THE third annual Matchwomen’s Festival saw hundreds flock to Canning Town to celebrate the legacy of the 1888 Bryant and May match factory strike.

The all-day open-air extravaganza founded by feminist historian and author Louise Raw took place a stone’s throw from the matchwomen’s original East End stomping ground in Bow.

Ms Raw opened proceedings by highlighting the courage and character of the matchwomen and the formative role the great 1888 strike played in the history of our labour movement.

Feminist journalist Caroline Criado-Perez introduced her new book Do It Like a Woman and discussed the threats of rape and murder she received for campaigning to get a woman depicted on a British banknote.

Many of the threats of sexual violence she was bombarded with online focused around her mouth and throat, she noted — indicating that an obsession with silencing women’s voices lay at the heart of the terrifying abuse.

And such vile threats were not the preserve of teenage loners, she warned — pointing out that some of those trolling her were married men with families and that one had a baby girl.

That was in the first of many sessions featuring a stellar cast of feminist campaigners, trade unionists, poets, musicians and even Morning Star sports editor Kadeem Simmonds, who analysed media coverage of the Ched Evans rape case.

Other speakers included spoken-word artist Siana Bangura on black feminism, TUC women’s equalities officer Scarlet Harris on women in the labour movement, the NUT’s Ruth Serwotka speaking on the impact of austerity on women and many more.

The first ever live performance of popular blog The Week in Sexist News had the audience in tears of laughter.

Guests arrived with families in tow and most made a day out of it, with stalls selling food, cold drinks and even spa experiences. Free Morning Stars were also distributed courtesy of GMB London region.

The night was wound up with spoken-word poetry from Shagufta Iqbal, Janine Butcher and Tim Wells and live music from Maddy Carty, Steve White and the Protest Family and Thee Faction.

• Next year’s Matchwomen’s Festival will take place on July 2 2016.