A blue plaque commemorating an Oldham suffragist has been unveiled alongside the blue plaque honouring her mother.

The plaque in honour of the pioneering suffragist Marjory Lees has been installed at her former home, which is now the Werneth Park Lifelong Learning Centre on Frederick Street.

On Saturday, September 9, councillors and members of the public gathered to see the unveiling of the plaque, next to that of her mother's, Dame Sarah Lees, the first woman Mayor of Oldham.

Marjory was born in 1878 in Oldham, following in her mother's footsteps, became active in local politics and the wider women’s suffrage movement.

The Oldham Times: Marjory's plaque sits at her former home, which is now the Werneth Park Lifelong Learning CentreMarjory's plaque sits at her former home, which is now the Werneth Park Lifelong Learning Centre (Image: Newsquest)

She campaigned for votes for women and took part in the Great Pilgrimage of 1913, travelling from Oldham to London, to join 50,000 suffragists and supporters of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) for a rally calling for votes for women.

Marjory became the president of the Oldham Women’s Suffrage Society and in 1919 she was elected to the council following her mother’s resignation from the same seat, serving on the local authority until she stepped down in 1934.

Marjory was one of the founders of the Beautiful Oldham Society, along with her mother and Mary Higgs.

She was also a school governor at Limeside School, which is now Oasis Academy Limeside.

In 1936 Marjory Lees gifted Werneth Park to the people of Oldham.

Marjory is also remembered by the Marjory Lees Dental Centre, a reference to her campaigning to improve the health of mothers and babies.

She died in 1970 at the age of 91.

Both Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah and Mayor of Oldham Cllr Zahid Chauhan were present to pull down the red cloth and reveal the blue plaque commemorating Marjory.

Speaking beforehand, Cllr Shah said the plaque for Marjory was "long overdue" and that she was "delighted" it was now installed.

Discussing both Marjory and Dame Sarah, she said: "These two women were pioneering women, they were fighting for women's rights.

"We should remember how much they did for Oldham."

The Oldham Times: Cllrs Zahid Chauhan and Arooj Shah unveiled the plaqueCllrs Zahid Chauhan and Arooj Shah unveiled the plaque (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Chauhan described Marjory as a "selfless woman" and said it was "such an honour" to unveil the plaque.

Cllr Shah thanked the councillors of the Werneth ward for organising and campaigning for the blue plaque.