September 5th 2021 marked 40 years since a group of women marched from Wales to RAF Greenham Common and set up a peace camp protesting against US nuclear weapons on British soil. The following events organised by Dr Guy Westwell (@FilmStudiesQMUL) and the Centre for Film and Ethics marked this anniversary and reflected on its commemoration, as well as celebrating the wider British peace movement, and its influence on, and connection to, contemporary protest movements such as Extinction Rebellion.
Mar 15-30, 2023, Greenham Women Everywhere Exhibition
In the BLOC exhibition space there was a two-week installation of exhibits produced by Greenham Women Everywhere as part of their work to archive and remember the Greenham protests, and pass on the legacy of the protests to future generations. There was a tent designed by artist Rachael Miles, that models the type of shelter used by the women in the camp and which was combined with a soundscape by composer Sarah Llewellyn combining oral testimonies, fascinating memories, stories, poems and songs from the Greenham women with original music. In addition, QR codes led to longer testimonies of individual women remembering their experiences at Greenham.
Mar 23 2023, 3-5pm, Screening of Ginger and Rosa (Sally Potter, 2012, 90 mins.)
In BLOC cinema. Sally Potter’s coming-of-age film set against the backdrop of 1960s peace activism was introduced by Dr Westwell.
Mar 30 2023, 6-9pm, Screening of Carry Greenham Home (Beeban Kidron, 1983, 66 mins.)
In BLOC cinema. The film, recorded over seven months by two film students, documents the Greenham peace protests. It was introduced by Rebecca Mordan, who first went to Greenham at the age of 5 with her mother, and is a member of the campaign group Greenham Women Everywhere. Rebecca also participated in the recreation of the Anniversary March in 2021 which followed the same route from Cardiff to Greenham taken by peace protesters in 1981