[diggers350] Kett lives -- press releases

[BEBBS at MCR1.poptel.org.uk]

Press releases dictated to me by The Land Is Ours campaigners in Norfolk, UK

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Ketts claim hospital as common land 

The Ketts are back!  

12 July 1999 

Up to 20 landrights activists have occupied the 20-acre site of the former
David Rice Hospital, Drayton, Norwich.

To mark the 450th anniveresary of Kett's rebellion (see note 1) against
enclosure of common land, three days ago (Saturday 10 July) The Land Is Ours
set up camp in the grounds of the old NHS hospital. As well as the state of
disrepair of the building, the

Activists at the camp intend to stay until, as they see it, there is a
positive result for the use of this land. The TLIO Norfolk Group contact,
Rory Bowskill, said: "The squandering of this potential resource would be a
travesty where there is a deficit

Campaigners have already cordoned around the building with security tape to
warn the public of safety hazards in the derelict old hospital. The NHS
trust have failed to carry out this measure themselves.

The Land Is Ours have made the link between the landrights struggles of
Kett's rebellion and present day issues of homelessness and public access to
land.

Site contact: Rory Bowskill 0961 460171 

Backgound: www.oneworld.org\tlio 

Notes to editors:  

1 During a two-month fight in 1549 to defend their rights to common land,
four thousand people died while destroying fences erected under the
Enclosures.

"Part of the timing of this action is to pay tribuite to those who died at
that time," said Mr Bowskill.

The Norfolk Mental Health NHS, which has the land up for sale, has requested
a meeting, so more news may follow.

(KET1)

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Work begins on Kett memorial 

Handcarved marble plaque to Norfolk's missing dead 

13 July 1999 

Activists from The Land Is Ours Norfolk Group and East Anglia region have
begun work on a permanent memorial to Robert Kett.

Occupants of 'Kett Camp' at the former David Rice Hospital, Drayton, Norwich
have planted a chestnut tree as a living memorial. They are also making a
marble plaque to be left on the site. The inscription will read "1549
Remeber Robert Kett, 1999 The Land

Camp spokesman Rory Bowskill said: "As the threat of eviction from this site
grows nearer we feel the need to honour those who died defending their
rights."

It is hoped that the tree and stone will remind local people of hte
thousands of East Anglians who lost their lives in 1549 for resisting being
forced from their land as part of the enclosures.


Site contact: Rory Bowskill 0961 460171 

Backgound: www.oneworld.org\tlio 

Notes to editors:  

1 During a two-month fight in 1549 to defend their rights to common land,
thousands of people died while destroying fences erected under the
Enclosures.

(KET2)

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Police request activists' assistance

13 July 1999

Norfolk Police have this afternoon requested help from land rights
campaigners to maintain a watch on neighbouring fields to deter poachers.

Land rights activists from The Land Is Ours camped in the grounds of the
David Rice Hospital, Drayton, Norwich, today received a request to keep
watch over adjacent land. The campaigners have accepted the request and will
be assisting by using some of the

Group spokesman Rory Bowskill said: "This request not only validates our
statement that we will be providing greater security at the site, but also
can be seen as vindicating how we are viewed by the local community."

As some members of the camp are also involved witrh animal rights issues,
there was no hesitation in offering full co-operation in this matter.


Site contact: Rory Bowskill 0961 460171

Backgound: www.oneworld.org\tlio

(KET3)

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ENDS



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