Whatever happened to 'Swampy' ?

[William of Walworth]

It's an excellent article -- it's clear that his integrity hasn't been compromised.

I'm pretty sure I never met him, by the time we went and stayed with the collective** he used to live at (back in the early 2000s ), he'd gone.

But good friends of his and us at the time, seemed to speak pretty well of him

**Mainly people from a different A34 protest camp.
[CORRECTION : Devon was A30 ....... A34 was Newbury ]
All three (A30 camps) were quite close together near Fairmile.
ETA : And very close to the current Beautiful Days fest-site at Escot, whose owners were very sympathetic to the protesters at the time, I'm told!

One of my bigger life-regrets was not getting involved in any of the protest camps back in the Nineties.

 

[krink]

Why didn't he do the record? That would have been so bad it would have been brilliant

 

[Rhyddical]

Had a chat with a mate the other day who told me he lives in a 'lil eco community (not gunna say which) in Wales that they were planning to visit. So yeah alive and well and living in the green.

 

[planetgeli]

Had a chat with a mate the other day who told me he lives in a 'lil eco community (not gunna say which) in Wales that they were planning to visit. So yeah alive and well and living in the green.

It's up the hill behind my house and everybody knows it's Tipi valley. It's even in the article editor posted a few posts back.

 

[8ball]

Had a chat with a mate the other day who told me he lives in a 'lil eco community (not gunna say which) in Wales that they were planning to visit. So yeah alive and well and living in the green.

I'm pleased that he's not a property developer.

 

[Rhyddical]

It's up the hill behind my house and everybody knows it's Tipi valley. It's even in the article editor posted a few posts back.

Mild lesson in read the whole thread before you post eh ;p

 

[skyscraper101]

He was on telly last year in case of interest.

 

[jcsd]

ETA : And very close to the current Beautiful Days fest-site at Escot, whose owners were very sympathetic to the protesters at the time, I'm told!

My Gran's 2nd cousin was the owner at the time!

 

[skyscraper101]

Swampy: ’90s eco-warrior hero returns

He was the most famous climate activist in the UK, fighting the good fight two decades before Extinction Rebellion. Then he went to ground – until now.

theface.com

have to say I did chuckle at this bit

He was asked by a music producer to record a version of I Am A Mole And I Live In A Hole under the name Swampy & The Swamp Girls. This time, mercifully, he declined

 

[M Testa]

Swampy got drained.

 

[cantsin]

He was on telly last year in case of interest.

sound bloke

 

[hash tag]

Back in Bucks at the HS2 protests Swampy the eco warrior joins a camp to protest the removal of woodland for HS2

 

[Ground Elder]

One of five charged with aggravated trespass and up in court 16th November

 

[danny la rouge]

What happened to Steve Booth? Is he still around?

 

[Pickman's model]

What happened to Steve Booth? Is he still around?

i do hope so

back in the 90s there was a movement against the monarchy protest down at tetbury, where prince charles' estate highgrove is

sb was there with a balaclava on. the effect of which was undermined by his glorious red beard which the garment did nothing to contain.

e2a: details of the demo from 'animal'

 

[panpete]

Sorry if this is already posted HS2: Eco activist Swampy to face trial over tree protest

 

[Funky_monks]

Intresting article here. Gawd bless Swampy!

Swampy: ’90s eco-warrior hero returns

He was the most famous climate activist in the UK, fighting the good fight two decades before Extinction Rebellion. Then he went to ground – until now.

theface.com

I grew up near Newbury, and a few of my mates were in villages closer to the protesters (Woolton Hill, Burghclere etc) and we used to go down the woods to find/chat to them (would have been 16 in 1996). Did a bit with permaculture and the meetings were always based down Tipi Valley way with a few residents attending.
Bet I've met him but not realised........

 

[8ball]

Caught up a tree with several women half his age.
Still living the rock star life...

 

[LDC]

i do hope so

back in the 90s there was a movement against the monarchy protest down at tetbury, where prince charles' estate highgrove is

sb was there with a balaclava on. the effect of which was undermined by his glorious red beard which the garment did nothing to contain.

e2a: details of the demo from 'animal'
View attachment 239129

Are you thinking of Paul Rogers from Green Anarchist, he of the red beard, cap, camouflage jacket, suit trousers, and black slip-on shoes? Steve Booth was the early splitter who went off on a 'platform' of neither left nor right but bonkers. At one point both were involved in publishing their own version of Green Anarchist - all very Monty Python.

 

[Pickman's model]

Are you thinking of Paul Rogers from Green Anarchist, he of the red beard, cap, camouflage jacket, suit trousers, and black slip-on shoes? Steve Booth was the early splitter who went off on a 'platform' of neither left nor right but bonkers. At one point both were involved in publishing their own version of Green Anarchist - all very Monty Python.

you're quite right

 

[cyril_smear]

Getting a mention on Jeremy vine as we speak.

 

[ddraig]

HS2 again
Tunnel dug n Euston in attempt to avoid eviction!

HS2 protesters dig tunnel to thwart Euston eviction

The tunnel is a danger to public safety, an HS2 spokeswoman told the BBC.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Petcha]

Caught up a tree with several women half his age.
Still living the rock star life...

I just saw that BBC story tonight. Him and a very very naive 18yo girl proudly displaying their 'secret' tunnel. On BBC London news. Coz the cops dont monitor media. No idea who this guy is but it was pretty funny.

 

[ddraig]

I just saw that BBC story tonight. Him and a very very naive 18yo girl proudly displaying their 'secret' tunnel. On BBC London news. Coz the cops dont monitor media. No idea who this guy is but it was pretty funny.

I doubt they were showing the whole tunnel (Also it's dug and there are people already in there)
And making it public means other people are aware and may keep an eye out for dodgy removals etc, no?

 

[SpookyFrank]

I doubt they were showing the whole tunnel (Also it's dug and there are people already in there)
And making it public means other people are aware and may keep an eye out for dodgy removals etc, no?

Yes you keep the layout and exact location of the tunnel secret but you tell everyone and his mum that there are tunnels, so there's no way they can get away with just sending in the diggers while people are underground.

 

[editor]

Swampy is BACK!

Swampy is back, in the protest tunnels under Euston

Exclusive: famous Newbury activist is part of the HS2 demonstration, which he views as a potential ‘tipping point’

www.theguardian.com

 

[DaveCinzano]

With his SON!

'I couldn't be prouder': Swampy and 16-year-old son in HS2 tunnel protest

Veteran campaigner and teenager join environmental activists to protest against rail project

www.theguardian.com

(Well, could be a cunning disinformation plan)

 

[Artaxerxes]

Trains are good fwiw

 

[TopCat]

Do they have any public support over this? Trying to hinder a public railway? I hope they are safe but really, fuck their cause.

 

[platinumsage]

Do they have any public support over this? Trying to hinder a public railway? I hope they are safe but really, fuck their cause.

It's an unusual mixture of of opponents: Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Railfuture, The Green Party, Extinction Rebellion, The Wildlife Trusts, The National Trust, Chris Packham, Nigel Farage, Steve Baker, The Taxpayers Alliance, UKIP...