The story of the Aldermaston Marches
... If we in NATO are attacked, we use nuclear weapons in our defence. The proviso is that the politicians have to be asked first. That might be a bit awkward, so personally I would use nuclear weapons first and ask afterwards....
LORD MONTGOMERY
(Deputy Supreme Allied
Commander NATO, 1956)
On Good Friday 1958, the first anti-nuclear march shuffled out of Trafalgar Square, heading for the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston. A high-minded moral protest which mixed duffle-coated students with Quakers, pacifists and the great and the good in sensible shoes, it set the pattern for protest rituals which characterised the British Easter during the 1960s. But did anyone in authority hear the chants of 'Ban the bomb'.. ? Compiled and produced by ALISTAIRWILSON BBC Manchester
(Re-broadcast on Tuesday at 8.30pm) 0 HEAR THIS! page 24 and INFO: page 92