In the (disputed) words of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons ‘What a day late July 2018. What a very special day for us, what a festival, what a day’.
The annual pilgrimage to a small Dorset village to rejoice at the sacrifices of men, women and children who have gone before and those amongst us and those yet to come. Confronting the barbarism and bigotry of those who inherited wealth and power. Laying the path so that one day, hopefully sooner rather than later, we can all embrace a much nicer, better world.
Carless and proud we got the train to Dorchester and then the shuttle bus to Tolpuddle. Smooth as a proverbial.
Straight in to the throng.
Every year we walk around all the stalls and the children (ages 9 to 51) get their freebies.
We chat and learn. Our favourite this year were the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) who dressed up our youngest Millie.
At the heart of this year’s message was Grenfell and the justice that must be served.
The arrival of Jeremy and the symbolism of challenging the malignancy at the heart of the power making currently residing in the country is greeted with the now normal exuberance. He lead the procession through the village with Maxine Peake (and her dog Castro), Nigel Costley and Billy Bragg. Behind them a cast of hundreds celebrating the strength of unity (in many forms) that centuries of injustice have created.
A visit to James Hammet’s grave
The story of the Martyrs and this wonderful book will help give some much needed clarity across the land.
A quick interlude in the shade.
We then took some time out to have a chat with Geoff in the Fringe tent about whether trade unions should seek to discourage people from working in industries like nuclear and fast food…
Then for the speeches and the music.
The masses gathered in the beautiful sunshine:
Nigel Costley, Frances O’Grady and Jeremy. All inspirational. Nigel’s focus was the celebration of the centenary of women’s suffrage and the often forgotten women of the 1830’s. When the Martyrs have their stories told we must never forget the equal hardship of the women and children who had to struggle on alone.
The disgusting Tory government and its interminable fractures not only of themselves but of society as a whole was Frances’ theme.
And then Jeremy.
He nailed the debacle of the Tories and the lies of the corporate media. He condemned racism in all its forms from anti semitism to Islamophobia. He identified what the Labour Party will do in government especially in taxing the dodgers and increasing the opportunities for people being culled and savaged by ideological cuts.
There was a very significant anti Brexit feeling present with many people wearing ‘Bollocks to Brexit’ stickers and waving EU flags.
Personally I find both sides desperate for recognition but with a dogma that merely serves to alienate and undermine the arguments. Perhaps that is the intention whilst we are eaten by austerity and forget where the real problem lies.
Before the march I heard the wonderful Pele from across the fields and ran to catch the end of their set. They finished with this track. John Peel’s widow Sheila says that he could never listen to this track without crying. Nor can I. Magnificent.
The wonderful Misty in Roots followed Jeremy.
and then Billy Bragg
(clip from previous Tolpuddle Festival)
It is worth remembering that besides all the great vibe there is much anger within. Not all humans are good people. Some are nasty, malicious and practice subjugation. They are never far away from our thoughts.
And so homeward bound with a rapturous smile and weary heat filled limbs we go. Taking the eternal hope of salvation back to our homesteads and our communities. Till next year.
One final word from Lesley Anne Perrin who spoke to Jeremy’s bodyguard:
‘I met and chatted with his bodyguard (I didn’t know he had one). I told him our one biggest fear for JC is that he would have an ‘accident’. He looked me in the eye and said ‘you don’t have to worry, that won’t happen, I have his back, I would take a bullet for him, it’s what I am trained to do ” … I didn’t doubt a single word …
