Did anyone march when they were young?

Granjura, me too. We released white doves and carried sacks of rice and other staples bought from the Co-op to donate to the third world. It was very, very wet and muddy. Son, now aged 33 remembers it well.

I have a gorgeous oil painting of women at the fence at Greenham in my hall. Part of a series called 'Carry Greenham Home'. I tied ribbons on the fence and danced with policemen.

I am assured by some friends who were at Greenham with me that I was throwing a policeman's hat but if I did I've forgotten it now. I do remember a group of women walking menacingly towards a policeman who was pinned up against the fence. I thought they were going to rush him and for the only time in my life felt a surge of mob excitement. I knew I would join in if they had.

dorsetpennt I loved your story, and it is true you get a great feeling when fighting for something important.

My marching has been a bit different. When I had recently arrived in Vienna as a 19 year old au pair, and wasn't yet very good at German, I marched with what I thought was their Labour party on May day. It was actually the Communists!! They were a friendly bunch though, but boy could they drink!! The march ended up at Grinzing, a rather boozy district, and mayhem ensued.

My first real protest was in 1997 when I joined the Ipswich anti-racism committee to take action against Pauline Hanson, a recently elected racist MP. To add insult to injury, she was elected in MY area, so I had the horrible knowledge that more of my neighbours were racist than not. We marched, demonstrated, handed out leaflets - the lot. She never got into any house of any parliament again.

PS
I wasn't young that time though - in my early 50s.

Yes, MiceElf, it does make a difference! Where do young people get their inspirations from? Many sources, including what they see their immediate elders doing/saying/thinking. I think its important as grandparents that we share our beliefs/commitments openly. Firstly, its good for us as individuals to retain our links/express ourselves within a community of interest but secondly, its a good model for our children/grandchildren to see older people actively engaged and caring enough about social/political issues to get out there and take part. So what's with all the past tense in the above posts, fellow grannies?

I have been to a few political rallies, the last one against John Howard-warmonger and one against the live export of sheep. I regret not marching against the Iraq war, I also wanted to march against the Vietnam war but my then fiance was a conscript. He was called up one year after immigrating to Australia as an 18 year old with his parents why in hell would you bring your son to a country that has conscription for eighteen year old males. So many people die in needless wars, I definitely would march in anti war protests in the future.

Wearingwell (love the name) I was marching yesterday - YES Scotland March & Rally in Edinburgh - and there were plenty of Grannies and Granpas, many older than me, marching along or birling along in wheelchairs. It was their first march for 2 of our DGC and they thoroughly enjoyed it dancing to the music and waving their flags, although when I asked DGD today what she enjoyed most she said 'the icecream after'. It was a brilliant day, with bright sunshine throughout, good speeches, poetry and music and everyone in good spirits.

Once again, as at every March/Rally/Protest I have attended the media grossly underestimated the turnout. The Police estimated an attendance of 5000 at 11.20am at the Meadows although the March did not start until 12.10pm. Many people joined in en route and there were thousands of people already gathered in Princes Street Gardens for the Rally before the March arrived, so at least 10,000 there if not more. Today's Scottish papers are headlining on the 'fact' that there was a low turnout, which is utter tosh, rather than report anything about the nature or purpose of the event.

Veterans of demos and marches will recognise that this always happens - it is, I suppose the establishment's attempt to downplay any dissention - very annoying though!

I still have all my 60s political badges pinned to my school scarf. The HT asked me not to wear it to school as she thought I was setting a bad example to the younger girls.
My last march was in support of the miners back in the 80s on a very wet day. we couldn't find the contingent of teachers from our school so we marched with my friends partner and his contingent of firemen.
Sadly, my offspring have never felt strongly enough about anything to march but they have also not done a lot of other things I did............

I used to have a safari hat with loads of badges pinned to it - one favourite was that colourful 'Nuclear Power, no thanks!' one. Whatever happened to that hat?

Yep! Anti Vietnam War and CND come to mind. Police on horses rushing us - very scary indeed. Gave blood for those fighting in Vietnam too even though I didn't agree with the war. The son of an American family I was staying with in the US at the time was called up to his parents' horror. As usual it was the man on the street who has to suffer.

Wearing well, my last march was last year - I expect I'll be out with them all again on the next strike day.

Humbert Bear, did you have an

All the way with LBJ? I've still got my support the miners mugs too.