2013 will be remembered for a long time as the year Morpeth, in particular, honoured the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, who died a 100 years before, whilst attempting to bring to the King’s attention women’s unrecognised right to vote:

On 4 June 1913 – Epsom derby: Davison obtained two flags bearing the suffragette colours of purple, white and green to attend the Epsom derby.  She positioned herself behind the guard rail at  Tattenham Corner, the final bend before the home straight. At this point in the race, with some of the horses having passed her, she ducked under the guard rail and ran onto the course attempted to reached up to the reins of Anmer, King George V’s horse and was hit by the animal, which would have been travelling at around 35 mph (56 kph)  Anmer fell in the collision and partly rolled over, Emily Davison was knocked to the ground unconscious and died in hospital 4 days later, aged 40. 

In 2013 a Channel 4 documentary identified that Emily Davison intended to throw a suffragette flag around the neck of a horse or attach it to the horse’s bridle, that flag now hangs in House of Parliament.

The Emily Inspires! programme, included Plaque unveiling, processions, exhibitions, competitions, stage performances, a “Bikes and Bonnetts” bike ride and a Church service was long in planning and Morpeth held a Centennial weekend in June 2013 and well supported events that attracted attention on a national scale. GMDT played an effective role, being involved in the planning and coordination of a very successful programme.

GMDT also acted as the lead organisation on the restoration of Emily Davison’s grave in St. Mary’s Church yard, Morpeth, working in partnership with Emily Davison working group.