Talk:Conscientious Objectors Commemorative Stone

How I created this page

I created this page from references to the stone on other Wikipedia pages. The text for the inscription I took from the WikiMedia entry for the photo of the inscription. The section titled 'History' I produced from an article written by one Edna Mathieson. This is reproduced in full here:

THE  CONSCIENTIOUS  OBJECTORS  STONE  IN  TAVISTOCK  SQUARE:   how it all began

The idea of actually having a stone dedicated to conscientious objectors to war began with an almost chance remark at the secular funeral of my uncle in 1976.  He had been imprisoned in 1916 as a political rather than a religious objector (the latter tended to be treated marginally better than the former).  He experienced the usual insults, ostracism, physical and verbal violence accorded c.o.s and their families.

Bill McIlroy, the then Secretary of the National Secular Society (NSS), officiated.  He said that perhaps one day, c.o.s will be commemorated, as service personnel are, both nationally and locally in the places in which they lived.  I recall at the time thinking it a really excellent idea – innovative, imaginative and perhaps, thereby, creating greater awareness amongst people in general.  But it would never be in my life-time.

About five years later, I became a Member of the GLC/ILEA.  Bill McIlroy’s idea perhaps could become a reality – and in my life-time, too!

The GLC Labour Group accepted the idea; and the Greater London Regional Labour Party agreed, too.  But the GLC was about to be abolished by Margaret Thatcher’s government.  The London Residuary Board took its place, carrying out the GLC’s contracts and agreements.  Strangely, they were unable to find the agreement for a commemorative stone dedicated to c.o.s.

County Hall is in Lambeth and Lambeth Council agreed to help.  I met one of their officers and we decided to hold a competition for all London art schools – a piece of sculpture commemorating c.o.s, to be set up next to County Hall.  However, shortly after our meeting, Thatcher’s government began cutting funding to local authorities up and down the country.   The Lambeth officer lost her job; and I would now need funding from somewhere to carry on.

A letter to all national newspapers, explaining Bill McIlroy’s idea and asking for funds with which to put it into practice, seemed a good way forward.  A lawyer friend however pointed out that an individual asking for money is unacceptable: I needed an organisation …

London CND explained that their concern is with nuclear weapons not conventional ones – hence their name!  And therefore was unable to help.
Quakers at Friends House (FH) said that, as each Meeting is independent of another, and of Friends House, it would be necessary to go to a Meeting, explaining beforehand the reason for going.  This I did, and was asked how much such a stone might cost – ‘Probably, £2-3,000’, I replied.  It was pointed out to me that that would feed many hungry people in India and Africa.  I agreed: but as they felt so keenly about hunger, would it not be an idea to, perhaps, suggest to, say, the National Gallery, that, when they next sell a painting worth millions, as they do, to give the money to those who go hungry in those two countries.  I left the Meeting shortly after.

The PPU readily agreed to help.
They sent a letter to all the main newspapers – only The Guardian replied, and printed the letter asking for funding.  In addition, I asked friends to donate which they did.  The PPU went on to contact their local authority, Camden, for permission to erect a stone in Tavistock Square, Camden’s peace park.

Granite, as it is the strongest stone, was decided upon – symbolic of those who refused against the odds to fight.  However, when the PPU’s archivist and Camden’s architect went to Cumbria in search of a granite stone, they were so attracted to a nicely shaped piece of grey-green slate, some 400 million years old that they chose that, which now stands in Tavistock Square.

The PPU decided upon a form of words for the stone with which I totally agreed.  I simply added, “Their foresight and courage give us hope”, written by a Dublin wordsmith.

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An annual act of remembrance around the stone would be, I thought, a final touch, so two years later sent a letter to over 100 organisations which might be sympathetic: of course, the PPU was asked to join us.  The first meeting was held in the Bertrand Russell Room of the National Secular Society, and Robert Ashby,  then Director of British Humanist Association, kindly gave, and continued to give, every assistance to this newly formed group.  It was called the Right to Refuse to Kill Group.  The name was given by one of its first members, Jess Hodgkins, a Unitarian.  The present format of the event is little changed from the very first one.

Others, now, in other parts of the country, have, or are hoping to have, a stone in that part of the country in which they live – be it city or region.  Alternatively, simply to celebrate the 15th May as International Conscientious Objectors Day.  But, maybe, one day, there will be a stone, or some commemorative event, in every city or region of this country.

I used as much of that article as I felt I could without exceeding Wikipedia's rules by too far. I did reply to say the content of the article needs sources.

Dispute of the wording

Edna Mathieson was dissatisfied with my paraphrasing the article saying "Thanks, Simon, but factually its incorrect. There are other points I would raise but that is the most important." and "It was my uncle who was the c.o. at whose funeral Bill McIlroy spoke; and me, who, when I became a Member of the GLC/ILEA, took the idea to Labour Group, and thence to many groups/organisations, e.g. the Quakers, asking for help, the first being the LB Lambeth. But this is all in the piece I wrote and which Simon of course read and re-wrote." So, some editing is required by someone. SandJ-on-WP (talk) 18:43, 12 January 2016 (UTC)