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The Modern Antiquarian Forum » Stonehenge » Battle of the Beanfield book and launch |
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andy worthington 25 posts |
Jun 17, 2005, 10:42
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Hi all, Out now: 'The Battle of the Beanfield', edited by Andy Worthington, with photos and contributions by Alan Lodge, Tim Malyon, Neil Goodwin, Gareth Morris, Alan Dearling and others. Enabler Publications presents the first full-length book about an event that has gone down in modern British folk history as 'The Battle of the Beanfield.' 'The Battle of the Beanfield' took place on June 1st 1985, after a convoy of new travellers, peace protestors, green activists and festival-goers had set off from Savernake Forest in Wiltshire to establish the 12th annual free festival at Stonehenge. They never reached their destination. Eight miles from the Stones they were ambushed, assaulted and arrested with unprecedented brutality by a quasi-military police force of over 1,300 officers drawn from six counties and the MoD. As well as suppressing the festival and introducing a summer solstice 'exclusion zone' around Stonehenge that lasted until the year 2000, 'The Battle of the Beanfield' also marked the start of a concerted effort to 'decommission' the whole of the new travellers' movement. This book, published to mark the 20th anniversary of 'The Battle of the Beanfield', is the combined effort of a large number of people who feel passionately that only through reaching an understanding of what actually occurred before, during and after 'The Battle of the Beanfield' can a proper 'closure' take place for those involved and the many people who have been in some way touched by it. The 14 chapters feature extracts from the police radio log and in-depth interviews with a range of people who were there on the day – including travellers, journalists Nick Davies and Kim Sabido, the Earl of Cardigan and Deputy Chief Constable Ian Readhead – as well as Lord Gifford QC, who represented 24 of the travellers at the Beanfield trial in 1991. These accounts cut through the myths, misconceptions and propaganda that have built up around 'The Battle of the Beanfield' to present a detailed picture of what actually did happen. Also included are many previously unseen photos, a description of the making of the documentary 'Operation Solstice', and chapters which set the events of the Beanfield in context. These look at the evolution of the free festival scene, new travellers, convoys and peace protestors, 'raves' and road protests, the campaigns for access to Stonehenge, and the wider implications of the events of the Beanfield, through increasingly draconian legislation, on civil liberties in the UK. If anyone's at the Glastonbury Festival, I'll be holding a book launch throughout the day on Saturday 25th June at the Groovy Movie Picture House in the Green Fields, followed at 8 pm by a mini-film festival ('Operation Solstice' and other Stonehenge-related films) and a short talk on 'The legacy of the Beanfield'. For further information on 'The Battle of the Beanfield', please visit: www.andyworthington.co.uk All the best, Andy
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andy worthington 25 posts |
Jun 29, 2005, 15:44
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London book launch Wednesday July 6th, 7.30 pm at the Moot with No Name, upstairs at the Devereux pub, Devereux Court, London WC2. I'll also be giving a talk on 'The legacy of the Beanfield'. The Devereux is opposite the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand, down the alleyway next to the George pub. All the best, Andy For further info on 'The Battle of the Beanfield' and 'Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion', visit: www.andyworthington.co.uk
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VenerableBottyBurp 675 posts |
Jul 05, 2005, 12:36
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I have just read this book and remain stunned - I thought I knew this episode quite well but there was much more going on than I knew, and in recollection much much more than I had remembered. We owe it to those involved and to democracy to never forget what happenned at the BofB, so this book is a must read - and very good value. Good job Andy, VBB
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andy worthington 25 posts |
Jul 28, 2005, 10:30
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Hi all, Just to let you know about a few forthcoming events as part of the 20th anniversary of the Battle of the Beanfield, and promotion of the new book The Battle of the Beanfield (Enabler Publications, 2005): The Big Green Gathering: Wednesday 3 August, 5.40 pm, Green Forum: I'll be giving a talk on 'The Battle of the Beanfield and its legacy' Date and time tbc (probably Saturday 6 August), AMARE (Alternative Media and Renewable Energies area): Showing of the Beanfield documentary 'Operation Solstice' Further info on the BGG at: www.big-green-gathering.com Shambala Festival: Friday 12 August, 7 pm, Rebel Soul: I'll be giving a talk on the history of free festivals, followed by a showing of 'Operation Solstice' at 8 pm Sunday 14 August, time tbc, 7 Inch Cinema: Showing of 'Operation Solstice' followed by a talk on 'The legacy of the Beanfield' Further info on Shambala at: www.shambalafestival.org An excerpt from a chapter of The Battle of the Beanfield (from an interview with traveller Phil Shakesby, who drove the lead vehicle in the convoy on the day) is online on the Urban 75 site: www.urban75.com/Action/beanfield.html All the best, Andy Andy is the editor of The Battle of the Beanfield and the author of Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion (Alternative Albion, 2004). www.andyworthington.co.uk
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andy worthington 25 posts |
Oct 19, 2005, 12:11
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Hi there, A couple more Beanfield anniversary events: Tuesday 25th October, 7pm, Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX. As part of Housmans' 60th anniversary celebrations, there will be a showing of the Beanfield documentary 'Operation Solstice' followed by my talk about 'The legacy of the Beanfield'. Hopefully, one of the film's directors, Neil Goodwin, will also be present to answer questions. Further info at: www.housmans.com/ Saturday 12th November, throughout the day, The Speaking Tree, 5 High Street, Glastonbury BA6 9DP. On the day of the Glastonbury Carnival, I'll be signing copies of The Battle of the Beanfield. Further details (possible film showing and talk) to be announced. Further info: www.speakingtree.co.uk/ or call: 01458 835974. All the best, Andy Worthington Andy is the editor of The Battle of the Beanfield (Enabler, 2005), described by Ronald Hutton as 'probably the definitive work on its subject, something very rarely achieved in practice', and the author of Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion (Alternative Albion, 2004), described by SchNEWS as 'by far the best bit of modern British social history I've seen'. Further info at: www.andyworthington.co.uk Please feel free to forward this information to other lists.
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