Suffragette procession promoting the Women's Exhibition

Suffragette procession promoting the Women's Exhibition held at Princes' Skating Rink, Knightsbridge, May 1909.  The 'Women's Exhibition and Sale of Works in the Colours', was organised by the Women's Social and Political Union to publicise the 'Votes for Women' cause and raise funds for the campaign 'war chest'. In order to achieve maximum publicity and visitor numbers the WSPU organised a number of promotional events both before and during the two week Exhibition that took place between 13th and 26th May 1909. This procession advertising the event took place on Saturday 8th May. This also being LIfeboat Day the procession included the Suffragette Barbara Ayrton dressed as a fisher-girl to represent Grace Darling.  The route of the procession that began and ended at Kingsway included Regent Street, Piccadilly, Knightsbridge, Victoria Street, Whitehall and Charing Cross. Christina Broom took this photograph as the procession passed the Knightsbridge department store Harvey Nichols and Hyde Park Hotel and depicts the head of the procession, led by the colour bearer Joan Dugdale followed by officials of the WSPU, an all male brass band, children carrying a maypole, the Exhibition banner and Suffragettes on horseback. The following week the Votes for Women newspaper reported the event attracted considerable interest from a supportive crowd of onlookers with General Drummond noting 'there was nothing but kindness and good humour all along the route'.Christina Broom was a professional photographer who produced a series of London street views for sale as postcards. She later photographed the activities of the suffrage movement in London and is considered one of the earliest female press photographers.