Annie Kenney was a leading Suffragette and active member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). She was born in Oldham and worked in a cotton mill from the age of 10. In 1905 she heard Christabel Pankhurst and Theresa Billington speak about Votes for Women. She was inspired to hold a meeting for women factory workers and spent the summer of 1905 speaking about women's suffrage in Lancashire. Annie was responsible for questioning politicians and unfurling 'Votes for Women' banners at public meetings, organising protests, and public speaking to attract recruits and funders to the WSPU. In 1907 she became the organiser for the South West branch of the WSPU and was based in Bristol until October 1911. She was arrested 13 times in the fight to secure women's rights. When she recalled the day women won the vote in 1918, she said; ?Though I had no money I had reaped a rich harvest of joy, laughter, romance, companionship, and experience that no money can buy.?