Son of Manchester born votes for women campaigner Sylvia Pankhurst dies in Ethiopia – Manchester Evening News

by Zelalem

The son of Manchester Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst has died in Ethiopia.

Richard Pankhurst has died aged 89 at his home in the country’s capital, Addis Ababa.

Mr Pankhurst, an academic, has been described as ‘one of Ethiopia’s greatest friends’, and he could be given a state funeral.

Old Trafford born Sylvia gave birth to Richard in 1927, with her partner, the Italian anarchist Silvio Corio.

Sylvia’s mother Emmeline never spoke to her again after discovering she given had birth to a child out of wedlock.

The family’s ties to Ethiopia came after Sylvia began to campaign in support of Ethiopia after the Italian invasion of the country in 1935.

She first travelled to Ethiopia with Richard in 1950, and the family moved there in 1956.

Four years later she died in Addis Ababa, aged 78.

Emmeline Pankhurst being escorted by policemen

Richard, named after his Manchester barrister father, continued to live in Ethiopia and went on to write more than 20 books on the country, including its first ever economic history.

He also led a campaign to have the Obelisk of Axum, a historic 80 ft monument, taken from Ethiopia to Rome following the Italian occupation.

His mother was afforded a state funeral, and supporters are now calling on her son to be given the same honour.

Syliva, who campaigned for votes for women, initially trained as an artist at the Manchester School of Art and attended Manchester High School for Girls.

A walking tour on the Pankhurst’s links to Manchester will be held on Saturday, March 4, from St Ann’s Church, starting at 1.30pm.

Read More News Here Source link

Related Posts

Leave a Comment