Welcome
Shrewsbury 24 campaign
The Road to the Court of Appeal
Pickets Victory Celebration
On Sunday 26 September the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, the Shrewsbury pickets and their families were finally able to celebrate the magnificent victory at the Court of Appeal on 23 March 2021 when all the pickets’ convictions were quashed. The celebration, at St David’s Hotel, Ewloe, had been postponed from June, due to Wales’s continuing Covid regulations restricting indoor gatherings.
Group photo of the attendees at the victory celebration, September 2021.
We began the afternoon with a showing of the 1974 film, Free the Six, by Jeff Perks and Michael Rosen to remind us all of the dreadful conditions that prevailed on building sites in the 1970’s. The film also included contemporaneous interviews with the pickets’ families. Later we watched a warm message from Elsa Warren, who explained what Des Warren went through when he was given the longest prison sentence of three years. The video of Ian Prowse singing Alun Parry’s song, My name is Dessie Warren, was inspiring and got many of us singing along with it.
The most emotional part of the afternoon was when the pickets spoke about what they went through in 1973-74. Particularly moving was hearing, for the first time, family members speaking about what it was like for them. Heartbreaking stories such as being told by kids in the school playground that their dad was in jail. Feeling a sense of shame about their dad throughout their lives. But worst of all, not knowing what really happened, as none of the pickets would ever talk about it. This celebration helped to open the door to the truth: that their dads/grandads/ husbands/ brothers/ uncles were not guilty of the charges that were so wrongly brought against them. They were trade unionists standing up for their rights and those of fellow building workers against ruthless employers.
There were many tears but also much laughter, as pickets’ families met each other for the first time. Many of them had known each other within North Wales over the years but were unaware of what connected them – they were all related to a Shrewsbury picket!
The Shrewsbury 24 Campaign left the celebratory event with a sense of pride and satisfaction in the knowledge that we had stood with the pickets and never gave up the fight for justice. We had helped to bring so much happiness to so many people.
The pickets had achieved the justice they deserved. We never gave up – and we won!
Jeremy Corbyn joins Shrewsbury 24 celebration
Read the Shropshire Star article.
Celebration in Shrewsbury
Shropshire and Telford Trades Council put on a marvellous celebratory event for the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign and pickets on Saturday 2 October. The Trades Council officers Gemma Offland, Ash Silverstone and Brett Davies, together with former secretary Mike Edwards, led local trade unionists with their banners in greeting us at Shrewsbury train station. We marched the short distance to the venue, St Nicholas Community Centre, displaying our specially made banner declaring, “Shrewsbury 24 Campaign – WE WON”.
Brett introduced the afternoon’s festivities by describing the support that the Trades Council has given to the Campaign and the pickets over the years. Brett, Mike and others had been with us in Birmingham when we submitted the pickets’ application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s office on the 3 April 2012 in Birmingham. They have stayed with us through thick and thin ever since.
Brett congratulated us all on our tenacity, resilience and staunch trade union principles. He described the joy that all the delegates felt when they heard that we had won the case at the Court of Appeal. He applauded that, “The pickets and the campaign never gave up and have succeeded, not just for the pickets but the whole trade union and labour movement.”
Jeremy Corbyn praised the pickets and the Campaign and congratulated Eileen Turnbull on her tremendous work as the Campaign’s researcher. He highlighted her determination and stamina in travelling the country to obtain evidence that was used by Bindmans solicitors and Danny Friedman QC to secure a tremendous victory for the pickets in the Court of Appeal.
During the afternoon there were also speeches from Terry Renshaw, POA General Secretary Steve Gillan and Rob Williams of the NSSN. Singer-songwriter Ian Prowse made a guest appearance to sing My Name is Dessie Warren.
The Shrewsbury 24 Campaign and pickets wish to thank Shropshire and Telford Trades Council for arranging such a brilliant and memorable day. Your support will never be forgotten.
Leading the march through Shrewsbury to the celebratory event organised by Shropshire & Telford Trades Council, Saturday 2 October.
Building worker pickets (back row L-R) Bernard Williams, Kevin Butcher, Michael Pierce, Terry Renshaw and Ken O’Shea, (front row, L-R) Dawn and Melanie McKinsie Jones, Eileen Turnbull (Researcher) and Harry Chadwick (Chairperson).
Buy Des Warren’s book The Key to my Cell for £4 inc, p&p on the Merchandise page.
Important Updates
Bernard Williams – building worker, trade unionist and Shrewsbury picket, August 2021.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of another Shrewsbury picket, Bernard Williams, at the age of 75. Bernard stood with his fellow pickets and the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign throughout the long years of campaigning for justice. Bernard was convicted in the third trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court, on 26 February 1974. He was sacked after the strike and unable to obtain work due to the blacklist. Bernard was resolute in maintaining that the pickets were not guilty of all charges laid against them by the police.
He was overjoyed when we won an historic victory in the Court of Appeal on the 23 March 2021, when all of the pickets’ convictions were quashed. Bernard was loyal to the end and would not give up the fight for justice. He will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences to all his family.
Kevin Butcher – scaffolder, trade unionist and Shrewsbury picket, May 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Kevin Butcher, the eldest surviving Shrewsbury picket, at the age of 87. He was a staunch supporter of the campaign to achieve justice for all the Shrewsbury 24. Kevin was convicted in the third trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court. His contribution over the years was invaluable to us all. We are thankful that Kevin lived to see our historic victory at the Court of Appeal this year. He will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences to all his family.
A full tribute will appear on this website later in the week.
Shrewsbury pickets’ win appeal – success for the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign.
The full Court of Appeal judgement is here.
See messages from Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary; Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary; and Howard Beckett, Unite Assistant General Secretary.
Shrewsbury 24 Appeal Court Hearing 3rd and 4th February 2021
We have just spent two historic days in the Royal Courts of Justice, where three appeal court judges heard the appeals of the pickets. Terry Renshaw and John McKinsie Jones joined Campaign Researcher and Secretary, Eileen Turnbull, Campaign Chairperson Harry Chadwick, and Mark Turnbull campaign member in Court 4 to watch proceedings.
Terry and John said on the steps of the court, “We have waited over 47 years for this day and nothing would have stopped us getting to London for the hearing”.
The campaign had instructed Bindmans solicitors, the leading Human Rights lawyers. Our legal team was headed by Danny Friedman QC of Matrix Chambers and junior counsel Ben Newton. Jamie Potter and Kate Goodman, senior partners at Bindmans, were also in attendance.
Danny was on his feet for the whole of the first day, addressing the three appeal court judges. All of the evidence which was used in court was obtained by the Campaign’s researcher, Eileen Turnbull, over a period of 12 years. Danny said that the pickets were denied a fair trial on two grounds.
Firstly, the police told their prosecution team that they had destroyed a number of original witness statements. This was not made known to the defence or the judge. It denied the pickets’ lawyers from questioning witnesses about their earlier recollection of people and events on the building sites visited by the pickets.
Secondly, a highly prejudicial documentary was broadcast on ITV half-way through the trial, Red under the Bed. The judge failed to ask jury members if they had seen it and, if they had, should have taken further action, which might have included discharging the jury.
Danny Friedman gave an excellent account of our case in court.
The court has reserved its decision and when we receive the judgment, we shall let all our supporters know on this website.
If you require any further information about the appeal hearing or the Campaign please email us at: 24@shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk.
Ian Prowse has made a video for the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign of his cover of Alun Parry’s song My Name Is Dessie Warren. Read more…
Solidarity with Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign
The Shrewsbury 24 Campaign extends it support to the OTJC in their call for an Orgreave Independent Panel to be set up along the lines of the landmark Hillsborough Independent Panel.
These principled campaigners have worked tirelessly for years to uncover the truth about the events at the picket at Orgreave on 18 June 1984. On that day hundreds of miners were attacked and beaten by an army of police, including a mounted unit that charged down with batons on unarmed striking miners causing devastating injuries. The trial of the 95 miners that were arrested on that day collapsed when the union lawyers showed that the police evidence had been fabricated. The campaign wants to know the truth: who planned and gave the orders for the police attack on defenceless miners, who orchestrated the prosecutions. Without Truth there can be no Justice.
Further details can be found on the OTJC website.
Eileen Turnbull -Researcher & Secretary
Harry Chadwick – Chairperson
The Campaign
The Strike
The Pickets
