Suffrage Movement in Peterborough
04/03/1911
Information
Speaking with evident gratification following last week's speech by Mrs Pankhurst, Miss Tebbutt, a local militant suffragette, felt that it had 'done the cause no end of good'. However, when asked about the local membership, she was less enthusiastic, saying simply that, 'members are coming in well, but you see, we have only been really started a short time, so you must give us a chance. There are some who are hesitating, but you see, it is rather difficult to get the ladies of either Party to come out.' When asked if Peterborough would offer passive resistance to the census and Coronation fireworks in Peterborough, she felt that, as there were many business members in Peterborough, it would not be advisable for them to do this. Asked if any from Peterborough might go up to London to take part in the protest, she felt she could not say but personally, if she had not had business ties, she would join the demonstration. As to not filling in the census, Miss Tebbutt replied that to be in a position to make that protest one would have to be the head of the house, so it would be no use refusing as she was not the head. (Peterborough Standard)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.