This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording. Anni was 19 when she went to the Embrace the Base demonstration at Greenham and decided to stay at the camp, moving into Green Gate. She was there the day the missiles arrived and talks about feelings of powerlessness at the escalation of the arms race and the importance of taking action, belonging and acceptance she got from the camp. Anni now runs women's choirs saying that singing with other women feels like 'coming home'. Anni was interviewed by Isabelle Tracy in 2019.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Annie. Annie went to drama college then travelled for a while with her girlfriend. In 1984 they decided to visit Greenham for a night and she remembers the police unzipping their tent and saying 'Weare coming in to rape you'. After that comment Annie felt she awanted to do something so she came back to Greenham with her girlfriend and stayed at Blue Gate. Annie is bursting with anecdotes about actions, big and small, how painful it was sometimes to be non-violent in the face of a frustrated and angry police and military, the experience of court, prison and day to day camp life. Annie was interviewed by Rebecca Mordan in 2019. She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Armorel. Solidarity brought Armorel to Greenham, being in awe of the women at the camp and wanting to support them. She had been an avid CND member on the front line of activism, originally being politicised by the Cuban missile crisis, but said Greenham was like taking on a new world. She laments at how much irresponsibility there was in the world and remembers being overcome by the messages and emblems on the fence creating a type of art installation when she brought food and Embraced the Base. Armorel has always been a musician and singer. With her band 'The children', she recorded the song 'The Base' and other political songs. Armorel was interviewed by Vanessa Pini in March 2021. The photograph was supplied by Armorel.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording. Atalanta was born in Singapore to an army family, growing up in a sexist environment, living in Germany and several places in the UK. She dropped out of school and university and worked at a political bookshop where she got involved in political activism. She went to Greenham with a school friend, initially to Green Gate in December 1984, then to Blue Gate after the winter. She speaks of taking down sections of the fence and mass trespasses, breaking into an American vehicle depo, and being terrified at seeing the imposing convoy in the middle of the night. She remembers aggression from locals in Newbury, especially at Blue Gate by the road, but also of the kindness from the Quaker meeting house, the Empire cafe and local health food shop. She was arrested a few times and spent a short time in Holloway prison, where she remembers several women who were in there for economic reasons and the guilt she felt at having to leave them behind. Atalanta was interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Avryl and Tembre. Avryl, her mum Marlene, her daughter Tembre, her sister, niece, neighbour's kids and friends all travelled to Embrace the Base from Dorset after hearing about Greenham through a women's consciousness raising group and CND. Avryl remembers Greenham being very welcoming, feeling at home and safe sitting drinking tea and chatting to women. She talks about the huge lesbian community which Avryl became part of, finding safety with women that she couldn't find anywhere else. She recalls putting ribbon and children's toys on the fence, the holding of hands and the power that came from that. The community of women Tembre grew up with had a powerful impression on her. She is now a circle song leader; gathering women to sing, and feels she must have absorbed Embrace the Base as a child. Avryl reads some of her mother Marlene's poems about Greenham which feature in her book of poems and writings. The interview ends with Tembre singing a beautiful rendition of one of her grandma's poems, who she says found her tribe at Greenham. Avryl and Tembre were interviewed by Vanessa Pini in March 2021.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording. Barbara Hughes spent most of her time at Orange Gate, which she describes as the international gate where you could meet 'women from all over the place' which she liked. It wasn't possible for her to live there as she had three young children, so she went down as often as possible for actions. She was first introduced to Greenham at a CND rally, when a group of women got up on the platform to speak about their plans for that original march from Cardiff to Greenham in 1981. Barbara speaks about her own creative actions back in Richmond with the 'Duck and Cover' company, the importance of carrying Greenham home, and her hopes for the future of feminism. Barbara was interviewed by Alice Robinson in January 2021.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Barbara. Barbara was easily persuaded to visit Greenham with a group of women from Hackney after an upbringing by politicised parents. Her black father and white mother had taken her to see concentration camps in Europe where she learnt the danger of power with no responsibility. She recalls going on demonstrations with her family and experiencing discrimination due to race and class, including police brutality and dishonesty. She also talks about her decision to take her daughter, Ellen, on demonstrations, the strength of having women's protests and the importance of women having status. Barbara found Greenham to be a peaceful and friendly place where she felt safe. Barbara was interviewed by Vanessa Pini in February 2021.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording. Becky and her friend Helen were reunited through the Greenham Women Everywhere Project. They met at Green Gate in 1983. They talked about it being bleak, grim and hardcore but felt that the trees in the wood softened the harshness of the environment. They would often find rabbit intestines in their beds. Becky lived at Green Gate for 8 months and her key responsibility was night watch and keeping the fires burning. The pair speak of the constant and brutal evictions, how they were deprived of sleep and stripped of their warm sweaters, but they were inspired by the solidarity of women. They were interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton in 2019.
