Votes for Women in the 21st Century
Saturday 8th March, just like any other day in Hartlepool. Dark. Abysmal. A bit on the chilly side. And yet, the day would be entirely different to the constant pattern of modern life, all in the hands of 10 youths.
Dressed up to the nines, only in the wrong era, the teenagers ranging from ages 11 to 17 congregate to re enact a debated suffragette march in commemoration of the efforts from World Wars 1 and 2. Being 100 years since the war, Hartlepool Borough Council had conducted leaders to host a series of meetings leading up to the event where the group would rehearse the authentic characteristics and the encouraging speeches of which were performed at the Cenotaph within the Town Centre’s Victory Square.
During the morning session, workshops were held in costume where local children could be educated of the Suffragette movement and produce flags to join in the parade. After hats were pinned securely and sashes were fastened tightly, the group of six girls set out in the gusts of wind reciting the verses from the Suffragette song of a classic Disney film, Mary Poppins. Followed by the small group of boys, also dressed authentically, the boys (some being soldiers, some being the typical man of business) would retaliate with counter arguments against women gaining the vote and the occasional hurl of verbal abuse, all staged to the satisfaction of performance.
Family members and curious locals gathered around the barriers of the performing area as spectators, showing their support and respect for the past.
After a few speeches were given by the Suffragette girls, a debate, a photo shoot and a repeat of the event, a brief summary was given by two members of the performance group when a bell rang and a minutes silence was initiated.
Then, to follow, the girls, in their great state of relief marched back to the Grand Hotel, of which they commenced at, chanting more verses and lyrics from the Mary Poppins song and, naturally, ‘Votes for Women’.
-Post by Annabelle
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