THIS year is the 100 year anniversary of when, after a long campaign, some woman were for the first time given the vote.

All around the country celebrations and commemoration took place.

Here in Dorset I attended a day of celebrations in the Borough Gardens in Dorchester. It was an amazing event.

I saw in the Echo that Chickerell also remembered the anniversary with a silhouette of a suffragette placed for all to see.

Women from Bridport also took part in celebrations.

While here in the borough, there was not a peep from the council.

No announcement of a flag raising, an event or, a statement of commemoration.

I emailed the former mayor asking what the borough was going to do.

Sadly I never got a reply.

I also brought the subject up in conversations on a number of occasions and, still nothing was done.

In May we had a new mayor who was a woman. I lived in hope that a mention would be made during her acceptance speech but, another opportunity went by.

Again an email was sent to the new mayor asking what the borough was going to do regarding this important anniversary, again no reply to my email.

I feel it is disgraceful that the borough council have not seen fit to, up until now, do anything to remember those who fought so long and hard to give women the vote.

The fight is still going on today to give women equal rights.

Only 32 per cent of women are MPs, there are more men on local councils including the borough.

There are more men at the top of commerce and industry.

The next anniversary of votes for women will not be until 2028, the next anniversary when, at last, all women got the vote.

So will we have to wait until then for some sort of acknowledgement from what by then will be Weymouth Council.

I would however like to thank all the ladies who worked so hard to put together a great entry commemorating #vote 100 in Weymouth Carnival.

They came from Bridport, Dorchester, Portland and, three lovely ladies who turned up from Cornwall to join the group on the day.

I think it is shameful that the borough council have done nothing to commemorate/celebrate this this anniversary, still perhaps by November they might pull their finger out and do something.

As the suffragette slogan says “Deeds Not Words”, I would be happy with either.

SANDRA WEST

East Weare Road

Portland