YOUNG people have learnt about democracy’s past and present in a special event at Huddersfield Town Hall.
Pupils from local high schools took part in a debate on Monday with Kirklees councillors and actors portraying political figures from Huddersfield’s past.
One of the historical figures was Dora Thewlis – a teenage Huddersfield mill worker and Suffragette. Aged 16, she was arrested breaking into the Houses of Parliament, causing outrage at the time.
Conservative Richard Oastler, who led the movement for a ten-hour working day in mills, was also portrayed.
The actors were joined by real-life politicians Clr Julie Stewart-Turner, Clr Andrew Cooper, Clr John Smithson and Kirklees Mayor Clr Jean Calvert.
Around 80 children from Moor End, Rawthorpe and Newsome high schools took part in the debate, which was organised by Huddersfield South Area Committee and Kirklees Council’s Museums and Galleries.
Clr Stewart-Turner enjoyed the debate. She said: “It was great and the young people had lots of excellent questions, both about world events and local issues.”
