Deadly the Harvest

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Description: Quaker account of the 1960 Aldermaston march.
Duration: 17 mins 40 secs
Producer: John Fitzgerald & Brian Probyn
Credits: Music sung by London Youth Choir Commentary written by Francis Jude Spoken by Jack Shepherd & Ruth Wean
Year: 1960
Subjects: Nuclear warfare, Nuclear weapons, UK, Protest movements, Religious sects, Disarmament, Pacifism
Segment 1: The Jordan Quaker House. Meeting of Quakers and others for prayer before continuing on the march. Explanation of Quakers' commitment to peace and their anti-nuclear beliefs. Hence their participation along with many others in the CND Easter march from the Aldermaston nuclear research centre to Trafalgar Square in London covering 53 miles. Shots of marchers gathering with banners and balloons for the CND Aldermaston March. The banners call for the British Government to end all nuclear policies. Banners of various organisations and countries are shown. "Saints Go Marching In" is heard playing on soundtrack. Marchers share thoughts on practical aspects of the march. Marchers rest and celebrate the end of the first night. Day two of march. "Down by the River Side" on soundtrack. Marchers gather and recuperate. Shots of CND balloons. Archive footage of atomic bomb exploding. Further shots of banners and marchers.
Segment 2: The march grows longer and longer passing through towns and villages involving people from all walks of life. Volunteers provide food and drink for the marchers. Marchers refresh themselves. Marchers' personal belongings are delivered to sleeping places. A marcher explains the excitement of the gathering. Marchers rest on second night of march. Next morning marchers gather for prayer and contemplation before beginning the march. Marchers approach London. Shots of Hiroshima: children; bombing; care of the injured. "Deadly the Harvest" sung on soundtrack. Crowds gather in London to cheer the marchers. Marchers meet crowds in Trafalgar Square. Quakers pray for peace. Credits.
Persistent URL: http://edina.ac.uk/purl/isan/0002-0000-0015-0000-0-0000-0000-0
Written and compiled by the British Universities Film & Video Council © BUFVC 2005
Subject classification by University of Edinburgh Library © 2006