Marking 40 years since arrival of Greenham Peace Women

Marking the 40th anniversary of the Greenham Peace Women arriving at Greenham Common, Greenham Control Tower is running a programme of educational events and activities.

This significant historic event needs to be commemorated and explored. Having a profound impact on Britain’s Cold War history, The Greenham Peace Women 40th Anniversary is of local and national importance. This is part of our history which needs to be passed on 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.

Running into the autumn, Greenham Control Tower’s programme of events and activities will look to cover all perspectives of the Greenham Peace Protests. This will include creative workshops, music, drama, exhibition, discussions, and more. Featuring stories from military personnel, police, Newbury residents, and the Greenham Peace Women themselves.

Trustee for the charity that runs Greenham Control Tower Nigel Manley said: “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.”

There will be creative writing for adults, drama sessions for school students, family sculpture sessions in Victoria Park, and drawing workshops.

Exploring the impact and legacy of the Peace Women in Newbury and beyond, a weekend of events will take place over the anniversary weekend of 4th and 5th September. Greenham Control Tower will play host to musical performances, dramatisations, talks, discussions, and more. With unrivalled access to historic press reports and first-hand accounts of the events, we are aiming to provide a balanced view of events.

Programme of events:

August 11: Stepping up to the Wire: Writing and Drama Workshops for adults with Andy Kempe

Greenham Control Tower, 10am-1pm

August 21 - Family Sculpture Workshop with Jemima Brown

Various times in Victoria Park, in conjunction with Corn Exchange

September 9 - Drawing Towards Peace with Robert Fitzmaurice

The Base in conjunction with Corn Exchange

September 4 - November 28 – 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.

September 4 and 5 - 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. Activities will include:

• Living History re-enactment

• Talks and Panel discussions

• Music - the famous Peace Camp songs

• Newbury Knitters – 300 knitted hands to represent 30,000 people 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

September 30 & October 1 – Script in hand performance of ‘Bloody Wimmin’ by Lucy Kirkwood

Greenham Control Tower, 7.30 pm

Marching from Cardiff to Greenham Common Airbase in 1981, Greenham Peace Women went on to establish a camp at Greenham Common to nuclear weapons being placed at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire. The camp was active for 19 years and disbanded in 2000.

Greenham Control Tower is a registered charity run by volunteers. If you are interested in helping with activities at the tower, or with the café, you can find out more by emailing volunteers@greenhamtower.org.uk

For more information on the 40th Anniversary events organised by Greenham Control Tower, please contact info@greenhamtower.org.uk .