O.B.E. is a Conservative politician and has served as the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) since 2012. She was  re-elected for a fourth term in 2024. She was raised and schooled in Sussex before graduating from Aberystwyth University. She still lives in mid-Sussex, is married to Kevin and has two adult sons. She was a successful businesswoman before entering politics.

Katy’s role as PCC is to hold the Chief Constable of Sussex Police to account for the performance of the Force, working to make the police answerable to the communities they serve. Katy is responsible for setting the strategic direction and priorities for Sussex Police through the Police & Crime Plan, which includes setting the police budget and local police precept.

Katy also has a statutory duty to commission support services for victims of crime and to deliver community safety initiatives. She is deeply committed to improve the criminal justice response to crimes such as stalking, sexual and domestic abuse and the exploitation and abuse of elders.

Katy said:

“I am honoured to take up the role of Conservative Patron for the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Mary Clarke was a courageous woman who gave her life fighting for women’s right to vote. Her determination and sacrifice remind us of the importance of standing up for equality and justice, even in the face of adversity. As Police & Crime Commissioner, I have seen how far we have come in creating opportunities for women in policing and public life, but we must never forget those who paved the way. Supporting this Appeal is about recognising Mary’s message and memory and ensuring future generations understand the value of democratic rights and the courage it took to secure them. I am delighted to help champion this important cause.” 

Katy opened the recent FiLiA international women’s liberation conference at Brighton Conference Centre, with a powerful speech in support of women’s rights. We were very grateful to Katy because we were able to follow this with an appeal for support for the statue which proved very successful.  

Jenny Jones was born on the Moulsecoomb estate in Brighton, the daughter of a hospital cook and a dinner lady. She has two daughters and lives in London. Jenny worked from a young age mucking out horse stables, to be able to ride horses. Later she was  employed as a crafts teacher, secretary, book keeper, shop assistant and office manager. She became a mature student, then at forty five, graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Archaeology. Thereafter, she spent nearly 10 years working as an archaeologist.

In politics, Jenny served as Deputy Mayor of London; Deputy Chair of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee; Green Councillor for Southwark Council; and Chair of the Green Party of England and Wales. She served on the London Assembly from 2000-2016, working on housing, policing and civil liberties, cycling and walking, road safety and the legacy of the 2012 Olympics/ Paralympics. In the 2000 – 2008 London administration, she was Chair of the London Food Board and the Mayor Ken Livingstone’s Green Transport Advisor, advising him on sustainable forms of transport. In 2004 she was named as one of 200 ‘women of achievement’ by Buckingham Palace. 

When the Green Party was offered its first seat in the House of Lords Jenny Jones was selected by a vote of all party members. Introduced on November 5th 2013, she took the title Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb.

Jenny said: 

“It’s a huge honour to be asked to be a patron of the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. At a time of increased misogyny in society, remembering our incredibly brave Suffragette sisters who suffered for their cause is even more important. A statue to the first woman to die in the campaign for a vote for women, Mary Clarke, would be a reminder to all of us that a vote is precious and must be used.”

Caroline was one of the most hard working and conscientious politicians we ever met. Despite her prodigious work load, if we asked for her support, she would always be there, helping in whatever way she could. If she was unable to be present she would find some other way to assist. 

We understand Caroline’s decision to withdraw and wish her well in all she chooses to do next. However, we will miss her very much. We are so thankful for all she has done for us.

We are proud to announce that Caroline’s hugely experienced political colleague Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulsecoomb, has now agreed to become a Patron. There will be a further news report about Jenny.

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 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.