Symon Hill

Peace Pilgrimage to the SDSC Arms Fair

On Saturday 31st January a group of pilgrims walked from Birmingham City Centre to the NEC, in witness against the Special Defence and Security Convention (SDSC) arms fair. We follow their pilgrimage and hear their reflections. Find out more at: https://www.stop-sdsc.uk/home [https://www.stop-sdsc.uk/home] Poem: Lorna Foster Edit: Joe Holtaway Music ‘Anywhere I Am’ by Wonderousound https://wondrousound.com/ [https://wondrousound.com/] 'Listen To Women’ by Joe Holtaway https://joeholtaway.com/ [https://joeholtaway.com/]

Symon Hill

An interview with Symon Hill Symon is one of the Free-Church chaplains at Aston University, and a passionate advocate against the arms trade and militarism.

Day 7: Kilburn to The Arms Fair

Day 7: Kilburn to the Arms Fair: The pilgrims set off from St Luke’s in Kilburn and step into the busy streets of London. Passing through Hyde Park and on to Trafalgar Square, their banner draws attention from many, and day walkers join to swell the journey eastward. Along the way, Pete and Sam reflect on a city filled with symbols — of money, power, and authority — and how these intertwine with the violence of the arms trade. At the Tower of London, the pilgrims pause for lunch before continuing toward the Docklands. Day walker Pat, active in Pax Christi and Women in Black, shares on the power of vigils and public witness. As the walk moves through Canary Wharf, Fran reflects on fear and trust as central elements of peacemaking. And we hear a collection of Haikus from our pilgrims. The day ends at the ExCeL Centre, site of the Arms Fair — with hearts heavy but grounded, marking the moment in prayer, reflection. The episode closes with Matthew reading Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. Music in this episode: “The Great Pause” by Monica Max West; “Still” and “Kissing the Earth” by Melissa James.

Day 6: Harrow to Kilburn

Day Six: Harrow to Kilburn The pilgrims set out from Trinity Church in Harrow and make their way 11 miles through the heat of the city toward St Luke’s Church in Kilburn. It’s a long day on the road, but rich in memories, reflection, and shared witness. Sandy recalls her life in London before 1989, as the walk takes her close to her old neighbourhood and home. Kath, a seasoned Peace Walker from Scotland, shares stories from her 20 years of peace walking — including her recent journey with the Coat of Hopes, a patchwork pilgrim coat stitched together as a collective act of grief and hope in the face of the climate crisis. She laments the absurdity of conceiving, buying, and using weapons, while “the kind people get arrested,” and speaks of her gratitude for walking in community. Sam reflects on the pilgrims’ daily practice of silence and reads from his writing on presence. Arriving safely at St Luke’s before dinner, Matthew speaks with Rachel, a Methodist minister on sabbatical, about her inner journey — taking time for herself, God, and family. For her, protest and social witness are an essential part of it. The day closes with dinner, conversation, and even the washing-up bowl. Music in this episode: “Holy Water” by Joe Holtaway.

Day 5: Rickmansworth to Harrow

After a day of rest, the pilgrims set out once again from the Catholic Worker Farm, preparing for the path into London. Matthew opens the episode by reflecting on the women and children supported by the farm, many of whom have faced the challenges of the asylum system, and on what it means to consider our own privileges by stepping into another’s shoes. The morning begins with prayers from Scott of the farm, followed by Neil’s moving account of the peace that passes all understanding he felt during the night. Along the way we meet Pete, joining the pilgrimage today after playing a key role in its planning, and hear from Fran, who has been there since the beginning, reflecting on our relationship to wildnerness and managed countryside. Trinity Church in Harrow receives the pilgrims tonight. Matthew takes the time to catch up with Sam who tells us about his spiritual upbringing, his parents’ work in a medical mission in Nepal, and — like Matthew — reflects on privilege and its place in our understanding of peace. He reminds us that while there are no easy answers, for a future to be possible, we must keep striving toward it. Music in this episode: “Little Boxes” by The Nayar Collective.