The Queen and The Suffragette

I drive past this pub frequently, the sign looked so bright against the blue sky.

Today two women are remembered for very different reasons.

60 years ago today our Queen was crowned. She has given her life to serve our nation, day in day out since the 4th June 1953. What ever one's views one cannot question her hard work, dedication and her role model as a leading lady.

100 years ago today Emily Wilding Davison was killed by the King's Horse when she stepped out onto the racecourse during The Derby. To this day it remains uncertain as to whether she wanted to take her own life as the ultimate sacrifice to the cause for women, or whether she wanted to disrupt the race, perhaps by pinning ribbons of the suffrage colours to the King's horse.
Having seen for myself how fast galloping horses go round Tattenham Corner, I cannot imagine that she really thought she would be able to attach ribbons or a banner to a galloping horse. What ever her idea, she was an extremely corageous woman.
I listened to the description by one of her compatriots of being force fed during hunger strikes in prison by naso-gastric tube, this morning on Woman's hour (recorded in 1961) and was in no doubt that women worldwide owe a great deal to Emily and the suffrage movement.