It wasn't well done. A thing you need to keep in mind is that kind of crime is only done for attention. So by covering it, tactfully or not, you play a part in incentivising another similar crime. Really the only two correct ways of covering it are either to not cover it at all, or if you are going to cover it do it in a way that absolutely grinds the reputation and personal stature of the person that did it in to the ground, so that any person considering doing similar is less likely to want to be remembered in the same way.
It really wasn't well done. YT deleted the post where I tried to explain in more detail but because of what motivates this kind of crime, covering it at all feeds in to the problem no matter how tactfully you cover it.
@@jimmydesouza4375 Nonsense. Does covering WW2 result in more Hitlers coming along, meaning that we shouldn't speak about the atrocities? Shouldn't we report what is happening in Ukraine because it incentivises more people like Putin. I would argue that only by discussing these events openly shows them for what they are..... Jon handled it excellently.
@@hl2exe The protest weapon of choice these days is a clump of orange powder paint and a cheer of 'just stop-' but dont know what they say after that, all I hear in my head is 'waah waah waah, wah waaaah wah!' Environmentalistic suprafragilistic something or other I think?
I gotta say my man, but this has to be one of your best videos yet (and I'm pretty sure I've watched them all!). Mainly because of the way you gracefully, tactfully and judiciously dealt with the subject of 'respect': respect for the women of Greenham Common, and their peaceful, decades long protest against the use of nuclear weapons (your reference to 'orange paint' was of damn near legendary status!!), and then more humbly, your respect to those who died and were subsequently affected by the Hungerford Massacre - something I still remember vividly as a much younger lad. Fair play sir - truly exceptional work!
I have some more Greenham Common lore for yous: - Growing up in Newbury in the 90s/00s it was a rite of passage to sneak into the abandoned bunkers. - A fueled and armed nuclear bomber burned to the ground on the runway once. All of Berkshire's firefighters descended on the scene. - The protestors briefly took control of small parts of the american airbase, which caused a diplomatic kerfuffle
Uffington White Horse is in Oxfordshire. It WAS in Berkshire in the days of your Michelin guide, but it trotted over the border. Or maybe they redrew the boundaries, I don't know.
A lot of the older locals still consider it Berkshire. IIRC even the local MP, whose office was in Wantage, put Berkshire in his address. But then he was a right berk ...
I worked with a guy who was born in the peace camp. He was a little strange but totally sound bloke. He was a Contract Designer in the Tech Centre where I was working and when they started handing out redundancy notices to the employees he resigned on the basis that they should have got rid of contractors before laying off permanent staff.
Lamborne (woodlands) was the destination of my Dad during the second disagreement after his house in Harefield had its roof blown off during an air raid … he lived at Beale’s Cottage, which although us still there, the surrounding area has been altered (sadly not for the better). A few years back when I still lived in the UK, Dad took my daughter to visit the roofless abode (now repaired) and the fascinated new owner was only too pleased to show them around his house (and where Grandad slept 70 years previously!) I’ve never been inside either house, but have visited both. I’ve also seen the school and post office that Dad frequently visited as a boy - also ‘unchanged, but modernised’. As an aside, I bought Dad a copy of the 1923 Michelin guide for his 90th birthday, this year, so he can enjoy the same road trips you are … yes, he’s still driving (as is Mum) having only just sold his Jag in favour of using their off-roader! Thanks, Jon, for this trip down memory lane.
Nostalgia moment: When I was still in single figures (ie 60 years ago) having a picnic on white horse hill was a thing our family did maybe once or twice a year.. Over the years it became so popular that first a proper car park was built, then one way traffic was added, then the car park was closed and new one made near the bottom of the hill. Yeah - not really up to walking up that these days. Still, on a sunny day there are some great views over the Vale of the White Horse (and probably beyond).
In decent weather one can see a long way from the White Horse. When Didcot A power station was active, it was possible to see the chimney stack from there.
My stolen motorhome ended up at Copart on the old RAF Greenham Common after the insurers wrote it off due to the extensive damage done to it by the thieves ripping out what they wanted! I also used to deliver parts to the Jaguar/Land Rover dealership there. For me there is always a tinge of sadness seeing another airfield abandoned, and there were nearly 150 of them because of that second small disagreement!
Sadly, today - with the internet - it would have been taken over by virtue signallers, Instagrammers and influencers. Oh, and people with orange powder paint!
I was at Greenham on the inside of the fence and had one of the strangest experiences of my life when I met one of my old school teachers on the other side of the fence and spent a good few hours over a few months debating the merits or otherwise of both sides of the argument.
My wife comes from Newbury and her daughter still lives there. I know lots about Greenham common. It’s good they have returned the runway and taxi ways to common land creating a pleasant walk. The Silos are quite impressive and it’s good to see through them as the doors have been removed. I really enjoyed this John, thank you and thank you for the way you remembered the tragedy of Hungerford
From what I recall (This was quite a long time ago, so double check) the first cruise missiles based there had a small design flaw. When launched, they would *return* to their point of origin... Not that it would have mattered, the USA had nukes aimed at the UK, just in case anyway.
@@ptonpc I "double-checked" with my nextdoor neighbour that used to work there. The GLCM would have been moved to his garden, much to his surprise. They were not coming back.
Top Gear used it for their Communist Cars review, where Clarkson and May tried to find out if communism had ever produced a good car.... No, was the eventual answer.
Back in the nineties my sister who worked in the local Tescos next to Greenham Comman used to get right peed off with the peace woman, they would come in head for her check out with there shopping and leave. But, behind was a terrible smell of sweat, shit and bonfires that would linger for hours afterwards.
Swindon is technically my nearest big town but bar the excellent ‘Steam’ museum and the pretty good adjacent outlet shopping centre it is probably best avoided.
Very respectful way to address the people slain in The Hungerford Massacre. Well done, Jon. I know people that went to the shooting club that Michael Ryan went to, always said there was something off about him, like he'd aim weapons at people as a joke and pull pranks on people with actual firearms, not a lot of people liked him, very much a loose cannon so to speak.
Any club that does not immediately ban a member who points a gun, loaded or empty, at another person, should have its licence revoked. Cardinal Gun safety rule...
Thomas Hamilton regrettably kept his firearms license despite committing numerous firearms offences because of corruption in the force. Interesting that all info related to it is kept behind the Official Secrets Act for a century...rather unusual... Had the laws at the time been followed, the attack as we know it in Dunblane wouldn't have happened, yet internal police failings resulted in tightening of already poorly enforced laws...sad and a great shame for legal and honest firearm users. I know of several people that have licences revoked for far, far, far less. I can't speak to the attitudes at the time, but I'm surprised fellow club members weren't able to bring about more serious reprimand for Ryan's actions, in advance of the attack... That would be the case these days. I seem to recall the police admitting to be woefully unprepared for such an attack, after the dust settled.
Thanks for this, I grew up in nearby Calcot and went to Theale Green school. You nailed the pronunciation of Theale then mangled Burghfield, it's Burr field. Theale has many pubs due to its history as a coaching stop between London and Bristol and is literally "The Ale" :)
After you left Theale and the roundabout, just a couple of miles along, you passed the site on the A4 of the UK's first roadside petrol station; opened in 1919 for AA members only.
As a lad and a member of CND I had a few trips to Greenham. Including the large one you mentioned. During the day I was picked up, put in a police van (roughed up a little) and then driven miles away and dumped.. oh what fun.
Interestingly (or not) Greenham Common’s runway was reclaimed/removed by Foster Yeoman’s in Theale and the recycled material was used in the construction of the nearby A34 Newbury Bypass.
Nicely done Jon. I hadn't realised how organised the Greenham Common protests were - as you say, whether you agree with them or not, that's very impressive indeed, especially pre-mobile/internet etc.
Another Sunday Sundayed with the weekly adventure of Jon and his 1923 Michelin guide book, period correct maps and there's no time to waste, so let's get started, starting at the start with let's start with... A cracking start to this week's video, Jon 👍
The Cruise missiles were actually kept (and probably still are) at RAF Welford on the North side of the M4 a few miles west of Newbury. Look for the strange "Works unit exit" slipway which has also featured on your secrets of the M4
These already excellent vids keep getting better. Appreciate the different tones here in covering a broader range of topics than you've had to elsewhere in the series, effortlessly done.
RAF Greenham Common had the longest runway in Europe when in use and I think it was a space shuttle emergency landing site at one point. I stayed at Greenham Common one weekend and attended some of those protests. By not annoying people they gained a lot of public support.
You're not too far there from Mapledurham House, notable for 2 things: (1) the house is claimed to be the model for Toad Hall & (2) the mill defo features on the cover of Black Sabbath (1st album). Actaully there's a 3rd thing - something to do with a film with Richard Burton & Clint Eatwood - but I don't really recall…
My husband remembers the Hungerford Massacre very well, as do I. You did a great job and were very respectful. Thank you!! I myself have seen a documentary about what he did and it was insane. I never realised there was a plaque. Your moment's silence was appreciated. My husband remembers it vividly because he was just on the point of applying for his shotgun licence and remembers thinking, 'Oh crap, they won't be issuing ANY licences now'. He went into his local police station on a hot Sunday afternoon wearing a black leather jacket and mirrored sunglasses and, in his own words, looking like a short fat Terminator. However, it was granted, and he had a lovely Franchi Spas 5 pump action chambered in 3 inch magnum. Matt black apart from a chrome slide. This was until they changed the law due to Hungerford regarding shotguns, even though Michael tosspot Ryan may he burn in hell, never used one. It was a purely political move by Douglas Herd, who was the Home Secretary, to appease the public. But it was pointless since the gun he had used wasn't a shotgun!!! The same as with the complete dick who did the Dunblane Massacre, which effectively ended pistol ownership in this country. This is completely unfair as my husband also used pistols at a gun range in Wednesbury, UK. So legitimate gun owners were punished, but you can NEVER legislate against one lone POS. Nowadays, the only people with guns are criminals because they are criminals. Most people will probably disagree with him, as gun ownership is an emotive issue. It is interesting that the Greenham Women were able to achieve so much through peaceful means without any of the stupidity we are seeing today with the stop oil and stop everything idiots who are intent on just annoying and inconveniencing everyone. No social media was needed. These people actually communicated like normal people. How much more social can you get than 70,000 people joining hands to make a 14-mile chain after all, how could today's 'protesters cope if they joined hands.... It would mean they wouldn't have a free hand for their beloved phone and if they stayed there for the duration, oh horror or horrors, how would they cope if they ran out of change!!!?? Great respect to these women
My amazing late mum was one of the women creating the chain at Greenham Common.... an amazing effort in a time when there was no social media! Great vid as always Jon and a very thoughtful Hungerford tribute.... 🕊️✌️☮️👏
My favourite fact about the White Horse of Uffingham is that it's the county symbol of Berkshire... But it's in Oxfordshire. When the counties were redrawn in the 70s, Berkshire allegedly thought they were still keeping the White Horse when they signed off on proposals but didn't read the maps right. As such, it's now just a pen-slip over the border in Oxfordshire.
Astounding handling of Hungerford. Its such a beautiful town but will always be associated with a JFK moment. We all remember where we were when it happened. Well done as ever. Forever tripled with Dunblane and Lockerbie.
Wells and St Mary's Church is a thing,many holy wells were colonised by Christian churches,and those churches were named for Mary; The wells would have been connected with the local Goddess.
I worked as a trainee civilian mechanic at raf greenham common in the early 90s up until it closed down i was the last british civilian from the workshops and possibly on the entire base to leave on the day of closure. That orange powder was commonly mixed with urine and poop bagged and thrown at the vehicles entering the site i had to prep most of the military vehicles for paint before they got shipped out to other bases very interesting place to work
I wonder if anyone has ever inadvertently typed in Castle Donnington into their sat-nav with the intention of wanting to go to Donnington Castle and gone to the wrong place. Or vice versa?
Recently a European motorcycle race team complete with 2 lorries of bikes & equipment were late to a race meeting as they arrived at Donnington Golf Course.
My local area!!!!!! It was about damn time! Although Newbury's most interesting fact was missed in this. The text message was invented here. Now stick that in your guidebook and smoke it
Just think, those thousands of people were organised without social media, without youtube, without mobile phones, just goes to show how much has changed when it comes to protesting a cause...
Excellent trip - and your humanity shows through beautifully when describing Hungerford. Good job! One addition i might have made, if i may be so bold, is to describe the mound over your left shoulder at 9:15 - known as Dragon Hill, it was the mythical spot where St George slew the dragon. The grass doesn't grow on the top of the hill due to being contaminated by the dragon's blood. Excellent view of Uffington White Horse with your drone - you can't actually get that good a view of it from anywhere i can find on the ground. Where to next?
Although I'm not a woman (and never was) I took my daughter to Greenham Common and we joined the chain. That was a while ago: her son is now the age she was.
No mention of Swampy and the bypass!?!? Oh well showing my age. Nice to see the old places. Sad I recognized a name on that memorial. There weren’t many people not affected by it. I worked in Hungerford. Always remember the tenth anniversary as on arriving to work my old boss was casually cleaning out his rifles in the front office. Honestly he was a character! 😆 Good job nice work 👊😎👍
I worked on the GC air base when it was all kicking off and but for a car breaking down I would have been traveling up the high street while MR was doing his rampage - brings back sad memories
A much much nicer part of Berkshire for your travels after having survived Slough and Bracknell in your Episode 28.... Surprised that the Newbury bypass and A34 'Swampy' pillock didn't get a mention on your motoring blog?
I also visited Theale on my channel. He should have visited nearby Wilder's Folly that you can see from the M4 and Englefield Green where Pippa Middleton got married.I was there the next day so captured all the lovely flower arrangements that were still there.
