Today a gathering of grannies and younger women, together with male supporters and an assortment of children, successfully blockaded the main gates at USAF Fairford.

Initially the police were reluctant to arrest any of the protesters. In fact: “We are here to make sure you are able to exercise your democratic right to peaceful protest” one officer said. But, after orders came through from the American base commander that arrests were expected, two women were picked out of the crowd at random, arrested, and taken to Cirencester. They were later released without charge.

Despite the base commander having previously agreed to accept letters which detailed the women’s condemnation of the forthcoming attack on Iraq, the letters presented were then refused.

The overall feeling of the blockade was of quiet dignity. Some of the women sang Greenham songs, while blue trucks - full of teenage American soldiers - were turned away from the main gate. The women also blockaded gate no. 7, where the bombs are to be brought from the weapons’ store across the road and loaded onto the B52s.

At the peace camp afterwards there was a meeting of around 40 people, where the plans for next Saturday’s National Demonstration (March 22nd) were discussed. With all welcome (not just women) this is expected to be a peaceful blockade of the base with flowers and wreaths to commemorate and express outrage at this utterly preventable human tragedy. Police expect around 10 to 15 thousand people protesting on the day.