Breaking dawn

I will never tire of seeing the statue of Millicent Fawcett and the 59 names on the plinth. A view to New Dawn in Westminster Hall was the icing on the cake. Coloured glass in red, violet, green and white. It changes due to the tide of the Thames and symbolises scrolls.

A huge moment in history

Witnessing a moment in history – the first statue of a women in parliament Square. The square was surrounded in WSPU and NUWSS flags which was a really nice touch. In the enclosure, we could walk directly up to the statue covered in a black cloth. What an exciting day, hearing from the Prime Minister, Caroline Crialdo-Perez, Sadiq khan. Hearing poetry and a song from Sylvia the Musical. It was a real goosebump moment when the cloth was lifted and the statue was unveiled. It was then swamped by everyone wanting a snap. I especially loved the fact I was stood next to the great grand nieces of Millicent who had travelled from South Africa and Ireland to be at the unveiling.

Super hot for a marathon

We loved tracking Ellie on the marathon tracker. We did feel a tad guilty eating in the Westminster Grill while Ellie was sweltering in the hottest marathon ever. I held my sign over the barriers and had the flag ready to wrap around her shoulders at mile 25 to take it over the finish line. She was so polite after hours on her feet. Meeting her at horseguards after was so lovely. Ellie done good, real good.

Suffrage Bristol

A before work stroll through suffrage sites in Bristol, including homes of Annie Kenny (one of which she wasn’t at during the 1911 census to avoid it). I visited the home of Emmeline and Frederick Pethick Lawrence and the Victoria rooms which has many a suffrage meeting.

Shard View and Museum of London

An eye opener for wheelchair uses travelling around London. The buses were amazing and super easy to travel around but gosh the tube isn’t so easy, especially with the number of lifts in Kings Cross. Our first stop was the Shard View and up the 4 lifts to the top. Stunning views over London on such a clear day.

Our next stop was to the Museum of London to watch a film about suffrage, look at Emmeline Pankhurst’s medal and the exhibition, including a tea set, chains which they used to chain themselves to railings, banners and a bread roll smuggled from prison by a hunger striking prisoner.

Home of Emmeline and Christabel

Another super early start to go Blue plaque spotting. This time to the home of Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst in Notting Hill.

Carriages of Cambridgeshire

What a lovely afternoon tea in Carriages in Cambridgeshire. Lovely food in the old Orient Express carriages. We had our own separate carriage which was worth the extra few pounds.

Blue plaque of Sylvia Pankhurst

An early start to look for Sylvia Pankhurt’s blue plaque on Cheyne Walk. I’m getting used to this bus lark.