The Forever Imber book project

About the book project: Forever Imber by Ruth Underwood

This book grew out of a leaflet written in September 2001. Over 400 pages and 300 archive and contemporary photographs from many sources, including Austin Underwood’s pictures of the 1960s and Richard Hayward’s modern day photos, reproduced by Peter Daniels. Spiral bound A4, printed on recycled paper by Speedyprint, Salisbury. Colour front and back covers. Seven sections:

I. Wiltshire born and bred although I’ve been around the world a little
II. The village lies in a deep fold of the Plain
III. The Wiltshire County Council have betrayed the rights of way
IV. The ultimate hidden persuader
V. We really are a global village
VI. I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. War is hell.
VII. It was broken promises.

It pays tribute to my father Austin Underwood who started the campaign for Imber’s restoration in 1961.

It marks a reappraisal of the evacuation of Imber village on Salisbury Plain in 1943 and of the Public Inquiry into the permanent closure of its roads in 1961, concluding that both represent unresolved miscarriages of justice.

St Giles Church, a Grade 1 listed, 13th century building, came under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) in September 2005. The MoD have committed £60,000 towards the £200,000 restoration costs and have promised continuing public access during holiday periods.

Forever Imber proposes that St Giles Church become a centre for community education, creative arts, healing, environmental and historical awareness, interfaith, peace and reconciliation under the juristiction of the CCT.

Quotes from many people with Imber connections. Texts from local history, world religions, peace movement. Poetry from different ages and cultures. Comments on contemporary world politics since September 11. Argues for a re-evaluation of power relations, emphasising the importance of education and personal responsibility.

Argues for disarmament, the promotion of non-violent forms of conflict resolution and the abolition of war. It reflects on the massive anti-war movement against the War in Iraq.

Documents the community gatherings, church services and peace vigils held at Imber between 2002 and 2005. Community gatherings have focused on music, art, drama, peace education and conflict resolution.

Tells the story of the Peace Tree, created at Imber on 30 August 2003.

On New Year’s Eve 2002 a small number of people gathered at Imber in a Vigil for World Peace. It led to the New Year’s front cover headline in The Warminster Journal: ‘Pacifists Gather at Imber’ - a great message to go out to a military town in an area which houses the Head Quarters of the British Land Forces.

Easter Sunday 11 April 2004 marked 11 years since Austin Underwood died on Easter Sunday 11 April 1993.

The 2004 New Year’s Eve Peace Vigil was attended by representatives from the Quakers, Devizes Peace Group, Swindon Interfaith, Anglican Pacifist Fellowship and Movement for the Abolition of War.

If you are interested in Imber’s story, its future and the development of a culture of peace, and would like to reserve a copy of Forever Imber when published New Year 2006, please send £20 to the address below.

The book will include a CD of Song of the Open Downs (2001) with its own accompanying booklet.

Your support is much appreciated - advance payment enables printing costs to be covered - thank you.

Many thanks to those people who are waiting patiently for this book and who have given invaluable moral and financial support towards the process of bringing Forever Imber into being.

Forever Imber has been generously sponsored by Peter Daniels of Active UK (Visual Communications) Limited, Salisbury, without whom this project would not have been possible.

[print the following section out in order to pre-order the book]

I would like to support the production of the book Forever Imber and receive a copy as soon as it is completed (this is currently estimated at 2006) [ ]

I enclose a cheque for £20, payable to Ruth Underwood [ ]

Name................................................................................................................Telephone...................................................................

Address...............................................................................................................................................................................................

email...................................................................................................................

Either: I live in London or Wiltshire and my copy could be collected or delivered to save costs [ ]

Or: Please post my copy to the above address. (Postage and packing is included in the £20) [ ]

"Dear Ruth, Your essay about Imber is deeply moving and I hope it is widely read and studied. It reminds us that war and preparations for war can destroy humanity in victor nations as well as in those which are vanquished. In love and peace, Tony"

Tony Benn, former Labour MP and veteran peace activist

"Ruth Underwood’s history of Imber is a wonderful labour of love. It is rich in the stories of those who cared for Imber’s history and humanity of whom her father Austin was one of the greatest. But it is also a labour of hope for a different future in which Imber, a victim of war, might become a centre for peace. "Oh it’s totally unrealistic" said one Member of Parliament about these peaceful plans. I love people who say so confidently that projects are unrealistic. Those with imagination and vision so often prove them wrong. I suspect that Ruth will, with her fellow Imber campaigners do just that."

Bruce Kent, founder of the Movement for the Abolition of War, former Chair of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

"In 1940 my mother, brother and I went to live in Imber, after our home in Plymouth was destroyed by German bombs. Imber was my father’s childhood home and while my grandparents still lived in their cottage in the village, father was away fighting Germans. The village was an idyllic place for a small boy to grow up in and I have very clear, strong memories of my time there. Thanks very much Ruth, for writing ‘Forever Imber’ which, among other things, highlights the injustice suffered by the villagers and makes the case for restoring Saint Giles Church, outside of which my father’s ashes were scattered. Thanks also for following in your father’s footsteps and campaigning not just for Imber justice, but also for World Peace."

The late Bill Meaden, former President of the National Association of Retired Firefighters and Trustee for Age Concern England

"This body they may kill But truth abideth still."

Bach Chorale