International Brigade Memorial Trust
A weekend in which trade unionist, labour movement activists and IBMT members are invited to participate in an 8oth anniversary commemoration of the first battle of the British Battalion, at Jarama on 12 February 1937. With the support of Unite, Unison, ASLEF, PCS and the TUC in the North West, the weekend will be focusing on the contribution of ordinary men and women of the British and Irish labour and trade union movement in the International Brigade and in the wider aid movement for the Spanish Republic 1936-39.
Provisional outline of proposed event
Friday 10 February
A trip will be arranged on Friday afternoon to visit and tour the University City battlefield site. A wreath will be laid at the at the IB memorial that is constantly being vandalised. Some walking is involved in this visit, but nothing too vigorous is envisaged.
This will be followed by a short walk from the hotel to lay flowers with our Spanish trade union comrades at the memorial to the 1977 massacre of trade unionists that took place in Atocha during the transition to democracy after the death of Franco, in which five activists were killed and four wounded by neo-fascists. The commemoration will be followed by a social event with our Spanish trade union comrades at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Saturday 11 February
10am: Board the coaches to the Jarama battlefield. We will be going to the Kit Conway memorial at ‘Suicide Hill’ and flowers will be laid and respects paid to the fallen. Those with good mobility will have the chance to walk up the crest of ‘Suicide Hill’ and see the ruins of the ‘White House’.
We will then go by coach and stop at the ‘Clenched Fist’ monument hill and we will gather for speeches, an informative talk about the wider battle and light refreshments. Again there is some walking, but nothing too strenuous is envisaged.
Then by coach we will go the El Cid restaurant in Morata de Tajuña for a meal. There will be an opportunity to visit the excellent little museum dedicated to the battle, just behind the restaurant.
On the way back to Madrid we will call at the Charlie Donnelly memorial for a short ceremony. The evening is free for those coming to enjoy the delights Madrid has to offer.
Sunday 12 February
There is no formal plan for Sunday; visitors are free to enjoy Madrid: to visit the Sunday market in La Latina, go shopping, visit the moving Guernica exhibition at the Museo Reina Sofía or just relax. There will be a wine-tasting tour arranged if there is enough interest expressed (the cost of this will be additional to any other costs).
Costs
The places on the coach and in the restaurant for this weekend will be strictly limited. The places are to be allocated on a first come first served basis. The cost will be £35, which is £15 for the coach and £20 for the meal on the Saturday. The full amount will be required up front and in total and will not be refundable.
Unless the deposit has been received, then your name is not down on the list of those booked on the trip.
Please make the cheques payable to the IBMT and send them to:
Charles Jepson JP, Aysgaard, Beardwood Brow, Blackburn, Lancs BB27AT
Accommodation and travel
An arrangement has been for bed and breakfast at the Hostal Persal in the Plaza del Ángel in Madrid as usual. To receive the discount code your cheque will have to have been received beforehand.
Please note that you are responsible for making you own booking directly with the Hostel Persal. To benefit from the discount code you will need to book using the official Hostel Persal website.
You are also responsible for making you own travel arrangements and there are flights to Madrid from most regional airports.
For further details or if you are a first time visitor and would like to ask questions about the trip please email
danpayne40@yahoo.co.uk or clarioncc@yahoo.co.uk
Posted 12 July 2016
