Produced by Clare Walton with direction by Martin Herron and made in collaboration with other students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC), the master edit of a documentary about four individuals who have 'dissented' against perceived societal norms. Each of the four individuals come from different social and political backgrounds, but each of their stories contain similar elements of the importance of fighting for something that you believe strongly in. Carrying his...

Produced by Clare Walton with direction by Martin Herron and made in collaboration with other students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC), the master edit of a documentary about four individuals who have 'dissented' against perceived societal norms. Each of the four individuals come from different social and political backgrounds, but each of their stories contain similar elements of the importance of fighting for something that you believe strongly in. Carrying his belongings pensioner and class warrior Norman Laws crosses the road outside HMP Durham to address the camera directly. Pointing back at the prison and not looking directly at the camera he says, “Out of the jaws of death, out of the mouth of hell, and this time Satan was in residence’. A montage of opening comments from the other three contributors to this film begins with anti-motorway protester David Croker who believes you need to be an idealist in order to win. Sitting on her sofa the Reverend Janet Brearley, Deacon of the church of St James and St Basil in the Newcastle suburb of Fenham explains it is the church who are saying no to her, but it is God that is calling her to be a priest and saying yes to her vocation. Sitting at home Jack Lawther, last surviving brother of the Lawther family of Chopwell in County Durham explains that he doesn’t believe he was rebellious as a youth, even though he was the only ‘kid’ in the class to get the cane. Title: Dissent As walkers cross the Twyford Downs in Hampshire, David Croker talks in voiceover about the ‘dedication to the great car society’ and how today the myth that car ownership bringing freedom has been broken with the needs of the car become ‘somebody else’s hinderance’. As he looks out across the Downs, he sees traffic moving along the M3 motorway and explains that he believes this needs to be fought again. In his large country house David sits at a computer typing a letter on behalf of the Twyford Down Association. As he sits in a large bay window providing details on how the road scheme between London and the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth came about, a montage of picturesque villages and rural country lanes. As he talks about how the Twyford Down has been sacrificed on the ‘altar of bureaucratic determination’ surveyors in bright yellow high-viz jackets working on part of the proposed route. With the construction site in the distance David talks about potentially having to move should the road scheme go ahead, but he will be taking his road campaigning with him as this must be the last destructive road scheme the bureaucrats will win. Title: On the 11th November 1992 the General Synod of the Church of England votes on the ordination of women into the priesthood In the window of Janet Brearley home a sign giving times when the clergy will be available. In her living room she talks about growing up in Scarborough where her father was a verger and church caretaker and how the church was the centre of her families social and worshipping life. On the altar inside the church of St James and St Basil a large silver crucifix, Janet tells a story about how when she was young, she didn’t think it was strange that as a female she wasn’t allowed to go to the altar. At the back of the church beside the font Janet conducts a baptism, she explains in voiceover that the world, including the church, have had an issue with accepting sexuality and that as some religions are very ‘male-based’, women have been excluded because of a perceived idea that they are ‘unclean’. In the front window of Norman Law’s South Shields home, a poster reads ‘Pay No Poll Tax’. In voiceover he explains why he refuses to pay one penny of this ‘vindictive, capitalist, iniquitous, wicked, evil tax’. As he comes out of his home, he goes onto explains that he believes he is fighting for all the people who are having a ‘rough deal’ and are being ‘taken to the cleaners’. As he approaches and enters the offices of the Trade Union Council in Newcastle he sticks two fingers up at the camera. With a miner’s folk song playing in the background an old black and white photograph taken in the 1920s of the Lawther brothers posing together in front of a banner for the Durham Miners’ Association. Standing in a field overlooking the village of Chopwell, Jack Lowther looks up the hill towards a local gym. As he walks around inside past a boxing ring, he explains that his brothers often used this building for union meetings. He is asked what his most personal memories are, he says the 1926 General Strike where three of his brothers were ‘locked-up’ under the ‘Emergency Powers Act’. A page from the Gateshead Police Court for the 27th May 1926 that features several of Jack’s brothers names. He explains back them they could lock you up for just about anything. Standing outside the offices of South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Community Charge Rates and Benefits Office Norman Law’s is asked what is wrong with the Poll Tax. His one-word reply, ‘everything’. Janet Brearley believes that woman have so much to offer the church that hasn’t been used over the years. As she provides details, she speaks with the mother following the baptism in the doorway of the church. Returning to her at home she explains how she came to the decision why being ordained was important to her. As she talks about her husband’s reaction, she and her the family together in the kitchen. She talks in voiceover about the sacrifices her husband has made to come live here but is a great supporter of what she is doing. Norman Laws sits in front of a large banner for the Trade Union Council. He is asked if he feels isolated from the ‘general opinion?’ Over a display of photographs showing protest marches and the police, he replies no as he believes he has an army of around 17-18 million people in the country who are ‘sick as parrots’ of this Tory government. David Cocker talks about the political line that has always been about supporting the government which hasn’t always been helpful. Looking out over a large field overlooking Chopwell, Jack Lawther remembers the large audiences who would come see his brother Will speak. He goes to talk about his brother’s decision in 1916 to become a conscientious objector and how that decision was received. Janet Brearley explains that it is not God who is putting up the barrier, it is the church that is saying no so this is where the tension is. Standing outside South Tyneside Magistrate Court Norman Laws explains that he was expecting to have been given an additional month in prison for Contempt of Court as he did insult the magistrate, ‘stick it all on, it doesn’t make a bloody difference’ he say. In a field along the Twyford Downs a bird murmuration and a woman taking her dogs for a walk. In voiceover David Croker explains why he believes the cause he is fighting is a civilised one being done in a civilised way. He is asked as a lifelong Conservative about campaigning with the Dongas Tribe? He admires the work they are doing and their idealism. Out of the Downs members of the tribe perform music and dance around a surveyor wearing a bright yellow high-viz jacket and helmet. As David explains why he respects the tribe’s attitude towards the future, he is saddened that because of his age isn’t able to do more. In a field a member of the tribe follows a surveyor around the site carrying a large wooden pentagram. As members of the tribe continue to perform on the Down’s David provides details of their ‘comfortable relationship’. Janet Brearley walks into the vestry at St James' and St Basil’s and begins to get into her deaconess outfit. In voiceover she explains the jobs she can do as a deacon, the exception being that she can’t hold a communion service on her own, give a blessing or give Gods absolution. Still standing outside South Tyneside Magistrate Court Norman Laws says that he felt like saying to the Magistrate ‘thank you for those kind Christian sentiments, but…’ Back on Twyford Downs a member of the Dongas Tribe carrying what appears to be a staff conducts what appears to be a ceremony beside a surveyor holding a pole. On the question of civil disobedience David Croker explains that he would be against anything that would cause injury or damage to property. As he talks about what he would be prepared to do such as supporting protests and getting in the way, two police officers watches over members of the Dongas Tribe while speaking with one of the surveyors. An archive photograph of Mill Road in Chopwell morphs into the road today with cars and pedestrians driving or walking along it. Another photograph of Chopwell Colliery changes to the empty field where the colliery once stood. Inside the Chopwell R.A.O.B. Club and Institute Jack Lawther sits at a table beside a pint of beer, he is asked if Will and his older brother were influential in the Socialist Sunday School. Yes, he explains as they helped to organise it. As he provides further details a montage of other archive photographs featuring Jack’s brothers. The Dongas Tribe encampment with members sitting around a fire. Carrying a camcorder David Croker comes over and begins speaking with them. A sign on the ground nearby reads ‘The Dongas are about to be Destroyed, where will you be?’ In voiceover David expresses his opinion with regards the new M3 bypass as an ‘evil scheme’ for wanting to destroy something as beautiful as the Twyford Downs. Graffiti daubed over a concrete overpass under construction as part of the M3 bypass reads ‘Planet Wreckers’ and ‘Save Twyford No M3 Link’ with David explaining that people need to be made aware how evil this scheme is and make the government regret they ever did it. Returning to Norman Laws, he believes now is the time for us to ‘get our fingers out, get our army on the road, to fight the revolution’ and to end capitalism in the country. Janet Brearley is not entirely confidence the vote to allow the ordination of women will go through this November, if it doesn’t then she has no intensions of leaving the country just to be priested as she believes God is calling her to work here. Over newspaper clippings and archive stills Jack Lawther talks about his brother Clifford who was killed during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. He explains that while Clifford’s death was tragedy for the family, it didn’t change their believe in the importance of protesting. He concludes by saying it depends on a man’s attitude to what he believes was right and how far he was prepared to back his principles. In the local churchyard Clifford’s grave, buried alongside his parents. David Croker is asked how he would like to be remembered? He replies as someone who fought as hard as he could to stop an evil happening. The film ends on Norman Laws who is also asked the same question. After a moment’s thought he replies, ‘as somebody who was praised by his fellow men’. Title: Contributors DAVID CROKER: member of the Twyford Down Association, which was formed to prevent the extension of the M3 THE REV. JANET BREARLEY: Deacon of the church of St James and St Basil, Fenham NORMAN LAWS: Pensioner, class warrior JACK LAWTHER: Last surviving brother of the Lawther family of Chopwell A member of the Dongas Tribe follows a surveyor across a field carrying a large wooden pentagram. Credit: Researchers Hayley Warnes, Alan English Production / Edit Runner Noriaki Hashimoto Production Assistant Hayley Warnes Production Manager Clare Walton The surveyor, still being followed by the woman from the Dongas Tribe with the pentagram, approaches and speaks with other in the group advising them that this is a road construction site and to leave. Credit: Camera Assistant Clare Walton, Noriaki Hashimoto Lighting Gavin Cooke In the near distance a couple from the Dongas Tribe chat as three dogs run up to and barks at Steve Muse’s feet. Credit: Camera Steve Muse Sound Assistants Steven Marcus Tyler, Gavin Cooke, Alan Daley Sound Recordist / Dubbing Editor Jim Wilkinson Aston Gavin Chilvers Edit Assistants Steve Marcus Tyler, Alan English The surveyor on seeing the camera comments to a journalist reporting from the site that he won’t talk ‘in case they [the filmmakers] start clipping’. Credit: Editor Hayley Warnes Title: Many thanks to Barbara Bryant, Earth First!, The Dongas Tribe, Jake Wilson, The Members of the Church of St James and St Basil Fenham, the Brearley family, the Rev. Joan Dotchin, Newcastle Trades Council, Jan Mawson, Cecilia Lawson, the staff and pupils at Bill Quay Primary School, Tom Cousins, Trade Films, Gateshead Library, Ingrid and Barry Temple, Colin Pearson, Christine Forrest, AGFA, Mr and Mrs Muse, Sheena Drennon, Brian McEvoy, Hilary Fenwick, Susan Underwood, Stonehills Studios Credit: Producer Clare Walton Director Martin Herron Norman Laws still sitting in his chair in front of Trade Union Council banner, he turns and on seeing the camera sticks two fingers up at it. End title: Copyright 1992 NEMTC