MORE than 100 people of all ages marched through the streets of a market town this afternoon to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act.
The act, passed on February 6, 1918, allowed the first British women to vote for the first time and was a major milestone in the suffragette campaign.
Almost 100 years to the day later, women, men and children came together in Bishop Auckland to celebrate the achievements and sacrifices of their ancestors in the quest for equality.
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Dressed in the suffragette colours, the marchers carried placards displaying the slogans of the day and waved them proudly while shouting “votes for women.”
All along the route, they were greeted with cheers and applause.
The march ended with speeches in the Market Place. Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman highlighted the great strides that have been made since 1918 but also recognised the gender equalities that still exist including the pay gap, domestic violence, pensions and the impact of public sector cuts on women.
“So much has been done but there is much still to do,” she added.
Councillor Joy Allen, who organised the event with support from a team of dedicated volunteers, rounded off the proceedings by reading a testimony from a suffragette about the horror of force feeding.
For a full report and pictures see Monday’s edition of The Northern Echo.