A Victory Breakfast celebrating equal votes for women was held at the Marriott Hotel by Carol Gibbon and Susan Pearson and attended by Swindon Soroptimists.

Though it’s the centenary year of the Representation of the People Act, full voting on equal basis with men didn’t come until a decade later and was marked with a victory breakfast at London’s Cecil Hotel on July 5 1928.

Carol and Susan organised the event as they wanted to ensure the achievement of 90 years ago was celebrated with a recreation of the Victory Breakfast.

Around 100 guests attended the event and the Swindon Soroptimists were joined by President Judith Wood and Pat Black of the Cirencester Soroptimist Club.

They heard the original words of Ramsey MacDonald MP, as spoken by Swindon Festival of Literature organiser Matt Holland, and a stirring speech made by Dame Millicent Fawcett, spoken by Swindon Soroptimists secretary Susan Pearson.

Sarah Church, prospective Labour candidate for Swindon South, gave the closing speech from Mrs Despard, one of the original suffragists.

Helen Birchenough, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire delivered a message of goodwill and support from the Lord Lieutenant.

Commonweal School students were also invited to speak, and organised a school library display about the fight for suffrage.

The guests were also entertained by the Swindon Community Choir, who led a rousing version of March of the Women, the battle anthem of the suffrage movement.

Swindon Soroptimists’ president Valerie Nuttall said: “As Soroptimists, we were delighted to support this event celebrating women’s suffrage.

“Many thanks to Carol and Susan for organising this.

“Our organisation exists to improve the lives of women and girls everywhere and it was good to hear the younger speakers talking about how they envisage their futures.

“Well done everyone”.

All proceeds of the event are going to Swindon Women's Aid, a cause the Soroptimists have supported for some time.