Overview to Dora Beedham

Irene Parley's sister Dora Beedham née Spong and her husband also lived at 10 Heath Close after WW1 until the mid 1920s, later moving to 108 Erskine Hill and then Brim Hill where she stayed until the 1950s.

Dora was born in 1879. She trained as a midwife and was a sanitary inspector in East London. She was a member of the WSPU and the Independent Labour Party, and she was arrested several times:

• Following the Women’s Parliament at Caxton Hall on 30 June 1908, she was in the crowd that marched to Parliament and was among the 75 suffragettes arrested. Charged with obstruction and sent to Holloway for 1 month. She became ill and was released early.
• Arrested with a large group of suffragettes who marched on the House of Commons on 12 July 1909. No complete record of her sentence.
• Arrested on Black Friday (25/11/10), but like all other suffragettes arrested that day was released without charge.
• In 1912 she was charged with breaking windows with a hammer “wrapped in an old stocking”, with Constance Moore who had a poker at Westbourne Grove Post Office. Their sentence was two months with hard labour in Holloway Prison.

Dora Beedham was given a Hunger Strike Medal 'For Valour'.

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