| Discrete Collections | The Women's Library |
| Title | Papers of Ginette Leach |
| Ref No | 7LEA |
| Box Fetch No | Box 01; Archive Object Boxes 9 & 10; Archive Badge Box 12, 13 & 14 |
| Level | Collection |
| Date | 1980s-1995 |
| Extent | 0.5 A box and objects |
| Admin Biographical History | Ginette Leach (nee Bell-Syer) (1933- ) was born in Worthing to conservative parents. She was educated, together with her older sister Gina, at a local convent, leaving at 16. She took a secretarial course at Brighton Technical College and worked locally for a while. She met her husband John there and became involved in CND and Aldermaston marches. They lived in Cambridge for 5 years where their son, Mark, was born in 1956, and subsequently moved to Deal, Kent, where they lived for the next 25 years. Ginette had many jobs, mostly part time, with a pony breeder, as an assistant at a pottery, and working for a writer friend. During this period the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament was a large part of her life and following the death of a group member, they purchased a camper van, inscribing it 'Peter Darlington Peace Van'. The vehicle was lent to Greenham Common women, and at the age of 50 Ginette made frequent journeys to Orange Gate from Kent, recording her experiences in her journal. Her involvement with Greenham Common inspired her to change her life, and she went on to University and became divorced. An inheritance from her mother enabled her to buy a small flat in Brighton where she took up a clerical job. After trekking in Nepal with a group of women, she rented out her flat and moved to Slough, working in social services. After six years she returned to Brighton where she worked supporting people with HIV and AIDS. Ginette retired at the age of 67 and as at Aug 2012 lived in Brighton with her partner, Millie. |
| Custodial History | The papers were in Ginette Leach's possession prior to deposit at The Women's Library |
| Description | The archive consists of a loose leaf journal of Ginette Leach's experiences at Greenham Common, her arrest papers, typed appeal letter by Ginette Leach (subsequently distributed), photocopy of article about Greenham Common, bolt cutters, piece of Greenham Common fence wire, photographs and badge collection |
| Related Material | The Women's Library also holds other archives relating to Greenham:
5GCW the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp (Yellow Gate) archive
7JAN Papers of Jayne and Juliet Nelson: Greenham Common Papers
7JTR Papers of Jill Truman
7PBB Papers of Pam Baum Barker
7RTH Rebecca Thackray & Catherine Thackray Letters
7LBA Papers of Lyn Barlow
7LEA Papers of Ginettte Leach.
The Womens Library Museum Collection contains a number of objects, such as postcards and posters, related to Greenham. This includes a number of items created by the Women for Life on Earth, Greenham Common group. The Women's Library Printed Collections holds a number of publications about Greenham including contemporary Greenham Common newletters (see also women's liberation periodicals from the period for references to Greenham).
See 5GCW for a fuller listing of material related to Greenham Common.
The Women's Library holds other archives relating to peace:
5WIB Women in Black
5IAW International Alliance of Women
5ICW International Council of Women
7KDC Papers of Kathleen D'Olier Courtney
LSE archives holds:
CND Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, British Section)
FOR (Fellowship of Reconciliation, London Union)
LNU League of Nations Union |
| Related Record | 7LBA |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library @ LSE in advance of their first visit. |