#Emilymatters – V. Irene Cockroft: Overlooked detail sheds light on 1913 Derby protest
G U E S T B L O G P O S T
This is an updated version of women’s suffrage expert, V. Irene Cockroft’s guest blog post, which was first posted in 2013.
Emily Wilding Davison’s brave Epsom Derby protest remains a controversial act, with some arguing to this day that it damaged the case for women’s suffrage.
Votes for Women: Sabina Arthur & Katie Russell, To Freedom’s Cause cast members, RADA
Photo: Val Burgess, 2011
.
In 2013 more evidence came to light to suggest that Emily had every intention of returning from the Derby victorious, having carried out her assignment. We will of course never know for sure.
However, an overlooked detail that women’s suffrage expert V. Irene Cockroft brought to my attention is one of the strongest pieces of evidences to suggest what Emily’s true intentions might have been.
Emily Wilding Davison
Overlooked detail sheds light on 1913 Derby protest
By V. Irene Cockroft.
The inquest jury set great store by Emily Wilding Davison’s buying a return train ticket, Epsom Racecourse to Victoria. The value was not insignificant. The return ticket cost 3s/6d in 1913. The equivalent fare today is £6.60 each way or £13.20 return.
When after the collision with the King’s horse Emily was taken unconscious to Epsom Cottage Hospital, the police officer in charge listed the coins in her purse as amounting to 3s/8d three-farthings. Comparing this with the cost of the rail ticket, Emily’s coins would represent about £14 today.
Emily Wilding Davison’s purse and return ticket on display at a
Women’s Library exhibition in 2013
Photo: K Willougby
In 1913 Derby race-goers could expect to find gypsy children all over the course, begging for pennies. Given Emily’s known love of children and generous nature, even had she been badly depressed which all the evidence shows that she was not, (her friend Mary Richardson’s eye-witness account states that Emily was smiling to herself just before she darted under the safety rail*), it would have been characteristic of Emily to have given all her change to children if she felt she had no further need of it.
Remember the story of Emily’s exuberant throwing of Black Bullet sweets to Longhorsley village children when she learned she had passed her Oxford University exam? If she felt she could afford it, could Emily have resisted the pleasure of bestowing on fourteen impoverished children the equivalent of £1 a-piece?
*Sleight, J, One-way Ticket to Epsom, P.16
ART, THEATRE and WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
– Irene Cockroft & Susan Croft
By V. Irene Cockroft
Guest curator of Dying for the Vote exhibition commemorating the 2013 centenary of the death at Epsome of suffragette Emily Wilding Davison; Bourne Hall Museum, Borough of Epsom & Ewell.
.
In performance: ‘To Freedom’s Cause’ by Kate Willoughby in the House of Commons
Cast (L to R): Kyra Williams, Fiona Geddes, Kate Willoughby, Eleanor Dennison, Darren Godbold.
Photo: Brian Astbury, 2014
.
Irene has been very supportive of ‘To Freedom’s Cause’, having seen much of the R&D work over the past three years. Her advice and extensive knowledge have been invaluable to the play’s development.
.
“I have followed with interest and pleasure the progress of your topical, insightful play from the early, struggling days of its incarnation …
May ‘To Freedom’s Cause’ be just as welcome and popular a teaching resource, one hundred years hence.”
– V. Irene Cockroft
Kate Willoughby
Actor & Writer of Emily Wilding Davison play To Freedom’s Cause.
#Emilymatters promotes using the right to vote as well as highlighting gender equality issues & supporting campaigns that seek to redress the balance.
#Emilymatters was created as part of the social media campaign to promote ‘To Freedom’s Cause’ the campaign for equality – still worth fighting for?’ event at the House of Commons in February 2014.
.
‘To Freedom’s Cause’ should be seen by every woman and teenage girl.
And by anyone who couldn’t be bothered to vote. Moving, stirring & passionate.
– Jane Garvey, BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour presenter
.
There are some exciting developments in the pipeline, with regards to my Emily Davison play ‘To Freedom’s Cause’ and #Emilymatters, so please do keep in touch.
You can get a weekly summary of worldwide gender equality issues with the To Freedom’s Cause & Other #Emilymatters paper.li newsletter as well as updates on the play and future Kate Willoughby Productions & #Emilymatters projects.
.
Emily Davison’s legacy is for life, not just for 2013.
