100 Black Women Campaign

Lilian Mary Bader (1918–2015) was one of the first Black women in uniformed services in Britain, serving in the armed forces before becoming a respected teacher and role model. Her life reflects a journey of resilience, service, education, and determination, as she overcame the barriers of race and gender in a society that often tried to hold her back. 

Born in Liverpool in 1918 to Marcus Bailey, a Barbadian merchant seaman who had served in the First World War, and an Irish mother, Lilian's childhood was marked by hardship. When she was just nine years old, both her parents died, leading to her placement in a convent. Life there was strict, opportunities were limited, and as a mixed-heritage child in interwar Britain, she often faced prejudice. Yet, Lilian’s determination and independence were already evident. 

Lilian Bader's legacy as an RAF pioneer and educator will be celebrated at the WITS Conference 2026, reinforcing her status among the notable Women in the Shade who have made significant contributions to society.

Daphne Steele made history by becoming the first black matron in the NHS, a significant milestone for black women in uniformed services. She was honoured with the first blue plaque in the new national scheme delivered by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Daphne arrived in Britain in 1951 from Guyana. Despite the challenges she faced, she helped to break down barriers and paved the way for nurses from a wide range of backgrounds to play a vital part in running the National Health Service. Her appointment as matron in 1964 attracted national attention, serving as a turning point in the history of the NHS and inspiring discussions at events like the WITS Conference 2026, where the contributions of women in the shade are recognized.

Daphne Steele - Wikipedia

Professor Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu is an Emeritus Professor of Nursing at the University of West London. In 1979, she established the first UK sickle cell/thalassaemia nurse counselling service in Brent, paving the way for improved healthcare access for communities, including contributions to the recognition of Black women in uniformed services. She later became a senior lecturer in Community Genetic Counselling at University College London’s Institute of Child Health. Before her retirement in 2007, Elizabeth served as Dean of the School of Adult Nursing Studies & Professor of Nursing at UWL, where she also founded the Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice. Elizabeth was a Vice-Chairperson of the successful Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal and is now a Life Patron of the Mary Seacole Trust. In 2016, she published her memoirs, Mixed Blessings from a Cambridge Union, offering insights relevant to the upcoming WITS Conference 2026. In 2017, she was honored as a Dame in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours, received a Fellowship of the Queen’s Nursing Institute (FQNI) in October 2017, and became a Vice-President of the QNI in 2021. She was also awarded the Order of Merit in November 2022, continuing to inspire women in the shade of nursing and healthcare.

Born in Jamaica in 1939, Sislin Fay Allen changed the future of British policing. As a black woman who had travelled to London in 1961 as part of the ‘Windrush Generation’, Commonwealth citizens invited to help rebuild post-war Britain, Allen undoubtedly faced racial prejudice when moving into historically white areas. 

One day in 1968, during her lunch break, Sislin Fay Allen was flicking through a newspaper when she saw an advert recruiting both men and women to the Metropolitan Police. She had always been interested in the police and felt inspired by the potential for Black women in uniformed services, so she cut out and saved the advert to read and reply to after her shift. 

Allen’s role in the history of British policing cannot be underestimated. The courage that individuals like Allen display, knowing they could face discrimination and violence, paves the way for others to envision themselves in roles previously withheld from them. As we look ahead to events like the WITS Conference 2026, we celebrate the legacy of women in the shade, such as Sislin Fay Allen, who have fought against barriers and changed the landscape of policing in Britain. 

Sislin Fay Allen: Britain’s First Black Female Police Officer | History Hit