A WARRINGTON woman who campaigned for women’s right 100 years ago has been named one of the nation’s greatest pioneers.

Mable Capper was not only the town’s first female journalist but she was jailed six times and was one of the first suffragettes to be force-fed as the result of a hunger strike.

Today, Thursday, the Women’s Local Government Society (WLGS) has announced its list of the top 100 Suffrage Pioneers who fought for gender equality and women’s rights and Mable was among them.

Staff at Warrington Museum discovered her inspirational story while compiling their Nevertheless, She Persisted exhibition which is currently on show.

Hannah White, collections assistant at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, said: “We are thrilled that Mabel Capper has been selected as one of the top 100 Suffrage Pioneers.

“She is a great role model for women both locally and nationally and will hopefully inspire further women to fight for political and social causes which they believe in.

“Her nomination recognises the invaluable contribution that women can make to society.”

Born in Manchester in 1888, Mabel came from a family of active suffrage campaigners, a legacy that would remain at the centre of her life for years to come.

Beginning her career as a journalist at just 10, Mabel started out by editing a manuscript magazine before becoming the first female journalist on the Warrington Examiner in 1907.

Using her role as a journalist to publicly argue the cause for women’s suffrage, Mabel soon took a much more physical stance in the campaign by taking part in by-elections and protests throughout the country, in addition to more militant activities such as causing disruptions at political meetings and polling stations, and even window breaking.

A high-profile campaigner, Mabel was even one of four suffragettes accused of targeting Prime Minister Asquith with a bomb in Dublin – a charge that was eventually withdrawn.

Imprisoned a total of six times, and as one of the very first suffragettes to be force-fed as the result of a hunger strike – Mabel became one of the most prominent activists for women’s suffrage, a cause she continued to battle for until her death in 1966.

In 1912, Mabel produced her first play, entitled The Betrothal of Number 13, which was performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London. The subject matter was the stigma imposed by imprisonment, even on the innocent.

Following the declaration of war in 1914, Mabel became a nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment, later becoming involved with the pacifist and socialist movements. After the war she returned to journalism and worked as a journalist on the Daily Herald.

Now, Mabel’s life-long dedication and passion has been rewarded on a national scale, as she joins 99 other suffrage pioneers on the WLGS list celebrating the achievements of these remarkable women.

Anyone wanting to learn more about Mabel and other inspirational Warrington women can visit the Nevertheless, She Persisted exhibition at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery until Saturday, April.28.