CONGLETON CELEBRATES

Susan Munro, Chair of the Elizabeth Group, with the statue of Elizabeth just after it was unveiled.

On International Women’s Day 2022 Congleton was out in force to celebrate Elizabeth’s achievements. She had lived here for nearly fifty years and it was from her home in the town that she masterminded her many campaigns. Now a statue in the town centre is a permanent reminder of her dedication to women’s rights.

Elizabeth comes home

A leaflet with this title popped into my email months ago and then frequently appeared on social media. The Elizabeth Group had worked for years and this was a key step in their aim to make the work of Elizabeth known widely. I was keen to support the work of the Elizabeth Group and was keen to be at the unveiling of the statue.

International Women’s Day 2022 – Congleton style

Congleton was out in force to celebrate and recognise the work of Elizabeth. The crowds thronged down Bridge Street – a real mix of folk all there to clap and cheer. The number of excited young people and children certainly raised the temperature on a bright but cold day, plus a many very proud parents and grandparents.

Unveiled in style

The jazz band led a parade down Bridge Street. Then a children’s choir sang beautifully. A young girl read a poem about Elizabeth’s house, while another spoke passionately about her love of history, how Elizabeth had inspired her and influenced how she is planning her life.

The sculptor, Hazel Reeves, explained how she had spent months in her workshop with Elizabeth and even discovered that she was less than five foot in height (probably 4’10”); she learned this by getting someone to measure an underskirt.

The unveiling was by Lady Baroness Hale. Her experience as a Law Lord made her a superb choice to speak eloquently about the impact Elizabeth had on the laws of our country relating to women’s rights.

Then an adult choir sang the suffragettes’ song – the Women’s Marseillaise – accompanied, of course, by banners stating ‘Votes for Women.’ Green, white and purple was everywhere.

Congleton Town Hall

I was honoured with an invite to the celebratory event at the Town Hall that followed the unveiling. This gave me the opportunity to have many wonderful conversations about Elizabeth and how we each felt her work had touched our lives. A talk was given by Dr Maureen Wright, Elizabeth’s biographer, who first found the stories of how the Town Hall had banned Elizabeth and speakers she had invited, due to the radical nature of their planned talks. This gave Maureen the desire to stand there and speak about her – this aim was achieved.

More ways to celebrate

The Elizabeth Group had made an impact before the statue. In April last year, a new road around Congleton was opened and named after Elizabeth: the Congleton Chronicle heralded the Wolstenholme Elmy Way as an engineering achievement.

https://www.chronicleseries.com/new-link-road-heralded-an-engineering-achievement/

The Elizabeth Group

https://elizabethelmy.com/

After a well-deserved break, the work of this group in Congleton will continue. Each of us in our own ways will keep the name of Elizabeth alive. It becomes ever more important in the world today to build on her work and keep alive the need for justice, freedom and equality.