World Disarmament Campaign , 1976 - 1982

Series

Reference Code: GBR/0014/FEBR 4

Scope and Contents

Subjects include the inception and development of the campaign, fundraising attempts, recruitment drives and the formulation of the appeal for the signatures on the petition, which eventually reached a record 2.35 million. Because the Brockway papers came into the Archives in 1982, there are no papers relating to the activities of the reformulated Campaign WDC (UK) after the 1982 United Nations Session and the death of Lord Noel-Baker in October of that year.

Dates

Creation: 1976 - 1982

Creator

From the Fonds: Brockway, Archibald Fenner, 1888 - 1988 (Baron Brockway of Eton and Slough, politician) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.

Biographical / Historical

In 1979 AFB, together with Lord Noel-Baker [earlier Philip Baker], launched a campaign for nuclear disarmament. The purpose of the campaign was to take advantage of the Second United Nations Special Session on Disarmament, scheduled for 1982, with the idea of having the Final Document from the First Session in 1978 fully implemented. According to AFB the idea was first raised quite casually: "We met in a corridor in the House of Lords. Philip, who had been a member of the British team at the Special session, remarked that the Peace Movement was missing a great opportunity.... 'Let's start a campaign,' I said. Philip's eyes lit up and he shook my hand. Thus it began. We were both nearly ninety...". ("98 Not Out" p76).