during the war years.


Personal life

Burgess was married to Frederick George Burgess, who was mayor of Camberwell Metropolitan Borough Council from 1947 to 1949.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Friends of Burgess Park". Retrieved 16 November 2019.