CND Rally against Cruise Missiles, London, October 1983

CND Anti Reagan Demo, Hyde Park London, June 1984

Notting Hill Carnival, London, August 1983

Urban Sax, Covent Garden London, November 1983

Hiroshima Day Peace Festival, Victoria Park London E9, August 1983

The 1983 CND Rally was one of the biggest ever, CND said a million people attended and the Police said 200,000. Whoever is correct, it was certainly one of the greatest I have ever witnessed, with two simultaneous marches and a remarkable festival spirit, inspired by the GLC. It was led by Joan Ruddock, Chairperson of CND. The 1984 March was smaller and specifically directed against Ronald Reagan’s visit to the UK, since he was installing Cruise missiles at Greenham Common.

It should be pointed out that these demonstrations, despite their massive scale, may have swayed public opinion, but failed in their objectives. Unfortunately, just like the Anti Iraq War and Anti Brexit demonstrations.

The Notting Hill Carnival photographs show some of the craziness of the event, already with a strong Police presence. The final two examples show some undocumented free spectacles sponsored by Ken Livingstone’s GLC (Greater London Council), a democratically elected organisation foreclosed by Margaret Thatcher.