Were you at, or did you visit Greenham Common women's peace camp?

No.

No, but I wish I could have. I supported them from afar! I agree with their ethos.

Yes, I went on a visit taking food and supplies to then.

I wasn't in a position to join them and not sure that I would have done had it been possible. Not because I disagreed with what they were doing but I felt that men should have been doing the same thing and then it might have been taken more seriously.
It shouldn't be up to women alone to try and remove these dreadful weapons from the whole world if possible.

I didn’t but I live near there now and there’s a lovely Peace Garden there. I remember driving along the A339 and seeing the women sat outside their caravan in the late 80’s.

I didn't as I wasn't much interested then - busy with babies etc but my Mum did. She got very interested in politics and what was going on the world as she got older, as indeed I have. We've still got all her badges etc from that era and I can remember her going out in the middle of the night to report back on the movement of armaments along the motorways nearby.

I visited twice, for support, with food, etc.

My aunt did and she took her daughter. She didn’t tell me this until many years later.

Ilovecheese

I wasn't in a position to join them and not sure that I would have done had it been possible. Not because I disagreed with what they were doing but I felt that men should have been doing the same thing and then it might have been taken more seriously.
It shouldn't be up to women alone to try and remove these dreadful weapons from the whole world if possible.

It was the women's choice not to include men and that imo made it more emotive and powerful. I think men would have been disruptive.

Yes I was there when we held hands around the base.
1983 I think.

Yes, I went with a group of friends on several occasions in 1982. A very important protest I think.

I couldn’t, being a mother with young children at the time. But I was actively involved in our local multilateral disarmament group. I was terrified at the thought of Cruise Missiles being here. I have such respect for the women that were there. Can’t believe that, 40 years later, the world doesn’t seem to have learned any lessons .

Indeed MayBee- we never seem to learn.

I only went on day visits - as I had young children too. OH was very supportive despite us living in a very concervative enclave. I went to Molesworth too.

No, and I wouldn’t have joined in if I had, not believing in our disarmament.

Objecting to Cruise Missiles was not about 'disarmament'

I didn’t object to the US Cruise missiles being there if you prefer.

NATO's decision in 1979 to base ground cruise missiles at Greenham Common was a response to the proliferation of nuclear forces, which occurred throughout that decade. It was in the wake of this announcement that the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp opened at this site.

Proliferation has been massive since- and we find ourselves currently at massive risk, as proliferation has occurred in countries which are now our 'enemies'. It was always clear that proliferation would happen- and that nuclear missiles would be developped by nations which we have alienated in the past, and see us as the enemy.

We are constantly on the edge of escalation due to Ukraine and Putin, Israel and Gaza and neighbouring countries. You only need one mad man - and we now have quite a few, all with nuclear arms. One more key one, totally unhinged, re-elected a few days ago. Greenham Common and Molesworth were nuclear Nato USA bases.

Cruise missiles meant that, in the event of a nuclear war, Russia would have obliterated our country first to wipe them out. That’s what terrified me.

Proliferation to mad men is exactly what happened, as was predicted then.

Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons?

Russia6,2571,458
United States5,5501,389
China350
France290
United Kingdom225
Pakistan165
India156
Israel90
North Korea50

Doubts about Iran and possibly, Israel and perhaps others too.

How many are clearly our allies now from that list?

Yes I was there for "embrace the base"
12th December 1983
13 coaches left Edinbugh the night before. We took candles, ribbons and string, photos of our DC food and blankets. It was incredible and empowering to be with and sing with so many thousands like us as we held hands around the 9 miles of perimeter fence.
I even bumped into old school friends there. It was peaceful. We chatted with the policemen and shared cups of tea.
It's remarkable how , long before mobile phones, we found where to go and what to do.

I wish the peace movement would gather momentum like that, again.

We were in Australia but I remember the marches in the earlier days. I thought they were spot on, dedicated women.

MayBee70

Cruise missiles meant that, in the event of a nuclear war, Russia would have obliterated our country first to wipe them out. That’s what terrified me.

Yes, and huge concerns then about nuclear proliferation- which turned out to be, tragically, so relevant now- and it is too late.