Welshpool parade to mark 100 years of women’s vote

Females of all ages from the Welshpool area are invited to take part in a candlelit parade that will celebrate exactly 100 years since the first women’s vote was cast.

The event will take place on December 14 through the town centre with all participants having the opportunity to cast a symbolic vote at the Town Hall.

It is the brainchild of the Town Clerk’s PA, Lizzie Moore, who said this was an important event for the town and its surrounding area.

“This is a celebration whilst at the same time honouring those who sacrificed so much to get us the vote all those years ago,” she said. “We are contacting all the various women’s groups in the area and also businesses and schools to invite everyone to take part.

“Every women or girl in the parade will be invited to write their name on a ‘voting slip’ and pop it into a voting box at the end to mark their participation.”

Banners and rosettes are being made for the marchers who are also invited to dress up in purple, white and green, the colours of the movement that won the female vote.

Participants are invited to gather outside the Tourist Information Centre from 6.30pm with the parade expected to head through the cross and up Broad Street to the Town Hall.

There will be a letter read out by Deputy Mayor, Cllr Heather Chave, from the Suffragette leader, Emmeline Pankhurst, to a local campaigner who was imprisoned during the struggles.

A plaque will be unveiled at The Town Hall marking the occasion before all are invited inside for refreshments and to cast their ‘vote’.

Businesses including The Bay Tree, Tesco, Sign City and Chrissie from Apple Green Garage have been pitching in with support, and for more information on the event, contact town.clerk@welshpooltowncouncil.co.uk.