‘Tattenham Corner’ by Audrey Ardern-Jones
T A T T E N H A M C O R N E R
(For Emily Wilding Davison)
By Audrey Ardern-Jones
We may cross over a well turned track
touch new grass
as it reinstates itself.
We may cross over a well turned track
turn back a hundred years
on Derby Day
spot a young woman in her prime
who was imprisoned, force fed,
who spoke out, broke out,
shouted out,
who on that day slipped under the railings
into an incoming storm
of horses
galloping round the curve
into the long final straightness.
A moment of history
she braved it
stood like a beacon – there for you and me
with her iconic message
‘Votes for Women’
her last
to a King who should have listened
and then she stumbled
tumbled under his horse.
She never spoke again
never smiled again
never again smelt the freshness of rain
nor heard the June birdsong
outside her window at the Cottage Hospital
a much maligned heroine of her time
a heroine of our time
a voice that lives on
a voice not just for women.
Audrey Ardern-Jones, 2013
Audrey Ardern-Jones‘ poem gives a quiet dignity to such a brave woman, who is still seen by some as an irrational fanatic.
I met Audrey at Bourne Hall’s ‘Dying for the Vote’ exhibition in August 2013.
V. Irene Cockroft, the curator, gave me a fascinating guided tour on the last day of the exhibition and Audrey happened to call in by chance. We had a long talk about Emily Davison and also Edith Cavell, two remarkable women who stayed true to their convictions in the face of brutal hostility.
Audrey kindly gave me permission to post ‘Tattenham Corner’ and today, the date of the 2014 Epsom Derby, seemed to be the right time to do it.
#Emilymatters highlights gender equality issues & supports campaigns that seek to redress the balance and 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. .
There are some exciting developments in the pipeline, so please do keep in touch.
These include community pop-up events, performances and a project on the theme of connection post-lockdown.
Kate Willoughby
Actor & Writer of To Freedom’s Cause
Emily Davison’s legacy is for life, not just for 2013.
Tags: Emily Davison, Emily Wilding Davison, Epsom, Irene Cockroft, suffragette, Tattenham Corner, To Freedom's Cause, Votes for Women
Dear Kate
Thank you for placing Audrey’s meaningful poem on the web. I have included this link as a reference in a new book being published by Surrey University. Will email you details when not up against deadline. Christopher Wiley was delighted that we could mention you in the book as you were featured in the 2018 conference at Surrey.
Best wishes, Irene