Southern Quakers’ protest, Friday 26th October

85 Quakers from the south of England protested, together with those of the Eastern Bloc not arrested the previous day. It rained all day. Despite their running colours, messages on banners and placards remained clear, eg Quaker Bomb Disposal Squad and Build Bridges not Bombs. The peace camp lent a gazebo and a water heater. So that very welcome tea, coffee and soup could be provided. .

things began slowly, with some singing and dancing. Then about eleven Quakers went and sat in the road in front of the main gate. They were rapidly arrested. Some walked, others had to be carried away. The next “action” was taken by three frail-looking elderly women. We heard they might be kept in custody until Monday, but the two 80-year-olds were not actually detained. Other quiet blockades followed.

Towards the end of the Quaker day of action, a fifteen-minute meeting for worship was held. The last action at North Gate came when five women sat down in the road, in front of a huge tanker. Police numbers now seemed somewhat depleted and none of the officers did anything for a while. Eventually the two women who were blocking the path of the tanker were arrested, but the others stayed put. Everyone sang. Then the police put high, blue screens around the blockaders to isolate them. Everyone sang louder. The atmosphere was charged. Then suddenly the women were walking away, free, apparently not arrested because there were no cells available!

At the South Gate several Quakers were arrested for refusing to stop circle dancing in the road. In all there were 25 arrests, one group of blockaders having an average age of 71. There were no charges.