Deeds Not Words

A visit to Beamish Museum today where we met up  with fellow Blippers Trevor and Ros and had a nice catch up.  Good to see them again.  

Down in the town trouble was afoot.  The suffragettes were out protesting today.  They had banners and placards and one of them had chained herself to the railings.  A man was heckling them saying things like they shouldn't have the vote and eventually one of the ladies was arrested.  

I would like to think if I had been around in those days I would have been a suffragette.  Through their protests and civil disobedience people in authority started to take note.  Women played a vital part in the first world war (taking over jobs that the men did) and it was felt that giving them the vote was a 'reward' for their effort.  Initially, only women over 30 were able to vote and it wasn't until 1928 women of 21 and over were allowed to vote.  The election of 1970 was the first time that the voting age was reduced to 18 for both men and women.

Today we also visited the 1950's police houses and council houses that have just opened.  More things to see where I say to Mr YB 'my mam had one of those' or 'my grandma had one just the same.'

A really nice day out.