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The Women's Library
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Zohl de' Ishtar interviewed by Vanessa Pini

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Zohl.
Irish-Australian Lesbian, Zohl de' Ishtar has worked with Indigenous Australian and Pacific women for 40 years. While at Greenham, she initiated Britainas aWomen for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacifica. Zohl arrived at Greenham on her 30th birthday in 1982 and describes Green Gate as, 'The best place in the world.' She talks about the camp being infiltrated by police officers and the media, links with other peace camps around the world, including Pine Gap in Australia and getting arrested at Heathrow airport for forming a blockade and singing Greenham songs. She also recalls 'the zap' and the effects it had. Zohl has written several books and is currently working on a new book with the working title 'Greenham's Pacific Journey'.
Zohl was interviewed by Vanessa Pini in September 2020.

Women's Resource Centre

  • UKLSE-AS1SD01
  • Collection
  • 2019-2020

This collection includes the born-digital records of The Women's Resource Centre (WRC). The first series consists of material relating to 'Sisters Doing it for Themselves', a project run by WRC to mark the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM) in 2020.

Women's Resource Centre (WRC)

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, British Section (WILPF)

  • UKLSE-AS1WF01
  • Collection
  • 2013-2015

The collection includes the born-digital records of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, British Section (WILPF).

The first series of records consists of oral histories recorded as part of a project called 'These Dangerous Women', to mark the 100th anniversary of WILPF.

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)

Wendy Moorhouse Johns interviewed by Kitty Gurnos Davies

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Wendy Moorhouse Johns was based in Leamington Spa during the height of the peace movement. She organised a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) group through Spare Rib magazine and they visited Greenham Common together.
In her interview, she touches on class relations to protest and the different challenges faced by women from different socio-economic backgrounds.
Wendy has a passion and talent for music and she discusses the relationship between folk music and the peace movement, including her project undertaken as part of a degree at the Ruskin School of Art. She tells us about meeting Peggy Seeger in Oxford and singing together on stage.
Wendy talks widely about women's history, family, and experiences in relation to protest and activism.
Wendy was interviewed by Kitty Gurnos Davies in 2019.

Voz Faragher interviewed by Elaine Ruth White

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Voz.
Being an activist means becoming troublesome, defying authority and facing both the fears and consequences of taking action. Listen to Voz Faragher relate her experiences of staring the police in the face; hear her describe how it felt to be manhandled, to face the courts and spend the night in jail. But more than that, listen to her tell just how the support and energy of women united strengthened her courage and inspired her to become a lifelong advocate for the vulnerable and oppressed.
Voz was interviewed by Elaine Ruth White in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Vicki Smith interviewed by Josephine Liptrott

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Vicki.
Vicki first heard about Greenham when studying at Southampton University. She was fascinated by the idea that it was a women-only space and protest.
She initially went as a weekend visitor and later lived there full-time at Blue Gate, staying for about two years.
She broke into the air base three times, on one occasion getting onto the silos and on another running between the shelves of the on-site commissary. Cutting a huge hole in the fence and driving her car onto the runway resulted in a criminal damage conviction.
Vicky was a founder member of Cruisewatch, a group which aimed to monitor and disrupt military manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain. She remembers hostility from the local residents, regular evictions and too many lentils, but also describes a genuinely inclusive and nurturing women-only space where everyone was valued and heard.
Vicki was interviewed by Josephine Liptrott in London in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

'These Dangerous Women' Oral History Project

The series contains the recordings of interviews of 8 members of WILPF and related documents. The interviews were conducted between 2013 and 2015, as part of a part of the 'These Dangerous Women' community heritage project to mark the centenary of the formation of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Funded by the National Lottery Heritage and run by Clapham Film Unit and WILPF, the project's aims were to celebrate and commemorate the women who tried to stop World War I and founded the organisation. For more information, visit the WILPF UK website and watch the film produced as part of the project.

Tanya Myers interviewed by Alice Robinson

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Tanya.
Tanya is based in Nottingham and has been a theatre maker since her early twenties. At that age she also arrived at Greenham, already a politically minded person. She came to mostly spend her time at Green Gate in the forest, and at the 'London House' in Petherton Road, a sort of halfway house run by Greenham Women, with no heating or electricity. She spent time at Greenham as a pregnant woman and with an infant, and she speaks about what this meant to her. Tanya also speaks with great passion and detail about the creativity and spiritual experience of the actions, including the raising of the dragon, and keening. She focusses on her particular story, while reflecting on the wider consciousness of the group of women, and the shedding and sharing of values.
Tanya was interviewed by Alice Robinson in 2019.

Tamsin Clayton interviewed by Sarah Learmonth

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Tamsin answered a call for women to go to Greenham Peace Camp. She arrived in 1983 with her 2-year-old daughter and although she started at Blue Gate, she and others with children decided to re-establish Red Gate. Tamsin talks about how she went to Greenham to save herself, to discover her people and how amazing it felt to be able to be herself and discuss any issues without being judged. Tamsin's story is one of great personal discovery, a legacy that she has taken into the rest of her life: 'I went to Greenham and I wasn't mad anymore, I was normal'.
Tamsin was interviewed by Sarah Learmonth in 2019.

Suzanne Novak interviewed by Josephine Liptrott

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Suzanne has enjoyed a long and successful career in the NHS. She did not live full-time at the Greenham Common peace camp but was a regular visitor, occasionally staying overnight, in the early-mid 1980s. She first visited the camp for Embrace the Base and returned numerous times in the years that followed, often accompanied by one or both of her sisters. Suzanne's first daughter, Scarlett, was born in September 1984 at the South London Hospital at which Greenham women were frequent visitors to join the occupation protesting the hospital's closure. Suzanne felt that her role at Greenham Common was to provide morale and support to the women there by swelling their ranks when needed and demonstrating that their views were shared by others outside the camp. She was also part of a wider network connecting the women of Greenham to other actions and campaigns taking place around the country.
Suzanne was interviewed by Josephine Liptrott in 2019.

Sue Say (Agege) interviewed by Isabelle Tracy

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sue.
On Sueas first evening at Greenham she heard a woman talking to a soldier on the other side of the fence. It was that powerful conversation that kept her at Greenham, protesting nuclear missiles but also exploring the multitudes of different ways to be a woman by meeting and talking to amany shades of womena. Sue went to prison many times, took the government to court for illegal strip-searches and won, changing the law in the process. She talks about the radical potential of laughter and creativity, the unconventional methods she and others used to draw attention to issues and the strength in unity at Yellow Gate.
Sue was interviewed by Isabelle Tracy in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Sue Lent interviewed by Nicky Arkioglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sue.
Sue participated in the 120 mile 1981 Women for Life on Earth walk from Cardiff to Greenham with her infant son. Returning to Wales, she remained committed to the cause, visiting Greenham whenever possible. She remembers the enormous sacrifices women made to be there and believes it was a good time to be a feminist. The fact that so many Greenham women with children were participating signalled for her that it was OK to be both a feminist and a mother. She witnessed many older women, born in the very early twentieth century, who previously had little opportunity to voice their political opinions, do so at Greenham, a critical point in their development as women.
Sue was interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Students of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School interview Sister Naana

This file includes two video recordings of Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE from FORWARD interviewed by students of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, London. One of the videos is the full length interview, the other is an edited version. The interview was conducted remotely and recorded via a video conferencing platform.
Date of interview: 01/03/2021
Length of recordings: 00:39:40 and 00:04:02

Students of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School interview Sister Joyce

This file includes two video recordings of Joyce Kallevik from WISH interviewed by students of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, London. One of the videos is the full length interview, the other is an edited version. The interview was conducted remotely and recorded via a video conferencing platform.
Date of interview: 04/03/2021
Length of recordings: 00:46:52 and 00:04:53

Sisters Doing It For Themselves

This collection includes the recordings of 16 interviews carried out to mark the 50th anniversary of Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM) in 2020. For the occasion, the Women's Resource Centre (WRC) ran a project called 'Sisters Doing It For Themselves', funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to create a unique oral history archive documenting the testimonies of current and past leaders.

The Women’s Voluntary and Community Sector (WVCS) grew out of the Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM). The contribution of the WVCS in advancing women’s rights is largely undocumented. Many of the women who were involved in setting up women’s organisations and campaigning for change are now in their late 50s and 60s. Their struggles and achievements have remained largely invisible.

This archive illustrates the impact that the WVCS has had on the structural position of women, through campaigning and influencing. The archive will also provide insight into the impact on the lives of the women themselves as drivers of the movement.

The following women have been interviewed:
Rosalind Bragg - Maternity Action
Lee Eggleston OBE & Sheila Coates MBE - Rape Crisis
Sarbjit Ganger - Asian Women's Resource Centre
Esuantsiwa Jane Goldsmith - Healing Solidarity International Feminist Collective
Carolina Gottardo - Latin American Women's Rights
Vivienne Hayes MBE - Women's Resource Centre
Joyce Kallevik - WISH
Ranjit Kaur - Activist & Campaigner
Professor Liz Kelly - Child and Woman Abuse Studies, LMU
Marai Larasi MBE
Naana Otoo-Oyortey MBE - FORWARD
Pragna Patel - Southall Black Sisters
Mary-Ann Stephenson - Women's Budget Group
Dr Akima Thomas OBE - Women and Girls Network

The portraits of interviewees that accompany the interview recordings were taken by photographer Oluwatosin Wasi Daniju.

For more information, explore the project page.

Sian Jones interviewed by Jill Raymond (Ray)

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sian.
Sian was living in Southampton when GCWPC began. Orange Gate, on the south side of the common, was the nearest for Southampton activists who were regulars at camp and beyond. Sian's initial involvement included night watch, hot food runs and cruise watch. She enjoyed being on the land with women and the elements and even went to sea with the women's boat action group.
She also talks about how the network of Greenham Women grew over the years and the development of other anti-war and international groups like WATFY (Women's Aid To Former Yugoslavia) and Women in Black.
In this photo, Sian is staring at the muncher during an eviction at Orange Gate.
Sian was interviewed by Jill Raymond (Ray) in February 2021.

Sheila Thornton, Barbara Blower and Mockie Harrison interviewed by June Hughes

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sheila and one of Sheila, Barbara and Mockie.
June Hughes met Sheila with her sister Barbara Blower and their close friend Mockie Harrison. None of them stayed for a long time but visited regularly for short visits. They helped with supplying food for the camp in a fairly well organised way with loosely arranged rotas for cooking and delivery the food.
They often took their children with them, staying mostly at Red Gate. They kindly sang some of the Greenham songs on the recording.
They were interviewed by June Hughes in Milton Keynes in 2019.
They were photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Sheila Eschle interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Sheila was already an active member of a Peace Group and decided to join Greenham because of the development of weapons of mass destruction. 'There is so much in this world to love and cherish: and I wanted my name to be there to say I stood up and said NO I don't want nuclear weapons'. She used to go with her friend Janet for 2 weeks at a time and camp in the woods, sometimes taking her 2 daughters with her, and organising coach trips to Greenham. On her first visit she was shocked by the sight of the huge fences. She and Janet felt very strongly about not getting into trouble as they had to get back to look out for the future of their children. Sheila's daughter, Catherine, was influenced and inspired by her mother and Greenham to take up a career in International Relations from a Feminine Perspective. In one of the demonstrations items from home were pinned to the fence, Sheila pinned pictures of the family. It was a tremendous feeling of female solidarity.
Sheila was interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton in 2019.

Sarah Green interviewed by Josephine Liptrott

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sarah.
Sarah is an environmental campaigner who has been involved in protesting the devastating damage caused to the London wetland areas by HS2. She was already involved in a women's peace group when, attending a rally at Hyde Park in 1981, she heard about Greenham Common and decided to give up her job to live there. She resided at the camp for around five years, based at the main gate which became known as Yellow Gate. She describes an incident during which local vigilantes pulled up in a van to spray the women with offal and discusses the microwave 'zapping' of the protesters during which she feared for her safety. Like other women, Sarah was arrested and imprisoned due to her involvement in non-violent direct action but she had a unique experience of being at Greenham as she gave birth to her son there!
Sarah was interviewed by Josephine Liptrott in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Sally Hay interviewed by Leslie Lyle

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Sally.
'I went to sleep last night pondering whether we made a difference. As I said yesterday, it's my belief that language is critical in making attitudinal changes. The challenges to the standard discourse that the Greenham Women made were like little prods on the wheel of a giant ship. Gradually the ship turns and then it carries on turning and eventually a noticeable change of direction has taken place. We did that. I played a tiny part in that, something of which I am proud. So, thank you all for giving me the opportunity to remember.'
Sally was interviewed by Leslie Lyle in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Ruth Nichol interviewed by Sara Sherwood

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
In this expansive and generous interview, Ruth discusses travelling to Greenham with her friend Sarah Green in 1981/2 and stayed at Yellow Gate, finding solidarity and comfort in the women's peace movement in Sheffield, the acrobatic workshops she led at camp so women could take part in creative actions, how her interests (spirituality, in particular) developed at Greenham and the deep friendships at the camp which she formed. Ruth also recounts the thinking behind forming Green Gate in the early years of Greenham.
Ruth was interviewed by Sara Sherwood in 2019.

Rosy Bremer interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Rosy arrived at Greenham in 1989 visiting frequently until living permanently at Yellow Gate between 1993-1997. The INF Treaty had been signed and the Cruise missiles were being removed, public and media interest in the nuclear threat had diminished. However, Rosie participated in multiple NVDA's, including those at Aldermaston and Burghfield. She believes it was the low-level, constant, daily disruption to the military that effected the removal of the cruise missiles and return of the common land to the people. Greenham, she thinks, was a model for women to speak out on major political issues. Imprisoned thirteen times, including for actions against the later war in Iraq, Rosy's unshakeable belief is that individuals, united in the face of injustice or mis-use of state authority can fight back and win.
She was interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.

Rosalind Clark interviewed by Sarah Learmonth

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Arriving at Greenham with her 4 year old daughter at 27 years old, Ros soon gravitated to Green Gate. Her memories are about the unity of singing and artistic expression, the quietly powerful strength of women together and the challenge of constantly questioning yourself, whether you wanted to or not. Having met so many women who had been abused in various ways by the men in their lives, Ros went on to qualify as a counsellor. For Ros, the legacy of Greenham was the strong sense of female empowerment and support.
Ros was interviewed by Sarah Learmonth in 2019.

Pixie Taylor interviewed by Vanessa Pini

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Pixie.
Pixie spent two periods of her life at Greenham. Firstly, when she was 18, she went down on an overnight coach from Dundee and lived at Green Gate from 1985-86. She returned for the 10th birthday in 1991 and lived at Blue Gate until January 1994. She talks about the differences in the eras, evictions and bailiffs, women only spaces, learning to value her body and her time in Holloway. She recalls doing doughnuts in a borrowed car in the base during the American leaving ceremony and reads from a Greenham newsletter documenting leaving Blue Gate. Pixie speaks about how ludicrous it was to have nuclear weapons being driven around the country and how Greenham wouldn't have survived without humour and laughter. She also remembers writing to Greenham at school on Dennis the Menace paper and getting a reply!
Pixie was interviewed by Vanessa Pini in January 2021.

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