Between the 31st May and June 3rd 1983 one of the largest ever civil disobedience demonstrations took place at USAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire. The base was then home to eight F-111 planes armed with live nuclear weapons always on standby.
More than 5,000 people took part in the “peace blockade” over four days. It was entirely peaceful but by its conclusion, 752 people had been arrested – one of the highest numbers of people ever detained at a peace protest.
Organisers and supporters of that demonstration are revisiting Upper Heyford at 11am on Saturday 3 June, where they will hold a meeting at the site of the Peace Camp (on Portway, Camp Road). They will then walk to the Heritage Centre, within the perimeter of what was the airfield, where there are soon to be two new display panels with information about the blockade and other protests.
Steve Barwick, a founder of the Peace Camp and one of the blockade organisers, said:
Notes to editors
- For more information or interviews with Steve, Nuala, or Adrian, contact Steve Barwick on 07826 872375 or SteveBarwickPC@outlook.com
- An event was organised to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Upper Heyford Peace Camp in 1982. It was reported by both the BBC and the Oxford Mail – see here and here.
- Proofs of the Heritage Centre’s display panels will, hopefully, be available by the 3rd of June.
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