A WEEK of events to celebrate the centenary of women gaining the vote begins in Milverton on Saturday (September 15) with an exhibition which tells the story of the fight for universal franchise, including the women’s suffrage movement, and what happened in village during this period.

The following day at 9.30am in St Michael’s church, decorated with flowers in suffrage colours, a special church service will be devoted to the women’s cause. The choir will enter the church singing the Ethel Smythe composition The March of the Women. They will also sing the BBC’s specially commissioned Pankhurst Anthem, composed by Lucy Pankhurst with words by Dr Helen Pankhurst, great grand-daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst.

The congregational hymns include Onward Christian Soldiers with an additional verse written by Theodora Mills, a suffragette from Cheltenham, and end with Jerusalem for which Hubert Parry wrote the music to William Blake’s words, especially to support the suffrage movement. Everyone is welcome at the service led by the Rev Helene Stainer.

The exhibition will remain in place throughout the week which will culminate on Saturday, September 22, with joint fundraising activities for St Michael’s and the Victoria Rooms.

Early birds can buy their newspapers and stroll to the Victoria Rooms for a ‘Big Breakfast’ being served from 8.30- 10.30am. Diners can enjoy a home-cooked full English breakfast for £5 – children £3 for children 11 or under. This event is popular, so pre-booking tickets is necessary – phone 01823 400830 or 01823 400095. Tickets will also be available to purchase – cash only – from Milverton Stores.

Breakfast finished diners can walk to St Michael’s where, from 10am, they can work off the excess calories with a tower tour. Again, pre-booking is essential and each tour is limited to those aged eight and over and who are physically capable of mounting the narrow winding stairs to the top of the tower. Phone 01823 400232 to book a place. A donation is requested towards funds for this opportunity to take in the views from the highest point in Milverton – and remember a camera!

Calories can be topped up with light refreshments – tea, coffee, biscuits and cakes – served from 10am when there will also be the chance to win Emmeline, a hand-made sculpted cloth doll, dressed in the colours of the suffrage movement.

Elizabeth McDowell

and Susan Knowles