Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival 2008 - 18th - 20th July
On February 24th, 1834, six farm labourers from the Dorset village of Tolpuddle were arrested on a charge of taking part in an 'illegal oath' ceremony. In the eyes of their masters, however, the real offence was that they had dared to form a trade union to defend their livelihood. For this they were sentenced to seven years' transportation to the penal colonies of Australia. The sentences provoked an immense outcry, leading to the first great mass trade union protest.
The campaign won free pardons and the Martyrs' return to England. A historic episode in the struggle for trade unionists' rights in Great Britain.
We shall never forget what we owe them.
|
| |
Get the programme
Download this document as an Adobe pdf file
- Wednesday 16 July to Friday 18 July
- Tolpuddle Green Camp
- Kids Area
- Friday 18 July
- Saturday 19 July
- Sunday 20 July
- Camping (Buy tickets online)
- Getting to Tolpuddle
Wednesday 16 July to Friday 18 July
Tolpuddle Green Camp
Champion the environment at home, work and college. Learn, discuss and share ideas. Accredited course from Wednesday 16 July until the end of the Festival. For details: TUC on 0117 947 0521 or southwest@tuc.org.uk. Download a flyer containing further details of the Green Camp
Kids Area
Clive PiG
Sitting comfortably? Settle down for a yarn or
song from the Storyfella. Clive will be telling myths, legends, fables and
folk tales from around the world at various time overs the weekend. He will
also do a ‘scary stories session’ later on Saturday evening.
Check the board for times
Nick and Becki’s Junk Music Workshop
Join the band and learn to play music on big drums, car wheels, water pipes
and other junk instruments. Come along and make some noise!
Playplus use recycled materials for wacky fancy dress and loose parts!
West Dorset FOE’s Fundraising Bouncy Castle will be back for those who fancy a bounce.
The Woodcraft Folk will be laying on fun for kids.
Graffiti Wall come and have your say about climate change or any other burning issues of the moment.
Wishes for peace come and help make a tree and decorate it with your wishes.
Parachute games - Saturday on the lawn
Look out for more activities for all ages.
Friday 18 July
Happy 90th Birthday, Nelson Mandela
Guest DJs Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt - Max and Rita's LIBERATION BOOGIE.
Viva rebel music that will continue to shake the world. Plus The Workers Beer Company's special Freedom Cocktails.
Martyrs’ Marquee
The Mauves
3-piece local rock/indie band performing all
their own songs. www.myspace.com/themauves
Aidan Jolly
Eclectic and experimental. Songs that celebrate people and places and examine
the changing ways of living. With Jilah Bakhshayesh and Martin Milner.www.aidanjolly.com
Orpheus
Rich vocals, dynamic horn and a funky, driving rhythm section, amalgamate into a fresh, distinctive sound. Original soulful tunes to infectious dance rhythms.
Old Court, High Street, Dorchester
The Tolpuddle Martyrs in Song and Story
Presented by Graham Moore in the original Old Crown Court where they received their unjust sentence of transportation in 1834. Songs from his celebrated Tolpuddle Man. An opportunity to view the cells.
Limited seats so please book early.
Tickets: £9 adults £6 under-18s -
from Dorchester Tourist Information Office on 01305 267992 Download
a flyer for more information (PDF)
Saturday 19 July
Open mic area
Poetry and Politics
11am-1pm. The poetry session went down so well last year we’re going to try it again. Dave Toomer editor of the radical poetry magazine Citizen 32 will host an open-mic session. Guest performance poets will kick things off. To book a slot contact Dave editor.citizen32@ntlworld.com
sing in union
1-5pm - Host Graham Moore invites all to come and perform for a session that keeps getting better.
Martyrs’ Marquee
Speakers’ Corner
Have your say. Stall holders can explain why they’re here.
Robert Owen
12.30-1.30 - A father to the cooperative movement, Robert Owen died 150 years ago. He led the massive demonstration to demand the release of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Hear more of his life and work and see the exhibition in the cooperative marquee.
Tolpuddle to Tescos
1.30-3.00 -
Discussion around the issues raised by the way we produce and buy our food and drink. Joanna Blythman one of Britain’s leading investigative food journalist and an influential commentator on the British food chain. Dr Charlie Clutterbuck,
one of the world's authorities on labour and the environment.
Prof Tim Lang Centre for Food Policy, City University, coined the phrase ‘food miles’.
Union speaker. Fair Trade speaker
The Quangle Wangle Choir from Weymouth
3.15
organise
3.30-5 - On the 10th Birthday of the TUC Organising Academy this debate will consider union growth strategies and different ideas from around the world.
Elaine Bernard PhD, Executive Director, Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School, US.
Michael Crosby Global Partnerships, Regional Organising Director SEIU, New South Wales, author of Power at Work.
Whilemina Trout, Union of Domestic Workers, South Africa. Paul Nowak TUC National Organiser
Nomadic desert dwellers -
Bedouin Jerry Can Band
A collective of singers, poets, storytellers and coffee grinders with infectious
rhythms played on junk scavenged from the former battlegrounds of the Six-day
War of 1967 and other conflicts fought across Bedouin homelands in Sinai.
Saturday Night
7pm-midnight - Free thanks to the generous sponsorship of Ethical Threads
Sean Taylor kills the rumour that protest songs are a thing of the past. “If there is any justice in the world, you will see Sean Taylor in the acoustic stage of every major festival during 2008”: Love Music Hate Racism www.myspace.com/seantaylorsongs
Mark Steel
One of Britain’s funniest comedians and subversive socialist too.
The Tones
A capella doo wop, Motown, 50s through 70s rock. Four big voices in a great
mix.
The Flatville Aces
Traditional Cajun music from Louisiana. French singing and infectious dance
rhythms.
Ethical Threads ensure that everyone involved in the production of their garments gets a fair deal. Our shirts are high quality, ethically sourced, and sweat-shop free. www.ethicalthreads.co.uk
Sunday 20 July
Village Hall
Cream teas and refreshments thanks to the local community.
Martyrs’ Marquee
y’Strels Band
Out beyond Dorchester, where the telegraph poles end, you will find the disciples
of y'Strel, demi-god of Song. Singers, storytellers and musicians
- y'Strel's Band will be bringing the romance of the sea to Tolpuddle.
www.myspace.com/ystrel
Tracey Curtis
Intelligent, melodic folk-poppy songs that manage to personalise political
issues with wit, passion and compassion, delivered with a beautiful vocal
style. Tracy has a growing reputation as one of the UK's leading new
singer-songwriters.
www.traceycurtis.com
Puddletown School
pupils perform a new musical story based on the experience of the martyrs in Australia.
Elvis McGonagall
Stand-up poet, armchair revolutionary and recumbent rocker. The 2006
World Slam Champion, the compere of the notorious Blue Suede Sporran Club and
heard on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live.
www.elvismcgonagall.co.uk
Duckfeet
Settle down and listern to perfect sounds for a summer afternoon in Dorset.
Jangly, melodic, country tinged music, with big riffs and close harmonies
about love, binge drinking, mobile phones, minotaurs or train delays. www.myspace.com/theduckfeet
Ways of the Mouth
Formed after doing a youth project with a local studio, Three MCs and a DJ
who sing songs life on the Jurassic Coast as you’ve never heard before.
www.myspace.com/waysofthemouth
Robb Johnson & The Irregulars
This year’s festival closes with one of the finest songwriters in the
UK and his band. Their recent album, All That Way For This has been winning
rave reviews. www.robbjohnson.co.uk
Methodist Chapel – east end of Tolpuddle village
5.00 Methodist Service
The traditional end of festival service is held in the small chapel at the
other end of the village.
Main Stage Provisional Programme
11.00 Graham Moore
Tolpuddle Man singer songwriter plays host for the day.
Seize the Day
It all started back during the road protest days of the late nineties. They’ve
been protesting, campaigning and playing to audiences big and small ever since.
Their songs will make you laugh, cry, or stand up and get active in changing
the world for the better.
www.seizetheday.org
11:45 Grupo Lokito
Congolese, Latin fusion band
12.30 Speakers
Chair of the South West TUC welcomes
Dave Prentis TUC President and UNISON General Secretary
Elaine Bernard Harvard Trade Union Centre, USA
Dot Gibson National Pensioners Convention marks the centenary of the first state pension
President of the National Union of Students
1pm Devon Sproule
Born to hippie parents on a commune in Kingston, Ontario, Sproule claims dual
citizenship with both Canada and the US. After moving between private, public
and home schooling, 
she left high school, recorded her first record, and
began touring nationally – all before the age of eighteen.
www.devonsproule.com
1.05
While the music continues on the main stage, the guest speakers will walk over
to St John’s church to lay wreaths on the grave of Martyr James Hammett.
1.45 Methodist Minister
David Wrighton of the Methodist Church leads the blessing of the Parade.
2.00 Procession
led by Musicians’ Union
Great Western Jazz Band
3.00 Speakers
Hashemiya Muhsin Hussein President, Electricity & Energy Union, General Federation of Iraqi Workers
Brendan Barber TUC General Secretary
Kate Allen Amnesty International
Tony Benn
3.30 Alabama 3
-
acoustic and unplugged
Acoustic stripped down versions of Alabama 3’s songs with Larry Love,
Devlin Love, Rock Freebase and Harpo Strangelove.“truly the perfect
choice for a night of bourbon, barbeque, and fun.”
4.15 - Guest Band - to be confirmed
5.30 - Finish on a high note with the end of festival party and Robb Johnson in the Martyrs’ Marquee or join the service in the Methodist Chapel
Wot, no Billy?
Billy Bragg is taking a well earned sabbatical. He sends his best wishes and solidarity.
Greening Tolpuddle
The TUC is keen to reduce our impact upon the environment and show a lead in tackling the challenge of climate change. Please help us to make the Tolpuddle Festival a green event.
Getting there
If you can, use public transport. The shuttle bus to and from Dorchester station will be just £1 each way.
Car share: go to the Tolpuddle web site to see how.
Take a coach: see if a coach is running from your area on the Tolpuddle web site. www.tuc.org.uk/tolpuddle
When you arrive
Cut waste and re-cycle. Check out the environmental campaigning stalls. Join the debate on food production on Saturday 19 July in the Martyrs’ Marquee.
There will be even more recycling bins this year.
Stall holders have been advised to use bio-degradable cutlery, plates and cups. Buy a souvenir beer glass and use it over and over again. Only bio-degradable balloons will be permitted.
Greening Workplaces
Trades unions can transform the way we live and work by finding volunteers in work places and training them to champion ways to cut waste and save energy. The South West TUC has won a big grant from the South West Regional Development Agency to lead a new drive for action in workplaces across the region. This fits with a national project supported by Carbon Trust.
Campaigning for change
Unions are part of the global campaign for action to protect the environment.
Camping
Getting to Tolpuddle
Follow signs from the A35 to the car parks. For campers and those unable to cope with a short walk, enter from the west of the village. For the main festival car park, enter from the east and turn right in the centre of the village. View online map
Parking Charges: Free car for each camping tag or £10 per car on Sunday; £15 weekend pass, £5 each day on Friday and Saturday. Coaches Free, drop off and park to the east of the village. Log your coach on www.tuc.org.uk/tolpuddlecoaches
Car share scheme: Need a lift to the Festival or can you offer someone a lift? Register your details at Freewheelers.com/Tolpuddle_Martyrs_Festival
Train - Take the train to Dorchester or park and ride. Bus from Dorchester South on Sunday 10.30am and 11.30am return from Tolpuddle 5.30 p.m and 6.30 p.m.(subject to timetable review in June 2008) - £1 each way
Food and drink
Enjoy local beer and cider from the Workers’ Beer Company bar; local organic food from Henry’s Beard and a wide range of catering including a group of stalls from Dorchester Farmers’ Market.
Stalls and more
In and around the Martyrs Marque will be more stalls selling ideas as well as goods.
The Martyrs' Museum
Don't miss visiting the shop and museum. Souvenirs will also be on sale on the TUC stall. The buildings have had their insulation upgraded and energy efficient lights fitted. Solar panels should be heating the water in time for the festival.
Village Trail
Take a stroll through the village to see where the Martyrs lived, worshiped and organised.
Tolpuddle Freedom Hike
Dorchester Prison to Tolpuddle (about 8 miles)
The POA (Prison Officers and Psychiatric Workers Union) invite comrades to
join them on the Freedom Hike from Dorchester Prison to the Tolpuddle Festival. All
those taking part will receive a badge. Why not get your friends and
colleagues to sponsor you to raise money for the POA Freedom charities.
The Hike commences at 9.00am on Sunday 20th July, from the car park at Dorchester
Prison and takes about 3 hours.
The Old Court, Dorchester
Visit the court where the Martyrs were tried and sentenced. It is on the High Street in the centre of Dorchester. Free guided tours of the cells 10am to 1pm. 01305 252241
South West TUC
Church House, Church Road, Filton, Bristol BS34 7BD
0117 947 0521 southwest@tuc.org.uk www.tuc.org.uk/tolpuddle
Get the programme
Download this document as an Adobe pdf file
Briefing document (100 words) issued 1 Apr 2008