To celebrate the centenary of Parliament giving some women over 30 the right to vote, the Emily Davison Memorial Project has been relaunched to create a lasting legacy to her in Epsom town centre, in the form of a bronze statue of her in the market place. Up until recently, the suffragette, Emily Wilding Davison, had been defined by the event that took place at the Epsom Derby in June 1913, when s
he ran out into the path of the King’s horse and was fatally injured, in an attempt to petition the King in favour of votes for women. Although there has been much controversy about her motives, evidence has now emerged that she did not intend to kill herself and it was, in fact a tragic accident. She was a “geordie lass”, a teacher, intelligent (she studied for two degrees), talented (she was a keen swimmer, cyclist, artist and writer), a devout Christian, and passionate, especially in her belief in the justice of equal rights for men and women. This was at a time when women had no rights and were often harshly treated by the authorities for demonstrating in favour of emancipation. She was the only suffragette to die as a direct result of her actions, but there were many brave women who also fought for the cause at great personal risk, as well as others since, who have dedicated their lives to making the world a better place, who have remained unrecognised. Following the centenary of Emily’s death last year, we now have a unique opportunity to contribute to a permanent and unique and significant memorial, inspired by Emily that acknowledges all women, whose achievements and sacrifices have helped to create a culture where equal rights in law are taken for granted, It is hoped that it will be sited on Epsom Downs, close to the racecourse. The memorial will be one of very few in the country that recognise the positive contribution of women in our society. In addition, it is hoped that it will signify a positive legacy for the future and inspire other women to continue to strive for equality and respect for all, not just in law, and not just in the UK, but in reality for all women. The Emily Davison Memorial Project is working in cooperation with Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to make this happen. Submissions were invited by Surrey based artists, followed by a public consultation and selection of the winning proposal by a distinguished committee of arts professionals and a local councillor. The winner, Mary Branson MA., has proposed an original and stunning contemporary design. As a sign of her competence as a talented artist, she has recently been awarded a commission by the Palace of Westminster to create a significant work, based on the suffragette archives of the Houses of Parliament. This is a unique opportunity for the community of Epsom & Ewell to get behind an important piece of public art; one which will provide an iconic landmark for Epsom, as well as a cultural marker for what is arguably the most important event in Epsom's history. In addition, the suffragette movement is now being recognised as one of the most significant movements of 20th century Britain, and Emily Davison one of their most important figures. Finally, the work embodies not only the cultural history of the area, but also it's creative heritage, as the home of the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, now the University for the Creative Arts. The cost of the project needs to be met from fundraising: public donations, private sponsorship and grant funding. Epsom & Ewell are supporting the project, but are not contributing financially to its cost. Once all approvals have been granted for the chosen site, a minimum of £35,000 will need to be raised, through private donations, corporate sponsorship and grants funding.
