American activist Susan B Anthony said cycling had done more to emancipate women than anything in the world, and women celebrated the achievements of the suffragette movement with a bike ride this week.

Cllrs Sue Anderson and Janet Mote were among those dressed in green, purple and white at the British Cycling’s Breeze movement 15-mile ride on Tuesday.

The ride visited places in Harrow with links to the women's and suffrage movement.

Cllr Anderson, who is responsible for community, culture, and resident engagement, said: “This was a wonderful way to mark the centenary of the female vote – women riding together to mark the start of our fight for equality and remember those strong Harrow women who trod the path we all endeavour to follow.

“Without them none of us would be able to serve the community as we do today.”

Cllr Janet Mote, said: “I was delighted to with Breeze Bike Rides for women members to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first women getting the right to vote – especially as a Harrow Councillor.”

Places of interest visited included:

Harrow

• Harrow College, formerly Harrow County Grammar School for Girls where Diane Abbott MP - Labour Shadow Home Secretary – went to school. She was the first black woman in the House of Commons

• Harrow Women’s Centre in Andrews Close, off Bessborough Road

• The Harrow on the Hill home of Catherine Marshall, a suffragist who lived at Newlands House. She was the founder of the Women’s Liberal Association in Harrow, vital activist in the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, political secretary of the No Conscription Fellowship, founding member of the British branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

Wealdstone

• Ellen Webb Drive - named after Ellen Webb, independent councillor for Wealdstone in the 1930s.

Stanmore

• North London Collegiate School, famous for women’s education. Its former students in politics included suffragette Dorothy Evans (1888 – 1944). She qualified as a teacher but began working full-time for the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1907. She was arrested and imprisoned several times for her links to the suffragette campaign. She recalled the founder of NLCS, Frances Mary Buss, had made “women’s enfranchisement a faith” among pupils. Also Judy Mallaber, Labour MP for Amber Valley 1997-2010.

• Bentley Wood High School for Girls, where Shami Chakrabarti - former Director of Liberty and now a Labour peer – went to school

Hatch End.

• Lurline Champagnie lived in Westfield Park. She was the first black woman to stand as a Parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives (1992, Islington North) and the first British Caribbean councillor on Harrow Council; also Mayor 2004/5.

Breeze Bike Rides for Women promotes cycling to women.