Picnic will commemorate Peterloo history

The Peterloo massacre plaque in central Manchester

The Peterloo Memorial Campaign will be holding a ‘Peterloo Picnic’ on Sunday afternoon to mark the 196th anniversary of the day soldiers killed or injured peaceful protesters in central Manchester.

Among the 15 dead were six people from the Oldham area, John Ashton from Cowhill, Thomas Buckley, from Baretrees, Edmund Dawson from Saddleworth, William Dawson from Saddleworth and John Lees from Oldham.

Campaign chairman Paul Fitzgerald said: “What happened in 1819 still challenges us to ask tough questions about protecting and deepening the democratic legacy they passed on. As we near the 200th anniversary people are gathering not just to honour the names of those who gave their lives, but to loudly demand a prominent, informative and above all unashamed permanent memorial to their courage and determination.”

Oldham Community Radio presenter Dave McGealy has been involved in the campaign for years: “The thing that really affects me is that it was a Monday morning and people had walked to Manchester in their Sunday best. The British state then turned its military on its own people, killing 15 and causing 60,000 to run in all directions. It was the Tiananmen Square of its day.”

A giant map of the routes people took to St Peter’s Field will be constructed at the front of Manchester Central Convention Complex (the former Central Station), focal point of the original rally.

Each of the victim’s names will be read by guest speakers, including actors Maxine Peake, Christopher Eccleston and Oldham’s John Henshaw. The solemn reading will also include as much biographical detail known about the dead.

Eccleston will read extracts from the speech read out by Henry “Orator” Hunt on the day, which called for protesters to stand firm during the attack.

Maxine Peake will reprise part of her acclaimed performance of Shelley’s “Masque of Anarchy”, which was about the day.

People are invited to arrive at 12.30pm and to bring blankets and a simple meal, such as, bread and cheese.