With fear of nuclear war increasing, a Peace Camp was set up at Upper Heyford on The Portway, outside the airbase eastern perimeter fence, on Easter Sunday 1982 . It was argued that The Portway was a public right of way that had been closed illegally by the British Ministry of Defence.
“The peace camp was very much inspired by the women at Greenham Common and the movement against the deployment of Cruise missiles. But we were equally opposed to Russian nuclear re-armament and in fact five peace campers were arrested for protesting outside the Russian Embassy”.
“Peace camps like the ones at Upper Heyford and Greenham as well as CND’s mass demonstrations helped give voice to the public’s rising concern about nuclear escalation and possible conflict. Thankfully in 1987 the first of a number of nuclear disarmament treaties was signed by Gorbachev and Reagan.”
USAF Law Enforcement had no jurisdiction to arrest British citizens. Security for Gate 7, nearest the Peace Camp, became the responsibility of British Ministry of Defence Police who could arrest protesters.
“The Ravens were seen as an escalation of the nuclear arms race similar to Cruise missiles. The extension was occupied by supporters of the peace camp until their eviction in 1983”.
“Hand painted peace symbols and anti-nuclear signs were hung on the fence along with bouquet of wilted or dead flowers and strands of faded bunting. A handful of motley looking hippy-like characters could be seen cooking lunch on a smoking barbeque pit. I wondered how this Wing Commander kept his job. (Three years later) I was shocked to see a festering eyesore camp. This has got to go. It didn’t take long to discover how difficult that order might be”.
Visit the Upper Heyford Heritage Centre to discover the story of the RAF Upper Heyford Peace Camp and the protesters campaign against US nuclear weapons.