| Main Performers | Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst (Chair),
Lord Lytton (The Earl of Lytton, Chairman of the Woman Suffrage Conciliation Committee),
Miss Christabel Pankhurst LLB,
Mrs Pethick Lawrence,
Miss Annie Kenney - speakers |
| Performance Notes | The Women's Suffrage procession marched from Embankment to the Hall from 18:30 and included various pro women's suffrage organisations. The procession was 10,000 strong and organised in 130 contingents, designed to illustrate the theme 'From Prison to Citizenship'.
'The March will begin at 6.30 to the music of 40 bands, headed by the drum and fife band of the Women's Social and Political Union. It is expected that the head of the procession will arrive at the Albert Hall shortly after 7.30, and end at about 8.30. All the reserved seats at the Albert Hall have been sold, and it is anticipated that those joining the procession who have not secured tickets will fill the Gallery, which will be opened to women free. After the 'Marseillaise'has been sung by the audience, the Chairman, Mrs Pankhurst, will introduce Lord Lytton (Chairman of the Woman Suffrage Conciliation Committee). Mrs Pethick Lawrence, Miss C Pankhurst, and Miss A Kenney, will also speak, and a resolution urging the Government to grant facilities to the Bill now before Parliament will be put to this meeting.'
(The Times, 18 June, 1910)
'Nearly every seat in the great building had been booked in advance, and by 9 o'clock the hall was quite full. The decorations were simple but singularly effective. Strips of green, white and purple muslin were hung from the three balustrades which extend around the hall in front of the two tiers of boxes and the gallery, and some 70 coloured shields bearing the names of various countries, colonies, and British towns were fixed at intervals upon theses muslin lengths, indicating the places in which foreign and other visiting contingents had their seats. 'God befriend us' ran an inscription in white letters upon a green background on one side of the organ and continued on the other - 'as our cause is just'. There was more green, white and purple muslin in front of the platform; and four bouquets in the same colours afterwards presented to the speakers, were arranged near the Chairman's table.'
(The Times, 19 June 1910)
'From floor to ceiling the Albert Hall was crammed. No words can express the determination, of confident triumph, and unity in noble purposes that breathed from that vast assembly. I do not know which was more impressive - the shout of devotion that greeted each leader as she came forward or the dead silence of the thousands listening to every word. I must leave the speech to others. I must say that though the speeches were admirably short, and though I had heard all the speakers often before, I have never heard them speak better, or more in accordance with their true nature. And among them I count Lord Lytton, who appeared to me to fulfil an enviable but difficult task to perfection. But after all excellent as all the speaking was enthusiastic as was that great gathering of comrades in a splendid purpose, glorious and unequalled as the procession had been - a thing, as someone said, such as had never been seen in this or any country - yet there was one moment that abides in my mind as supreme. It was the moment when a slight and elegant figure in black, endowed with all the influence of a noble career and an unflinching personality rose from the chair and after the wild storm of applause had subsided , uttered in that calm but penetrating voice the simple sentence - 'We have only one word in our thoughts today and that word is victory.'
(Votes for Women, 24 June 1910)
Handbill and Souvenier Handkerchief held at the Museum of London ID Nos. 50.82/653, Z6233 |
| Related Archival Material | Illustrated Presscutting |