Edna Coates

Born 27^th June 1928, Edna lived most of her life in Middlestown, Wakefield, where she raised her family and dedicated all her spare time to raising funds for local charities.

Edna sometimes used unconventional means to raise money for the things she believed in. A diabetic herself who was passionate about raising the profile of the condition, she organised sponsored darts marathons, penny for the guy collections, gala charity nights and bric-a-brac auctions. One auction featured Coronation Street actor Bet Lynch’s earrings! She also galvanised Emmerdale Farm’s actor Christopher Chittell, who played Eric Pollard, to be an auctioneer. She unashamedly asked those ‘with’ money, status and fame to support those ‘without’. This gave her a reputation of being someone who moved from one successful fundraising campaign to the next.

Edna even wrote directly to Diana, Princess of Wales for support, and she received a personal cheque which went towards the building of Yorkshire’s first dedicated Diabetic centre.

Carol Coates, Edna’s daughter, recalls with pride how creative her mum was when trying to raise funds: “She didn’t care who she asked, or how. Her priority was to get support for those who were unable to access it and as a diabetic, treatment was not available in Wakefield, so she decided to do something about it. She raised millions so that the people of Wakefield didn’t have to go to Leeds for their treatment.”

Edna’s granddaughter Daisy, at the age of only 15, nominated Edna for the British Health Care Awards because she felt her grandmother deserved recognition for all she did. “It takes not one person, but lots to raise that kind of money and my grandmother has always been a front-runner at getting everyone involved. If it wasn’t for people like her, I’m sure many sick people would be a lot worse off”. Daisy also entered her grandma into a Sunday Mirror competition, which she won. This win meant both Edna and Daisy went on a Concord flight in recognition for Edna being a “Super Gran”. This was part of British Airway’s celebrations to honour the Queen Mum’s 85^th birthday in 1985.  

Edna Coates’ involvement in taking care of the sick of Wakefield extended beyond her work for the Cancer and Diabetes Centre. She raised money for the Pinderfield’s paraplegic ward, enabled the first patients’ laundrette to be built and maintained and, with her fundraising prowess, bought mobile phones for patients to use. She also raised over £43,000 in 1983 for the first eye laser treatment machine in Yorkshire, which, alongside other cutting edge technologies and treatments, made Wakefield’s treatment options the most advanced in Yorkshire at that time.  

With the re-development and re-building of Pinderfield’s hospital, Edna’s legacy has largely been forgotten, which is why Dream Time Creative’s Forgotten Women of Wakefield project is honouring her with a Blue Plaque. Working with Wakefield Civic Society, we are ensuring that Edna and her achievements will be forever remembered as she takes her place, honoured with a Blue Plaque, alongside other incredible women from our city’s past.