|
 |
|
|
| Stone Formation Archive 1984 |
|
 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First published on August 16, 1984 SOME of the women who attended a moon ritual at Avebury at the weekend ended up being showered by a muck-spreader. More than 40 women arrived on Friday and Saturday to take part in a hippy festival. They made their way through the village towards the Ridgeway, where they danced naked under Saturday's full moon. But the women strayed off the public right of way on to private land, says farmer Donald Farthing, who rents the land from the National Trust. Some of the women, he says, started to erect tents. "They were pitching them on our land so we spread some dung to stop them putting their tents up." Mr Farthing did not deny manure was sprayed on some of the women. "If they walked in front of it then it was up to them." The farmer described them as filthy women who left piles of rubbish behind and were rude to anyone who spoke to them. The women, who camped in old vans and buses in a public car park, left Avebury on Sunday and Monday. This week residents have expressed mixed feelings about them. To get to the Ridgeway, the women had to pass the Green Street home of Mrs Jo-Anne Walsh. She says: "They were all enjoying themselves. Some were banging drums and singing, but they were not hurting anyone. "They arrived on Friday and we didn't know what was going on until the police arrived and made it worse. "The police were going up and down this lane all night in their cars. I donŐt think it needed so many police. I think everybody over reacted." Mrs Walsh let some of the women use her sink to wash off manure they were covered in, adding: "It was disgusting." Potter Guy Perkins of Green Street said: "The women did not disturb us at all. They did not offend us in any way. "However, people here fear this could become an annual event, and that every year Avebury will be invaded by them." Maj Arthur Callander, another Green Street resident, said he was impressed by the way the police acted. "I thought the police controlled it very well in a very efficient, pleasant and polite way. They succeeded in keeping it in the lowest possible key." Mr Dick Stannard, who runs the village stores and post office, said some villagers had asked him to close early and to stop serving the people. "There was a little bit of pressure from the village, so we did close early," he admitted. But he added that the women hippies had been good customers. "It was one of the busiest Saturdays we have had. They were well-behaved and polite. "Some of the women visited the rural life museum at the Great Barn. Curator Mr Ian Edleman says: "We had about a dozen or so of the women come in and they were no problem at all." Police said the weekend passed without incident. Back to 1984 index |
|
