1-192-439 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

Adela Constantia Mary Pankhurst, organiser, c1908. In 1906 Adela gave up her job as an elementary school teacher in Manchester to become an organiser in Lancashire and Yorkshire. During the General Election of 1905 she repeatedly questioned Winston Churchill at large public meetings and was 'ejected night after night'. She served several short prison sentences for interrupting Liberal meetings and for participating in noisy demonstrations and deputations to the House of Commons. Adela's outspoken left-wing views were not shared by her mother and her sister, Christabel; for instance she had encouraged Yorkshire suffragettes to support striking textile workers in Hebden Bridge. In 1911 she lost her voice, caught pleurisy and was urged to give up public speaking. Her mother and Christabel saw this as an opportunity to end her career with the Women's Social and Political Union and offered to send her on a gardening course - Adela had expressed an interest in this, on the understanding she would give up her role as an organiser. The gardening did not go well and in 1912 Adela went to live in Australia where she remained for the rest of her life.