Dorchester celebrated 100 years since women were given the vote at the weekend.

A commemorative event was held in the Borough Gardens on Sunday and was organised by Dorchester Youth Council and supported by Dorchester Town Council.

The event was opened by Baroness Jenny Jones of the Green Party.

Speaking at the event she said: “I am absolutely delighted to be here today because it is a momentous occasion. 100 years since women got the vote.

“Dorset has been a hotbed of revolution and we’ve had the Bloody Assizes, the Tolpuddle Martyrs and here in Dorchester we now have the museum for the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

She added: “I think that we still don’t have equality and we all have to keep fighting for it.”

Mayor of Dorchester Town Council, Councillor David Taylor, was also present at the event.

He said: “I am extremely honoured to be here in the Borough Gardens today to launch the celebration of 100 years of the suffragette movement.

“The pain and suffering they have endured even today in parts of the world is a huge shame on humanity that we are not allowed to be equal.”

The event was also attended by town councillors including Stella Jones, who has served on the council for more than 45 years.

She said: “It’s important to celebrate the struggle women faced to get the vote. They didn’t all get the vote in 1918, it wasn’t until 1928 that all women were able to vote, so they had to wait another ten years. It’s important to have a vote, not only to have it but to use it and in every election, you must use your vote.”

Belle Marshall Chairman of Dorchester Youth Town Council, aged 18, gave an address at the event and said: “I have been lucky to grow up in a time when being a woman doesn’t reduce opportunities available to me.

“It’s important to remember the struggle women had to go through to get what is now a fundamental right.”

Emma Scott, community development officer at Dorchester Town Council, worked closely with the youth council to organise the event.

She said: “I am thrilled so many organisations that have joined us today that have been fighting for equality.

“Dorchester Town Council is very keen to get young people involved, the youth of today. They’re tomorrow’s leaders and the more they get involved and understand how democracy works the more likely to get involved as adults.”

  • See our interview with Baroness Jenny Jones below