Pupils hear about rights fight
A GREAT-GRANDSON of suffragette Alice Hawkins visited a school to speak about women’s fight for the right to vote and equal pay.
Peter Barratt spoke to year seven and eight pupils at New College, Leicester.
His visit coincided with a visit from a life-size Lego model of a suffragette on loan from the
Parliament Education Service. The figure, Hope, is made of 33,000 Lego bricks and took three people over 71 hours to build.
It is on display at New College Leicester until February 15.
Peter said: “I really enjoyed the school visit – 300 fantastic pupils I felt were with me throughout.”
Sera Shortland, head of citizenship at the college, said:
“Peter’s mission is to keep the memory of Alice and her struggle alive for the younger generation.
“I was overwhelmed with the response of our students to Peter’s visit and the political depth and knowledge of their questions.
“Learning about events such as the Suffrage movement is crucial to develop democratic understanding.”