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LEVELLERS' DAY 2008
TIME FOR A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION?
The 34th Annual Levellers' Day. 9.30 am - 5 pm Saturday 17th May 2008. Burford, Oxfordshire.
TONY BENN, ANTHONY BARNETT and MARY SOUTHCOTT
chaired by REV. GILES FRASER
 
with music from
 
ROBB JOHNSON & THE IRREGULARS, ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER and AMV compered by NICK TOCZEK
 
PLUS
SPEECHES, DEBATE, STALLS, BANDS, SONG, PROCESSION & MORE!
 

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, they fought on Parliament’s side, 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.

In 1975, members of the WEA Oxford Industrial Branch went to Burford to reclaim a piece of history that seemed to be missing from the school books. They held a meeting in remembrance of the Leveller soldiers. The following year, Tony Benn came and read in the church and in each succeeding year, people have come to Burford on the Saturday nearest to 17 May, debated, held a procession, listened to music and remembered the Levellers and the importance of holding on to ideals of justice and democracy.

 
TICKETS
 
 
Sorry - No dogs allowed except for guide dogs.
 
LEVELLERS' DAY is a non-profit making event
organised by the Levellers’ Day Committee,
affiliated to the WEA (Workers’ Education
Association)
reg. charity no. 1112775
 
 
 
We are extremely grateful to the following for their support:
 
Midcounties Co-operative Community Assistance Logo
THE MIDCOUNTIES CO-OPERATIVE.
 
N. U. J. OXFORD & DISTRICT BRANCH.
 
THE OXFORDSHIRE DIVISION OF THE N. U. T.
 
RUSKIN COLLEGE OXFORD.
 
THE T & G 5/625 BRANCH, BMW OXFORD.