Sharp, Peter Llewellyn Frank (Oral history)

British civilian conscientious objector in Bermondsey and Leatherhead, GB, 1939-1945; anti-nuclear protester with Committee of 100 in GB, 1961-1980s

REEL 1 Background in Bermondsey, London, GB, 1920-1939: family home; memories of childhood and family; 1926 General Strike including story of parade at the end; education including political and pacifist influences at school; civilian work including reason for leaving Scouts; cycling activities; membership of Bath Road Cycling Club including memories of Alec Horwood VC; departure from club; basis and evolution of pacifist outlook including conversion to vegetarianism. Aspects of period as civilian conscientious objector in Bermondsey and Leatherhead, GB, 1939-1945: support of brother's war service; details of friend's war service; outlook on war of many conscripts. REEL 2 Continues: description of registration as conscientious objector at initial tribunal in London; reasons for losing job; story of dog fight witnessed; evacuation to Leatherhead; details of land work in Ripley; background of colleagues; story of accident and treatment; background to joining Woodcraft Folk, 1943, including history of organisation and involvement with group at Morden; story of meeting wife, Joyce, through Woodcraft Folk, 1946; anti-war background of Joyce Sharp; civilian work following war including on Castelmer Farm in Kingston in East Sussex; events leading to Sharp buying Castelmer Farm in 1965. REEL 3 Continues: details of conscientious objector appeal tribunal; conscientious objectors keeping status quiet since war; details of gaining civilian work following war; details of pacifist outlook; involvement in distribution of Peace News; question of receiving hostility for conscientious objection; reaction to Hitler and his treatment of German Jews including anti-Semitism seen in London before war; further details of membership of Bath Road Cycling Club; membership of unions and Labour Party; discussion of political outlook; membership of parish council. Aspects of period as civilian anti-nuclear protester with Committee of 100, 1961-1980s: decision to protest against barring of Committee of 100 meeting from Trafalgar Square; march into Trafalgar Square; behaviour of police; story of arrest and transfer to Bow Street Police Station; involvement with and details of Spies for Peace. REEL 4 Continues: story of protests at RAF Marham and subsequent trials in Downham Market; details of own trial following arrest in Downham Market; story of arrests made during a 1960s Labour Party Conference in Dorset Gardens Methodist Church; appearance of Reverend Donald Soper at trial; results of trial; use of Castelmer Farm as refuge; involvement of Joyce Sharp at Greenham Common; story of arrest following sit-ins on Birdcage Walk and at Parliament; story of demonstration at Harold Macmillan's Birch Grove home during visit of President John F Kennedy; story of missile tied to van, 1962. REEL 5 Continues: different views of conscientious objectors at Ripley during Second World War; relationship among colleagues at Ripley; arrests of Committee for 100 members; involvement with Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; conflict between Committee of 100 and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; story of suspected spy within Committee of 100; details of police check-ups and charges experienced; importance of solidarity within Committee of 100; relationship with Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; story of debate with New Statesman journalist Kingsley Martin; description of participation in an Aldermaston March; opinion of Aldermaston Marches; story of students arrested at RAF Marham; story of missile tied to van, 1962; family's acceptance of his war objection. REEL 6 Continues: details of anti-Vietnam War demonstration in Brighton; difference between Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Committee of 100; impressions of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament members; settling into Lewes area; memories of Bill Phillips; local attitude toward his views; involvement with Labour Party; discussion of Falklands War and different views of British in the Empire; opinion of patriotism; attendance of wife, Joyce Sharp, at Greenham Common Peace Camp; story of accidental attendance at women's demonstration at Croydon; temperance; opinion of Greenham Common protests and female protesters. REEL 7 Continues: details of Joyce Sharp's activities at Greenham Common; introduction of government civil defence measure Protect and Survive and subsequent discussions in Kingston; reasons for opposition; memories of EP Thompson; reasons for loss of faith in politics; optimism at end of Cold War; nature of modern warfare; reflections on years of protest and modern society; discussion of 2003 Iraq War and involvement of Labour Party; outlook on protest in modern age; civilian work.