This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Becky. Having been involved in her local CND group, Becky first went to Greenham Common for the Embrace the Base action when she was seventeen years old. She describes arriving by coach at the main gate and being overwhelmed by the sight of hundreds of women gathered together, knowing it was where she had to be. She moved to Greenham soon after and lived there full-time for over two years at Yellow Gate. She also lived briefly at the The Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice in Senaca, New York, having visited as part of a Greenham women's solidarity trip. She took part in various actions, breaking into the base to dance on missile silos or have a teddy bears' tea party on the day of her 18th birthday. Becky was arrested several times for her part in such actions and served time in prison. She describes feeling very lucky to have been at Greenham, surrounded by strong, political women. Becky was interviewed by Jo Liptrott in London 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. Betty was very involved in the peace movement and anti-nuclear occupations before going to Greenham in 1981. She recalls the process of the camp becoming women only and how protestors learnt the art of Non-Violent Direct Action. She speaks of the power of carrying Greenham home as thousands of women refused to stay in the kitchen, instead, going to university and doing things they wouldn't have dreamt of doing before. Betty was interviewed by Rebecca Mordan in 2019.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Bridget. Bridget and Sue are the epitome of 'Carry Greenham Home'. They visited the camp many, many times, never staying long but bringing the ethos of non-violent direct action back to their local protests. They were part of a contingent of women chosen to go to the US during the legal action against Reagan and they spoke 'from the heart' at many meetings. They talk fluently, passionately and emotionally about Greenham; singing, actions, prison, the good and bad of the police and authorities, the power of love and creativity and their continued hope for a better future for us all. Bridget and Sue were interviewed by Rebecca Morden in 2019. Bridget 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 Carole. Carole first went to Greenham in protest against the rainbow bomb in 1961/62 after coming out of care at the age of 16. She got arrested and spent a week in Holloway Prison alongside Helen Allegranza and Pat Arrowsmith. Years later, she returned on Christmas Eve, 1982 and talks about the guilt she felt for leaving her kids and mum. She recalls breaking into the base and dancing on the silos on New Year's Day, the incredible barrister Liz Woodcraft representing them in court, hitting her head in the riot van and getting concussed and her second stint in Holloway Prison. Carole also talks about going to a summit in Geneva with Welsh women to protest and give talks. They were deported after covering a public clock with the alternative time of '5 minutes to Midnight', graffitiing over a picture of naked woman on the wall of the police station and being choked by a police officer when caught. She feels it is important for Greenham to be remembered, as you can re-direct the traffic literally and metaphorically if you know people have done it before. Carole had a poem published in 'No Holds Barred', a collection of poems by women, chosen by The Raving Beauties. Carole was interviewed by Vanessa Pini in April 2021.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording. Although most well known for their work during the Miners' Strike and Women Against Pit Closures, Caroline Poland, Anne Scargill and Betty Cook discuss how the actions of the women at Greenham Common influenced their own activism and protest strategy, their memories of visiting the camp and the long-lasted alliances they forged with the Greenham women during the 1980s. They were interviewed by Sara Sherwood in Barnsley in 2019.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording. 'Peace Woman refuses to pay fine, birthday in custody. Southampton Peace Woman, spent her 21st birthday in police custody at the start of a 7 day prison sentence for refusing to pay fines imposed after she took part in a blockade at Greenham Common.' Carolyn Barnes shares the story behind the newspaper headline in the Southampton Daily Echo. She became involved with Greenham after moving from Bolton to attend Southampton University. She joined various groups including CND, 3rd World First and a local group 'Families Against the Bomb'. Her friend, Di McDonald, used to take a group of them to Greenham for demonstrations in her campervan. Carolyn talks about being new to politics when first staying at Blue Gate, the cruise missiles being brought in, the excitement of a women-only space, treatment by the police, prison, poetry and impact on her family. She also recalls people not expecting women to stick up for each other and the different ways in which women reacted to the balance of power. Carolyn describes Greenham as earthy, real, natural and primal. Carolyn was interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton in February 2021.
This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Carolyn. Carolyn was at Green Gate from Summer 1984. After leaving college she moved into Greenham's London base and from there went to Greenham where she lived in a hollowed out holly tree. Her sister, Sally and her Mum also protested at the base. Although Carolyn never went to prison, she supported those charged at their court appearances and talks about the ways in which Greenham women subverted the court system. Carolyn became a Buddhist at Greenham and the personal impact of her time there changed the course of her life. Carolyn 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. Intrigued by the idea of a peaceful women only revolution, Cas decided to spend an afternoon at Yellow Gate and eventually lived at Blue Gate for two and a half years. She says Greenham was a transformative part of her life which allowed her to step out of one life into another. She talks about the challenge of balancing home and Greenham visits and the domestic conflict this caused. Her daughter at the age of ten visited the camp and loved it, especially being chased by a helicopter. Cas tells the story of the women at Blue Gate setting a record for how many arrests could be made until 12 midnight on New Year's Eve. She talks about the women using false names and 200 Nancy Reagans were arrested on that night along with herself as Doctor Norma Shearer. She said she mourned for the camp when she left and still does. 'My escape was the camp, being outside, the physical work, the sound of just women, their laughter and song.' Cas was interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton in February 2021.
