Levellers Day

BREAKING: LEVELLERS’ DAY WILL BE TAKING A BREAK AND BACK IN 2019.

Due to a combination of logistical difficulties and some major changes in the team we have decided that Levellers’ Day will be taking a break this year and will instead be back with a vengeance in 2019.

We are hopefully going to have a small commemoration in the churchyard on Saturday the 19 May this year but please note there will be no march and no main event at the recreation ground.

The 43rd annual Levellers’ Day  Saturday, May 20th, 2017

10.30 to 4pm

venue: Burford, Oxfordshire.   (Burford is on the A40 between Oxford and Cheltenham);

 

 

Education – the key to democracy? Celebrating the ideas and the legacy of the English Levellers in debate, song, dance and our famous procession through Burford. With kid’s entertainment, stalls

LEVELLERS’ DAY 2017 – Learning the Lessons from History

For 2017 Levellers’ Day turns the spotlight on the legacy of the Levellers’ of Burford and their relevance to today’s struggles and challenges. With a real focus on the radical history of Oxfordshire the issues of civil rights, democracy and protest will be explored through exhibitions, workshops and an impressive panel of speakers.

Event Co-ordinator Trish Lavelle added:“If you are interested in social, political or local history come to Burford, Oxfordshire on Saturday 18 May for a fantastic free event. We start at 10.30 with commemoration of the Levellers, and follow up with a packed schedule of exhibitions, workshops and of course the colourful and lively procession around Burford.” You can keep up with the latest news on Levellers’ Day via our Facebook Page and Twitter or the website www.levellersday.wordpress.com 

Note:

On 17 May 1649, three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell’s orders in Burford churchyard, Oxfordshire. They belonged to a movement popularly known as the Levellers, with beliefs in civil rights and religious tolerance.

During the Civil War, the Levellers fought on Parliament’s side, they had at first seen Cromwell as a liberator, but now saw him as a dictator. They were prepared to fight against him for their ideals and he was determined to crush them. Over 300 of them were captured by Cromwell’s troops and locked up in Burford church. Three were led out into the churchyard to be shot as ringleaders.

Levellers’ Day is organised by SERTUC (South East Region Trade Union Congress), WEA (Workers Educational Association), Ruskin College, UNISON, NUT (The National Union of Teachers), The Woodcraft Folk, CWU (Communication Workers Union) and Oxfordshire Trades Council.

 

For more information and press enquiries please contact Trish Lavelle tlavelle@cwu.org and 07740109771

 

article by Gawain Little, President Oxford Trade union Council on the Levellers

Further information: www.levellers.org.uk  or email 1649@levellers.org.uk

Tickets will be available at the door.

 

Organised by the Levellers’ Day Committee; affiliated to the Workers’ Education Association; supported by the Midcounties Co-operative Society; Oxford CND; Ruskin College; T&G Branch BMW; and Unite Graphical Sector 

History of the Levellers read here….