Singing in the rain…

Between 50 and 60 singers from choirs across UK braved torrential, continuous and prolonged rain and onslaughts of midges, to sing our opposition to trident at Faslane on Sunday.

After travelling up from Glasgow we gathered at the North gate clad in waterproofs and brandishing umbrellas and soggy songsheets (well done to all of those who have all the singing in the rain equipment fully sussed!). Banners on song themes included “Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin’ alive!” and “Stop in the name of love!” (thanks, James and Penny).

For the occasion we had all learned a wide repertoire of songs including “Ye’ll no sit here” (from the ’60s anti-Polaris demos), Holly Near’s “Gentle Angry People” and “Watch Out”, and Pat Humphries “Peace Salaam Shalom” (Lyrics and music can be found on the Protest in Harmony website.) We also held song workshops outside the gate, and learned new harmonies for songs we already knew.

Singers came from Euridyce Women’s Socialist Choir (Glasgow), Body of Sound (Sheffield), Protest in Harmony (Edinburgh), Leeds People’s Choir, Red Leicester, and Silsden Singers (West Yorkshire).

Energy was high, bodies were wet, but the songs kept coming.

The day culminated in a very moving mass sing of Hamish Henderson’s the “Freedom Come-All-Ye” blocking the road outside the gates. Six women remained sitting in the road singing, with powerful harmonious support from the rest, and continued to sing all the way to Clydebank police cells… and throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening (including wonderful classical arias from Penny). Singing resumed again about seven in the morning. The acoustics were excellent, and Shereen’s repertoire was still not exhausted by the time they were released at midday. The police said they enjoyed the singing and were thoroughly courteous throughout.

Meanwhile, back at Faslane, despite the poor planning which meant that all the song leaders were in the nick, six brave singers kept up the protest!

“It’s worth blockading even with only a few people. It was empowering and inspiring – I’d recommend it to anyone” said Helen Lyle, singer and leader of Body of Sound.