The appeal campaigns for a statue of Brighton’s Mary Clarke, the first suffragette to die for women’s right to vote, to be erected in New Road, opposite the Theatre Royal.
Katy is a Conservative politician and has served as the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) since 2012. She was re-elected for a fourth term in 2024.
Katy has a statutory duty to commission support services for victims of crime and to deliver community safety initiatives. She is deeply committed to improve the criminal justice response to crimes such as stalking, sexual and domestic abuse and the exploitation and abuse of elders.
Katy said: “I am honoured to take up the role of Conservative Patron for the Mary Clarke Statue Appeal. Mary Clarke was a courageous woman who gave her life fighting for women’s right to vote. Her determination and sacrifice remind us of the importance of standing up for equality and justice, even in the face of adversity.
“As Police & Crime Commissioner, I have seen how far we have come in creating opportunities for women in policing and public life, but we must never forget those who paved the way. Supporting this Appeal is about recognising Mary’s message and memory and ensuring future generations understand the value of democratic rights and the courage it took to secure them. I am delighted to help champion this important cause.”
Mary, who escaped an abusive marriage, led the southeast suffrage movement from Brighton from 1909 to 1910, as paid Organiser for the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU).
She lived in the Sea View hotel in Victoria Road run by Brighton suffragette Minnie Turner, working from there and from WSPU offices near the Clock Tower.
She organised and spoke at meetings across the south east and in settings as varied as Brighton sea front, Hove Town Hall and The Dome. She was much loved and admired for her courage and calm good humour in the face of aggression and hostility. She was deeply committed to non-violence.
She was badly injured in the terrible state violence of ‘Black Friday’ outside Parliament on 18th November 1910. Despite her injuries, she was imprisoned and reportedly forcibly fed following a hunger strike. She died of brain haemorrhage on Christmas Day 1910, two days after leaving prison. She was 49, the first of three suffragettes to die following injury on Black Friday. Despite the fact she was the first to die and also Emmeline Pankhurst’s sister, there is no public memorial to her anywhere in the UK.
The appeal hopes the statue will be seen as “a symbol of our city’s commitment to women’s rights and safety and also to democracy, non-violence and equality before the law.”
Jean Calder, the Chair of trustees said: “We are so pleased that Katy Bourne has agreed to be a Patron. She is deeply committed to improvements in the criminal justice system, which too often fails victims of abuse and violence. We have been told by many local women that they hope the statue will serve as a memorial to others who have died as a result of violence – as well as those who may have experienced injustice or torture.”
The appeal has the support of all local political parties and amongst others has serving patrons representing the Labour, Conservative and Green parties.
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