A Stevenston community group held a double celebration commemorating its one-year anniversary and the centenary of the Suffragette movement.

Raise Your Voice Ardeer, which is part of Centrestage on the Road, has enjoyed a successful first year.

The group’s Musical Memory Lane session has proved popular with the public and has resulted in the release of a CD.

Last week’s Ladies Day, in the Ardeer Centre, celebrated the group’s first birthday as well as 100 years of the Suffragettes.

The afternoon of music, dancing and food was enjoyed by local families, Centrestage staff and elected members.

Allison McGookin, from Raise your Voice Ardeer, said: “To honour the

Suffragette movement and to recognise the centenary of some women getting the vote, we named all the tables with names of Suffragettes.

“Everyone also sang the song ‘I am Standing on the Shoulders of the Ones Who Came Before us’ by Joyce Johnson Rouse, a song written in 1995 to honour all the women, mothers, friends, saints and courageous women who have made a difference and carried us this far.

“We were also joined by Beautiful Inside and Out, a charity we love to support in any way we can.

“There was a buffet supplied by the Melbourne Cafe which was amazing. There was not a crumb left. Also, since it was Raise Your Voice Ardeer’s first birthday, we had cupcakes for everyone too.”