Florence Tunks facts for kids
Florence Olivia Tunks (born July 19, 1891 – died February 22, 1985) was a brave suffragette who fought for women's right to vote. She was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), a group that worked hard to get women the right to vote in the United Kingdom. In 1914, she took part in protests in Suffolk to draw attention to their cause.
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Early Life and Family
Florence Tunks was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, in 1891. She was the oldest of four daughters. Her father, Gilbert Samuel Tunks, was an engineer. Her mother was Elizabeth Ann Hall.
From about 1894 to 1911, Florence's family lived in Cardiff, Wales. Her father ran a business called Tunks and Co., which focused on mechanical and electrical engineering. The 1911 Census shows Florence Tunks working as a bookkeeper. She continued this job while living with her parents and sisters in Highgate, London.
Fighting for Women's Votes
Around 1914, Florence Tunks joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This group was known for its strong actions to get women the right to vote. Members of the WSPU were called suffragettes.
In April 1914, Florence Tunks and another suffragette, Hilda Burkitt, took part in a protest campaign. As part of the fight for women's suffrage, they caused damage to several buildings. They burned down two wheat stacks at Bucklesham Farm, which were worth £340. They also damaged the Pavilion at the Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth and the Bath Hotel in Felixstowe. The damage to the hotel was about £35,000. No one was inside the Pavilion or the hotel during these events.
When they appeared in court, Florence and Hilda refused to answer questions. They sat on a table and chatted, turning their backs to the magistrates. For her actions, Florence Tunks was sentenced to nine months in Holloway Prison.
Life After Prison
After her time in prison, Florence Tunks decided to study nursing. She trained at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary in Derby from 1915 to 1918. She officially became a qualified nurse in London in 1923.
In 1946, nursing records show her living with her widowed mother at their family home in Highgate. Her parents are buried together in Highgate Cemetery. Florence Tunks never married. She passed away in a nursing home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, in 1985. She was 93 years old.
Remembering Her Actions
In 2014, The Felixstowe Society put up a plaque to remember the protest at the Bath Hotel in Felixstowe. The plaque marks 100 years since the event. It is placed on what is left of the building, at the site of the former Bartlet Hospital. The plaque honors the actions of both Hilda Burkitt and Florence Tunks.
See also
In Spanish: Florence Tunks para niños
