Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette
— a powerful spoken-word tribute presented by her great-grandson Peter Barratt, with “sister suffragette” Ruth Pownall
From the moment Peter Barratt took to the stage, it was clear: his passion for Alice Hawkins, his great-grandmother, is not just historical—it’s heartfelt. With warmth, a sprinkle of humour, and steadfast pride, he guided us through her extraordinary life, sharing family archives, letters, and stories that felt both personal and universally stirring. His delivery felt like a chat with kin—welcoming, sincere, and deeply human.
Ruth Pownall, as “sister suffragette,” breathed theatrical life into Alice’s voice. With words drawn from real letters and speeches, and with suffragette songs woven into her portrayal, Ruth added another evocative layer that helped transport us back to those fervent years. Her singing gave a poignant rhythm to the fight, reminding us that the suffragettes’ struggle was not only political, but deeply emotional.
Alice Riley Hawkins—born in 1863 in Stafford—became a leading suffragette in Leicester. A machinist at Equity Shoes, a devoted socialist, and a mother of six, she lived the daily grind of working-class life while pushing a suffrage campaign. Through the cooperative structure at her factory, she accessed education and socialist ideas—precisely the foundation that fired her activism. In 1894 she joined the Independent Labour Party, and by 1906 she was in correspondence with Sylvia Pankhurst. When Sylvia came to Leicester in 1907, Alice helped organise and launch a WSPU branch there, alongside Mary Gawthorpe.
Alice was jailed five times for militant actions on behalf of the WSPU—a testament to her courage and dedication. In February 1907 she was arrested after a Hyde Park rally turned violent, when police on horseback charged the protesters. She was sent to Holloway Prison, where a lawyer remarked that “in no other civilised country would women be dealt with in this manner.” In 1909 she attempted to enter a Winston Churchill meeting from which suffragettes had been barred. Arrested again, she went to prison and took part in a hunger strike. In 1911 she smashed a Home Office window with a brick in full view of police. In 1913 she poured ink into a Leicester postbox and was suspected, though never proved, of the famous “no votes, no golf” slogan written in horse dung on a golf course. Alice also received a Hunger Strike Medal from the WSPU and was among the working-class women selected to meet leading politicians like Lloyd George and Sir Edward Grey to press their cause directly.
Alice’s husband Alfred was no bystander—he actively supported her. When he was assaulted and had his kneecap fractured after questioning Churchill at a Liberal Party meeting in Bradford, the court awarded him compensation. That wasn’t just solidarity—it was bravery in its own right. His backing allowed Alice to keep campaigning, even while raising a family of six children.
Peter’s storytelling shone with a warm confidence and touches of humour that made history feel alive—not dusty. We sensed the pride in his family history, the importance of sharing it, and his belief that Alice’s story still resonates today. Ruth’s performance, rooted in real letters and speeches, gave voice to the suffragette soul—and the songs and her stagecraft made it unforgettable. For many in the UK—even today—these stories of suffragette violence and state repression remain poorly known. The police charges, the arrests and imprisonment, the force-feeding, the property damage—all were radical but essential tactics of a desperate, determined movement. Sharing those stories matters: it highlights how hard-won women’s rights were—and how easy it is to take them for granted.
Ultimately, their efforts prevailed. Women secured the vote—gradually, starting in 1918, and fully by 1928. Today, a bronze statue of Alice Hawkins, seven feet tall, stands in Leicester’s Market Square—her arm raised, mid-speech, a commanding presence recalling that she once preached change in that very spot. The unveiling in 2018 was a community moment, with thousands watching, including members of her family who had fought for years to have her commemorated.
This was a moving, inspiring experience. Peter Barratt’s passion and pride bubbled through his every word—his warmth and humour made history feel close. Ruth Pownall’s theatrical presence, singing, and faithful voice-of-Alice made it vivid. Alice Hawkins deserves to be known—not just as a suffragette, but as a working-class mum, machinist, socialist, and fighter. Her story speaks to what it takes to change the world—and why we must remember.
Reviewed by Pat Harrington
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