Ann Alice Older
Women's Suffrage Work
She had travelled from Honley to London with Gertrude ‘Ellen’ Brook. Together they were charged with insulting behaviour, and obstructing the police in execution of their duty. They were each sentenced to six weeks in Holloway Prison.
Edith Key, Secretary of the Huddersfield WSPU wrote to Ann and Ellen in prison to express the appreciation of the members of the branch for their actions.
On 22nd February 1908, ten days after her arrest, the Hampshire Telegraph reported that Ann ‘was taken seriously ill a day or so after her admission into Holloway, and a telegram was sent by the authorities to the headquarters of the Women’s Social and Political Union apprising the leaders of her condition. Steps were a once taken to secure her discharge, which took place on Tuesday morning. Mrs Older soon afterwards left for her home in Yorkshire’.
Many reports incorrectly list Ann as Mrs Alder. It has also been suggested that she was related to Ellen Beever and Annie Sykes, the first two suffragettes from Huddersfield to be arrested in London in 1907.
Biography
Ann was born in Slaithwaite in 1876. Her father Joseph Sykes was a Shoemaker and together with his wife Rebecca had two daughters and four sons. In 1881 they were living at Station Road.At the age of 13, Ann is listed in the census record as living in Crimble, Golcar with her parents, one brother and another 13 year old, orphaned girl named Mabeth Armitage. Ann was working as a Cotton Piecer, presumably in a local mill.
In 1900, she married Charles William Older, a stoker from Golcar at St. James' Church, Slaithwaite. Together they settled in Honley and in 1915 their daughter Muriel was born.
In 1958, at the age of 81, Ann died on Hall Ing Lane, Honley.
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I think the suggestion that she was related to Ellen Beever isn't true. Ellen's relatives were the similarly-named Ann Sykes (niece) and Annie Maria Sykes (niece-in-law), both of whom were also WSPU branch members. Ann Alice's ancestors were from Slaithwaite whereas the Sykes' who were related to Ellen were from Holmfirth -- there may be a common Sykes ancestor going back several generations, but I wasn't able to find one.
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