As a grassroots organisation, Stop HS2 relies on a huge number of supporters, doing things locally. This post, reproduced with permission from Staffs against HS2 pays tribute to the people in Great Haywood and nearby who helped organise a walk along their canal. Some activities involve a lot of people: other activities are one or two people on their own. However even small actions really make a difference: Westminster politicians look at the scale of the numbers of people opposed to HS2.
If you’d like to write an article to let Stop Hs2 readers know what you’ve done in your area, please email penny@stophs2.org.
Organised off the cuff initially by Jeanette Daly, a campaigner from Great Haywood she was soon followed by Tracey Nixon, Award Winning Aromatherapist also of Great Haywood, and Kay Dawson from the devastated village of Hopton near the county showground.
They started a couple of weeks ago with a sketch of an idea and then it just grew, and was great.
Walkers in Great Haywood, following the path of the canal
More helpers turned out. In the kitchen- preparing food: Irene Hall, Sorina Nightingale, Tracey Nixon and Richard Alexander, Katy Edgington, Maggie Whitehouse, Dave Gregory all lent a hand on the day and some excellent photographs were taken by Paul Milgate (07581 783731) all volunteered their services to make the event go well.
Then it came to the catering and we were very lucky that we had some very generous donations from local business.
Barry Baggot of Higher Coley Farm Little Haywood, for eggs and Potatoes
Wendy Barton of the Canalside Farm Shop for some lovely Cheese
Packington Moor Farm Shop and Cafe for some delicious sausage rolls
Rob Beatty of Lifestyle Express, Great Haywood for Milk
Tracey Nixon of “Award Winning” PlumEssence Therapies, Great Gaywood for her time and tea and Coffee and bread
Ashley at the Canalside Farmshop for providing the Packington sausages at a discount price
A very big thank you to everyone who made the event a successful one. Here are some great photo’s of the day.
Arrived at the Memorial Hsll
Rolfe Pearce Chairman of Staffordshire Against HS2 was asked to appear on Radio Stoke for the early morning breakfast Show, so up at 5.45 to get to stoke for 6.45 and an interesting chat with the host that morning about HS2 and why it is just DAFT.
After the meeting Rolfe Pearce gave a presentation on the next steps regarding HS2 and the Staffordshire campaign, this was very well received by the local press and should be in the Express and Star and the Newsletter, as well as community radio XLFM a great day all round.