On Tuesday 23rd June 2020, on a lovely sunny day as lock-down was just beginning to ease, the new Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Alan Robins, in full mayoral robes, visited us at the Royal Pavilion Gardens near the entrance to the Museum. He was there to show his support for the proposed statue for Mary Clarke and was accompanied by the Mayoral Consort…
Introductory Note from Jean Calder This was the text of the Oration delivered at Mary Clarke’s Memorial meeting in Brighton. It is a heart-rending speech, made by Emmeline Pethick Lawrence, a woman who knew Mary well and who, with Emmeline Pankhurst, was one of the outstanding leaders of the suffrage movement. It identifies Mary as an influential and well-loved leader of the movement, while conveying anger,…
Coronavirus 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…
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 biographiesof Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst. Elizabeth Crawford is an historian and a dealer in books and ephemera by and about women. Her…
On 4th March, internationally-acclaimed jazz singers Claire Martin and Liane Carroll gave their much-anticipated concert at St George’s Church in aid of the Appeal. The concert was hosted in sparkling style by comedian Zoe Lyons and the hugely effective appeal for donations was made by broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, one of our Patrons. After all expenses had been met, the event raised £4,500. Cllr Alex Phillips, Mayor of Brighton…
Brighton-based comedian Zoe Lyons has agreed to act as MC on 4th March at our benefit concert “Double Standards”. Like our great singers, Claire Martin and Liane Carroll, she is in huge demand. We are so grateful she is making the time to be there and proud to have her support for the statue of Mary Clarke. Zoe took her first steps down the comedy…
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,…
Tickets are now on sale via Eventbrite for our 4th March benefit concert. Double Standards – an evening of jazz and joy! will include songs by Waits, Mitchell and Bennett skilfully mixed with stylish re-workings of lesser known classics and new original material. Join these two friends for some seriously swinging music. Not to be missed! Support from members of Siren and Women of Note. This…
Jude Winter, Debs Trethewey & Emilia Ballardini (@ballardinix) from feminist post-punk band Siren (@sirenbrighton) met this weekend to record Jude’s new “Song for Mary”, a tribute to Mary Clarke. It will go public on 12th December, which is General Election Day – and also Mary’s birthday. She was born in 1861. We think it is fitting that this tribute song should be launched on Election Day…
Mary Clarke was the first suffragette to give her life for women’s right to Vote but, there is no public memorial to her anywhere in the UK. Brighton, where she lived and worked, has few memorials for women and no statues other than of Queen Victoria. The Mary Clarke Statue Appeal was set up in late 2018 to fund a statue of Mary Clarke, as…