A BOOKLET celebrating the remarkable women that Devon has supported will be one of the highlights of nearly a month of events to celebrate International Women s Day in Devon.

A BOOKLET celebrating the remarkable women that Devon has supported will be one of the highlights of nearly a month of events to celebrate International Women's Day in Devon.

Women featured include 18th century botanist Amelia Griffiths, linguist Mary Ann Burgess from Honiton, and 'blogger' Lynne Hatwell.

The publication has been funded by Devon County Council and compiled by its Heritage Outreach Officer Katherine Weston. It has been created in celebration of International Women's Day and features just a few of the many women from the county that have inspirational stories to tell.

Devon County Council is also supporting the celebrations by hosting a conference focusing on the changing role of women in society.

International Women's Day has been celebrated since the early 1900s. Women's organisations and governments around the world now observe this event annually on March 8th. In some countries International Women's Day is now an official holiday. Thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements.

Events in Devon include a march, a concert, the publication of a new booklet on remarkable women in the county, and other exhibitions.

Executive Member for Culture, Cllr Sheila Hobden, said: "All these activities celebrate women's advancement whilst reminding people of the difficulties faced by women in the past and the issues that women still face today.

"The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and shift in attitude in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that women have now achieved a fairer place in society, while many feminists from the 1970s believe that women still face barriers and much still needs to be changed. However, great improvements have been made and so the tone and nature of International Women's Day has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives."

Inspirational Women of Devon booklet.

This booklet supports the events happening throughout March and features just a few of the many women, both historical and modern from the county that have inspirational stories to tell. Contributors include: The Bill Douglas Centre, Torquay Natural History Society, the Devon Record Office, Dr Todd Gray, members of the Women's Outreach Project - run by the Exeter Refugee Support Group, plus many more.

Available from St Stephen's Church, the Devon Record Office, Exeter Phoenix and other partners. Also available online from March, visit: www.devon.gov.uk/record_office.htm

Tuesday 24th February - Sunday 22nd March

Sewing for Peace Exhibition / Exeter Phoenix Walkway Gallery.

The Sewing for Peace Exhibition will tour:

* Exeter University (April/May)

* The Devon Record Office, Exeter (July/August)

* County Hall, Exeter (dates tbc).

Monday 2nd- Friday 27th March. St Stephen's Church, High Street, Exeter

'Remarkable Women of Devon' Exhibition

A look at remarkable historical women featured in Todd Gray's new book and from the archives at the Devon Record Office.

Sunday 8th March

International Women's Day Events throughout the day at Exeter Phoenix:

10am-10pm Phonic FM will be hosting a special day for focusing on International Women's Day. 106.8fm

11.45am Devon Women United for Peace

"Walk for Peace"

Meet in Bedford St, Exeter for a walk down Exeter High Street to Exeter Pheonix.

1pm-4pm Celebrations at Exeter Phoenix

Exeter Phoenix Auditorium

Stalls, children's activities, performance, music, refreshments, and much more including:

The Peace Tree

People are invited to write about their own inspirational woman and write messages or poems for peace on cardboard leaves to hang from the tree. Supported by writers, including Natalie McGrath. Add your inspirational women to our International Women's Day tree, which will travel on with the Sewing for Peace exhibition!

8pm Exeter Women's Aid Benefit Concert

Exeter Phoenix Auditorium �6 (�5) / standing.

Featuring the best of the region's female music artists, including Nuala & The Alchemy Quartet, Jackie Oates, Rebecca Worthley, Hollie Rogers, Rosa Rebecka and Laura Dugmore. Tickets available from Exeter Phoenix Box Office or online: www.exeterboxoffice.com

Monday 9th March, 9.30am - 1pm

Women in Devon, Power and Politics Conference

Coaver Conference Facilities, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter.

A Devon County Council sponsored conference to mark International Women's Day.

Join Julia Neville for this exciting conference, celebrating the changing roles of women in society. Followed by a lively debate entitled 'Women in Power and Politics.'

9.30am: Arrival and light refreshments

10.00am: Talk: Remarkable Women of Devon by Dr Todd Gray

10:45am: Break

11:00am: Keynote speaker Julia Neville

11.15am: Panel and audience debate: Women in Power and Politics

1pm: Close

To secure a place, please contact Katherine Weston, Heritage Outreach Officer, Devon County Council

Email: katherine.weston@devon.gov Tel: 01392 384253

Thursday 12th March, 7.30pm-8.30pm. St Stephen's Church, High Street, Exeter

'So oft to the movies they've been...' Voices from a Popular Past: tracing a heritage of women's cinema culture.

Talk by Phd student Lisa Stead.

Join Lisa Stead for a lively talk about how everyday women experienced popular culture in the 1920s through her cinematic research at the Bill Douglas Centre at the University of Exeter.

Thursday 19th March, 7.30pm-8.30pm. St Stephen's Church, High Street, Exeter.

'Remarkable Women of Devon'. Talk by local Historian Dr Todd Gray.

Join Dr Todd Gray for a fascinating insight into the lives of historical women from Devon. Discover their unrecognised achievements to Devon's society.

To book your free place on either talk, please contact Katherine Weston, Heritage Outreach Officer, Devon County Council.

Email: katherine.weston@devon.gov.uk Tel: 01392 384253