We stood about in the trees and the rain for about two and a half hours until the first outriders were spotted. They all sped past well ahead of the carriers to Whistlefield roundabout, a mile or so down the road where our supporters were massing, sheep skull and all!
A quick scramble over a fence and we were on the road, no police in sight and the first truck coming to a halt in front of us. Ignoring the first, we all dived under the second and had plenty of time to get comfy and lock on before the police got back to us.
Forty five minutes later the last protester unclipped because a cop was hurting himself trying to cut her out (N.V.D.A - Groovy!). They didn't really deal with the arm tube very well - they made it quite a painful lesson - clip on to something other than each other!
Once arrested we were taken to Coulport as part of the convoy, just in case they needed the van for more protesters en route. There were none, so we were taken to Dumbarton, processed and treated to warm beds and cups of tea. The women were taken to Clydebank and by all accounts were treated the same. They were released the next afternoon. We, the men, (ook), were taken to Dumbarton Court holding cells for an hour or so then released with P.F. letters (basically a slap on the wrists) it seems that they didn't want Peace Campers getting good publicity!
At the time it was my second arrest. Empowerment is a wonderful feeling. Sitting on a wet road, under a truck loaded with nuclear weapons, with your arm in a tube, your friend on the other end being pulled by the police, shouting to be heard over the idling engine, "Stop breaking my arm!" ... clarity of thought - knowing your right; come let us show humanity as it really is. At the moment ...
Si