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Gazette, Wednesday, September 8, 2010
 Tribute paid to
former MP
NEWS that our former Wealden MP, Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith, had died prompted me to go through old Hailsham CND records
There was a great deal of correspondence between us about nuclear weapons.
Sir Geoffrey did not usually agree with us but he always replied with care and paid serious attention to our concerns.
Sometimes he took our points on board but he always supported his own case thoughtfully.
Sir Geoffrey was warm and courteous during our surgery visits and was always happy to take part in our debates and meetings. There was real dialogue.
As an apprentice anti-nuclear activist I learnt a great deal from him. There is no "them and us" – only a broad spectrum of concerned people some of whom can find common ground.
Not only was Sir Geoffrey a dedicated constituency MP he was also willing to exchange views with concerned citizens on broad areas of policy.
The Atomic Weapons Establishment has submitted a new planning application to West Berkshire Council as the latest step in its proposals to upgrade the AWE Aldermaston site in preparation to build a new generation of UK nuclear warheads.
Some of us wrote to the council about this and it received 1331 letters of objection, which they ignored completely.
You can read more about the council proceedings here>
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