Churchwarden Sue Say shares her memories of Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
2021 marks forty years since the establishment of the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. Our Churchwarden Sue Say lived at the Yellow Gate camp for two years and here she shares her memories of being part of the protest.
Onward Christian Soldier
Churchwarden Sue Say at the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp reenactment event, may 2021
Nearly 40 years ago, with my tent in hand, I headed off for a weekend at Greenham Common Women's Peace camp, at Newbury in Berkshire. With my Christian armour, my shield of naivety and my sword of righteous indignity, I marched with total confidence up to the main gate of the RAF base. How dare they have cruise missiles here, no, not in my name.
With my mum's voice ringing in my head I had packed my rucksack, girl guide style, and set off to Greenham, blissfully unaware of the amazing emotional journey that awaited me.
My fundamental belief in the commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’ and the right and just cause of 'Peace' may have been the driving force that took me to Greenham, but my real education started there, around the campfire at main gate(later to be known as Yellow Gate)One weekend drifted into two years.
I knew it all, after all, I was 19. I, like others, arrived with years of baggage. But in my case, also the innocence of being brought up in a little church led village, in the county of trees. (Still believing that police officers always spoke the truth). So unprepared for the intense joy, heartbreak and challenge involved in living under the microscope of matriarchy.
I had been adopted and although brought up surrounded by love, I was confused. Confused by gender roles, society's expectations, and my parents general ethos. On the one hand, my mother told me to be myself, be honest, live life to the full and always stand up for what was right, no matter how difficult. However, where my father was concerned,
my mum... Well!
My father was the head of our household. My mother committing to obedience in her marriage vows. Both of them were devoted to the peace movement. My dad, a working class conscientious objector, my mum a wren( during and after the second world war).
It was obvious to me that men controlled Society, they were the lawmakers, landowners and wage earners. We were 'just the women' and our gender was expected to sit on the side-lines, silently supporting our men folk, popping out babies and of course, looking pretty. It was the men who were the leaders, politicians, presidents and advisers. And it was men who were leading us all towards destruction, allowing our country to be a pawn in the big boys competition to have the most destructive toy.
No.
No more.
No more games, no more bombs and no more silence.
This outrageous group of rebelious women were the most innovative, hilarious, creative and disruptive non-violent force the British Government had ever seen.
Yellow Gate's diversity was legendary. It was the home of our 'leaders', although, perhaps the description, women who found it easier to negotiate the world of media, would probably be fairer. Yellow Gate was home to every class, every nation, every age. Each bringing a world of alternative perspectives, opinions and lifestyles. It was both stimulating and thoroughly exhausting. But it was a hell of an education. I revelled in the opportunity to talk to so many different types of women, each with their own story, that they gave willingly. But I squirmed around the fire, as my well thought out opinions, were shot down in flames, as my naive, hidden biases and prejudices were exposed to all. Yellow Gate women made me think, made me question, made me challenge, starting with challenging myself. One minute we would be arguing and the next, we would throw ourselves in the road, blockading the gate. Preventing cruise from being deployed. Non-violently protesting, linking arms, singing, side-by-side, sisters. United in our struggle for peace. Righteous in our desire and rigorous in our endeavour to challenge the patriarchal machine.
We are women. We are strong. We say NO, to the bomb.
It's 2 am, I'm freezing, I'm lying on my stomach between two bushes, the bolt cutters pressing into my thighs. I can hear the trees around me, swaying gently in the strong breeze, leaves dancing around. I crawl silently forward, stopping only to pinch my nose, to stop the threatening sneeze. I raise my arm, everyone hits the deck. I plunge my face into the dirt and stay motionless. The approaching footsteps are firm and confident. I wait until they are level and start my count. I have a count of 20 until he turns again. Time to cut the fence, I leap silently forward. 12, 13, 14, I have a two and a half foot hole in the fence. I withdraw back into the safety of the bushes, as the soldier continues his patrol. My heart is pounding, racing. I'm so excited. In this minute, right now, as I lie in the dirt with my sisters I realise. This is fun.
By Sue Say.
Greenham Women Are Everywhere.
Watch the Greenham Campfire event video featuring an Interview with Sue and Nina Milns
For more information about the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp Archive and the celebrations for the 40th Anniversary visit the Scary Little Girls Greenham Woman Everywhere website