Bessie Braddock's Freedom of the city casket

Bessie Braddock (1899 – 1970), Labour M.P., was presented with this silver casket when she was granted the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in 1970. She was the first woman to receive the honour after it was first awarded 84 years earlier in 1886. She received this honour ‘in recognition of the eminent services rendered by her to the City as a Member of the City Council, as a magistrate, and, for 25 years, as a Member of Parliament for the Liverpool Exchange Constituency’. She was presented with the Freedom in April 1970, and sadly died a short time later on 13 November that same year. Known as the champion of the underdogs, Bessie argued passionately for better housing, education and welfare services for the people of Liverpool. The casket is engraved, ‘This Casket containing the Scroll conferring the Honorary Freedom of the City of Liverpool was presented to Elizabeth Margaret Braddock, M.P. 1970'.