Just one protester amongst many

We rose rather early this morning to watch the rugby World cup games that started at 7am. My old friend Pip had come up from Bristol last night to have an evening of catching up, eating well and visiting the Crown and sceptre.

Between the two games, I cooked a hearty and delicious breakfast, with loads of strong coffee. Helena had to leave early with Eileen for a craft workshop they had signed up for several months ago. That was a shame, as she'd wanted to join Pip and I in walking into town to attend the march to highlight the take-over of our health services, organised by Stroud against the Cuts.

It wasn't as well attended as was hoped but the the final gathering outside the Subscription Rooms did bring a focus to the need for us all to stand up and be counted. One piece of good news was that it appears that there will have to be a Judicial Review about the way these proposals to re-organise the NHS locally have been introduced. A very elderly gentleman stood up to speak about his recent experiences of ill-health and multiple operations. He had agreed to apply for Legal Aid to make this legal challenge.

Like many people I have spoken to, Pip had not heard about these imminent changes and is now very concerned too. He met a supporter from Bristol who told him to much to his surprise that the same issues are affecting Bristol's health services. In fact they are having a big meeting there next Tuesday, so perhaps anyone in Bristol should try to find out what it means for them, and tell as many people as possible.

While I stood at the back of the crowd taking a few photographs, I noticed an anarchist flag on a long wooden stick being waved by this man. As he turned round and saw me, I indicated quizzically that I wanted to take his photo, and he nodded his agreement. When the meeting was over he came up to chat and it seems he is involved trying to bring some of the various groups together from different districts, who are involved in fighting the cuts. He had come over from Swindon which is about thirty miles away. I must admit I thought of Mr M. Ellis, and wondered what sort of picture he would have conjured up.

The protest after the first news about the Hospital and the proposed changes
Protest outside Stroud hospital

The public meeting
Some people in Stroud are angry