A HISTORIC gala is set to be staged for the first time in more than 40 years to mark the centenary of women’s suffrage.

The Durham Women’s Gala, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 30, will feature music and speeches as well family activities, crafts and games.

It has been brought back this year by a group of volunteers who wanted to put on the event at Wharton Park, Durham, to mark the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which gave some women the right to vote.

Maura McKeon, the chair of the Friends of Durham Women’s Gala said: “We’re all really excited for it. We have a great line-up of speakers and musicians and street food.

“It’s all very North-East focussed and should be a great celebration of our region and its women.”

The gala was started by women from the Labour movement who wanted to provide political education for newly-enfranchised women.

It took place from 1921 to 1977 and attracted speakers including Barbara Castle, Nye Bevan and Clement Attlee.

Speakers at the event next week will include MPs Chi Onwurah, Roberta Blackman-Woods, Helen Goodman, Liz Twist and Sharon Hodgson, MEP Jude Kirton-Darling, Dame Vera Baird, who is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Police, and Clare Williams, regional secretary for the union Unison.

It will also feature music from Ladies of Midnight Blue, an all-woman brass/afrobeat fusion duo and the Mums in Durham Choir, who took part in BBC2’s The Choir: Gareth’s Best in Britain.

Ms McKeon added: “Expect a day of family fun including mini-golf, mini-cars and football games provided by the Foundation of Light. The Brownies will be teaching people how to make solidarity bracelets and mini-Suffragette banners, and families are invited to attend a banner-blessing with feminist vicars in St Cuthbert’s Church after the speeches.

“Visitors can learn more about the history of the Women’s Gala and Labour women’s activism in the North-East through a Women’s Heritage trail with fun quiz.”

There will also be street food vans and a fully-licensed bar, which will sell a beer specially brewed for the event by Hill Island Brewery, as well as stands from women’s groups and not-for-profit organisations and a voter registration stall.

The event is on between 12pm and 4pm.

For more information visit at www.womensgala.org.