In June last year, we reported on the trustees’ decision to change the planned site of the proposed statue to a prominent position in New Road, opposite the Theatre Royal. Our initial proposal was to erect the statue in the Pavilion Gardens near the entrance to the Museum, where most visitors and crucially all school parties would have seen it. Though there was widespread community…
Our volunteer, Valerie Mainstone has died. I find it hard to say, even more difficult to believe. She was so very alive in every thing she did. In the days following he death I’ve walked around the city and almost everywhere I have gone I’ve remembered Valerie there. Valerie was a community activist of extraordinary commitment and belonged to a huge number of local groups.…
The Mary Clarke Statue Appeal had a prominent stall at the recent FiLiA international conference held from 9th to 11th October at the Brighton Centre, attended by 2,400 women. As a direct result we raised over £1250 in individual donations. We are so grateful to FiLiA for the platform it gave us. Our Chair Jean Calder was invite to speak for 10 minutes in the…
Today is 4th July 2024, the date of the General Election. We wish all candidates the very best of luck , especially remembering our Patrons, former M.P.s Peter Kyle for Labour and Maria Caulfield for the Conservatives, both of whom are candidates for election today. Our Green Patron, Caroline Lucas has recently stood down from her service as a member of Parliament. We thank her…
This column by our trustee Andy Winter about the wonderful Valerie Mainstone was published in the Brighton Argus on 1st May 2024, Valerie’s 83rd birthday. See below or link to Andy’s blog. https://wp.me/pDTWu-2bD Valerie is a committed campaigner for memorials for women and has supported the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal since it was set up in 2018. She is often to be seen dressed as…
This powerful and moving poem was written by Cllr Mitchie Alexander and read by her at a special meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council on 14th December 2022. She read it in support of the motion to posthumously award Mary the Freedom of the City. Mary Clarke 1862-1910 The First Suffragette to die for the cause “I wear my purple sleeves with pride, You…
Mary Clarke is to be honoured by the posthumous award of the Freedom of the City, a wonderful tribute. The award is to be made at a special meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council at 3.30pm on Thursday 14 December at Hove Town Hall. Mary Clarke Statue Appeal Trustee Briony Goulden, and her two daughters Sophie and Lena, will receive the award on…
Black Friday is an Americanised term for a day of cheap bargains in the shops. It is a means of selling. The fact that this celebration of consumerism happens in November, the month of remembrance, is particularly galling for anyone wishing to remember the sacrifices made by suffragists and suffragettes and the terrible events of 18th November 1910, also called ‘Black Friday’. Three women died…
Brighton & Hove News reports that Brighton & Hove City Council is to discuss a proposal to give Mary Clarke the Freedom of the City (see below). The Chair of Trustees of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal Jean Calder said: “This wonderful news. It is unusual for such an award to be considered for someone who is no longer alive, but it is an honour…
The inspirational Mary’s Lamp group at Balfour School has once again excelled in their fundraising efforts, raising £175 for the Appeal at the school’s Summer Fair. Led by River Isaac, our first Child Ambassador, they sold cakes, badges and pamphlets, ran a netball competition and handed out leaflets – and in a few short hours raised this wonderful amount. The group were ably assisted by…