Veggies ARCHIVE - 2001 Events

Here are more of the events with which we were involved during 2001. With your help, we hope to expand the archive to include reports and reviews of more past events, including independent reports, campaign links and pictures (where available). You may be able to help by sending reports, or getting involved at Nottingham's Sumac Centre where we are based: 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham, NG7 6HX. Photos would be particularly welcomed, which we will scan onto the site, and immediately return. If anyone has a digital camera, why not become our 'staff photographer' at any of the forthcoming events shown on the diary.

JULY 2001

Thursday 5th - International Food Evening
Sneinton Hermitage Community Centre. Sneinton Festival: Chloe, Tracs : 958 4862

Saturday 7th - Newchurch Demo

Fri 13 - Sun 15th - Goddess Camp
3-day camp at Bestwood Country Park for women, men & kids, Pagans and like-minded friends.

Saturday 21st - Karl and Moira Hand Fasting/Wedding

27th - 30th - SHAC / Animal Rights Gathering
Workshops on all aspects of campaigning, legal briefings, working undercover, self-defence, camera work, dealing with the press etc. On-site catering by Veggies.

28th - 29th - Radical Routes Gathering

AUGUST 2001

Wednesday 1st - Sunday 5th - Earth First! Summer Gathering

Near Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Veggies Catering Campaign, a favourite from festivals and demos’ ran a cake and coffee bar at this years Gathering, provide tea, coffee and cake and basic provisions; flapjacks, chocolate, fruit etc.; as supplements to the Anarchist Teapots meals. All money from the proceeds of these sales will be used in the purchase and refurbishment of an activist and community, resource and social centre in Forest Fields Nottingham. Thanks go to the Volunteers who helped to run the stall

From the EF Action Update:
Summer Gathering 2001 - the one straw revolution! Hopefully, this year's summer gathering, held on a beautiful site in the Peak District, felt a bit different to people. The collective, at any rate, tried out some new ideas. We focused on making the gathering inclusive, welcoming and accessible - lots of thought was given to access for people with disabilities, and to making the gathering more friendly, especially to people new to EF! And then there were the straw bales!

Most people found the gathering warm and welcoming. The weather helped - hardly any rain! - but also we tried to meet people at the gate and give site tours, and we set up partnering and shadowing for people new to EF! gatherings. Shadowing worked well, and quite a few people new to the gathering got very involved in different areas, including facilitation and mediation. The wonderfully comfy library space helped the atmosphere no end. We also had wood-burners, which we didn't need, but if it had rained more they would have been invaluable - something to remember for every gathering.
We asked for feedback at the end, and we've taken all the comments on board - negative and positive. Other really positive aspects this year were the amazing red and yellow big top with straw (great as long as you didn't have asthma!), the presence of Veggies, the food generally, the kids' play, the facts that the gathering was energy self-sufficient (thanks to Alt Tech) and that we had dogs on site successfully this year.
This year's organising collective has decided to make the gathering website exist year-round, with useful information about preparing for the gathering, the feedback people gave us on their surveys etc - click here to check it out.
Further details from summergathering@yahoo.co.uk

4th - Saturday 18th August - Vegan Camp.

2 weeks at New Venue:Black Rock Sands Touring and Camping Park, Morfa Bychan, near Porthmadog on the North Wales Coast.
For the past 20 years each summer a group of Vegans (and those willing to be Vegan for at least the duration of the camp) have met at numerous venues around the country. People stay for a period varying from day visits to the full period of two weeks. We often have communal meals (sometimes with a talent show ), outings, and just general loungeabouts. We draw on the talents and enthusiasm on those attending to put on events which in the past has included such things as circus skills workshops (not lion taming), first aid lessons, rock climbing, surfing, meditation and we would welcome other events.
Occasional food by Veggies (0787 086 1837) between 8th & 18th. Ph:07967 361 510 or email

Saturday 11th - Huntingdon Campaign - National Demo.
Report from the Shoreham Protestor - September 2001
available by email from
Probably close to 1,000 people met up in Oxford and marched through the town after talks on the green. The public were very supportive and this clearly annoyed the upper ranks of the police as they went back on their promise not to use EGs or horses. On several occasions the police blocked the road and the brain dead coppers at the front just did as they were told without a clue as to why. Still, you don’t join the police to think! At one point batons were drawn after protesters went round a corner to try and continue on their route. The horses were used as battering rams in usual Thames Valley style and the police were in full body armour. In the scrum a 70 year old woman was knocked to the ground and had to be taken to hospital.
The march continued to Yamanouchi where there were more speeches from a stage set up outside. After most of us had returned to our minibuses we heard that police started pushing and shoving people and in the ensuing chaos 2 police officers were injured and some protesters were arrested. This was the bit the papers and TV news reported – not a word about the peaceful march. And they call themselves journalists!

Details from SHAC on 0845 458 0630 or email.

16th - 19th - C A N C E L L E D - Gwyl Werdd Cymru - Welsh Green Gathering.
Check out details for next year's event.

Thursday 23rd - Monday 27th - Green Up North
The Northern Green Gathering presented a new event: Green Up North! was a 5 day camp held on an organic farm in Yorkshire, with workshops & exhibitions with a specific theme of climate change - and fun stuff too including; acoustic music, a ceilidh, Veggies Food and a camp ball. This sustainable event was powered by the wind and sun.
Click for larger view Sam, James, Sam and the Kids Ceilidh monster.
See ngg website for more pictures. Northern Green Gathering - phone 0113 224 9885 or email

SEPTEMBER 2001

Sunday 2nd - Nottingham Green Festival
11am to 6pm on the River Trent Embankment. Featuring many campaign groups, stalls, music and Veggies Food . Admission free! Details: 0115 934 8458.

11th - 14th - A fiesta for life against death - Disarm the Arms Traders
DSEi is the "Defence Systems and Equipment" international arms sales exhibition and conference, held at the Excel Centre, in London's Docklands.
The Fiesta for Life Against Death assembled at Canning Town Station with drums and noisy stuff and Veggies Food, to Disarm DSEi and Reclaim the Streets!

See action reports from Squall website and www.disarm-trade.org . See also see Campaign Against the Arms Trade.


Sunday 16th - National Vegan Festival.
Food by Veggies at the National Vegan Festival 10am to 5pm . Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1 (nearest underground Holborn) . [map] . Featuring many campaign groups, animal shelters, speakers, music and Veggies Food . Admission £1, under 16's free! Details: 020 8670 9585 or email.


Saturday 29th - Raise Your Banners benefit.
Fundraiser at The Place, Sherwood, for 'Raise Your Banners', the festival of political song. An evening of cabaret with Nottingham Clarion Choir, Steel Magnolia all women steel band, Ragged Ramblers folk band and Veggies Food.


OCTOBER 2001
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Saturday 6th - . - Huntingdon Campaign - National Demo.
Report from the Shoreham Protester Issue 138.
It was a change of plan from a march around Stevenage and visit to GlaxoSmithKline there. GSK had erected 7ft high fencing to the front of their premises especially for us - tee hee, what a waste of time and effort. We switched counties to Cambridgeshire.
First port of call was 7 Riverside, London Road, St Ives, the bijou of Brian Cass, Director of HLS, a complex of executive town houses and apartments: boxes with windows and expensive with it. A fantastic 300 protesters stood outside chanting, shouting, blowing whistles, horns and waving banners. The helicopter and a handful of cops got sweaty under their collars shouting out inaudible warnings. Neighbours' agog faces looked out. We could have stormed his town house and run amok, the media and Cass would've loved that to fuel their anti AR propaganda, but today our very presence was enough effect.
Half the protesters stayed at Cass's whilst half of us moved onto The Brookers at 22 Nursery Close, St Ives. This couple have worked at HLS for 30 years. They were home but we didn't stay long, it's nice to know where they are though. One police officer threatened "If you don't leave I will arrest you", when asked for what for he replied "because I can", that would be unlawful we pointed out, "Yes it would be" he admitted with a shrug and a smirk.
Venue 3 - St Ives Town Centre - Just to let them know about who lives in the neighbourhood. After a few impromptu speeches we were on our way marching round town, spreading the word vocally, with leaflets and with stickers. Same old problem though - too many police with nothing to do, no brain cells and oozing testosterone, deciding to assert their position of power and try to dictate, control and bully protesters. They blocked a road to stop us (and anyone else) going on further - Oops that really pissed off the locals too. We decided to just turn round and go the opposite way - Doh! the police didn't figure on us being able to walk in a different direction. It was a typical innocent march on our parts, turned into a fiasco by unnecessary, incompetent and heavy handed policing.
Last but not least, we had heard that 2 brave demonstrators had spent all day (since 5 am) on the roof of a Director of Du Ponts house at 37 Green Lane, Letchworth, Herts.
Then homeward bound with our very own escort right to the county-line - but don't worry Hertfordshire, we'll be seeing you again.

Saturday 13th - . - Menwith Hill
International Day of Protests against George Bush's Star Wars Project at the American base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Food from Veggies and transport from Nottingham. Full Demo Report . Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases

Sunday 14th - . - Animal Rights Coalition Meeting
Networking for all campaigning groups and individuals. From 1pm at the Sumac Centre, the new home of Veggies at 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham. Veggies Food. Details from ARCNews:0845 458 0146 or email. For travel directions see this [map] or call the Sumac Centre/Veggies on 0845 458 9595

Tuesday 16th - . - McDonalds Campaign.
Global day of action to mark World Food Day. Everywhere.
McLibel Support Campaign, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1. 0171 713 1269 or email.
Adopt-YOUR-Store - leaflets £10 / 750 from Veggies, Nottingham NG7 6HX. Adopt-A-Store Network: 0845 458 9595 or email

Thursday 18th - . - Veggies 17th Anniversary!

Saturday 20th - : - 20th Annual Anarchist Book Fayre.
Camden Centre, London. Books, CDs, stalls, meetings, videos, creche and loads more. Ph:020-7242-8032 . Food from Veggies and transport from Nottingham:0845 458 9595.

Fri/Sat 26th/27th - . - Radical Routes Gathering in Glasgow.
The Rainbow Centre hopes to join at this one. Lots of support from Nottingham, and elsewhere, welcomed!

Saturday/Sunday 27th/28th - . - Genetic Engineering Network Gathering
Weekend gathering at MERCi Manchester Environmental Resource Centre initiative, for campaigning groups and individuals. Veggies Catering.

NOVEMBER
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Saturday 3rd - . - Neds Housewarming!

9th to 13th - Stop the WTO!
Protests coincide with the World Trade Organisation Meeting in Qatar. A call has gone out for stock exchanges to be blockaded, general strikes, street parties, and other acts of civil disobedience around the world. Worldwide.

Saturday 10th - . - Speakers Workshop.
Training for school/public speaking, especially re vivisection. 10am at the Sumac Centre, the new home of Veggies, at 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham. Veggies Food. Details from Ann at Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1AW. Ph:01732 364546 or email . For travel directions see this [map] or call the Sumac Centre/Veggies on 0845 458 9595

Saturday 10th - . - Vegan Society AGM
Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1 (nearest underground Holborn) . [map] . Food from Veggies from noon til 2pm meeting. Transport from Nottingham:0845 458 9595.

Friday 16th - . - Barry Horne 17/03/1952 - 05/11/2001
Barry's funeral at Midsummer Meadow Park,Northampton. Report from Greta by email:
What a beautiful day. I thought as the only reports so far have been from the press that I would put on this brief write up for anyone who was unable to make it. On arrival we all gathered on a green and the hearse was driven in with Barry. Barry had been prepared for a green burial, his body had not been embalmed using chemicals and he was in a pod made of papier mache with natural cotton lining & adorned with Celtic symbols. A blessing was given by a High Priestess and speeches from friends before all setting off behind Barry, who was carried on foot round Northampton, his home town.
There was then a huge tail back as he was taken to Olney green burial ground. I heard that when someone local was asked if Northampton had ever seen such a large funeral they replied yes Lady Di's. It was here that the pagan ritual was performed in a beautiful field where Barry was lowered in to the earth. It was on a hill and many people were holding large poles with purple flags, there was chanting "The river is flowing flowing and growing the river is flowing back to the sea, mother earth carry me your child I shall always be Mother Earth carry me back to the sea" The whole day had a regal feel to it, it was a true warrior's burial. His spot will be marked by an Oak tree that will receive nutrients from his body as it degrades. In time the plot of land will become an Oak woodland.
Also: 15th December was the tree-planting at Barry's grave. A single oak sapling was planted above where he was buried, and beside it a simple wooden plaque reading "Barry Horne 1952 - 2001".
As the years pass the plaque will decay and eventually disappear, but the oak will grow, feeding partly on the nutrients of Barry's remains. Eventually the area will evolve into a natural woodland, as the oak and hazel trees form a canopy, encouraging the colonisation of the area by a wide variety of animals birds and insects.
The site is open to the public, at Olney between Northampton and Bedford.
See also http://www.arkangelweb.org/barry

Saturday 17th - . - Cornerstone!

Sunday 18th - . - Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty
Barry Horne memerial demo at HLS Lab gates.

Sunday 18th - . - Stop The War
National demonstration called by the Stop the War Coalition. Noon. Hyde Park. War Kills Animals Too.

DECEMBER
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Saturday 1st - . - ONE WORLD CHRISTMAS FAIR
YMCA, Shakespeare Street, Nottingham. If you're looking for inspiration for presents, look no further than the One World Fair, where you'll find a selection of crafts, gifts and foodstuffs from around the world, along with charity Christmas cards. Even if you just need a rest from the crowds, call in and enjoy a free cup of Fairtrade coffee.
Organised by the International Development Forum, the event features stalls from Oxfam, Traidcraft, Central American Solidarity and many other Forum members along with displays, entertainment and world music.

Sunday 2nd - . - Animal Aid Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre
Cakes & drinks by Ronny (ex-Veggies)

Saturday 8th - . - National Demo against HLS
Sorry - Veggies were unable to attend, due to our minibus now being completely defunct. We are seeking funding to get a replacement vehicle earlyin the new year.

Saturday 8th - . - Stop The War Rally - Nottingham

Saturday 8th - . - Radical Bookfair, Manchester
With the demise of independent bookshops across the country there is a need for places to get the books they don't stock at Waterstones! Manchester's radical bookfair, held at MERCi, a centre for ecological and social sustainability at Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick St., Ancoats, focused on books relating to Peace, Ecology and Radical Social Change, with speakers on a range of topics, local campaigns and practical issues and veggie food by Nottingham's Sumac Centre Cafe.

Monday 31st December 2002 - Veggies Final Day!
CLINTON ST Market stall closes.
'Our Work Here Is Done!' : Vegetarianism is now mainstream, and veganism is at least widely understood', and there are many new directions to be taken by Veggies.
- Commit to doing street information stalls one or two days each week, subject to seasons/weather.
- Arrange regular McPickets (weekly, fortnightly or monthly).
- Contact council & universities for details events that we might cater at (formally or otherwise).
- Develop frozen food sales, through distribution by Lembas
- Publish Veggies Guide to Nottm, as website and simple A5 pamphlet. Readers are invited to nominate places that serve good vegan choices: email us
- prepare for another busy season, taking Veggies to thousands 'on the road'. (See our Diary for details).

Since 1985 there has been a Veggies snack stall at Clinton St in Nottingham City Centre, promoting environmental concerns, vegan food, sustainable lifestyle and animal rights/welfare, but it is a sign of our success that Veggie food is now so common there is no longer a demand for our services on the street.

To ensure that it is easy to find veggie places, one of our first new project will be to put together a Veggies Guide to Nottingham.
Since we published the last one in 1997 so many places have come (V1, Squeek, Return To Eden, Sumac Centre) and gone (Hiziki shop & cafe, Salamander, Maxines, Rainbow cafe, Veggies @ Clinton Street) that a complete new edition is required, frequently updated, probably web-based and cheap enough to give a way on street stalls.
First though we need feedback. In reply to this message please nominate at least one cafe, restaurant, pub and shop that you recommend in the City and beyond.

We have plenty more to do too:

Our first priority is to find a replacement for the Veggies Minibus, which came to the end of its' valiant service a month or so ago.

Instead of the catering stall we are committed to doing regular street information stalls, opposite Marks & Spencer near St Peters Church, on any Saturday when we are not away on an event. If you are interested in helping email your details. We hope now to be able to work on campaigning opportunities such as Veggie Pledge Month in March, National Vegetarian Week from 8th July and World Vegan Day, November 1st, in addition to school talks and stalls at events.

The main reason for stopping the Clinton St stall, apart from the £1400 license fee, is that we are too busy with outside events to be able to give a reliable service there. Glastonbury is back on and already wants our trading application. Three other big green gatherings are also confirmed and there are plenty of meetings, demos and fairs to cater for, including Newchurch Guinea Pigs rally in Lichfield on Sat 12th Jan and the national ARC Gathering, in Nottm, on Sun 13th Jan and the EF! Winter Moot in Manchester on 26th/27th Jan.

Some of Veggies volunteers are also involved with Nottingham's new Independent Community and Social Centre, the Sumac Centre on Gladstone Street. Perhaps as early as Febuarary the (pure vegetarian) Sumac Cafe will be opening here.

The move from our Mansfield Road address after 17 years and other projects, caused a break in the annual publication cycle of the Veggies' Animal Contacts Directory. This 200-page, 5000 entry national/international directory finally goes to print on January 10th. Soon afterwards we have to beg, steal or borrow £2000 to pay the printer, so as ever offers of loans, donations or trading opportunities are welcomed.

Meanwhile as a source of day-to-day income we need to expand the frozen foods side of our work in conjuction with our Sheffield-based distributors Lembas.
We also hope to be able to cater for a wider range of small local events in the Nottm area, (often delivering by bike & trailer!). We welcome opportunities to cater at meetings, conferences, fairs, car boot sales and other charity/campaign events.

Hopefully that is enough to ensure that we don't get too slack by giving up the daily market stall, but feedback on these, and any other ideas, is welcomed.

Hope you all have / had a great holiday season and new year. See you in 2002.

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