Stonehenge News '97 JAN MAR JUN SEP DEC Year Index
DAILY TELEGRAPH, FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1997 p9
Judges order retrials for Stonehenge protest pair
By Terence Shaw, Legal Correspondent
TWO demonstrators who were arrested
after a peaceful protest at Stonehenge are to face retrials after a ruling
in the High Court yesterday. In a judgment confirming the wide scope of
new public order powers, judges ruled that it made no difference that the
protesters were on a public highway and were acting peacefully and not
obstructing the road. They allowed an appeal by the Director of Public
Prosecutions against a Salisbury Crown Court decision to quash the convictions
of Dr Margaret Jones, a lecturer from Bristol, and Richard Lloyd, a 26-year-old
student. The pair, who took part in the protest at Stonehenge in June 1995,
were the first to be charged with "trespassory assembly" under
the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. This amended the 1986 Public
Order Act by giving the police powers to seek a local authority order banning
for up to four days assemblies of 20 or more people on land to which the
public have no rights of access or only limited rights. Dr Jones was convicted
by Salisbury magistrates, given a conditional discharge and ordered to
pay £100 costs. Mr Lloyd was ordered to pay £300 in fines and
costs. In January last year their appeals were upheld after a court ruled
that, because they acted peacefully and had not obstructed the road, they
had not exceeded the public's limited right of access to the highway. But
Lord Justice McCowan said yesterday that the court had been "mistaken"
in appearing to accept the argument that any assembly on the highway was
lawful as long as it was peaceful and non-obstructive. He said the prosecution
need prove no more than that the assembly consisted of 20 or more people
and that the accused was taking part, knowing it to have been prohibited
under the Act. Mr Justice Collins said that holding a meeting or demonstration
on the highway, however peaceable, had nothing to do with the right of
passage permitted under the law. "Such activities may, if they do
not cause an obstruction, be tolerated. But there is no legal right to
pursue them," said the judge. Both Dr Jones and Mr Lloyd have asked
the judges to certify that their case raises an issue of public importance
and to give them leave to appeal to the House of Lords. Dr Jones said that,
if they failed to get an "enlightened judgment", they would take
their case to the European Human Rights Commission. She said: "Peaceful
protest, protests of all kinds, whether to prevent the closing of a hospital
wing or in a trades union context, are affected. John Wadham, director
of Liberty, said "To say it is a form of trespass seems extraordinary."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE GUARDIAN. FRIDAY JANUARY 24 1997
Court Restricts Protest Rights
Alex Bellos
PEOPLE attending a wide range
of peaceful gatherings, including environmental protesters and ramblers'
groups, can be arrested for doing nothing more than walking down the road,
following a High Court judgment yesterday. Under the offence of trespassory
assembly, police can ban groups of 20 or more meeting in a particular area
if they fear "serious disruption to the life of the community",
even if the meeting is non-obstructive and non-violent. The court's ruling
was criticised by Liberty, the public rights pressure group. Its director,
John Wadham, said: "A peaceful, non-obstructive gathering is a reasonable
use of a public highway. To say that it is a form of trespass seems extraordinary."
Campaigners fear the law could be used to target outdoor activities such
as rambling and parties, as well as demonstrations. In a test case relating
to a demonstration at Stonehenge in 1995, Lord Justice McCowan and Mr Justice
Collins said that two trespassory assembly convictions should not have
been overturned because the offence overrules any right of way on the public
highway. The case concerned Margaret Jones, a university lecturer, aged
46, and Richard Lloyd, a student, aged 25, both from Bristol, who went
to Stonehenge to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Battle of the
Beanfield, in which protesters clashed with police at the monument. An
order under the Criminal Justice Act 1994 had been made by the Chief Constable
of Wiltshire, banning groups of 20 people from a four-mile radius around
the monument. Even though the demonstration did not breach the perimeter
fence, when the police judged that there were more than 20 people involved
they asked the crowd to disperse. Some refused and Dr Jones, Mr Lloyd and
one other were arrested. The pair were the first people to be convicted
of trespassory assembly by magistrates, but were cleared on appeal at Salisbury
Crown Court in January last year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE TIMES, FRIDAY JANUARY 24 1997 p10
Police win right to ban protests on public roads
By Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
PEACEFUL protests on public highways can be banned by the police, the High Court ruled yesterday in a test case of new public order legislation. The ruling gives Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, crucial legal backing for the new criminal offence of "trespassory assembly", which is aimed at curbing protests on public roads. Margaret Jones, a university lecturer, and Richard Lloyd, a student, were the first people charged with the offence after they were arrested during a peaceful demonstration at Stonehenge, They took part in the demonstration even though an order was in force banning assemblies of 20 people or more. They were found guilty at Salisbury Magistrates' Court and Dr Jones was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £l00 costs. Mr Lloyd was ordered to pay £300 in fines and costs The convictions were overturned on appeal to Salisbury Crown Court, where it was ruled that there was no case to answer. Lord Justice McCowan, sitting with Mr Justice Collins, ruled that the Crown Court had got the law wrong and ordered a rehearing. Lord Justice McCowan said the Crown Court appeared to accept "that any assembly on the highway is lawful as long as it is peaceful and non-obstructive of the highway; in my judgment, however, that is mistaken". He said it left out of account the fact that an order had been made to prohibit the holding of a demonstration for the right of access to Stonehenge within a four-mile radius between May 20 and June 1. A demonstration had taken place on the grass verge of the A344, beside the perimeter fence. Lord Justice McCowan said: "The prosecution need prove no more than that the assembly consisted of 20 or more persons and that the particular person accused was taking part in that assembly, knowing it to be prohibited by an order under section 14A of the 1986 Public Order Act." Dr Jones, a lecturer at Bristol University, said the ruling was bad for democracy. "The judgment denies any right to assemble freely in a public place if the police seek and obtain a banning order from a local authority under the new Act on the grounds that there is danger of disruption to the life of the community. Peaceful protest, protests of all kinds, whether to prevent the closing of a hospital wing or in a trade union context, are all affected." Although the court said the case should go back to the Crown Court for a rehearing before a differently constituted bench, the Crown Prosecution Service will be considering whether to continue now that it has established the legality of the new police powers to curb public demonstrations, even when peaceful and posing no threat to public order. John Wadham, director of the civil rights pressure group Liberty, said: "A peaceful, non-obstructive gathering is a reasonable use of a public highway. To say that it is a form of trespass seems extraordinary. It must be one of the more bizarre consequences of the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE INDEPENDENT, FRIDAY 24 JANUARY 1997
Judges end the right to a peaceful rally
Patricia Wynn Davies, Legal Affairs Editor
There is no legal right to hold peaceful, non-obstructive demonstrations on the highway, and the police are entitled to use new public-order powers to stop them, two senior judges declared yesterday in a far-reaching test case. The case, which contradicts what many people have always viewed as a "right", arose out of the clearing of the first two people charged with "trespassory assembly" under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, and was the first test of whether the police could use their new powers to clamp down on peaceful protests. Giving backing to the new offence, the judges ruled that "any" assembly of at least 20 people would fall foul of it, however peaceable and non-obstructive and whether or not it threatened public order. Margaret Jones, a lecturer in literature studies at the University of the West of England, and Richard Lloyd, a housing assistant, had taken part in a peaceful roadside demonstration alongside the Stonehenge perimeter fence while an order under the Act, banning an assembly of 20 or more people, was in force. They were found guilty by Salisbury magistrates last year, but he convictions were overturned on appeal to the Crown Court, which said the assembly was lawful because it was peaceful and did not obstruct the highway. That view was decisively rejected by Lord Justice McCowan and Mr Justice Collins, who upheld an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions and invited the Crown to pursue the charges again before a differently constituted Crown Court. Emphasising the impact of the 1994 Act, on which the Labour Party abstained, Lord Justice McCowan said the lower court's judgment "leaves out of account the existence of the order." Mr Justice Collins said the holding of peaceable meetings, demonstrations or vigils on the highway might he "tolerated" if they did not cause obstructions, but there is no legal right to pursue them." While this dispute concerned Stonehenge, people could be at risk of prosecution if - without obstructing other members of the public - 20 or more of them congregated outside a fur shop, a school where parents were protesting over discipline. or the offices of a council contemplating building on the green belt. All the police would need to do would be to seek an order under the Act from the local council. Dr Jones said: "This ruling supports something which is illiberal, undemocratic and wrong. Peaceful protest, protests of all kinds, whether to prevent the closing of a hospital wing or in a trades-union context are all affected." Liberty, the civil-rights pressure group, called for a Bill of Rights to defend the freedom to demonstrate. John Wadham, the director, said: "A peaceful, non-obstructive gathering is a reasonable use of a public highway. To say that it is a form of trespass seems extraordinary." The case is likely to reach the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Justice Collins yesterday rejected an argument that the ruling would breach Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, guaranteeing freedom of peaceful assembly. He insisted that there was still an "ability" to hold a peaceful assembly. But the ruling means that this "ability" will always be in the gift of the police.
SPRING EQUINOX 1997 Newsletter bits
RIGHTS? WHAT RIGHTS? In January, in a chilling reminder that we still live under a feudal system, the High Court gave what was widely described as a shock judgment in the ‘Stonehenge Two’ case. This referred to the arrests at the 10th anniversary of the ‘Battle of the Beanfield’ demo at the Stones in June ‘95. It was an appeal by the police against the quashing by the Crown Court of their original convictions for ‘trespassory assembly’ under the CJA (s14,PoA). The case was not about what happened on the day; everyone agreed the small gathering by the roadside was, peaceful, non-obstructive and not a nuisance. The judges resorted to the basic assumption under our (non-existent) constitution that the State can attack its subjects not just when they break the law, but when they do anything they cannot actually prove they have an absolute right to do. We have very few such rights, one of which is to ‘pass and repass’ on a public highway, (But not in Wiltshire!). Anything else we do there, however harmless, (such as chatting to a friend by the roadside) is not permitted, and only seems to be because the State “tolerates” it. Therefore, the judges said, any demonstration or gathering not approved of by the authorities is trespassing on any road it is on or beside. So, their argument goes, when a section 14 order is in force, any and every group (of 20 or more) on a road is a ‘trespassory assembly’ unless it is just ‘passing or repassing’ in the ordinary way. The victims are appealing to the House of Lords and, if necessary, to the European Court of Human Rights. An ironic result of the police winning at this stage is that they lose the ‘loophole’ they claimed was in the law when they were losing, and used to justify their having a processions order as well last year. So there will be no procession order this June. On the same day that the ruling was given, the same issue was being debated on the other side of the planet. CH Tung, new leader-to-be of Hong Kong, announced that there would be some reduction of Human Rights when the Chinese take over in July. (The old colonial laws were recently replaced by a Bill of Rights to avoid the opposite appearing to happen). A statement that he would require protesters to obtain police permission before taking to the streets (ie enact section 12 of our Public Order Act) provoked outraged protests from the UK & USA. The present Governor of the colony, Chris (Poll Tax) Patten, warned that this threatened basic freedoms and would unsettle the community. “People crushed by law have no hope. If laws are their enemies, they will be enemies of the law.” he said, quoting Edmund Burke. Tung reminded Patten that a licence was needed to hold a demo outside Parliament here, clearly unaware of the extent of the clampdown on freedoms here since that was the most severe restriction! A few days later, the Court of Appeal came to the opposite conclusion. Supporting the Chief Constable of Sussex’s decision to restrict policing of live animal exports at Shoreham to two days a week in ‘95, the judges took into account “the right of animal protesters to protest peacefully (but not illegally)”. Those demonstrations took place on the public highway, and could even be said to have caused something of an obstruction. So who’s right? In the other recent case, 3 people got a conditional discharge for being an illegal procession last June. The Chief Constable did turn up to explain why he believed he had needed a ban on processions as well as assemblies, but the case was turned over to lawyers, and there were few hard questions for him. Case is under appeal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The annual cycle of negativity
has resumed, with the Chief Constable asking the District Council for anther
CJA 'trespassory assembly' s14A order for the summer solstice. (Part of
his letter below.)(NOT ON WEBSITE). The Committee that advises the full
Council on this discussed his 'request' this week. Members were given no
report or account of the so-called 'review' of the situation held in November,
other than a one-sentence summary of the bland statement issued at the
time. [last issue] They of couse approved the ban, but it was interesting
that both the police and council officers tried to explain to baffled councillors
that there wasn't and never had been such a thing as an 'exclusion zone'.
Now they no longer need it, they say it was always just a press invention.
Councillors were told that groups of 12 or 18 people could not be stopped
in the zone this year, only 'public assemblies' of 20 or more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ LETTER FROM KARELIA 12march1997
~~~
Dear Stonehengers, ~ I'm voting from Wandsworth Eco Village - I want an
open decentralised hung parliament at Westminster, with PR, EEC, UN, etc
~ I saw somewhere the exact date of Jesus' birth, a day around 7BC when
the planets, comets and stars aligned in a special way, (I've lost the
astronomological details). So his 2000th birthday, Millenium3, has been.
~ For me, that night up Glastonbury Tor, the 'Harmonic Convergence' was
a 'New Age Party', the Mayan New Age, wasnt it? ~ Any excuse for a party.
~ I want to play my lightshow, (like New Years Eve in the Pilton Pyramid,
(but without troublemakers spoiling it)) And I want to play flute and tin-whistle
solo on Glastonbury Festival's Stage One for 23 minutes on Saturday afternoon
(But I'm allegedly an introvert and a pessismist - it's their loss if I
dont('want' not 'need')))
~~~~~~~~~ (and in Stonehenge again) ~~~~~~~~~
~~ That hundred yards of tarmac which ~~~
~~ CUTS Stonehenge and its Avenue ~~~
~~ should've been grassed up years ago ~~
Then we could carefully repair StonehengeI by putting new white shining
chalk where the 3 or 4 banks were (with an entrance south by the Small
Stone Eleven (whatever the builders called it in old Welsh)) (:} and now
we've invented perspex for the roof :-}
~~~ your cousin ~~ dicegeorge@geocities.com ~~~~
PS anywhere I can park (or bury) an old bus please?
(apart from cyberspace www.geocities.com/soho/9000/) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# The London Ecology Centre library
and database on Agenda 21 etc. have gone to the Battlebridge Centre.
# Our main website is now at: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9000/stonegeo.htm
# NO M11 are still at it and need help.
# The millenium fund application by English Heritage for their visitor
centre has gone on to the next decision stage.
# If you were in the Halifax poster you are entitled to some sort of copy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear People,
Having attendendenended a Poisoned Electrick Head Gig at St Helens on the
last date of 'The Hanged Man' tour I managed to see the band after the
show. I asked if the band would mind submitting a small piece for future
publication in S-H-C Newsletters/and/or/ Festival Eye magazine. "Mind?
No, we don't mind, cor's not mate"...etc. In the early hours of the
first dayof February I stumbled toward a street light and fumbled in my
pocket for the piece of paper Pete had handed to me. I unfolded the paper
and read it, it said; #############################################
STATEMENT FROM POISONED ELECTRICK HEAD REGARDING STONEHENGE AND FREE FESTIVAL
SITUATION: EVERYBODY IS RESTRICTED IN THIS COUNTRY. "TIED UP IN NOTS"
NEGATIVE CONDITIONING RULES. ANY POSITIVE ATTITUDE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED.
GET OUT THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! ##############################################
P.S. The spelling of NOTS is not Knots but NOTS as quoted. Its a track
on their new album. from Activate Eye Inside Of Us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Stonehenge Campaign.
Here's my envelopes for this years newsletters. I am also enclosing a donation
to help you keep up the excellent work you do. I hope and pray that we
can get some dialogue and progress over the next couple of years. The summer
solstice 2000 celebrations would make an excellent opportunity to begin
a new era, one where the rights of all of us who want access can be given
it without any of the deceit, mistrust etc. that currently exists. The
current concerns over the ludicrous costs of the police operations. should
pave the way for progress. Good luck & thanks for the work you do!
Love & peace, - Steffan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Stonehenge Campaign.
Yes, we still exist - but at the moment are not producing a newsletter.
However we are still a contact point for information on nuclear power and
nuclear weapons and opposition to them, so please keep our listing as it
is. Some initial thoughts about the letter from "Stonehenge Peace
Process"; I grew up around Salisbury and I can remember going to Stonehenge
when there was nothing to keep you out. If all you want to do is to go
to Stonehenge "in our lifetimes" then its easy - you pay English
Heritage some money and you go - I did it a few years ago and a dismal
experience it was. The reason thousands of people battled with cops during
the eighties at Stonehenge, is because it had become a symbol of how "The
land is not ours". The fact that you list all the campaigns you do
in the magazine shows how you understand that. Now I'm not saying that
we have to wait till the day of the revolution to settle this dispute -
similar campaigns in the 30's led to the creation of the National Parks
with significant free access for all. However that is not on the agenda
at these talks. Sure the state can do limited deals with small groups who
have only limited aims. The stones will still remain unfree for the rest
of us, like the rest of this rotten society. No justice - no peace, Keep
up the good work, - Steve. (Anti-Nuclear Network)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RING - A - RING ARISING
They say their god is in these
stones;
double now is ring,
far outside cops circle
to deter such prayer.
Cat-god, Mouse-god,
Old Ones
Play games again
in new human form
through uncut grain
as a thousand times before
preparing sacrifice of two
coupling in last
uncut sheaf soon
when is time of last harvesting
time when last crop's poisoning
will leave under safe stones
just dead men's sperm to live on.
Steve Sneyd
from SALISBURY JOURNAL 1-5-97
Find Stones Solstice Solution, Council Orders
NOTHING will be ignored in an attempt to solve the problems of Stonehenge at the summer solstice celebrations every June, Salisbury District Council chairman has promised. Councillors have reluctantly agreed to back a request from Wiltshire police for another exclusion order, banning groups of more than 20 people gathering within four miles of the stones between midnight on June 19 and midnight on June 23. But, they said, speedy progress must be made to find a solution once and for all in talks between monument custodians English Heritage, the police, councillors, travellers, Druids and other interested groups. Once this is achieved, the annual exclusion order will no longer be necessary. This year, the councillors said, it must go ahead. Posters have already gone up in the area advertising "the people's free festival" and people living in the area are worried there could be problems. Mr West said a meeting had taken place with a number of interested parties, and he promised every effort would be made to re-start talks within the next six months to try to find a solution in time for the 1998 solstice.
The “exclusion order” (there
is no such thing) they are talking about is a CJA ban on trespassory assemblies.
What that means is still being argued in the courts, but at the moment
groups of 20 or more who gather and stop somewhere in the ‘zone’ without
the landstealer’s permission, even on a public road, can be told to go
away or be arrested. (assuming Jack Straw rubber stamps the order.) However
the usual ban on processions, which the media always described as an ‘exclusion
zone’, will not be in force this summer. In theory this means that groups
of people can move around in the ‘zone’ without being hassled, so long
as too many don’t stop in the same place at the same time. In practice
it will depend on whether the new Chief Constable will give her officers
the usual licence to make up their own laws on the spot. Opinion is slowly
shifting in Wiltshire, with every year more councillors voicing doubts
about agreeing to yet another ban. Last year this led to a rather half-hearted
‘review’ of the situation, but it seemed to be more aimed at reducing those
doubts than any real attempt to take the first steps towards some kind
of solution. Even the police are talking more of being ‘in the middle’
between the two sides. For the first time there were no police present
at the council meeting to intimidate them into toeing the line, and at
the previous meeting it was the police who told them a banning order should
not be called an ‘exclusion zone’. There is still a block of local opinion
formed by years of media drivel, and optimists who might read into all
this the possibility of some compromise eventually being arrived at should
take that into account. However the authorities must be realising that
the longer they continue with unjustifiable bans, the more likely they
are to fall foul of the courts. And if the new regime incorporates the
European Convention on Human Rights into law as they have promised, the
behaviour of the authorities at the Stones, and even the CJA itself, could
then become illegal. Just in case they are for once serious about talking
to people about trying to resolve the problem, we need to know what individuals
and groups feel they should realistically be allowed to do at next year’s
and future Summer Solstices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HERE WE GO ROUND . . . . . The
Amesbury roundabout on the A303, which we know of mostly as a police road
block, is being used to resurrect the recently buried plans to widen the
road past the Stones. This roundabout is already congested at peak times,
and now councillors and developers want a new motorway-standard slip road
bringing lorries from expanding road haulage sites on one side, and the
2 million people a year Stonehenge Visitor Centre on the other. To avoid
gridlock they want an up to 6 exit spaghetti junction built on top of their
little country town, and have been leaning on English Heritage to help
them get it, using planning permission for the Centre as a lever. At huge
expense, the traffic jam would move 100 yards up the road, onto the single
carriageway section of the A303 past the Stones. So once again they want
to widen it, on its present route, with English Heritage wanting it in
a short tunnel where it passes near the Stones. This, some may remember,
was the original scheme whose rejection led to recent debate on other options.
The Millennium fund is expected to give the go-ahead for the £80m
Tussauds Stonehenge Visitor Centre next month, when we should find out
what the plans really are. There have been disturbing rumours that the
commercial interests involved have been trying to change the original idea
of a form of public transport to a point nearer the Stones, into a theme
park with Noddy trains running all over it.
[UPDATE JUN 6- English Heritage now appears to have dropped the Amesbury
scheme, and wants to revive its previous plan, to build a smaller, £40m
visitor centre within walking distance of the Stones, up the track to the
north towards Larkhill. This site was refused planning permission before
because it would have been a major development within a World Heritage
site, too near the Cursus (right next to it), and needed an access road
built across the landscape. They say tourists would pay to visit the centre,
but not the Stones. ]
[FURTHER UPDATE Friday
13th June 97- Millennium Commission rejects English Heritage Stonehenge
Park/Visitor Centre proposals.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello 99 Torriano Ave, all who
reside there.
Saw your ad in 'organ' mag. Pissed off about the inability to touch the
stones and stand in the centre and look up at the sky. A few years back
I actually jumped over the pathetic barrier and made a run for it! Got
collared by a security guard with a mobile - who I had a big argument with
- But it's like talking to a brick wall! At the end of it all I went there
for a spiritual experience and ended up totally wound up and aggressive.
Now I have two moon beams (Taliesin & Aine), and want them to feel
the stones around Britain. So send me some info I want some action. Rosie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Greetings peace and universal love Coming out and over to my brothers and sisters, My name is Clive, some people know me as Sky. I would like to share some things with you all and a poem or two. But first please let me explain some things so as you can have a much better picture. Just who is writing? I got Stonehenge newsletter through the post last week in which I find lots of nice enjoying feelings reading it. I am sadly locked up for four years, on some trumped up charge. But happy that freedom is not too far down the road. (Summer 98). I want to share some thoughts with you all. I would like to know if you know about a little story, that you may have heard about. At the time of the Beanfield there was someone walking in front of the convoy with no clothes on? Well that was me. The police took photos of the convoy on that sad day back in 85, and I would like to have some. Jully is a dear sister with long blonde hair. She has the photos. But I've not seen her for some years. I know it is a very slim chance of you or anyone knowing her, but if by some beautiful chance you do, please can you put us in touch. People ask me about that day on the Beanfield. How come you took your clothes off? Were you on acid? Well no I was not on acid. But a lot of earth energy was flowing through my mind - body. I know that I was being touched by some very strong spirits. It was only right for me to take off my clothes, and bond in with nature. I walked through towns from the woods all the way to the wall of beasts. I do miss my life on the road, but we all move forward and times change. Is there any chance of asking you for some music - folk, reggae, soul or anything that I can play and enjoy and chill out to? I don't have very much music. Also if you know anyone that would like to write in then I would truly overenjoy writing back. I will write some more poems if you'd like to have more. Anyway I give lots of thanks for the newsletters, - please try not to forget to post over some more as soon as they come off the print. Sorry I don't have any stamps to give or cash to pay for post, I can only give my thoughts, peace, love, respect, and my blessings. Stay at it, as together we can turn the bastards back. Free Stonehenge 97. Now is the time for people to pull together as one. All my love + light, and may Rainbows light across the earth.
I miss you all. One love - Sky (Clive Dalrymple PB2529, HMP Haverigg, Millom, Cumbria, LA12 4NA)
AS ONE WE STAND
My peace grows all the more
As if someone has opened a door
I smile and learn to overstand
All the things that must come to hand
Its growing, its growing all
around
As people open up and hear Earth's sound
One love, one heart, one destiny
Never to fear and never to flee
Open mind heart and soul
Let in the earth spirit's love and let it grow
We must always stand up for
Earth's rights we stand as one, strong, and unite
Through the earth powers of
the most high
Through the earth powers tears will cry
Of an overstanding, a ray of joy
That this here world can never be man's toy
To be rolled over and trashed
and put aside
Them evil dog hearts can never hide
So evil men of destruction and greed
You that bleed the earth of its seed
Your time is up, can't you
see
In your selfishness you will never succeed
And we earth people don't want your breed
And all your ugliness and all your greed
It's sad we know! You lost
the plot
And in your blindness you thought we all forgot
The Earth, the Stones, the Trees, and lots lots more
But now you can see what we have got in store
Never ever can we let your
kind go on.
We the earth people stand as one.
Sky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Letter From Karelia~
Good lift to Glastonbury, danced, talked, listened (let's rebuild the chalk
banks of Stonehenge I), raced Merlin up the Tor, borrowed that book off
Mutoid Ritchie and scanned that picture for Festival Eye... Back to Kew,
cycling around London, clicking up the World Wide Web, then hitched to
equinox, we picked up Arthur, to pub, fixed next September's meet, then
Midnight hopped the fence and ran, torch light stabbed, but I ran through.
stroking Stone Eleven, then south, and back to the Hele Stone Avenue pavement,
where I played tin whistle - Hale Bopp! dicegeorge@geocities.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# DG thinks our 'constitution'
(see 'Appeal') ['What?' on Homepage]should make it clear that respect for
the Stones makes such things as climbing on them unacceptable. Any suggestions
for re-wording?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stonehenge VE Day pandimensional book relunch on the Web at www.geocities.com/soho/9000/vbkframe.htm more pictures, text, videos etc wanted; also stuff from the actual Free Festivals 1974-1984 is embarrassingly unexisting, please, got any pics? help! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If its guid enough for
Druids,
Runnin' nekkid thru the wuids,
Drinkin' strange fermented fluids,
Then its guid enough for me."
Anon?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Henge 97 badges 50p. New A4 colour poster £1.50.
* Send us an SAE for next (Autumn Equinox) newsletter *
THE INDEPENDENT FRIDAY 6 JUNE 1997 p3. (+pic) Stephen Goodwin. Heritage Correspondent
Druids to go free as Stonehenge plans to drop entrance charges.
Stonehenge, sacred stones of the Druids and the most important Megalithic site in Europe. could soon become a truly public place once again. Entry to the 5,000-year-old stone circle today costs £3.70 for an adult and under the Millennium Park Scheme being pushed until yesterday by English Heritage and the Tussauds Group the ticket price would have nearly doubled. Last year 725,000 paid to visit the stones and another 250,000 are reckoned to have peered at them through the chain link fence by the A344. But in a politically-astute move, Sir Jocelyn Stevens, chairman of the heritage quango, has switched to the idea of free public access, a notion likely to appeal to the lottery-funded Millennium Commission. which is being asked for £20m, and to the Labour government. Greater public access to the nation's treasures is a basic tenet of Sir Jocelyn's new political master, Chris Smith. the Secretary of state for National Heritage. English Heritage committed itself to improvements at Stonehenge after the site and visitor facilities were condemned as a "national disgrace" in 1992 by a House of Commons committee. Sir Jocelyn made it a personal ambition of his chairmanship that people should he able to "touch the stones" again. But the ambitious plan for a 6,000-acre Millennium Park on the Wiltshire downs, with Stonehenge at its heart, ran into problems owing to the £83m cost and criticism of the "Disneyland" trackless-train touring the stones. The Millennium Commission, which is being asked to pay half, had doubts about where the rest of the money was coming from and about the benefit to the public from the scheme. Under the revised plan, a main road running within 300 yards of the stones will still be grassed over and 2,000 acres of Wiltshire downland will be restored to a natural setting. The Tussauds visitor centre will be moved from a site 3km from the stones to within Ikm at Larkhill. There will he no need for a train, parking will be free and visitors can walk to the stones. Tussauds, who will manage the site. will charge for entry to an interpretation centre, using virtual reality techniques, and there will also be retail and catering facilities. The Millennium Commission will consider the revised plan next week, but a decision on funding will not he made before autumn. If £20m is forthcoming from the lottery. Tussauds will put in £lOm, with the remaining £lOm coming from English Heritage and the National Trust, the major landowner. "It will he a free site for the public's benefit," said Sir Jocelyn, who told Mr Smith about the change at a meeting last week. Charging has been a feature at Stonehenge ever since the site was given to the nation early this century, and probably before that. But even if it is approved by the Millennium Commission, the project still faces hurdles. Conservationists are certain to object to the resiting of the visitor centre at Larkhill, within the World Heritage Site and close to a mysterious 2.5km-long Neolithic feature known as the Cursus. Kate Fielden, secretary of the Avebury Society, whose interest extends to Stonehenge, said the emphasis had to he on removing the Z0th-century clutter- a commitment once made by Sir Jocelyn. "It would be a tragedy for us to treat such an important site in such a shameful way. The object must be restore the landscape around this monument to make it a place that people can come to and go away uplifted." According to Sir Jocelyn, the visitor centre would be in low-lying "dead ground' and all that would be visible from the stones would be the heads of visitors viewing the site from a roof gallery. "The choice was to build the centre off the World Heritage Site and have transport, or to build on, out of sight, and let people walk." Doing the latter removed the "fairground" element of the train and allowed the stones their natural dignity, he said. Visitor numbers could well double after May 2001, the earliest likely opening date for the people's Stonehenge.
Adventures in the Forbidden Zone ....
Dear All at Torriano Ave,
Well, its monday morning and
i'm at work again. I went down to the Henge on Saturday for the solstice.
In order to get there for dawn i had to leave at 2.30 am in order that
i had a margin to allow for dodging the roadblocks. Hammered down the M3
after picking up a friend (a first timer) who was pretty nervous about
going at all ! After getting close enough, and after going around three
roadblocks i turned off towards the Larkhill MOD site (they cant block
it off so its a good back door!). There’s a track there which leads up
to the back of the Heritage Car park, which also has tree cover for the
first part. The helicopters were out so i lead the way - sticking to the
treeline, with my by now very nervous friend in tow. Once out of the cover
of the trees we had no cover to speak of, so we went for the direct approach.
We both were wearing dark clothing so we went over the stile towards the
ceremony field without being spotted. Keeping quiet, but again with no
attempt at concealment (although it was quite light) we walked up to the
fenceline and hopped over onto the access road by the helestone. As soon
as our boots touched tarmac there was a shout from a startled copper ("look
out- get 'em!) and before i went three more steps i was collared. "morning
chaps" i grinned at them. "you all look cold and bored, why not
stay in your nice warm van". They didn’t appear to appreciate the
humour. They kept a firm grip on me while they read me the relevant section
of the CJA (section 14). I say relevant but it appears that the Ms Neville
has complete license to interpret the act as she sees fit. The "trespassory
assembly" bit applies to persons numbering 20 or more. No one else
was there apart from me and my friend (who kept giving me worried glances)
so i didn't see how the act applied, and told the coppers so. It seemed
to take them aback a bit but they told that the act gave them "discretionary
powers". Bollocks - they were making it up on the spot. They gave
me a copy of the notice and told me i'd been served. Time to choose - under
the terms of the Act, once you've been told to leave you must, or face
arrest. I toyed with the idea for a few seconds but decided discretion
was probably better since we had no support. We wished the coppers a good
day and set off back the way we came, but only after a parting shot "i
hope you realise that what you are doing is wrong. It infringes my civil
liberty personally and interferes with my right to freedom of worship in
whatever form i choose. Servants of the law needn't be slaves to it."
They looked at each other for a second or two, one of them shrugged, one
of them looked glum and nodded, but they didn't reply. We made our way
back along the path back towards Larkhill, but stopped for a smoke to admire
the henge in the dawn light. Beautiful and ancient it stood serene, wrapped
in the golden morning light. Helicopters buzzed around her like angry wasps,
and the policemen milling about her looked like ants whose nest has been
poked with a sharp stick. Like the grand old lady that she is, the Henge
ignored it all, standing silent and glorious as she always has done, i
knew that she was waiting. Waiting for me and others like me to take care
of her as she needs to be taken care of - with a spiritual love and deep
respect rooted in the bone. Its what she understands and expects from people.
I got the feeling that she knew the police couldn't stay forever, but she
could. We headed back to the car and left feeling that at least we had
made the effort. Waved to some guys getting hassled at the junction and
laughed at the amount of police they needed to "protect" the
area. We headed home. But will we go back again next time? Of course. The
more difficult the police make it for us, the closer we come to having
the CJA repealed. The European Convention on human rights is surely being
infringed. The more outrageous the police become, the closer a test case
in Europe comes. Keep fighting everyone, never give up the quest. Peace
Profound. Jason N.
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HHHeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooooooooo...... SOLSTICE STEEPLECHASE by MMatt ... SUNDAY MORNING INSOMIA:
Half past f'ing four i woke up
today, aghast with the 12 hours I had been comatosed after my summer solstice
celebration. It all started at the cafe last night before last when we
were gigging in a birthday way for Dom's 26th. Ramblin' man tells me that
he's got a lift to the stones at 3am, and there may be a place. We were
going to finish at 1am anyway but we still needed to pack up the kit and
get back to Kings X. I got back to my place at a bit before 2, a phonecall
later I running down the road to the rendezvous, as our driver still hadn't
unloaded the van, or picked up two of the passengers. Sunrise is a little
after five. Nature's abounding with ways of helping us to get where we
wanted to go. Our carriage was good, well maintained, and knew the best
roads to take, we were sliding to our destination on a wind of wild rain.
The clouds in fact delayed the first peep on sunshine until we had entered
the zone of the stones. As we approached, we were braced for the other
rays of blareyness, that were present. The bright yellow and orange stripes
of the authorities gleamed through us with the intensity of a nuclear incident
as if to imply that in some way we were to be very wary of each next step
that we were about to take. From the Amesbury roundabout, I noticed about
20 patrol vehicles and at least 100-150 troops, ready and primed for attack.They
were dressed in either, fierce flouro or combat-jet black. All of them
were giving an air of intolerance to their own job description. Hippy bashing
was a lot more fashionable 10 years ago. The lads want some real action
now, the solstice stones vigil is probably just a training exercise for
the troops. Soon they will be needed elsewhere. We were allowed to pass
along the road, accompanied by a landrover, until a junction allowed us
to take a right, where upon we found a verge and parked. In the next field
was an ancient site, a barrow or two and a public footpath that would lead
us to the other road, it was now that the sun rose above the clouds. We
had got to within sight of stonehenge, surrounded by fields of oats and
wheat. A picture postcard view of a quintessential landscape. A psychedelically
induced dreamy breeze waved the heads of grain, reminding me that i didn't
need to be on anything else than this humble and w'holy land. Only a few
yards away a young deer scampered through the field, "bambi"
I called, in smug irony. I had forgotten, just how beautiful these trips
really are. You needed binoculars to identify the black and fluorescent
dots. We used ours to spot any sign of presence at the Hele stone, I couldn't
make out anyone else but troops. The path led straight to the road, where
as we got closer the flouro got brighter, my own directive was to exercise
my right to walk in open country-side on this special day. As I interpreted
the law, up to 19 of us could walk unchallenged. However when we got to
within earshot of the constabulary, close enough to offer a polite "good
morning" we were marshalled into walking away from the stones. The
youngest of the squad was quick to quote 14c of Cja and that they had already
had 28 persons attempting to congregate at the stones. How hundreds of
coppers are not able to effectively police such an event is beyond me.
After all you get as many coppers at a normal festival, crime per head
of capita is lower than in society generally. Because it is considered
leisurely, the authority is not prepared to tolerate anything that is not
motivated towards making a profit for them. If thirty or so people cannot
be allowed freedom of movement, albeit monitored, then the exercise has
been a waste. At school I was told by the visiting police liaison officer,
that the police's role in society is "to prevent people from HURTING
themselves or others around them." Most serious crime including theft,
comes into this catagory, yet when we are doing something conscious like
this, to improve our state of well being, WHY do they have a veto over
us? We walked along the road then spotted who we thought were our mates
on the path that we had just walked. We hopped over the fence and raced
across the field, back to the path to join them, defying our previous orders.
This spot gave the best legal view of the stones. There we joined up with
some other solstice wanderers, not the undesirable types that the media
chooses to describe, but students and wanderers alike. Who am I to judge
who has the right to be here, or anyone on us for that matter. So we headed
for Avebury 25 miles away. There were a couple of hundred people camped
up and unhassled, the local villagers have in fact seized the opportunity
to offer a solstice breakfast cafe in the local hall. £2 for a vegan
brekkie, £2.50 for veggie, muesli and yogurt, coffee, the works,
and a queue to suit, bleary eyed backpackers rubbing backy with the pagan
pixies and fulltime fezziegoers, too much for our tired consensus of city
dwellers, they went on to have breakfast in Malborough town centre as I
caught 28 winks in the van. Returning that lunchtime, knowing that I should
be carrying on with important tasks, all of which could wait, I made the
relevant phonecalls and flaked out to sleep 12 wasted hourlong winks more.
Woke and wrote. A glimpse at how our culture has evolved, able to enjoy
solstice in a multitude of locations whatever the conditions. mm. mMatt......
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Druid Solstice Victory
Two days prior to summer solstice, I, along with both Stonehenge Pilgrimages
(London and Brighton) arrived and camped on the nearest drove to the Stones.
We were evicted the following afternoon for 'criminal damage to a blade
of grass'. Some of us however did manage to gain access tonight before.'
Returning on solstice morning we processed down the Springbottom Normanton
Barrows, where Kreb Dragonrider (LAW) and several others were arrested.
Myself and Elf, a fellow London - Stonehenge Pilgrim, then performed a
short Druid rite at sunrise near the 'Snowflake' Crop Formation (which
we used to conceal ourselves opposite Stonehenge). Unseen by the helicopter,
police and E.H. Guards (due to an invisibility spell I'd cast) we reached
the security fence and gained access. I performed a brief Solstice blessing
and made the traditional offering of Mistletoe on behalf of the Druids,
whilst the police watched helplessly from outside the fence on the A344.
Both of us left peaceably without being arrested. King Arthur however was
arrested twice, since he returned to the area after being released from
his first arrest. Since then, both Arthur and Kreb have had the charges
brought against them dropped (sec.14c C J A: 'Intending to take part in
an illegal gathering of over 20 persons') by the CPS. Neither may press
for wrongful arrest on this occasion however, due to a refusal of legal
aid. The national press that day reported that no-one made it to Stonehenge.
Well they lied! Two London - Stonehenge pilgrims did make it, between dawn
and the actual time of the solstice (9.17am). Another unreported event
took place a few days later, being the post Glastonbury magical mystery
tour (July first). But rather than resulting in a the VE Day type occupation,
as was expected, only five attended and managed a minor trespass. Still,
at least one robed Druid got further than Countess roundabout and the A3O3
for once- and by magical means. Don't be late in 98!
Merlin, Druid Battle Chieftain L.A.W. (formerly known as Llwch)
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~~~ Dear StoneyHengers, ~~~
The bestest Walk transport was that year we used shopping trolleys, ropes
& a long plastic tarp over our heads when it poured. This June I cycled,
hitched and walked, to the chaos in the pub Solstice Eve, then a lift to
a Walk's campfire. some dicey tinwhistling and jokes, then bimbling up
an old path towards ~~~~~~~~ Stonehenge ~~~~~~~~~~~ whereat police spoilsports
said 'Stop' (I did this time). July I paid for a vehicle pass to the Big
Green Gathering, then drove my bus out of London to the Stonehenge trackway.
Slept in the track with a morning view of the Stones. Revisited the dip
in the nearest Mound where we used to firesit and watch and hear the life
of Stonehenge Free Festivals upto 1984. Walking up the Avenue that night,
it became clear that there used to be two hele stones, left and right.
Then pushstart to the BGG, then downhill to here, Dead Woman's Bottom @
Whatley Quarries, (5 miles west of Frome, from Nunney Post Office up hill,
then left for one mile).
~~~ with love from your cousin, ~~~
www.geocities.com/soho/9000/ DiceGeorge.html
(PS I want a trombone - bassy analoguess)
(PPS there's another solstice in 1997 )
--------------------------------------
Many thanks from myself and the
Stones for all those who have taken it upon themselves to support the night
vigil preceeding each quarter-day sun-rise ceremony. in the peace of times
to come, ORC
-------
Greetings from sunny Slough,
Firstly! Thanks yet again for the newsletters, it's been a couple of years
since I've written. (please find enclosed donation for your noble cause,
stamps, food, whatever, blah blah blah). The last time Tina and I went
to Stonehenge was '85, we only managed to stay about 10 minutes before
the riot police beat us out and route marched us up the dual carriageway.
It would be wonderful to spend a few days there. Our little boy Dom is
2 1/2 now, we'd both love to take him into the Stones for Solstice. With
12 years meditation on the subject of Stonehenge Free Peoples Festival
(c.trademark) its basis, its motives, its achievements, its consequences,
its divisions, its politics (both on site + Crown State). June the 1st
1985, at sunrise near Andover, my mind is honed in on the future, my mind
made up and ready to go, get to Stonehenge, one month to build a teepee,
move on for the summer, hole up for the winter, go back to the planet,
bye bye rat race. By late afternoon my dreams were shattered by dark forces,
my aspirations bludgeoned into submission. I have been reluctant to get
involved in free festivals, away from the public eye, ever since. I've
been on plenty of marches in London, where police are reluctant to use
aggressive violence against visibly peaceful people. (they soon steam in
if they can instigate a disturbance!!!) the recent March for Social Justice
was exceptional, best party in years, good turnout, solid attitude, joyous
and celebratory. Deep respect to RTS (for flags banners and front). Anyway,
to get back to the plot. We would very much like to take our little boy
into the Stones for solstice. We've always been too skint to be New Age
travellers, we could never have got a coach together, we don't drive anyway.
Indigenous land rights, self- sufficient agricultural tenancies, communal
farms as a social right of choice. Human rights for pagan rites on ancient
sites! Sorry to drivel on, it's late, and my pipe dreams are jumping out
onto the page. If Tribal Messenger comes back this year, please let me
know. Hope to meet up in the Temple! Keep a little Wally Hope in your heart!
Chin Chin Picti
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Visiting Rights to the Stones
In the winter of 1977 my wife
and I visited Stonehenge, as I recollect there was no kiosk, no ropes,
and no ladies with middle class English accents telling people where they
could and could not go. In those days we could walk amongst the stones,
touch them, a tenuous link across thousands of years, I am an engineer,
I don't marvel at what these guys did, I know what they did, what it cost
and what sort of society had to exist to bear that cost. The stones were
not put there to be fenced off or protected, they were part of a vibrant
developing infrastructure, the nearest anolagy I can draw today would be
our shopping malls. The point I'm trying to make is that we need to be
able to go among the stones, touch them, absorb the ambience of the slowly
passing centuries. The structure was built to be used, not preserved, the
whole community must have supported the development otherwise it could
not have been done. You did not build Stonehenge, you have no right to
deny people access, even if it means the eventual destruction of the site,
that is not important, to be of any value, to respect the memory of the
people who built it we must use it. Cut the ropes, set the stones free.
They do not belong to the Government, tourists, or even to the local people,
they should be free to follow their own destiny, accessible to all even
if it leads to the destruction of the monument as we know it. I cannot
believe the presumption of the people who in 1993 denied us contact with
the stones. Regards, Reddog
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello all, Good to see there
are so many people involved, that's the only way though, to keep up the
fight. I was at the Stones this year, not for the sunrise unfortunately,
alas the journey down (made it eventually phew!!) Received your summer
newsletter, sitting bewildered by the fence at all the tourists. I myself
would never pay to go beyond that fence, when the rights of freedom are
returned to the people, Stonehenge will then share its beauty with us,
and to see this ancient Sacred site free from the greed of mankind would
surely touch the soul of any man. Peace, love and happiness, Mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CALL TO ARMS, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING On the fifth of November this year 1997 King Arthur Pendragon, Pagan Priest and Druid Swordbearer appears before Southwark Court in London on charges relating to his possession of his Ritual Dagger and Ceremonial and Magical Sword, Excalibur Arthur claims, should he lose and Excalibur be destroyed, it will not only affect himself and his sword of Britain but every other Ceremonial Sword and Ritual Dagger in the Isles. It is his vowed intention to rally at Stonehenge for a Wiccan Ritual midnight, Samhain, followed by a dawn Druid Ceremony on 1st November and a march on London. Just as the Arthur of old pulled the Sword from the Stone he shall pull Excalibur from the stonework and Southwark of London. In celebration of this he is calling for a day of Inaction, or national strike and public holiday. It is his intention to march with Bards, Jugglers and Minstrels in carnival procession. If you can't make it to his party, robe up, strap on your sword or atheme, have the day off, hold your own, for the millenium party starts here. The Sword and the Stones, Stonehenge Samhain '97. The Peoples of Britain will celebrate throughout the nation with fireworks after his victory on the 5th of November, will they not? KING ARTHUR LOYAL ARTHURIAN WARBAND BCM GAIA, London WC1N 3XX (The charges were thrown out and the sword returned.)
ACCESS: Those who saw our summer
newsletter may remember that when Salisbury District Council 'reluctantly'
approved, in April, the solstice ban for this summer, they “promised every
effort would be made to restart talks within next six months to try to
find a solution in time for the 1998 solstice.” “Nothing would be ignored
in an attempt to solve the problems... in talks between English Heritage,
police, councillors, travellers, Druids and other interested groups.” Is
anyone surprised that they have done absolutely nothing in the following
eight months? There were arrests as usual on Solstice day, but no charges.
On midsummers day (Jun 24), English Heritage allowed an unknown group of
80 American and other Druids into the Stones and told the media, some of
which confused this with the Solstice. At the Autumn Equinox, the small
group gathered at the Heelstone were surprised to be let in for the sunrise.
What this means for the future is unclear, and English Heritage were careful
not to inform the press this time. Then on Hallowe’en a group of people
who booked, paid and agreed to various conditions were able to perform
a ceremony. Those who had also come on the quest for Excalibur were, however,
refused access for the sunrise the following morning. Will the Stones be
closed at Winter Solstice? English Heritage aren’t saying. Don’t bother
trying to get in next midsummer’s day- there is a performance of A Midsummer
Night’s Dream there. It’s not open to the general public and tickets are
£300. [English Heritage have pointed out that this price is for a
holiday package, and that EH members will eventually be offered tickets
for the play only for £15]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VISITOR CENTRE: When the huge
Stonehenge Visitor Centre at Amesbury (and the last-minute scaled down
version at Larkhill) was turned down for funding by the Millenium fund
in June, the government hinted in a House of Lords debate that they might
get the money for an even smaller scheme at Larkhill from the Heritage
Lottery Fund. (One Tory Lord pointed out that in ancient times there were
regular festivals at Stonehenge, and that holding festivals could help
pay for improvements. He said that festivals he saw there in the 80's 'had
problems' but were 'rather delightful.') Local Tory MP Robert Key then
suggested the Stones should be closed to the public until money was found
for a solution. The PM told him it was ' not necessary or sensible to close
Stonehenge.' Last month the Heritage Lottery Fund was cut in half, making
it, as one report put it, 'harder to fund major schemes such as restoring
the downland setting of Stonehenge.' Later in November, Culture Secretary
Chris Smith visited the site and talked to local politicians. He said that
the MoD no longer objected to an access road being built from the north-east
to a Larkhill site. (The proposed site is not at Larkhill, but alongside
the Cursus where the track crosses it). Locals do still object, not wanting
the traffic. But they do want an enlarged A303, whatever the effect on
the setting of the Stones. They want a Visitor Centre west of the Stones,
opposite Fargo Woods. Apparently all options are open again, even the expensive
long tunnel ruled out by the last regime, and other sites for a Centre.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear editors,
What about an eco-village, Wandsworth style visitor's centre on a suitable
site near Stonehenge? They have been very much to the point (vegetable
kitchens, compost loos etc) and architecturally least offensive of all
the options and as similar to the ancient customs as they existed when
Stonehenge was built. Just a suggestion but this could look beautiful and
serve a useful purpose and within our capabilities and dare I say, pockets.
This could be put in place by the Millennium.
John Rety.
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STANTON DREW: English Heritage
recently announced the discovery of evidence of what has been described
as 'the largest prehistoric building ever found anywhere in the world.'
A magnetic scan of the soil at the largest of the group of stone circles
at Stanton Drew, seven miles south of Bristol, revealed a complex of more
than 400 buried pits inside the stones. This appears to consist of nine
concentric rings, 23 to 95 metres in diameter, of holes roughly 1m in size
and spacing. These are assumed to have held posts for a huge open or roofed
structure, about 5000 years ago. Thought to be 'of comparable significance
to Stonehenge', the finding of yet another remarkable prehistoric site
is making some archaeologists wonder if they should be looking for a lost
civilisation in Britain. The site is aligned on the midsummer sunrise,
and English Heritage officials are reported to have said that 'it is likely
the discovery will become a place of pilgrimage for those following alternative
lifestyles and believers in earth powers.' Their chairman Jocelyn Stevens,
had an explanation from the right wing of archaeology for the site; 'They
were expressing their power by building these great rings, just as we are
celebrating the Millennium by building a huge dome.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCALIBUR: Arthur Pendragon was
arrested by the Met. at the RTS March for Social Justice in Tralalgar Square
in April, and his sword confiscated as an 'offensive weapon.' Although
other police forces had already decided it was okay for Arthur to wear
the sword, the Met. threatened to destroy Excalibur. After a Samhain rally
at Stonehenge and a four day march to London, Arthur successfully reclaimed
the sword at Southwark Crown Court on Nov 5th.
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Tribal Voices Co-operative has grown from the magic of the campfire, from the sense of comradeship we have found, coming together as one people to fight against the destruction of our common heritage: Our sacred sites, hallowed hills and ancient forests are under constant threat from modern lifestyles, consumerism, "growth", building, fast cars, new roads, pollution and destruction. Gathering the tribes at the head of the Dragon' on Twyford Down, we made our stand. Empowered by nature's forces and a tangible connection with our ancestors - We focussed on our cause with painted faces, music and pixie pranks - We defied the diggers and the media looked on with interest. We held the moral ground, Non-Violent Direct Action was news at Twyford - M11/London, Solsbury Hill, Newbury, Fairmile and many other protest camps. Four years later, the roads programme has been cut back, the Government announcing that there will be no more new roads and an ever growing army of ordinary folk who are prepared to say "No" to the injustices of our society. We have time to reflect on the messages we are giving to the public, to become even more environmentally aware, to find harmony with nature, living low impact lifestyles. We find our true identities. Clive & Chrissy We have two cassette tapes, 'Tribal Voices 1' and 'Tribal Voices 2' for sale, and hope to produce more in the future , and CDs, videos, etc. The tapes cost £5.50 each (inc p & p), cheques payable to "Tribal Voices", from Tribal Voices, 73 Brailsford Rd, Brixton, London. SW2 2TB
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Review by diceGeorge of Merrick's book "BATTLE FOR THE TREES"
isbn-0-9529975-0-9 (£3)
I feared it'd be a name-droppy list of super-heroes but no: 'twas from
the heart; his story of 3 months at Newbury 1996: what he did and how it
felt and how it changed him, what we want freedom from of tobacco, frozen
eggs, local baths and chocolate, of sharing biscuits with security guards,
of bonking quietly so's not to wake others, of a shitpit named "Rendel",
of blind police, of Susanna's lockon, of danger, and burnout, of saving
three trees at Mary Hare, of Josh's strange brew of roots and herbs - how
will you explain it in 23 years? ********************************************
********************************************
NO LETTER FROM KARELIA ** dec97 **
The last line from september's letter (PPS congrats to Blair - the People's
PM) was cut - allegedly from lack of space. I'd spent weeks writing that
cheeky line: cutting it spoilt the letter's balance. (1984ish Young Liberal
News changed from "Heroin and alcohol are dangerous and addictive
drugs that ought to be illegal" to "Heroin and Cannabis are..."
and 1985 RifRaf Poets made over 100 changes: libel - I still want "right
to reply",dg. (but GreenAnarchist and others never changed a word
or line-end)).- (I write "letters" or "poems" not "articles":
it fences my opinions / mistakes / wordage/ prejudices / jokes / ideas
/ diceisms from those of the magazine, and vice versa. (see webpage dicepubl.htm)
So I will not write here of Equinox, how our lot overslept by the west
track and missed getting into the Stones again! love from your hypergolicky
pseudographer, www.geocities.com/soho/9000/DiceGeorge.html ********************************************
===== from (dice) George === visiting chic ====
http://www.geocities.com/soho/9000/dicegeor.htm http://www.geocities.com/soho/9000/whatley.htm http://www.geocities.com/soho/9000/gs9-site.htm ====== dicegeorge@geocities.com ==========
"Stonehenge Reclaimed"
One misty morn on Salisbury
Plain
A swirling came about
A snake of people circling in
From east, north, west and south
Before the dawn they did arise
Before the sun they crept
Into ancient henge of stone
Across the plain they swept
This place, since ancient
times has seen
Great many a celebration
The rituals of joy and mirth
For earth and her changing seasons
A circle of people, a circle
of stones
Double helix spiral dance
Weave together, twine as one
Life force creation pulse!
We give our love to the sacred
earth
We people wild and free!
Our mother calls us home to her
And now we must take heed
It has begun - it has begun!
The magic of the land
We move as we are meant to do
Rekindling spirit, hand in hand
But violence has scarred this
place
Where sun and moon are bound
Blood of tribal people spilt
And marked this sacred ground
Now ten long years have passed
since then
One score one hundred moons and two
The wheel of fortune, changing, turns
And now we come anew
And somewhere, somehow, midst
the web
The dark ones lose their power
And our hearts, touching, touch the earth
We root, and now, we flower
And so returns the dragon
green
Returns the dragon red
And by her fiery spirit flame
Are earth and people fed
And midst the Stones we danced
and sang
A magic day was truly seen
Until the golden sun did set
Over our land, lush and green.
Selena
Year Index