Those who care for the sick often understand society’s wounds best. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that some of history’s most effective public servants have emerged from the ranks of health professionals. Trained to listen, to care, to respond under pressure, and to make life-impacting decisions with empathy and clarity, health professionals often bring a rare blend of discipline and compassion to governance.
Janet Olufunmilayo Adegoke, a Nigerian-born nurse, was one of the most remarkable individuals to have demonstrated this versatility. In 1987, she shattered both racial and gender barriers to become the first Black woman mayor in London, specifically in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which had existed since 1965.
Adegoke’s election proved to be a ground-breaking moment in British political history, especially as it was achieved through unmistakable dedication to professional excellence, community activism and public advocacy. Long before her historic mayoralty, she had already become a beloved figure in her community—a relentless advocate for better healthcare, decent housing, social justice, and community cohesion.
In an interview, shortly after her election, she said: “It is something I readily accept because it’s been a part of my life to meet people and attend to their problems, regardless of their race or colour. This is not something that comes cheap. You have to work hard for it. People have to see that you have the ability and the personality. And you must have the time and the love of people in mind.”
She added, with characteristic candour: “Even before I became a councillor, my people had been putting pressure on me. They felt that since I’d done so much for them, I should put my name forward. They were already calling me ‘Councillor Janet’. So when the time came, I didn’t have to do much.”
Such was the admiration Adegoke inspired. As both a Black African woman and a healthcare professional ascending to one of the capital’s highest civic offices, she blazed a trail for future generations of underrepresented voices.
Foundations of greatness
Nurse Adegoke was born into the Akinkunmi family of Ibadan, Oyo State, in 1942. She completed her primary and secondary education in Nigeria before moving to the United Kingdom in 1961 to train as a nurse. Upon qualifying, she worked for several years within the NHS, where she encountered the harsh realities facing immigrant and working-class families—ranging from overcrowded housing to systemic neglect and social isolation.
Fuelled by these experiences, she immersed herself in community activism, serving for 12 years as Secretary of the Emlyn Gardens Tenants’ Association—a grassroots role that became the bedrock of her political career. She campaigned vigorously for better housing conditions and tenants’ rights, quickly becoming a trusted and familiar face across Hammersmith and Fulham.
It was also during this period that she co-founded the Hammersmith African Link. The idea was sparked by a poignant moment while visiting a mental hospital, where she heard a woman crying out in Yoruba. That experience alerted her to the hidden suffering of many African immigrants battling loneliness, depression, and disconnection. Through African Link, volunteers visited Africans in hospitals and homes, offering them emotional support, and informing them of their rights. The organisation also promoted racial harmony, amplifying African and Caribbean voices in civic life.
Rising to higher service
In 1986, Janet was elected to the Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council, representing Starch Green Ward under the Labour Party. A year later, in May 1987, her fellow councillors voted her into the office of Mayor—an influential role typically given to a respected colleague whose leadership and community contributions are widely acknowledged.
Janet’s mayoralty was groundbreaking not merely for its symbolism, but for how she balanced it with her full-time work and family life. As a single parent raising three children, she embodied resilience. Despite the demands of office, she never stopped working her day job as nurse or tending to the needs of her family. Her life was a portrait of sacrifice, illustrating the invisible labour so many women, especially women of colour, shoulder in silence.
Even though her time in office was short, her passion and indefatigability made it memorable with far-reaching impact. She actively supported health-focused charities, including organisations for sickle cell awareness and MENCAP, the charity for people with learning disabilities. She was also very much concerned for the elderly and worked to improve care and social support services for them.
Among her civic achievements was the creation of the Marcus Garvey Memorial Park, established to mark the centenary of Garvey’s birth. The park continues to hold a special place in the borough’s cultural and historical landscape as a beautiful and cherished community space.
Despite these achievements, Adegoke remained humble and people-focused. She once wrote: “Whatever achievements I’ve had have not been the work of one person alone. We work within a community—and whatever we are able to achieve, it is together. The tragedy is when we do not support each other.”
Dignified exit and lasting legacy
Not long after her appointment as mayor, Janet was diagnosed with cervical cancer. But as characteristic of her, she remained unbreakable and hardly told anyone. She continued her duties with unrelenting commitment until just days before her death on 1 October 1987. Her passing came as a shock to many, as only close relatives were aware of her illness.
Her funeral service was held at the Anglican Church of St Saviour’s with St Mary’s in Hammersmith. Despite no formal invitations being sent, the church was filled to overflowing, with attendees from all walks of life—proof of how widely she was respected.
Father John Wheeler, the presiding minister, paid this tribute: “She was a person who saw good in everyone. Like all good people, she was sometimes laughed at, but Janet never minded. She inspired love—and even though she has died in body, her loving spirit will live on.”
Deputy Mayor Joseph Mirwitch added: “She was justifiably proud of being a black woman mayor. She was the most dignified mayor we have ever had. She was very strong and very proud and her aim in life was to bring happiness to everyone.”
Her body was later flown back to Nigeria and laid to rest beside her mother’s grave in Ibadan. Even after that, tributes continued to pour in for her. Columnist Jesse Charles wrote:
“Janet had an extraordinary ability to leave her mark on one meeting. She invited immediate respect and liking… Her immediate community, and the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, will sorely miss her strength and personal warmth.”
To preserve her legacy, the borough renamed the White City Pools in her honour, calling it the Janet Adegoke Leisure Centre. Years after, when the structure became old and in need of modern, accessible facilities that could better serve the growing and diverse community, it was replaced with the present Phoenix Fitness Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool, opened in January 2006. Today, the centre serves thousands of residents.
Nurse Janet Adegoke is also honoured in the Women’s History Trail of Hammersmith and Fulham. And she continues to be celebrated, not simply for her title, but for her phenomenal impact.
