| AdminHistory | Myra Garrett (born 22 September 1932, died 2025) was a pioneering social worker, public health campaigner, and advocate for peace and social justice.
She was born in California, United States of America during the Great Depression. Her early experiences of hardship shaped her lifelong commitment to social equity. After leaving the US for the UK in 1970, she joined the editorial collective of 'Case Con' a revolutionary magazine for social workers and a former NALGO (National and Local Government Officers' Association) shop steward. She joined but later resigned from the London Borough of Islington Social Services Department in 1975. Myra later unsuccessfully applied to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to undertake Youth and Community Work in 1976.
Myra became a transformative figure in east London, living in Tower Hamlets. She was actively involved in:
- the Limehouse Project, 1984, as co-founder;
- Tower Hamlets Health Campaign, from 1984. Based at St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road until 1986, then Oxford House, Derbyshire Street;
- Tower Hamlets Health Inquiry, began in 1985 as 'an independent body established to promote an enquiry into the health services of East London'. Based at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, later c/o 104 The Town Hall, Patriot Square. Myra was actively involved and 'gave secretarial and other support' until completion of the report in May 1987.
- Tower Hamlets Health Strategy Group (THHSG) which was 'set up in 1987 further to the recommendations of the Tower Hamlets Health Inquiry to improve health and health services in the borough'. The Campaign addressed cuts to the local health system, employment opportunities for local people, and barriers to accessing health services affecting local Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic communities. Initial activities included the Spitalfields Community Public Health Project and later Bangladeshi Women's Continence Project. Registered in 1994 as charity number 1040496. Limited company registration number 2954744. Myra Garrett was a member of staff for the group and Coordinator in 2007. Based at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street. The Strategy's work built the foundations for Social Action for Health established in 2000;
- the Bangladeshi Mental Health Forum, 1999;
- Age Concern Tower Hamlets. Myra Garrett when at Age Concern was based at 82 Russia Lane. Registered charity number 1053533.
- Tower Hamlets GP Care Group, a community Interest Company for 'local people, local health'. Myra Garrett was team member in 2017.
These initiatives addressed key issues such as mental health, housing, education and womens empowerment. They profoundly affecting marginalised communities, and gave people empowerment and justice. Myra introduced innovative programmes such as the health bus, which took essential services to underserved areas. She also launched The Continence Project (1992), which earned the Commonwealth award for excellence in womens health in 1997. Her 'Giving Up Smoking During Ramadan' campaign evolved into the Smoke-Free Ramadan initiative, showing her ability to use cultural insights to make effective health interventions.
She was awarded Tower Hamlets Civic award in recognition of 25 years of service to the local community. She moved to supported-living accommodation in Bow in 2022 and her archives were transferred. She died in 2025.
Sources include: obituary in The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/11/myra-garrett-obituary
https://www.safh.org.uk/our-history |