A CELEBRATION has been held to honour the "women of courage and determination" who campaigned for the vote. 

Crowds gathered in Llanfyllin town centre on Saturday (October 20) to commemorate 100 years of women's suffrage.

Councillor Josie Ewing, of Llanfyllin Town Council, donated the plaques, deputy mayor Cllr Tracey Windsor cut the ribbon and the WI's Ruth Weston gave a speech.

Ruth Weston said: "It is easy for us to forget that for anyone around the age of 50 it is likely that when their grandmother or mother was born she would not have had the right to vote in any election because of her sex.

"She could not be awarded an Oxbridge degree. She could not be a lawyer or a doctor. She had no parental rights over her children, only a male could inherit property.

"We are a long way from those times but only because of brave and persevering women who spent decades writing letters, lobbying MPs, setting up public meetings, going on marches, knocking on doors, giving out leaflets on street corners."

Ms Weston said that the Women's Institute was prominent in the suffrage movement.

She added: "The best thanks we can give them is to carry on their work. We must use our democratic vote, women must stand for election to council, Welsh Assembly and UK parliament.

"We must make sure women's voices and concerns are met in the NHS, in social care and in education –and we must celebrate women's achievement in art, and music and science. We have come a long way but we have a long way to go."

Cllr Windsor said the event recognised and commended the "women of courage and determination who campaigned and fought for equal suffrage for all".

"I was very proud to unveil the plaque and want to thank everyone in the town for working together to make Saturday such a successful and memorable day."