Suffragettes promoting the Women's Exhibition

Suffragettes prepare to march in a procession to promote the Women's Exhibition, May 1909The '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. 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. These Suffragettes, carrying flags in the purple, white and green colour scheme of the WSPU as well as banners announcing the Exhibition are 'forming up' in Kingsway in preparation for a promotional procession that took place on Saturday 8th May. The procession that began and ended at Kingsway travelled through Regent Street, Piccadilly, Victoria Street, Whitehall and Charing Cross via the exhibition venue at Prince's Skating Rink, Knightsbridge. At the head of the procession was 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'.