In Arbroath for the Independence Rally…

Highlights from a visit to Arbroath for the AUOB March

Marlene, member of our P4Indy National Group, writes:

I was up in Arbroath at the weekend for the AUOB March. I went up on the Friday with a friend, Fiona McGregor also a member of Pensioners for Indy. We had all day Saturday to wander around, visit the Abbey, find the statue of King Robert and Bishop Bernard, Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop of Arbroath, take photos and chat to strangers!

Here’s a video blog that we made:

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And here are a couple of the speeches: Mike Russell, former MSP and now President of SNP, and Dave Dougan, MP for Arbroath.

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Back to the Streets…Paisley March

We March Again Under the One Banner

Mary McCabe writes:

All Under One Banner are on the go again. On March 5th 2,500 (or 3000 or 3,500 depending on who’s counting) pro-indy activists gathered once more; this time in Ferguslie Park Paisley. Nothing like the 100,000 who used to sweep through Glasgow and Edinburgh. Not in the same league as the 20,000 who made it over seas and rough roads to remote Campbeltown. But for these cautious, post-lockdown times, with many people still shielding and others fallen out of the way of campaigning or even of travelling beyond their hometown, I call that a good start. 

Greater Glasgow branch of Pensioners for Independence played a full part.

On this occasion the route ended where it began. So it was a lot easier to erect the gazebo together, then leave two of us (Sheena and Rosalyn) in charge of the stall while the rest of us (Mary, Heather, Isabel, Phil, Neil and Frankie the dug) carried the banner on the rally. 

Unlike the last two occasions (where pro-indy rallies were organised in Glasgow and in Edinburgh during a hiatus in the lockdown) we were permitted to follow a central, high profile route, right down the High Street and past the University of the West of Scotland. Everywhere we were warmly greeted by the locals. There was no sign of the half-dozen or so counter-revolutionaries who used to huddle together at some point on our route, glaring and waving handfuls of Union flags. 

Back in the Park…

Back at the park there was a proper rally, albeit with fewer stalls than in the past. There were stalls from the Low Rent activists and from the Socialists. Artists displayed their work, including a range of beautifully decorated slates. There were no commercial kiosks, but volunteers at one of the stalls provided sandwiches, hot drinks and home baking. 

The rally was jointly organised by AUOB and by Make Poverty History. The theme was support for beleaguered Ukraine. The Ukrainian national anthem was played. Speakers included politicians such as George Adam MSP, a range of representatives from socialist groups and of course Ukrainians. Rosalyn provided a Ukrainian flag for our stall, to fly alongside the usual Saltire. 

There was home baking from Sheena and from Colin’s wife Morag (Granular Tsars, so a Russian theme). We had jewellery made by Sheena and Yes Stones painted by Sheena and Heather. Donations to the stall were very welcome!

Most importantly:

AUOB have already organised more monthly marches in different towns throughout the rest of the year. The next is planned for Arbroath on the 2nd of April, as a (delayed!) celebration of the 700th anniversary of the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath. The one after that will be Glasgow, on 14th May.

After the (still lingering) pandemic, after the numerous lockdowns, it’s great to declare to the world: the indy movement is still here, we’re still determined and we’re back marching!

Galashiels AUOB March, 1 June

Haven’t seen any estimates for the numbers at the Galashiels March yet. But P4Indy were there!

So far we have photos of our Glasgow and Edinburgh Group uploaded into our slideshow here. If you were there with another P4Indy group, send us your photos please!

The stall was run by Sheena and her team from our Glasgow Group. And as well as making jewellery, Sheena had been baking including our favourite Scottish sweetie – tablet! Val, another Glasgow group member, recounts this very funny story that happened at the stall…

On our Pensioners for Indy stall today a wee girl wanted some tablet but shook her head when Sheena asked : “Have you not got any pocket money?” So we just gave her some anyway. Ten minutes later back she comes she with a wee boy who asks: “Is this where you get the free tablet?” Wee lassie pipes up: “Only if you haven’t got any pocket money…”

The kids are in good company this is our FM demolishing a plateful of tablet a few months back!

All Under One Banner Marches 2019

This year’s marches, organised by All Under One Banner, will be happening in even more cities and towns of Scotland. Here are the dates:

The next march is in Aberdeen on Saturday 17th August 2019. This information is taken from Eventbrite March & Rally Aberdeen

*New Route*
Albyn Place To Queens Links 
Gathering Early, Leave 1.30pm Sharp

Procession Route: Albyn Place, Union Street, King Street, East North Street, Beach Boulevard, Queens Links. Aye Aberdeen will be supporting AUOB to help make this the biggest pro independence demonstration the North East of Scotland has ever seen. Everyone is welcome to take part, no ticket required for the march or the rally. Just turn up. Bring your flags, banners, pipes & drums!

Check out the All Under One Banner website for more information about:

  • travel directions,
  • how to book yourself a seat on an AUOB bus to get to a march,
  • if you can volunteer on a march,
  • if you can distribute leaflets for the marches.

If you haven’t been on a march, they are great fun. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. You can join at any part of the route if you need to cut down on walking. Go with your family. Take a picnic. Take your dog! Here’s a video of the march in Glasgow last year.