CND’s peace prize ceremony

On the 10th December 2017, the Nobel Peace Laureate took centre stage in Oslo to collect the 2017 prize. This year's peace prize was awarded to ICAN, the global network which supported the 122 states backing the new UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

CND, along with other members of ICAN-UK, hosted their own ceremony outside the Ministry of Defence to mark the prestigious award and raise awareness about the UN ban treaty. Veteran campaigner Bruce Kent presented ‘awards’ to those campaigners present. Other speakers will included journalist Victoria Brittain, Sheila Triggs from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – a previous Nobel peace laureate, Dr Michael Orgel from Medact and Kate Hudson from CND.

Sheila Triggs and other London members join CND’s celebration of the Nobel Peace Prize award at the MoD with Bruce Kent, 9 Nov 2017

Helen John memorial meeting

30 September 1937 to 5 November 2017

A public memorial for Helen John, co-founder of the Greenham Common Womens Peace Camp and former CND Vice Chair took place in Shipley, West Yorkshire, on 10 December, following Helen’s death in November, aged 80.

London CND chair Carol Turner, a long-time friend of Helen, read a message from Labour Party leader and CND Vice President Jeremy Corbyn:

‘I am so sorry at the death of Helen John. I knew Helen for many years and was always impressed by her penetrating honesty and determination to create a world of peace. She inspired and taught in equal measure that concentrating on improving people's lives, inspiring young people to create a world of cooperation  and peace not war was the right way forward. She lived her life for peace and her presence at Greenham, Faslane, Molesworth, Menwith Hill, Fylingdales showed her practical energy and enthusiasm. I know today is one of sadness but in this we have all learned from Helen and will continue to.’

The Kirkgate Centre was packed by peace movement activists, many from Yorkshire CND. A short humanist address was followed by testaments from friends and co-campaigners, including CND chair Dave Webb, and songs from a community choir. The memorial took place nearby Otley and Keighley where Helen lived in the latter part of her life.

Read Carol Turner’s tribute [‘Helen John remembered’ in News]

London CND saddened by death of Helen John

“Helen John will be remembered and missed by thousands of activists in London and beyond with whom she connected.
”

— Carol Turner, London CND Chair

Everyone in London CND will be saddened by the loss of Helen John, who died on Sunday 5 November 2018, aged 80. Helen was an exceptional figure. Her determined and imaginative actions inspired new generations of young peace campaigners for over 20 years. Many of us remember her ongoing involvement in London CND’s work for over a decade. 

Helen is best known as a co-founder of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp in the early 1980s where she lived for many years, opposing US cruise missiles stationed in Britain. During that time she shared a flat in East London with her partner, regularly welcoming a stream of CND and other peace campaigners to the home they called ‘Grotsville’.

Helen’s nuclear disarmament journey began when she joined around 40 others, mainly women, on a100-mile walk from a nuclear warhead components factory in Cardiff to Greenham Common airbase near Newbury. The march didn’t attract much publicity, so a few of the women decided to stay until their actions got noticed. Thus began what was to become a 19-year long women’s peace camp.

From then on Helen became a dedicated direct actionist, challenging militarism and asserting her right to protest for more than 25 years, until ill health brought an end to her activities. After she left Greenham, in the 1990s she set up camp at Menwith Hill, a US spy base near Harrogate – a caravan at the side of the A59 in the beautiful West Yorkshire countryside. Her final campaign, in the early 2000s was directed at RAF Waddington in Lincoln, the main operating base for UK drones.

Helen was an unflagging international campaigner too. She is still known and remembered in peace movement circles across North America and Europe. Her activities included as a member of the Global Network against Nuclear Power and Weapons in Space.

Her rich experiences of the peace movement were brought to bear on CND. Helen served first as a National Councillor of CND UK and then as a Vice-Chair in 2001-4. She was present, on behalf of CND, at the founding meeting of the Stop the War Coalition in October 2001.

London CND chair Carol Turner said 'Helen John will be remembered and missed by thousands of activists in London and beyond with whom she connected.'