Barking tower blocks named after former Ford striker

Cllr Darren Rodwell met with Dora Challingsworth’s family (Credit: Be First)

A new housing block in Barking town centre has been named after a former Ford striker. 

Dora Challingsworth was a shop steward at the Ford Dagenham plant who led female strikers in 1984 to finally gain equal pay and status. She sadly passed away earlier this year. 

Dora’s two daughters, Jill Watson and Tracy Goodman, as well as her son, David Challingsworth, and granddaughter, Tiffany Goodman, joined the leader of the local council, councillor Darren Rodwell, to celebrate the naming of Challingsworth House. 

The three towers will provide 169 affordable council owned homes in Barking town centre. The properties will be nine, 10 and 20 storeys high and will feature 80 one-bedroom, 71 two-bedroom and 18-three-bedroom flats.  

Speaking on behalf of the family, Tiffany said: “We are enormously proud to be Dora’s family. She was courageous, energetic and selfless, both in her work and family life. Dora is greatly missed by many, but will continue to be an inspiration for years to come.”

Cllr Rodwell added: “It’s a pleasure to meet Dora’s family and celebrate her life’s time work in fighting for fairness, women’s, and worker’s rights.

“Dora’s name will live on and will be immortalised in this fantastic new housing block.”

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