Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page in memory of our mother, Anne Bates who sadly passed away on Saturday July 30th 2022.

We have chosen Gingerbread because Anne was passionate about supporting lone parents. Anne became a lone parent way back in 1961 at a time when there was very little support. Discrimination and prejudice was rife particularly towards women. She was in her early 20s and was left to  support two small children on her own. Anne quickly found us a house to rent in Fulham which became our family home for many years. She soon understood that she could not  manage  or give us a decent life on the paltry state benefits on offer.  

Once we were more settled, Anne returned to full-time work so she could support us. She was incredibly resourceful and got help with child care by offering free room and board to  foreign language students, only slightly younger than Anne. They adored her. Anne had many interesting roles in publishing, fashion, hospitality, PR and even owned and ran her own vintage store in Manhattan for a few years! 

But where she probably achieved most was in her paid work in the House of Commons. She worked at different points of her  career for several Labour MPs.  She relished the chance of supporting constituents, fighting for their rights and doing everything she could to help them resolve the difficult issues they  faced. Anne never let anything go and fought injustice wherever she saw it. She helped many thousands of people but always had the strongest affinity with those  lone parents struggling to make ends meet and needing support.

Our mother was an extraordinary woman, way ahead of her time and we are so grateful for the amazing values she passed on to us. She was the single biggest influence of our lives and we loved her very much.

Anne would be delighted for any donation you may want to give in her memory to  go to Gingerbread, a charity dear to her heart.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.