Over the first weekend of August in sunny weather, the sixth Peace News Summer Camp was held in the idyllic setting of a clover field on an organic beef farm in Suffolk. WILPF responded to an invitation to share the introduction to a workshop: Gaining Power – Women in the anti-war resistance to the First World War. Ali Ronan, historian of the early years of the Women’s International League, and Sheila Triggs, introduced the story of WILPF’s holistic approach to the challenges of war for women one hundred years ago and now. The workshop, which included some WILPF members, responded with enthusiasm.
WILPF member Elizabeth Bourn had volunteered to introduce campers to knitting for the seven mile “Wool Against Weapons” pink peace scarf rolled out a week later between the Aldermaston and Burghfield nuclear bomb factories. Elizabeth gathered wool and prepared bits of knitting to help volunteers to get started. During the lunch break campers gathered to learn and contribute. Before we left, we rolled out the pink scarf section from Orpington WILPF and received new pieces, in particular from Women in Black, Madrid.
Sarah Lasenby and Gill Knight (WILPF members) also led workshops at the camp, which caters for children as well as adults. The Peace News Summer Camp is scheduled to take place at the same farm next year and will be a good opportunity for WILPF to show the film of our history and offer workshops.
Author: Sheila Triggs