Woman of Worth: Louise Da-Cocodia           

                                                13.03.1934 - 9.11.2008

Louise was a woman who didn’t ignore the bad things that were happening around her, she didn’t turn a blind eye or complain in a letter, she got under peoples skin and battled with them until wrongs were put right.

Even in her seventies she didn’t think twice before approaching a hooded teenager who was stealing in her local shop and saying; “Put that back right now! what are you doing?” She made no hesitation in standing up for what she believed in. Louise was fearless, and did not doubt her ability to achieve.

It was this courage and self determination that I found most admirable. Mrs D never let anything hold her back, not the fact she was a woman, or a mother. Whatever obstacles she was faced with she did her best to overcome and this allowed her to achieve many wonderful things. She believed that as a woman she could and would succeed in doing anything she wanted to do.

Biography

·        Louise`s story began in Jamaica. She was born on the 13^th March 1934 to parents Sarah Shand Wright and Richard Adassa Wright, a house keeper and rail way worker respectively.

·        Her childhood dream had been to become a nurse and in 1955 she made this a reality when she left Jamaica to study nursing in England.

·        Louise studied at the Bermondsey hospital in London. She suffered racial discrimination but this made her even more determined to succeed.

·        Louise’s hard work paid off and in 1966 she became a fully qualified midwife and health visitor which was not common a achievement for a black women at that time.

·        She met and married Edward Da- Cocodia who was a Nigerian lawyer and moved to Manchester.

·        Two years later she gave birth to a son Richard, and seven years later a daughter Semmi.

·        In 1989 she decided to take early retirement and dedicate her energy and time to helping others.

·        Mrs Da- Cocodia sadly passed away in November 2008. She left behind so much more than memories, just look at her lists of accomplishments:

 

Mrs D`s Personal Accomplishments

·        Mrs Da- Cocodia was a commissioner for racial Justice. At the height of the 1980`s riots she played a crucial role in liaising between the black 

      community and the police force.

·        She was an Educational Governor of City College, Trinity High School, and St Chrysostom’s CE Primary School, all in Manchester. She acted as a

      'quiet' voice in support of young people who were having trouble with the conventional way of learning. She found ways that supported their needs and

      enabled them to achieve success.

·        She served 14 years as a Justice of the Peace, an Assessor in the Manchester City Courts and as a lay inspector for HM Crown prosecution service.

·        She was involved in establishing the Agency for Economic development in Moss Side Manchester including; an Afro-Caribbean Group for the Elderly

      and the Women’s Action forum and Voluntary Action.

·        She was a founding member of the workspace Cariocca, which developed business programs and projects for inner city residents. Cariocca received

      an award for the most outstanding project in the business category of the Community Enterprise Scheme.

·        One of her greatest personal accomplishments is the upbringing of her children, Richard and Semi Da- Cocodia.  

 

Mrs D is recognised...

Mrs Da- Cocodia had a twenty six year career in nursing and was a highly respected midwife and health visitor. Part of her legacy is the formation of Arawak Walton Housing Association which Louise chaired for thirteen years.

- In 1989 she was awarded a Master of Arts Degree for services to nursing and outstanding work within the community.

- In 1992 she was awarded the British Empire Medal.

- In 1995 she was awarded the National Anti Racist Day Award.

- She was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and held this post from 1999 – 2004.

- In 2005 the Queen awarded Mrs Louise Da-Cocodia an MBE for outstanding services to the community.

 

 

Louise Da-Cocodia was and still is a true inspiration. She not only had dreams but she also had the courage to follow them through. Her dedication to giving to the community changed many lives for the better. Louise never let her fear of failure hold her back, which some of us are often guilty of doing. She was never scared of what the future held and this allowed her to become a woman of incredible worth.