The Abingdon Peace Group gathered at St Ethelwold’s House on Sunday afternoon to celebrate 43 years of campaigning for peace. The event was attended by past and present members of the group and friends from other peace groups nearby.
A display of photos, leaflets, and newsletters from the group’s history gave a glimpse into the group’s work over the years. A few of the people in attendance had been involved with the group since its early days.
One of them, Sally Reynolds, the group’s secretary, was presented with a Pax Christi Peace Award, which celebrates the work and commitment of peacemakers in the UK. Sally said she received the award on behalf of the group and thanked everyone for their support over the years.
The group also held a vigil at 8:15am on Sunday morning, the time the bomb exploded over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. This vigil was held in memory of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and to call for a world without nuclear weapons.
The event also included a tribute to Mike Bloom, the group’s chairman and editor of the newsletter, who died a few days ago. His loss will be deeply felt by the Abingdon Peace Group.
What a productive day! What a productive 40 years. Many congratulations to you all.
Erm….productive? Lol!
I agree. How is a vigil productive? And what have the group actually produced/achieved in 43 years? Not much peace around the world.
The two preceding comments are rather uncalled, especially in the circumstances, albeit somewhat predictable.
Hi Freddie, what meaningful campaigning or meaningful change has the peace group achieved?
What circumstances? It’s very sad that someone has died of course, but the vigil had nothing to do with that as I read it.
Better to light a candle perhaps than sit and curse the darkness ?
The fact that there isn’t peace in the world doesn’t make the Peace Group’s vigils any less meaningful. Who knows what influence they may have? Good for them reminding us of the horrors of war. God bless their efforts.