Learn more about the woman we are campaigning to honour in our statue appeal. This book about Ethel Margaret ‘Madge’ Turner (1884–1948) - a Chichester-born suffragist and lifelong campaigner for women’s and children’s rights - is written by Nichola Court and is available to buy from @oxmarketcontemporary and the @westsussexro for just £10.

Hear sculptor @katevinerart share the story behind our campaign to create a permanent statue honouring Chichester suffragist and lifelong champion of women’s and children’s rights, Ethel Margaret “Madge” Turner (1884–1948). Discover more via the link in our bio. #EthelMargaretTurner #MadgeTurner #ChichesterSuffragist #SuffragetteHistory #WomensHistory #herstorysussex

June 1908, Chichester: the newly formed Women’s Freedom League rolled into town as part of its south-eastern caravan campaign - and sparked chaos. Led by the formidable Muriel Matters, an Australian actress and suffrage campaigner, the caravan had set off from Surrey on 16 May, winding through Midhurst and Petworth before arriving in Chichester. Muriel was joined by Madge Turner and Bertha Morley, both seasoned campaigners. Two public meetings followed - one at Eastgate Square and another at the Corn Exchange - both were met with intense hostility. Crowds hurled mouldy vegetables, mud and even vermin, rang bells and jeered in an attempt to silence the speakers. The atmosphere was so threatening that Muriel required a police escort back to her caravan, parked in a stable yard in St Pancras. This photograph of Muriel and Madge is thought to be taken here by Madge’s sister Winifred, a photographer’s assistant. #WomensSuffrage #WomensFreedomLeague #MurielMatters #VotesForWomen #HiddenHistory #ChichesterHistory

As we look ahead to 2026, we’d like to thank all our followers for supporting #HerStorySussex this year. You have helped us spotlight the women - past and present - who inspire this project. With your help, we can take a major step towards funding the first ever statue of a woman in Chichester - Ethel Margaret ‘Madge’ Turner. If you’d like to give your support, please spread the word, tag a friend, and if you can, donate to the statue appeal via the link in our bio. Happy New Year from all of us at Her Sussex Story.

We’re thrilled to hear that @chichestercitycouncil have awarded three more Blue Plaques for women, adding to the existing plaques for Madge Turner and Martha Dear. They honour Marjorie Wilkinson a leading Quaker, Charlotte Smith an author and poet, and Queen Elizabeth I to mark her stay in Chichester. . . . . #HerSussexStory #WomenSupportingWomen #FemaleLeadership #ChichesterCharities #MadgeTurner

For Yalda Taheri, feminist activist and artist, Madge Turner’s courage resonates deeply - a woman who dared to challenge injustice and claim freedom, even when the cost was high. Now part of the Madge Flag Project with @sanctuaryinchi, Yalda’s voice carries the experiences of women still fighting to be heard today.

More than a century after Madge Turner fought for women’s freedom here in Sussex, many women around the world are still denied their basic rights. @sanctuaryinchi supports women who have fled persecution, conflict and gender-based violence - women rebuilding their lives and finding their voices, often for the first time. That’s why Sanctuary’s role in the Madge Flag Project is so powerful. Stitching ‘Dare To Be Free’ holds profound meaning for those who risked everything for that hope.

As we approach the end of the year, we took the opportunity to come together at @noviummuseum to share progress on the Madge Turner Flag project with all four partner charities and some of the women whose stories are stitched into it. Each piece of work will be woven together by quilter Suzanne Boulter and revealed at the ChichestHER exhibition next October. In the meantime, our fundraising continues for a statue of Madge Turner — sculpted by Kate Viner, with Madge holding the finished flag. Thank you to our partners and supporters @chichestercitycouncil, @noviummuseum, @chichesterwomenshistorygroup, @sanctuaryinchi, @stonepillowcharity, @mysistershouseuk, @lifecentre_uk, @katevinerart and @chicathedral.