What is a Greenham woman? Any damn woman who wishes to call herself one.

'What d'you need more atom bombs for?



You got enough bombs to kill us all ten times



Yet still you keep asking for more.' – Greenham Protest Song

In 1981, a group of women marched from Cardiff to the Greenham Common RAF base in Newbury to protest the siting of US nuclear missiles on British soil. Gradually joined by women from all over the world, they formed what became the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. They stayed there for almost twenty years, in what would become the largest, most effective woman-led protest since the Suffrage campaign – and they would radicalise a generation.

Out of the Darkness reunites the trailblazing women of Greenham to share their intimate recollections of the highs and lows of camp life, explore how they organised, and uncover the clever, non-violent ways they challenged military, police and cultural forces, all in the name of peace. Whether freeing MoD geese or dancing on silos, whether composing songs to put their cases across in court or kissing in the face of advancing police, this is the story of the power of creativity, wit and courage, and the sisterhood the Greenham women created.

Today, as our planet suffers increased threats from nuclear proliferation and environmental strain, this book celebrates the Greenham pioneers of peaceful protest and hopes to inspire a new generation of activists.



- Title

- Copyright

- Contents

- Map of Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp

- Foreword

- Author's note from Rebecca Mordan

- Preface

- The women in this book

- 1 Shall there be womanly times?: Where it all began

- 2 We'll stay here at Greenham: Daily life at camp

- 3 It ain't just the web, it's the way that we spin it: Creating a women-only space

- 4 Which side are you on?: Local and national relationships

- 5 Your daughters grew to women, and your little boys to men: Reflections on motherhood

- 6 Queers and hags: The media

- 7 Weave a dove into the wire: The politics of art

- 8 Take the toys from the boys: Non-violent direct action

- 9 We're a civilised nation: Acts of violence

- 10 We don't like your cause: Law and disorder

- 11 Tomorrow: Greenham's legacies

- Afterword, and forward thoughts

- Notes

- Bibliography

- Thank yous



'Greenham was a protest so radical, inventive, humorous, and courageous you cannot help but rethink what women are capable of ... Applause to Kate Kerrow and Rebecca Morden for bringing this incredible story into the light.'



'A deeply moving record of the Greenham women's voices, courage, and creativity. As a young woman, I discovered through this book a history, unfamiliar to me and to many of my generation. Out of the Darkness reminded me how, when we come together, we can challenge militarism, reshape public conscience, and leave a legacy that still speaks powerfully to the world we live in now.'



'A powerful and moving tribute to the women of Greenham Common, this book captures the lived reality of the camp – the hardship, humour, and fierce sense of community that sustained it. At its heart is a simple, resonant truth: they just wanted peace, and they were brave enough to stand together for it.'



'An inspiring read for these challenging times, Out of the Darkness not only affords the Greenham Peace Women the respect they deserve but also connects with some of the most important moral dilemmas we face today.'