Covid 19 has driven a coach and horses through many of our plans. We can at least be thankful that, unlike many other charities, we are not delivering a service to vulnerable people which could be put at risk by the pandemic.

We were fortunate to have been able to hold our successful concert on 4th March and to have been able to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Dome. But our exhibition at the Jubilee Library, planned for the end of March, had to be cancelled.

Our sculptor Denise Dutton lives at some distance from her studio in Staffordshire. Travel to her studio is not essential, therefore production of the maquette, which was continuing apace, will surely now be delayed. We must all focus on protecting ourselves and others and of course the NHS.

We send our very best wishes to all our supporters, especially those who have been ill or whose vulnerability means they are unable to leave their homes at all. We send out condolences to any who may have lost loved ones.

In particular, we send out very best wishes to our Patron Maria Caulfield M.P.. Maria is a nurse and was one of the first politicians to offer her services to deal with the crisis. Stay safe, Maria. Thank you for all you are doing.

Another Patron in the News

Our Patron Peter Kyle M.P. has been in the news. He has been appointed by Sir Kier Starmer, Labour’s new leader, as Shadow Minister for Victims and Youth Justice. We send him many congratulations. We hope he may find an opportunity to mention Mary Clarke in Parliament as a symbol of women’s (and men’s) struggle for justice. She was, after all, a probable victim of domestic abuse and state violence, as well as of unjust imprisonment. Every good wish for the future, Peter.

Women of Note’s rendition of Nana Was a Suffragette was a revelation to many of the audience, who had never heard it before. The event was organised by the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal, but with the support of many, many others. Jean Calder, Chair of the Appeal, said: “We are so grateful to Claire and Liane for generously sharing their superb music with us. Many thanks too to Siren and Women of Note for their music. Also to Zoe, Simon and Juliet for their pitch perfect interventions. However, the evening could not have been the outstanding success it was without the help of our wonderful team of volunteers, the Friends of Mary Clarke. Also our helpers from the B&H Women’s History Group, inVISIBLEwomen and others. I’d like to add my personal thanks to Kate Ray of Whiskey Bravo Productions Ltd, our brilliant stage manager on the night; to Pepper our superb Sound Engineer; and to Laura Chatburn of St George’s Community Centre. Last but not least, thanks are due to Jenny Stroud, jazz fan extraordinaire, who introduced us to Claire Martin.”

Historian Elizabeth Crawford Joins Appeal as a Patron

We are thrilled that Elizabeth Crawford, probably the best known British historian of the Suffrage Movement, has agreed to be one of our Patrons. She joins eminent Professor June Purvis, who is an expert on the history of the Pankhursts and wrote acclaimed biographies of Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst. Elizabeth Crawford is an historian and a dealer in books and ephemera by and about women. Her six books include two seminal reference books: The Women’s Suffrage Movement: a reference guide and The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Britain and Ireland: a regional survey. She also wrote Art and Suffrage: a biographical dictionary.

She was awarded an OBE in 2018 for services to education, with special reference to the women’s suffrage movement. She runs a website –womanandhersphere.com

Dear Supporters,

Jazz legends Claire Martin and Liane Carroll are to perform in a benefit concert for the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Please support this event, come along if you can and publicise the concert through your own networks. You can book tickets for the event here.

If you can help on the night, please contact information.mcsa@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there.

Jean Calder,

Chair, Mary Clarke Statue Appeal.

More than 500 people have signed a petition calling for the return of an historic banner to Brighton.

The Brighton and Hove Women’s History Group want the return of the banner which dates from when women were campaigning for the vote in the early 20th century.

The banner, which is currently in a museum in Manchester, includes the slogan “Vote for women” and the name of the “NWSPU Brighton branch” – the National Women’s Social and Political Union.

History group member Debbie Waldon presented the petition to Brighton and Hove City Council this afternoon (Thursday 11 July).

She told the council’s Policy, Resources and Growth Committee meeting at Hove Town Hall: “Brighton and Hove played a very important part in the struggle for women’s suffrage – our right to vote.

“The magnificent suffragette banner of the Brighton branch of the National Women’s Social and Political Union (formed in 1907) is made of beautiful purple twill woven wool, with an applique lettering of cream cotton sateen and white silk-wrapped cotton cord.

“However, it is displayed in Manchester, not here in Brighton.

“Many activists, including Mary Clarke, sister of Emmeline Pankhurst and the first suffragette to die for the cause, a death brought on by forcible feeding, worked tirelessly in Brighton to drum up support from local people and to help turn the tide of women’s rights.

“One of Brighton’s Borough Councillors, the late Andy Durr, discovered the banner in a local second-hand shop, and donated or loaned it for safekeeping to the People’s History Museum which was then in London but is now in Manchester.

“We are convinced that this banner needs to come back home to stand as proud testimony to the work of the women of Brighton and Hove and to educate future generations.

“Returning this banner to Brighton will demonstrate that Brighton and Hove City Council has not forgotten the bravery of these women and show the people of today and future generations that they have these courageous women to thank for their democratic right to vote.

“Voting is now taken for granted. However, we need to let our children know that it wasn’t always so, that women fought long and hard and many died for this basic right to have a say in the running of our country.

“Members of the Brighton and Hove Women’s History Group and those undersigned call on Brighton and Hove City Council to negotiate the return of our banner to Brighton and Hove to bring it home.”

Council leader Nancy Platts said that the banner was part of a display going on a national tour which would reach Brighton in 2021.

There was no commitment, though, to seek the permanent return of the banner.

She also said: “We have more women on the Policy, Resources and Growth Committee than ever before.”

Six of the 10 committee members were women at the meeting this afternoon.

Former Conservative council leader Mary Mears called for a report, with a view to submitting a formal request for the banner to be returned to Brighton. This was agreed.

Politicians of all colours have come out in favour of a Brighton statue in memory of suffragette Mary Clarke.

The latest supporters follow in the footsteps of Green MP Caroline Lucas and Conservative MP Maria Caulfield who expressed their backing of the project earlier this month.

On Friday (April 26) more politicians posed for photographs at the preferred site for the statue, by the entrance to Brighton Museum.

They included: Cllr Alan Robins (Labour) and Cllr Steve Bell (Conservative) who together have played a key role in support of the campaign for better commemoration and an increased understanding of women’s contribution to our local history; Cllr Peter West (Green), who has given consistent support; and Peter Kyle MP, who has agreed to be a Patron of the Appeal.

The Mary Clarke Statue Appeal is campaigning to fund a statue of suffragette Mary Clarke, Emmeline Pankhurst’s sister, who died on Christmas Day 1910. Mary was the local organiser for the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) from 1909-1910, and the first suffragette to die as a result of police violence and forced feeding in prison.

Recent investigation by the Brighton & Hove Women’s History Group reveal that throughout the long campaign for women’s right to vote, Brighton and Hove formed a hub of suffragist and suffragette activity. These campaigners suffered considerable hostility at the hands of male opponents, the history group said, and Mary Clarke was forced to withstand the verbal assaults of men that Sylvia Pankhurst called the “Brighton rowdies” – though there were several men who supported the suffrage movement.

Fast forward to 2019 and there are several prominent men supporting the local campaign.

Cllr Alan Robins said: “I’m really happy to support the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Mary Clarke was a truly brave and inspirational woman and the first to die in the cause of women’s suffrage and yet no monument to her exists anywhere in the country, I’m extremely proud that the people of Brighton and Hove can put this right.”

Cllr Steve Bell said: ”I was very keen to provide my support to the appeal. We owe so much to these campaigners, who gave their all so that woman could obtain the vote. This statue will be recognition of their hard fought campaign which will stand as a reminder of what we take for granted today.”

Cllr Pete West said: “Mary Clarke was humbler than many and greater than most. Mary’s sacrifice and quiet heroism deserves to be better acknowledged and celebrated. In raising a statue to Mary I hope we’ll all be inspired to challenge the injustice and inequality we see, and be moved to help build a better world.”

Peter Kyle MP said: “I didn’t hesitate to accept the offer to be patron of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Mary Clarke embodies the plucky, rebellious, radical spirit of Brighton & Hove and I look forward to doing whatever I can to promote and support the campaign.”

Also pictured is Green convener Phelin Mac Cafferty and leader of the Conservatives in the city Tony Janio.

Cllr Steve Bell said: ”I was very keen to provide my support to the appeal. We owe so much to these campaigners, who gave their all so that woman could obtain the vote. This statue will be recognition of their hard fought campaign which will stand as a reminder of what we take for granted today.”

Cllr Pete West said: “Mary Clarke was humbler than many and greater than most. Mary’s sacrifice and quiet heroism deserves to be better acknowledged and celebrated. In raising a statue to Mary I hope we’ll all be inspired to challenge the injustice and inequality we see, and be moved to help build a better world.”

Peter Kyle MP said: “I didn’t hesitate to accept the offer to be patron of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Mary Clarke embodies the plucky, rebellious, radical spirit of Brighton & Hove and I look forward to doing whatever I can to promote and support the campaign.”

Also pictured is Green convener Phelin Mac Cafferty and leader of the Conservatives in the city Tony Janio.

Cllr Steve Bell said: ”I was very keen to provide my support to the appeal. We owe so much to these campaigners, who gave their all so that woman could obtain the vote. This statue will be recognition of their hard fought campaign which will stand as a reminder of what we take for granted today.”

Cllr Pete West said: “Mary Clarke was humbler than many and greater than most. Mary’s sacrifice and quiet heroism deserves to be better acknowledged and celebrated. In raising a statue to Mary I hope we’ll all be inspired to challenge the injustice and inequality we see, and be moved to help build a better world.”

Peter Kyle MP said: “I didn’t hesitate to accept the offer to be patron of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Mary Clarke embodies the plucky, rebellious, radical spirit of Brighton & Hove and I look forward to doing whatever I can to promote and support the campaign.”

Also pictured is Green convener Phelin Mac Cafferty and leader of the Conservatives in the city Tony Janio.

We are delighted to be hosting this fundraising evening for the Brighton Suffragette Blue Plaque Campaign. The main event will be a panel discussion with Helen Pankhurst (writer, women’s rights activist and great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst), Jean Calder (former Brighton councillor, journalist and community activist) and Frances Stenlake (author and historian), chaired by Caroline Lucas (Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, author and campaigner).

Helen Pankhurst
Dr Helen Pankhurst is a women’s rights activist and senior advisor to CARE International, working in the UK and in Ethiopia. Helen is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, leaders of the British suffragette movement.

JEAN CALDER
Jean Calder is a journalist and community activist. She has worked with teenage girls who had been abused in childhood and with women and children experiencing domestic violence. She represents local women’s rights charity “For Our Daughters.” Working alongside #Vote100, Jean is organising a campaign to have a suffragette statue in Brighton.”

FRANCES STENLAKE
It was through writing about the artist Robert Bevan, born in Hove, brought up in Cuckfield, and well represented in Brighton Museum,  that Frances became interested in local women’s suffrage campaigning. The artist’s sister, Edith, founded the Cuckfield and Central Sussex Women’s Suffrage Society, and digging  this story out of the Mid Sussex Times in Burgess Hill Library has led to researching the network of National Union of Women’s Suffrage Society branches across Sussex.

CAROLINE LUCAS
Brighton’s first female MP who made history in 2010 when she was elected as the first Green party MP in the House of Commons. Within 16 months she was named ‘MP of the Year’ in the Women in Public Life Awards. She is also in the Environment Agency’s Top 100 Eco- Heroes of all time. She is a prolific writer and campaigner on feminist issues and author of  Honourable Friends? Parliament and the Fight for Change. 

Pankhurst lived long enough to see Parliament ‘reward’ a limited number of women with the vote. However, one hundred years on, women may have equal rights in law, but in practice there is little equality. As to the ‘monuments’ these are few and far between.

Few obituaries and histories are written about women and it’s the same with other memorials, whether blue plaques or statues. There are historic reasons for the absence of memorials to early female lives, but that does not explain why prominent women of the twentieth century are so neglected. Nor does it explain why contemporary women are so tentative in commemorating them.

To mark the centenary of women achieving the vote, local feminists are campaigning to have a blue plaque near the Clock Tower to mark the place where the office of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was based. This is a worthy initiative and I support it. However, it commemorates an organisation, rather than any of the leading suffragists who lived or worked in Brighton and Hove and whose names are all but forgotten. They should surely have memorials.

Brighton and Hove may have a statue each of Queen Victoria, but there are none of other women. There has been no objection to recognising men in this way. Over the past 35 years, the city has placed a statue of music hall star Max Miller in the Pavilion Gardens and another of athlete Steve Ovett on the seafront. Yet it has no statue nor any other permanent memorial to female reformers who changed history.

Probably the most obvious omission, is any kind of memorial to Dame Millicent Fawcett, who from 1897 led the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), by far the largest suffrage organisation. She lived, worked and lectured in Brighton from 1865 to 1874 alongside her husband Henry Fawcett, who was MP for Brighton.

There is no permanent memorial to the pioneering early women doctors, all suffragists, such as Dr Louisa Martindale, who founded local clinics and hospitals and pioneered radium therapy for cancer. Nor for suffragist Margaret Bondfield, who worked here and later became Labour’s first woman MP and the first female Privy Counsellor. Nor for Minnie Turner, of the WSPU, who ran a boarding house in Victoria Road, where women came to recuperate from force-feeding in prison.

Perhaps most shameful of all, there is none for Mary Clarke, Emmeline Pankhurst’s sister, once the WSPU organiser for Brighton. She died in 2010, almost certainly as a result of force-feeding in prison. Her obituary called her the ‘first woman martyr who has gone to death for this cause’.