My mother, Eileen Russell, who has died aged 90, was one of the original Greenham Common peace women. As our family home in Berkshire was so close to the RAF base at Greenham, she became a source of great support to many women who went there in the early 1980s to protest against nuclear weapons, and she is still remembered fondly by many who met her. Offering a hot bath and serving up vegetable soup were among the many ways she supported the cause.
Born in Plymouth, Eileen was the younger daughter of Edna (nee Fry), an artist and milliner, and Mervyn Arthur, the local chemist. She grew up and went to school around the Totnes area of Devon. Both parents were active members of the local Labour party, and one of their proudest moments was being photographed at an event with Nye Bevan, the founder of the NHS.
Eileen met Peter Russell, a Yorkshireman, while studying at Seale Hayne Agricultural College in Devon; they married in 1957 and had four children, Mathew, Katherine, Anna and me. After moving around the country a lot with Peter’s work as a civil servant with the Ministry of Agriculture, in 1976 they moved (with Edna) to a smallholding in Headley, Berkshire. The “family” grew significantly at that point, to include horses, dogs, cats, chickens, guinea fowl, a parrot and a boa constrictor named Angelina.
Eileen was interested in politics, and joined Newbury CND in the early 80s. This led to her taking part in many demonstrations, and eventually joining the protest at Greenham Common. When CB radios were introduced in order for the camps to keep in contact, Eileen’s “handle” could only be one thing: Dragon. It was a name she had first been given by one of my brother’s friends, and remained her affectionate nickname for the rest of her life. Even the grandchildren called her Granny Dragon.
In 1987, my parents retired and moved to Hayle in Cornwall, taking Edna, who was well into her 80s (and still doing etchings) and me with them. In the following six years, Eileen and Peter divorced, and both Edna and Peter died; Eileen decided to return to living in Devon on her own.
She was still known to ride a moped down to the local shop at 80, and was a very keen and knowledgable gardener into her 90s. Her interest and support for various political and humanitarian causes continued throughout her life, and, as an environmentalist, what she didn’t know about companies’ eco-credentials wasn’t worth knowing.
Eileen is survived by her children and seven grandchildren.
