This year is the 40th anniversary of Greenham Peace Women arriving at Greenham Common. To mark this significant anniversary, Greenham Control Tower is running a programme of events and activities to explore all aspects of the story here in Newbury. This will include creative workshops, a full weekend of educational events, and an exhibition.
Greenham Control Tower’s programme will cover all perspectives of the Greenham Peace Protests. Featuring stories from military personnel and police who served during the period, Newbury residents, and the Greenham Peace Women themselves.
Holding a notable place within Britain’s Cold War history, The Greenham Peace Women 40th Anniversary is of both local and national importance. Marching from Cardiff to Greenham Common Airbase, the Greenham Peace Women went on to establish a protest camp at Greenham Common.
“Marking the 40th Anniversary of this historic event, we will be featuring memories from Newbury residents, military and police personnel, the protestors, and more. This is a fascinating piece of history for Greenham Common, the Control Tower, and the UK,” commented Nigel Manley, a Trustee for the charity that runs Greenham Control Tower.
A range of workshops has been organised throughout the summer and autumn. From creative writing for adults to drama sessions for school students, family sculpture sessions in Victoria Park in conjunction with the Corn Exchange, and a drawing workshop. The output from these summer workshops will be incorporated into the anniversary weekend events.
Over the weekend of 4th and 5th September, Greenham Control Tower will play host to musicians, dramatic representations, talks, and discussion, all exploring the impact and legacy of the Peace Women in Newbury and beyond. With unrivalled access to historic press reports and first-hand accounts of the events, we are aiming to provide a balanced view of events.
An exhibition will run at Greenham Control Tower between the beginning of September until the end of November that will make use of personal recollections, film footage as well memorabilia. We are especially keen to make sure that Newbury’s story of Greenham Peace Women is passed to younger generations. The themes of women’s empowerment, the campaign against nuclear weapons, and right to protest are still relevant today 40 years on.
We are grateful for funding support from Greenham Trust and other local funders that is allowing us to create this exciting and informative series of events.
Programme of events:
- 28th July and 11th August: Stepping up to the Wire : Writing and Drama Workshops for adults– Andy Kempe
- Greenham Control Tower, 10am – 1pm
- 21st August – Family Sculpture Workshop – Jemima Brown
- Various times in Victoria Park, in conjunction with Corn Exchange
- 9th September – Drawing Towards Peace – Robert Fitzmaurice
- The Base in conjunction with Corn Exchange
- 4th September – 28th November – Greenham Peace Women Anniversary Exhibition
- Greenham Control Tower.
- Featuring memorabilia, audio, and film footage from Greenham Peace Women, military and police personnel who served on the RAF Base during the protests, as well as from Newbury residents.
- 4th & 5th September – Anniversary Weekend
- The weekend will aim to entertain, inform, and spark debate on themes of peace and reconciliation, women’s empowerment, and non-violent protest. It will also explore the relationship between the peace women, the military, the police, and the local community.
- Living History re-enactment
- Talks and Panel discussions
- Music – the famous Peace Camp songs
- Newbury Knitters – 150 knitted hands to represent those people involved in ‘Embrace the Base’
- Newbury creative Stitchers – peace flags and activity (add your message to the Fence’)
- Welcoming a group who are following the route of the original march from Cardiff to Greenham Common
- Plus much more
- 30th September & 1st October – Script in hand performance of ‘Bloody Wimmin’ by Lucy Kirkwood
Greenham Control Tower, 7:30pm