VOTES for women was the cry through Old Town’s streets yesterday as Swindon showed its support for the suffragette movement.

Scores of women started out from High Street at the entrance to the Lawn Woods, and marched through Wood Street and Bath Road before going to Radnor Street Cemetery.

The march, organised by Swindon Heritage and Leah Bevan-Haines, aimed to recreate the sort of response women in 1908 made to the successful marches in London.

One of those involved in the 1908 suffrage battle was Swindon woman Edith New.

Yesterday the women, dressed in period costume and carrying banners calling for the women’s vote, were given widespread support by passing cars and residents.

“We were walking Edith’s footsteps,” said Leah. “We wanted to understand what women might have gone through back then.”

“There is still so far to go with women’s equality.” Leah received support from the Swindon Women’s Institute when putting together the rally.

WI representative Ali Stump was keen to make it clear the rally was not a light-hearted opportunity to dress up, but a serious reminder of the work done by the suffragette movement and how much more still needs to be done for total equality.

“It’s important to remember this is a modern struggle too,” she said.

“We were remembering Edith and the suffragette movement, but we also know this is not just dressing up for fun.”

For information on future events being organised by Swindon Heritage in support of the suffragettes, visit its website or search for Swindon Suffragette on Facebook.