[First published in GREENLEAF magazine in August 1987]

Stiff laws to control gatherings and trespass are coming after two years of police persecution created anxiety in festival circles. But from the police it meant a set of rules which could be enforced with some discretion instead of being told to act outside the law. To be sure the way they exercised it could be questioned but only by being arrested, and we were going to Stonehenge this year !

Hence came the unusual scene that morning in the dripping Collingbourne Woods when the senior officer had a quiet word to assure us that he wasn't wading in at 12 noon but was satisfied to see people ready to move as the deadline neared. He said we were well behaved and they didn't mind if we moved nearer the Stones !

The next site at Devil's Dyke was a stroke of genius: not only was it near the beanfield where the festival convoy had been horribly ambushed in 1985 (no-one was going to forget that in a hurry) but it lay on the borders of 3 police areas and Hampshire and Wiltshire had already disagreed how many were allowed to walk along this road. Thus we only saw the Ministry of Defence plods who shooed some lost people off thier bit of land. We set up a number of separate camps in the beautiful woods hoping police would count the vehicles separately. Soon there were five sites, over 50 vehicles. Spirits were high and the next day, Solstice Eve was fine and festivity began.

We were told that at 8pm there would be an official announcement and we could not suppose but that things having gone so well, we'd be given terms for walking to the Stones. What actually happened was chaos ! Some shouted at the police, and others shouted to them to shut up so the announcemnt could not be heard. Its substance however was "2 miles from the Stones and you will be arrested" the same old shit ! Media was everywhere. I spoke to Australian TV ! A confused site meeting started. I had decided to leave ths site. As I went down the lane a new message arrived, we were going after all. Perhaps it was a mistake, the wrong man bringing the wrong message ?

At midnight we formed up at the end of the straight track where it meets the A303. For a while we were given a display of sheer power, riot vans and flashing lights and then we were allowed to march through the night, all the way. It was very moving, like a strange dream coming true. We ended up in the road waiting for the druids and ticket holders and cameramen who started parading inside the wire at 3am.

A group of hecklers formed by the Hele stone as if magnetically drawn to the spot. The police distracted by shining bright lights on them. From time to time people got over the wire and were arrested. They were taken away from the area and released without being charged. English Heritage had a noisy helicopter buzzing round which must have annoyed the Druids no end. The hang-gliders had a better sense of fitness and a better view than anyone. Dawn came, then the sun was seen and it began to get warm. Those of us who were patient waited. Sid had come up from Pilton [site of the annual Glastonbury Festival], his tribe were doing a dragon dance in the road. The crowd had thinned. Still we waited. Then at 6.30 Sid said they wanted to know if we'd like to go inside. This was the moment !

We all headed straight into the ring. It had been three years since this had happened ! We formed a big ring then, outside the rampart, I think there were 300 of us, and spiralled in, which made good TV pics for folks at home. Then there was chanting. For a long time we held with "The earth is our mother, we shall take care of her" At 8 we were exhausted, we had tea and wondered when we would ever get to sleep.

It was a great victory for conciliation and good sense. Next year we'll be back, the others who didn't come and those who couldn't wait, will be with us then. We must all work for a proper festival site and to open the Stones all day.