The spirit of the suffrage movement came to Tunbridge Wells as hundreds marched through town this afternoon [Thursday, March 8] on International Women’s Day.
A gathering of around 200 men and women walked from The Pantiles along High Street to the Town Hall, with stops along the way for drama and re-enactments.
The occasion also marked the 100 year anniversary of some women being given the right to vote.
Some of the marchers had dressed up as Suffragists and Suffragettes, with both pressure groups having had a strong presence in Tunbridge Wells.
After the march, some of the group attended a ticketed event at Town Hall, which was organised by town Mayor Julia Soyke, while others continued to the Opera House [now a Wetherspoon pub] where prominent Suffragette Emily Davison interrupted a Liberal Party meeting in 1913.
Liz Orr, member of the Tunbridge Wells Women’s Equality Party, commented: ‘The event has been great and the turnout has been fantastic.
‘There is cross party participation and this is about coming together. We are still marching and we are pressing for progress.’
Carol Wilson, event organiser and Tunbridge Wells Labour Party member, added: ‘It went really well and there has been a great turnout.’
Keep following theknow for more photos from the International Women’s Day parade.
