Greenham Peace Women Visit Hungerford on the 40th Anniversary of the March

In September 1981, a group of more than 30 people marched from Cardiff to Berkshire to protest US nuclear weapons being sited at Greenham Common. In 1982, the camp they had established became the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp, which remained until 2000.

On the 40th anniversary, the march was recreated to celebrate one of the longest and most famous examples of feminist protest in recent history. And as in 1981, they camped overnight in Hungerford on their way to Greenham.

On the afternoon of Friday 3 September 2021, the marchers arrived at The Croft Field to applause and singing. It had been a long hot walk from Marlborough but spirits were high and the relief that the penultimate day had been completed was tangible.
 
It was 40 years ago that the original marchers arrived in Hungerford and a small ceremony took place to commemorate both events and to thank the local community for their hospitality.  
 

Trish Whitham from Hungerford Environmental Action Team and Green District Councillor Steve Masters (above), along with longterm Hungerford resident Jane Buckle, welcomed the marchers and accepted their gift of a commemorative plaque.

There are plans to permanently display the plaque at the Hungerford Hub.

On Friday morning several women from across West Berkshire arrived by train in Hungerford to join the final day’s march to Greenham Common. 

Over 60 marchers completed the walk up to Greenham Common ahead of a weekend of celebrations and reflection at the Greenham Control Tower.

The weather gods were kind and numbers grew all day including the arrival of Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist Dr Rebecca Johnson from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

 

40th Anniversay Exhibition

 
The 40th Anniversay Greenham Peace Women exhibition: Both Sides of the Fence is at Greenham Control Tower until 28 November. For opening times please see here.
Penny Post
Author: Penny Post

Penny Post is a community notice board serving West Berkshire, Wantage, Swindon, Marlborough and surrounding areas so there

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