Street in Park Hill, Sheffield is renamed to honour local councillor Pat Midgley on building's 60th anniversary

A street at Park Hill in Sheffield is to be renamed as a tribute to Coun Pat Midgley, who died from coronavirus last year.

By Julia Armstrong

Published 16th Jun 2021, 14:09 BST

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As a tribute to Cllr Pat Midgley and her commitment to community and support for the regeneration of Park Hill joint venture partners Urban Splash and Places for People have organised with Sheffield City Council to rename Norwich Street at Park Hill as Pat Midgley Lane.

An informal tribute event was held at Park Hill on Wednesday (June 16), 60 years to the day when Park Hill was officially opened by Sheffield City Council, where representatives from the community joined Pat’s family and friends to unveil a copy of the new street sign.

Coun Terry Fox, leader of Sheffield City Council, Park Hill ward councillors, Urban Splash and members of her family spoke about Pat’s legacy.

Coun Terry Fox speaks about his friend and colleague Pat Midgley at the unveiling of Pat Midgley Lane as part of the Park Hill flats regeneration scheme

Coun Terry Fox speaks about his friend and colleague Pat Midgley at the unveiling of Pat Midgley Lane as part of the Park Hill flats regeneration scheme

Family members attending included her husband, Don, and children Joanna and Neil.

Pat was a Labour councillor for 33 years and was born, raised and lived her whole life in the Manor Castle council ward, which covers Park Hill.

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She was also a former Lord Mayor, magistrate and school governor for more than 50 years. Pat was also honoured with a Women of Sheffield award in 2019, hosted by the Sheffield Star.

Ex- Sheffield City Council chief executive Lord Bob Kerslake speaks to the family and friends gathered of his memories working with Pat Midgley

Ex- Sheffield City Council chief executive Lord Bob Kerslake speaks to the family and friends gathered of his memories working with Pat Midgley

She was chair of housing in the 1990s and spearheaded Park Hill’s application for English Heritage Grade II listed building status, fielding criticism at the time from a sceptical public about the benefits of such a move.

That decision led to Park Hill’s regeneration.

She was the first serving politician in the UK known to have died from coronavirus.

Pat’s family said: “We are incredibly proud mum has been remembered in this way. She lived around Park Hill all her life, born yards away on Shrewsbury Road and married at Talbot Street Methodist Church.

“She was passionate about the improvements to Park Hill and she would have been so pleased, although completely disbelieving, to know a road is named after her at the heart of the new complex and see the latest phases come to life.”

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Park Hill Sheffield City Council Terry Fox Sheffield