We’d made our banner, so what next? First up was Care International’s March4Women www.careinternational.org.uk/march4women on Saturday 4th March. Kate and Esmé, two of my fellow Field Dames banner makers, had collected the poles our banner was to hang from, and we gathered with the rest of the 100 Banners near Parliament Square. That was the first chance we’d really had to see the range of banners that had been produced (though we’d seen some on Twitter and Instagram), and a chance for photographs and mingling before the march. Whenever I’ve been on a march there has always been a lot of waiting around, and this one was no exception. Eventually we were led around the back of Westminster Abbey to join up with the rear of the procession, and made stop-start-stop-start progress to Trafalgar Square, where the rally was being held. I couldn’t carry the banner – I have M.E/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and use a walking stick – but my Mum (also member of Field dames) and I walked along with Esmé and Kate. It was rather a windy day, and the ribbon loops at the bottom of our banner proved very useful finger-holds to prevent it billowing too much! Once at the square I’m afraid we didn’t linger long - I was exhausted, Esmé had things to do, and Kate was in the middle of Lambing Season (yes, really!); my mother and I were also the only two Field dames who could make it to the next ‘100 Banners’ event, and I needed to be in a semi-fit state for that.
 Esmé and me at March4Women Photo by Kate McGeevor |  Esmé and Kate at March4Women |
Some of the 100 banners gathering at March4Women
On Thursday 8th March, International Women’s Day, the project participants gathered at the Royal Albert Hall to be reunited with our banners (which had been handed in after March4Women). First we shuffled in to claim our banners, then we arranged ourselves on the Hall steps for a photo. Mum and I had borrowed a member from another banner group to help with wrangling ours, so I joined various other people standing in the middle of the road taking photos. This done, we shuffled back into the Hall for tea, coffee and talks from Elizabeth Crawford, the historical consultant to ‘100 Banners’, and Suzanne Keyte, the archivist at the Royal Albert Hall.
 Banners on the steps of the Royal Albert Hall |  100 Banners photo session in front of the Royal Albert Hall |
The Royal Albert Hall played a significant role in the campaign for Women’s Suffrage; at least 25 Suffrage rallies were held there – both Suffragist and Suffragette. In 1908 the hire cost was £150, and £7,000 was raised at the first meeting held there – women donated jewellery as well as money to the cause. Nowadays full capacity is about 5,000 people, but the Suffrage rallies were attended by between 8,000 – 10,000 a time. At first the RAH was very tolerant, but in 1912 the Suffragettes were informed that they could no longer book the Hall unless they took out a Lloyds of London insurance policy for £10,000! In 1913, two days after the death of Emily Wilding Davison, the Suffragettes were banned from the Royal Albert Hall. In 1918 Emmeline Pankhurst was allowed back to celebrate (some) women at last being granted the right to vote.
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After refreshments and history there was a banner procession to Kensington Palace. I joined Alison (from Digital Drama), and two other WI members who also had mobility issues, in a cab, and we met up everyone else behind the statue of Queen Victoria for another photo opportunity. Field Dames was at the front by (dubious) virtue of the poles having fallen off en route – a very common occurrence for the banners at this event and at March4Women! After packing up the banners we were then offered more refreshments, and free entry to the Palace.
'Women Unite!' front and centre of the group shot at Kensington Palace
Wider group shot of the 100 Banners at Kensington Palace
The banners made two more stops. They were hung above the stage at the Royal Festival Hall for Mirth Control at the WOW Festival, and are currently part of an exhibition at the London School of Economics: www.lse.ac.uk/library/exhibitions . There are lots of Suffrage Centenary events being held this year in galleries, museums etc. – many stories to hear, and many women to be grateful to; I am proud to have been a part of the tributes to them.
More information: www.digitaldrama.org/project/100-banners/
Banner photos and information: http://www.digitaldrama.org/100-banners-images/
More information: www.digitaldrama.org/project/100-banners/
Banner photos and information: http://www.digitaldrama.org/100-banners-images/
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