LAP supporters gathered on Friday 12th July at the FMH in Norwich in the evening, Some had never met each other before so it was good to eat together and make some final preparations for the next day. About 10 of us were soon sleeping on our mats having come from the other side of the country. It was great to see the peace dove banner hanging on the wall that had been made in the 1980’s.
Saturday morning we gathered at the steps of Norwich City Hall where Tom sang some songs to the crowd of supporters. 10.30am Angie Zelter spoke a few words to introduce LAP and the reasons for our walk and camp and then Sirajul Islam the Sheriff of Norwich, welcomed us in a personal capacity, and gave us his support. At 11am the Norwich XR Samba Band led around 50 people through Norwich, handing out leaflets. It was a colourful crowd with lots of banners and flags.
4 cyclists positioned around us gave us some protection from passing traffic as we walked the 10 miles to Wymondham. There we held a short rally with music and talks before camping out at the United Reform Church.
4 amazing volunteers from The People’s Opposition in Coventry had already got themselves organised so were able to serve us with a hot meal and then left breakfast materials for the next morning. They continued to cook and provide us with delicious vegan food throughout the walk and camp.
The route became extremely dangerous and with no support from the police to halt traffic we instead spent Sunday holding a rally in Thetford Market Place with talks, music and leafleting. It was good to reach out to local people who knew little about the nuclear weapons coming back to Lakenheath. Dick shared some interesting local history about Thomas Paine (1737-1809), as we clustered around his statue!
Monday, 15th July, found us rallying in Brandon where we sang, played music, and were interviewed by the press. 12 women who had all been at Greenham Common in the 1980’s were interviewed and photographed, explaining why they had joined LAP and become active again to prevent the nuclear escalation ramping up towards a nuclear war that now seemed more likely than ever.
We had our lunch, and then walked a few miles out of Brandon. When the pavements petered out we got in supporters’ cars to get to the Lakenheath viewing area where loads of plane spotters were gathered. As we walked the last 3 miles along the military base fence line we were subjected to the horrendous noise of F-35A fighter planes taking off and landing almost continuously.
The cyclists, who had cycled the whole route from Norwich, arrived first and were soon joined by the walkers at USAF Lakenheath Gate 1 – the main entrance. Quickly the banners went up on both sides of the road entrance into the base, gazebos appeared and the 24/7 vigil started. Pop up tents and flags appeared across the road directly opposite the legally designated vigil area, as the peace camp was also set up.
Maybe because of the positive news coverage we had received, or the fact that a new government had just been elected, or because of our own police liaison work, we were able to set up our peaceful presence with no hassle from our Suffolk police and with the US soldiers and guards keeping behind their fence.
A great feeling of success and joy was expressed along with relief that we had finally arrived.
Marcus, Sue and Angie, as the LAP police liaisons, made contact with the Suffolk police liaisons, and were soon told that the owners of the land -Eleveden Estates – where we had put up some tents for our peace camp had demanded that we leave or we would be taken to court. We decided we would remain as we were doing no harm. Soon other campaigners began pitching their tents and there was a neat row of 8 unassuming tents for people to sleep in. Most of our LAP supporters found other safer commercial camp-sites near by. We never did get any court summons for camping.
The Suffolk police were a friendly bunch and we informed them that tomorrow we would be delivering a letter to the base commanders at 11am and they said they would allow 2 people over the white demarcation line (between American and UK controlled land!) into the visitors centre to do this. It was a serious offence to do this without authorisation.
We had our evening circle to check who was sleeping where and agreed a rota for the first overnight vigil, and discussed the programme for the next day. Our food area was soon set up with a table under another gazebo just in time for the arrival of another wonderful hot meal.
That night it poured with rain and the night vigilers all got drenched. The hot sun the next day dried everything out just in time as lots of people arrived for our first full day. The p.a. system worked well as speeches and workshops took place with Zareen from Cambridge Stop the War and Bimal from MEDACT. While Marcus and Sue delivered the letter inside the base Angie read out the letter to the base commanders – see the letter at https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/letter-to-be-delivered-to-the-main-gate-of-usaf-lakenheath-by-lap-on-tuesday-16th-july-2024/
A group of activists started the ‘fluffy’ actions, which were negotiated with the Suffolk police. Blocking the entrance into the base for just a few minutes with umbrellas that said NO WAR. Pete took a group of protesters around the outside perimeter of the large base so we could see where the runways and hangers were.
It was encouraging to see so many people from Cambridge, Peterborough, Manchester, Cornwall and Wales who joined us for the day, some of whom stayed over for a few more days.
The following days we all settled into our routines and tasks making sure there was a welcome area, the vigil area, room for the workshops to take place and keeping the whole area tidy. More banners were made including one large one saying ‘WE LOVE AMERICANS, WE HATE NUKES’.
One extremely hot day, which along with the noise of the planes, was very wearing, an American serviceman in his uniform came to the camp and presented us with a 2 packs of bottled water saying he was thinking of us in the heat. He even took out 2 bottles from the pack to take over to one of our activists sitting with a banner on the other side of the main gate. What a wonderful gesture.
More umbrellas with one letter on each were attached to the fence on the opposite side of the main gate. They spelled out the message ‘DEMILITARISE 4 SECURITY’.
Saturday 20th July soon arrived with more supporters coming to visit and a coach from Norwich. Some members of the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace spoke – Angie Zelter (Trident Ploughshares) see https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/talk-at-usaf-lakenheath/ Kate Hudson (CND), Gary Champion (Green Party), and Zareen Taj (Cambridge Women in Black).
Police converged on them and said they had to go back over the line to negotiate but 2 of the women, Angie Zelter and Ginnie Herbert sat down and refused to move. They were arrested for SOCPA and Aggravated Trespass and taken to Bury St. Edmunds Police Investigation Centre.
They were released without charge 24 hours later on Sunday at around 3pm and told they were bailed off a large area containing Lakenheath and Mildenhall and had to return to the police station later as the CPS had not yet determined what they should be charged with.
The camp continued as did the 24/7 vigil. Local people started coming by with cakes and support. It emerged that there was deep disquiet locally about the noise and chemical pollution caused by the military and great fear about the nuclear weapons returning.
The camp started winding down from Tuesday 23rd onwards but there was singing and dancing on Wednesday as the welcome table was dismantled and various tents and gazebos taken down. A final closing ceremony took place on the morning of Thursday 25th July and the banners taken down. The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace Camp left a gift of an olive tree to the USAF Base Commanders.
We came in peace, we leave in peace, we will return in peace.
This gentle start to our campaign will grow and get stronger. We need to get groups trained up all over the country to engage in nononviolent effective direct action inside this airbase – on the runways, in the hangars, disrupting NATO war plans and preventing nuclear weapons returning. So after rest and recuperation we all need to encourage the forming of local affinity groups all around the country. LAP can provide trainers and advice. The next camp will be from Monday 14th April to Friday 25th April 2025, so put these dates in your diaries. There will also be monthly vigils taking place in the run up to the camp on every last Saturday of each month except December starting 31st August. Please keep in contact for more information and to support us.
Contact us at info@lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk 4
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