Nottingham And Leicester Join Aldermaston Anniversary
Notts IMC | 28.03.2008 16:03 | Anti-militarism
At Easter 1958 the recently formed Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) organised a march from London to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment close to Aldermaston in Berkshire, England. On March 24 2008 CND marked the anniversary of this event by returning to the base. Protesters from around the country formed a four and half mile long human chain around the base, symbolically closing it.
A contingent from Nottingham and Leicester went along to participate in the protest. They joined protesters from the East of England at the "Boiler House" gate to express their opposition to the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system and call for nuclear disarmament.
Audio: Nottingham, Leicester and Lougborough Join Aldermaston Blockade - an audio piece
Photos: Aldermaston Anniversary
Newswire: Nottingham, Leicester and Lougborough Join Aldermaston Blockade - an audio piece | 50th Anniversary of founding of CND - event in the Market Square | The Bomb Stops Here: Surround the Base | Notts Indymedia Anti-militarism Topic Page
Links: Aldermaston 2008 | Aldermaston Women's Peace camp | CND | Nottingham CND | Leicester Mercury Coverage: 1 | 2
Among those travelling from the East Midlands were several campaigners who had been at the base in 1958. Also making the trip was Alice Beer who, at 95, is Leicester CND's oldest campaigner. Another Leicester CND member dressed as Thomas Cook (in a frock coat and top hat). While most famous for setting up the travel agency of the same name, Cook was also apparently an active campaigner in his native Leicester. Clowns from Nottingham kept the crowds amused and - crucially as the snows blew in - warm.
Building on the success of the Aldermaston protest, Leicester CND (contact details here) will be hosting peace campaigner Bruce Kent on Tuesday April 15th at the Friends meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP. The meeting at 7pm is entitled, "The Way Forward for Peace."
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