A SUFFRAGETTE rally is being held to celebrate the centenary of some women being given the right to vote.

The Coxhoe Local History Group is holding the event on Saturday to celebrate how democracy has changed for women over the last 100 years and will give people a feel for what life was like in 1918.

Barbara Hepplewhite, from the group, said: “The publicity for this momentous centenary occasion inspired us to research into the suffragette heritage and we have traced it back to the time of Charles I.

“The rally will celebrate how democracy has changed for females over the last 100 years and involves our female MP, councillors, religious leaders and local women who have and are still making an impact in our community.”

The event includes a rally, which sets off from the railway crossing gate, north of the village at 11am, will see participants dressing up in period costume and carrying placards and banners.

The parade will process to the village green, where there will be activities and speakers, including Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for the area, Durham county councillor Maura McKeon, and prominent women from the community.

It will be followed by tea at Coxhoe Village Hall, which will become a Lyons Corner House cafe for the afternoon.

There will also be an exhibition, telling the history of the suffrage movement, tea houses as meeting places and the groundswell of female involvement in national and local community affairs.

The project has also included some intergenerational work with the Coxhoe Parish Council Youth Room’s girls group taking part in workshops with Beamish Museum outreach workers.

Coxhoe Scouts and Guides will also be taking part in the events, along with some of the women who attend coffee mornings at St Andrew’s Church.

Mrs Hepplewhite added: “We are delighted with the interest and enthusiasm for the event from Coxhoe community and surrounding villages and the support given by Beamish Museum outreach workers who will join us and enrich the event with their role play, costumes, activities and music.

“It is an opportunity to experience and bring alive history. We hope it will impress on people the importance of using their vote and how they can make a difference if they become involved in community action and democracy.”

The group has been given £740 from a Government fund helped at community organisations mark the women’s vote centenary.