The Bridgerton actress with links to Barnard Castle and Darlington

Darlington Soroptimists are collecting ideas for their exhibition on March 7, and so far have compiled some greats from history, like the first female mayor and councillor and the great female crusaders against slavery and for women’s suffrage.

Lady Starmer is therefore among them. For much of the 20th Century, she was Darlington’s version of the Queen Mother and nothing to do with our present Prime Minister. She was president of 38 local organisations and vice-president of 37; she gave huge amounts to charity, including her West End home which is now a sheltered house for elderly people; she was widely loved by the townspeople, even those she ran over with her Bentley due to her erratic driving.

But the Soroptimists are also highlighting women with connections to the town who are still very much making valuable contributions.

Women like Elspeth Robinson, who founded the Kumi Community Foundation which is absolutely crucial to the running of the Kumi hospital in Uganda, and Beryl Hankin, who for many decades ran the unique Guru boutique, and local historian Jean Kirkland and Olympian Joy Grieveson.

Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton

Plus there are more nationally famous names like actress Wendy Craig, singer Zoe Birkett and actress Ruth Gemmell who plays Lady Bridgerton in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton.

Ruth was born in Bristol in 1967 but her mother, a nurse, was from Barnard Castle and the family moved back to Barney where Ruth grew up. When her parents divorced, her mother moved into Darlington, and Ruth attended Polam Hall school, which regularly put on productions in its own theatre and in the Arts Centre.

“I think it was appearing in the Importance Of Being Earnest and as a fairy which made my mind up,” she told The Northern Echo in 2004, and since then she has appeared in everything from EastEnders to Tracy Beaker and Doc Martin.

More nominations are welcome – about 175 words and ideally a photograph to darlingtonsorops@gmail.com – for the exhibition which will run in St Cuthbert’s Church Hall from 10am to 3pm.

“We really hope people will come along on the day, discover inspirational women, see who they know and then write down some suggestions for next year,” said Barbara Brown, a Soroptimist for 44 years.

By coincidence, Mike Taylor recently sent in this picture of Lady Starmer doing what she did best. She was president of the Darlington Badminton League and allowed them to hold an annual tournament on the lawns of her home Danby Lodge, which is now an Abbeyfield assisted living home off Coniscliffe Road. This picture was taken after a tournament in September 1967. “I am in the second row from the back, second in from the left with my future wife in front of me holding the ‘wooden’ racquet,” says Mike. “I became secretary of the league in 1971 and so got to know Lady Starmer quite well.” She died at Christmas 1979 with no one really knowing her age as that is one thing you never ask a lady.