A CENTURY ago this week, St Leonards was treated to a rousing speech from one of the leading political activists of the time.

Emmeline Pankhurst was in town to talk to a packed Royal Concert Hall about the preparations for the ongoing war.

Mrs Pankhurst had famously called a halt to the Suffragettes’ campaign of violence to get the vote and support the war effort and she was determined to make that clear in an impassioned speech which received a very appreciative response from those present.

She told the Women’s Social and Political Union organised event that she disagreed with the notion that women should keep to domestic issues and leave international politics to men. Mrs Pankhurst said that the destinies of men and women were bound up together during this greatest crisis the country had ever faced.

She said that her movement had been fighting for a cause and therefore had the right to speak out about the war and call upon men to serve.

Prophetically, she added that every man would be wanted before the war was over and so the sooner every man prepared himself the better it would be. She was applauded for highlighting the plight of Belgian refugees in Hastings and argued that money from the Queen’s Fund should go towards their relief.

Recruitment fever was still a hot topic in the papers with The Argus singling out a Private Upton for praise for signing up at Ticehurst despite being a married man with three children.

Our reporter said: “This is a fine example of patriotism and will doubtless be an incentive to many men to give their service to King and country.”

Away from the military side of life, a village found time to celebrate the union between man and woman.

The Argus reported on the “pretty wedding” of Mr J A Paine of Heathfield and Miss Cassie Brook of Burwash at Wadhurst church. Our reporter wrote that Miss Brook looked “very charming in a dress of ivory satin draped with orange blossom”.

A world away from the glamour of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin’s wedding in Venice, the happy couple left that afternoon for their honeymoon in Twickenham.