I WAS happy to go with a friend, who had booked two places, on the Women's History Walk last week.

Thursday was a glorious day in Winchester and Sue Anderson Faithful was an excellent guide taking us all on a gentle walk through the city, showing us places associated with significant women associated with Winchester.

We started with Information about Emma, the Norman-born noblewoman who became Queen of England on her marriage to Ethelred the Unready, and mother to Edward the Confessor. Emma owned the Winchester Manor now known as God Begot.

We carried on through history moving forward to the Civil War and the story of Alice Lisle and her beheading outside the Eclipse Inn after her trial at Judge Jeffrey Bloody Assizes in Winchester.

We walked through various old streets to hear about the work of the women philanthropists in the 19th century - Mary Sumner who founded the Mother's Union and Josephine Butler from Cannon Street who helped the young women prostitutes. Who knew Cannon Street used to be 'the Red Light' district!?

Sue talked about the Victorian creative novelist Charlotte Yonge, born in Otterbourne. Also Laura Ridding, of the National Council of Women, and Ellen Joyce and the Girls Friendly Society.

A wonderful walk and talk about so many influential women. Thank you so much Sue.

Josie Dyson,

Droxford

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