Blue plaque for Judy Fryd - founder of Mencap

On 6th March 2026 a blue plaque from Historic England was put on the home of Judy Fryd. 

Judy is the founder of Mencap. 

Judy’s family unveiled the plaque.

A blue plaque is a special sign put on a building.

It is given by Historic England.

A blue plaque tells people that an important person lived or worked there. 

It helps people learn about history. 

Historic England are a public organisation .

They help look after England’s historic places and buildings. 

Historic England make sure important places from the past are protected and remembered. 

Judy Fryd is the founder of Mencap. 

Judy was born in 1909. 

Judy had a daughter called Felicity who was born in 1938. 

Felicity had a learning disability . 

At that time many children with a learning disability could not go to school. 

Judy was told there was no support for Felicity and she was not offered a school place. 

Judy believed her daughter could learn so she started teaching Felicity at home. 
 

Felicity learned to read, write and count. 

Judy thought other families must be facing the same problem. 

Judy began writing letters to Nursery World magazine. 

Many parents wrote back to her and said they also felt alone and unheard. 

In November 1946 Judy started a small group for parents like her. 

She started this group from her home in Harpenden where the blue plaque has been put. 

This group later became Mencap. 

A legacy is something that is left by someone.

Judy Fryd received awards for her work.  

She was given an MBE and a CBE. 

In 2009 she appeared on a stamp from Royal Mail. 

Sadly Judy died in 2000 when she was 90 years old. 

80 years later Mencap is proud to continue the work she started.