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The Women's Library
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Ailsa Johnson interviewed by Jessica Layton

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Ailsa.
Ailsa had young children when the camp was set up in the 1980s and she got to know about Greenham thanks to her local CND group. She only stayed overnight once and mostly visited during the day and for the big demos. She talks about monthly peace camps at Aldermaston and Burghfield and how they went to court to 'get recognition that camping is a form of protest'. She also talks about other groups linked to the peace camps, such as Nuke Watch and Nuclear Information Service. She mentions the power of songs, NVDA and how reading 'Children of Hiroshima' was a very formative experience for her - at the end of the interview, she reads an extract from the book.
Ailsa was interviewed by Jessica Layton in 2019.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Alison Napier interviewed by Rebecca Mordan

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Alison.
Alison was a sociology student in Aberdeen when she was asked by some friends if she would drive a minibus for them down to Greenham. She visited many times afterwards and was arrested twice. The first time she was held illegally in the cells under Newbury police station for 5 days and the second time, she was convicted of obstruction. She appealed on the basis that the police, military and lorries containing nuclear weapons obstructed the road far more than she had by sitting down. She won. She remembers vividly the violence of the police, the importance of NVDA and most importantly, the fun.
Alison was interviewed in 2019 by Rebecca Mordan.
She was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Angela Akehurst interviewed by Josephine Liptrott

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Angela worked as a coach driver in the 1980s and, though she never lived or stayed overnight at the Greenham Common peace camp, she often drove a coach to demonstrations and actions. Together with another driver, she drove a coach of 45 Greenham Women to Russia on a three-week fact-finding mission. Onboard a coach with the route number 007, their journey was challenging and eventful, involving huge distances, KGB tails and pink Champagne consumption. Angela remembers her passengers as being a hugely diverse, energetic, creative, patient and joyful group of women.
Angela was interviewed by Josephine Liptrott in 2019.

Ann and Sally Bell interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Ann and Sally Bell.
Ann was a PhD student when she first went to Greenham and Sally an American citizen living in the UK. The women met at Greenham, living permanently at Orange Gate between 1983-85. They found in Greenham a place where women grew in confidence, could 'be themselves', many women 'becoming' feminists in a space free of male hierarchy. Both women believe Greenham had a major impact on the Cold War as its existence and actions opened up debate about nuclear weapons. They remember Greenham Women as a generation that went on to achieve remarkable things, and believe Greenham gave them, personally, the confidence to understand you do not have to follow the rules if you believe they are wrong. In addition, Greenham provided them with a strong moral foundation to pass on, and the ability to question everything.
Ann and Sally were interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.
They were photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Ann Pettit and Karmen Thomas interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Ann.
Without Ann and Karmen, Greenham would not have existed. Believing women's voices needed to be heard in a male dominated world of politics and anti-nuclear movements, they initiated the 1981 Women for Life on Earth walk from Cardiff to Greenham Common USAF base. Their aim was to initiate a public debate with the government regarding nuclear weapons, in particular Cruise missiles, to engage the media and make Greenham a household word. Ann believes Greenham 'had big implications...it gave a lot of different possibilities to a lot of women.' 'I can't say that Greenham stopped the arms race because I think it was one of many factors which made it imperative that leaders take disarmament seriously...but it changed the atmosphere.' Visiting Russia in 1983, they met with the Moscow Group for Trust, a peace group independent of the Soviet state, as well as with the official Soviet Peace Committee. For Karmen, 'Greenham was a protest of its time...I don't think it would happen today...it would be moved.' It enabled 'thousands upon thousands of women...(to) connect with women in other countries...maybe it changed the direction of their life.'
Ann and Karmen were interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu in 2019.
Ann was photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Anna Birch and Mary Birch interviewed by Emily Strange

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording and a photograph of Anna and Mary and one of Mary.
Greenham was not the first time Mary was actively involved in social and political movement; prior to Greenham she had been supporting peace movement for years. Both Mary and her husband played an active role in Greenham in the 1980s. They had a van together that they would use to go from Bristol to Newbury, transporting goods to the women (fire wood and blankets etc.). Mary never stayed at camp overnight but had a good relationship with Orange Gate, and was part of actions such as codified phone-chains which signified when blockades would be best used to stop camp invasion. Anna attended a Quaker school and showed large interest in political movement from a young age, inspired by her mother's activism. With her mother, she attended camp as a young adult. Anna stated that with the climate change activism happening at the time of the interview, young people might think that Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) is a new concept, but Greenham paved the way for this.
Mary and Anna were interviewed by Emily Strange in Bristol in 2019.
They were photographed by Christine Bradshaw (copyright Christine Bradshaw).

Annei Soanes and Margaret McNeil interviewed by Rebecca Mordan

This folder includes the recorded audio of the interview along with a transcript of the recording.
Annei and Margaret both went to Greenham after getting involved in the local CND movement and met at camp. Annei was working at Harrods at the time and was a very unusual Peace Woman until she participated in an NVDA workshop which made her reflect on her job and the double life she was living. She resigned the next day. Both Annei and Margaret were profoundly influenced by the discussions at Greenham and left with a radical feminist perspective on the peace movement that changed the course of their lives.
Annei and Margaret were interviewed by Rebecca Mordan in 2019.

Anni Tracy interviewed by Isabelle Tracy

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.

Annie Brotherton interviewed by Rebecca Mordan

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).

Armorel Weston interviewed by Vanessa Pini

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.

Atalanta Kernick interviewed by Nicky Arikoglu

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.

Avryl and Tembre de Carteret interviewed by Vanessa Pini

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.

Barbara Hughes interviewed by Alice Robinson

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.

Barbara Tombs interviewed by Vanessa Pini

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.

Becky Barnes and Helen Garland interviewed by Tricia Grace-Norton

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.

Becky Griffiths interviewed by Josephine Liptrott

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).

Betty Levene interviewed by Rebecca Mordan

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.

Bridget Boudewijn and Sue Bolton interviewed by Rebecca Mordan

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).

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