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Headline: Unveiling Of Suffragette Emily Wilding Davison Statue In Epsom High Street

Caption: Local people, activists, politicians and descendants of Emily Wilding Davison gathered in Epsom today (8th June) for the unveiling of a statue of the suffragette in the town’s marketplace. The event was live-streamed so supporters of the project worldwide could participate in the celebration of Emily’s life. Leader of the British Women’s Equality Party, Mandu Reid spoke about her passion for Women’s rights, prior to the unveiling by two local school girls and a living relative of Emily Davison. On 4th June 1913, Emily Wilding Davison was struck by King George V’s horse Anmer during the running of the Epsom Derby. She died of her injuries four days later. As one of the most important figures in Epsom’s history, the statue commemorates the role Emily played in gaining votes for women, while inspiring future generations. The statue is the result of a campaign by the Emily Davison Memorial Project (EDMP), a group of local volunteers who have campaigned for years to raise funds for the statue. EDMP Founder and Chair Sarah Dewing comments: “It is time that Emily Wilding Davison is properly recognised for the part she played in bringing about the Governments’ decision to give women the right to vote. It is due to her sacrifice and that of many others that women today have equal rights in law and opportunities to fulfil their potential that Emily’s generation could only dream of.” Passionate about the part that Emily played in campaigning for women’s rights in the UK, many Epsom businesses and private individuals from the community contributed to the fund that has enabled the creation of this significant piece of public art. The statue was made by Surrey artist Christine Charlesworth, who was determined to capture the spirit of her subject; “Emily was an extremely intelligent woman and gained two first class University degrees although, being a woman, she was not allowed to graduate. She felt that joining the suffragette movement gave a whole new meaning to her life and she was often the first to think up ideas to bring the movement to public attention. I imagine her to have been a very loving, caring, quite feisty woman with a great sense of humour.” Christine had been on the verge of retiring when she was commissioned to make the statue of Emily, as well as sculptures of two other trailblazing women. “After Emily, I used the clay again to create a figure of Dame Ethel Smyth, a feminist and composer who wrote the suffragette anthem 'March of the Women'. The clay was then used again to create the world’s first life-size portrait figure of Greta Thunberg for Winchester University. I feel very honoured to have been the chosen artist and have decided not to retire just yet, in the hope that I will have an opportunity to use the clay again to create another sculpture of a woman who should be remembered.” The project was supported by Emily Davison’s descendants around the world. Philippa Bilton is a first cousin three generations down of Emily and attended the ceremony to unveil the statue with two local schoolgirls. “As the relative of Emily Wilding Davison and having spent the last 10 years following in her footsteps, it is with great pride and honour that I will be part of the unveiling celebrations of the Epsom statue of Emily. With great effort and dedication from the Emily Davison Memorial Project, the statue has finally come to fruition. I know she will bring people to the town to interact with her in the marketplace. It is inspiring that Epsom has finally got a lasting memorial to Emily’s remarkable life. I am delighted and hope she is relished for years to come.” Also, in attendance at the unveiling was The Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP, Secretary of State for International Trade who said: “As someone who led the campaign for a monument to Emily Davison in Parliament, I am truly delighted to see this statue unveiled in Epsom today, capturing the vibrancy and passion of this extraordinary woman. All my congratulations go to the campaigners, the fundraisers and the artist who have provided this permanent memorial to the spirit of female rebellion, and to the woman who forever embodies that spirit. I am especially pleased that girls and women of all ages will be able to sit alongside this statue of Emily, learn about the role she played in winning them the right to vote, and take courage from her for the fights we all still face in our own lives today.”

Keywords: suffragette,statue,memorial,unveiling,crowds

PersonInImage: Christine Charlesworth (Sculptor)