Peace Pilgrimage Podcast

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/homePoem: Lorna FosterEdit: Joe HoltawayMusic‘Anywhere I Am’ by Wonderousound https://wondrousound.com/'Listen To Women’ by Joe Holtawayhttps://joeholtaway.com/

An interview with Symon HillSymon 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: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 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.

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.

Day Four: Rest Day at the Catholic Worker FarmAfter three days on the road, the pilgrims take a pause at the Catholic Worker Farm in Rickmansworth — a chance to rest their legs, lend a hand on the farm, and reflect together. Matthew speaks with Scott, who founded the farm 19 years ago. He shares how it has become a place of welcome and support for homeless women and children, and tells the story of his own journey — from serving in the US military to embracing the teachings of Jesus and choosing another path. Sam catches up with Sandy, a pilgrim whose climate activism has led her to discover the power of pilgrimage and witness as forms of activism. Being a rest day we leave the pilgrims to do just that and revisit a conversation from a previous episode of the Peace Pilgrimage podcast with East London Baptist pastor David Mann, who reflects on DSEI Arms Fair and its unwanted presence in East London. As the pilgrims rest and prepare to continue, this day offers space to listen, to learn, and to be grounded before the road ahead. More tomorrow...Music in this episode: “Forever” by Eli Carvajal

Day Three: High Wycombe to Rickmansworth.Day three of the pilgrimage began in the rain, but spirits remained high as the walkers made their way toward Rickmansworth. At Jordans Meeting House they received hospitality and a tour, a chance to pause and connect with Quaker history along the road. In this episode, Rachel shares a poem by A.S.J. Tessimond's, Daydream, reflecting on the world we want to build., Matthew offers a reflection on how easily we can become divided as people — and how the witness for peace can counter that tendency. Walking through a horse field, Sam remembers Adam Woods and reads a poem he wrote two years ago, seeing the countryside as a triumph of peace.The day closes with welcome hospitality at the Catholic Worker Farm in Rickmansworth, after the pilgrims symbolically cross the M25 into Greater London.Music in this episode: “Fruitforms” by Joshua Kay.

Day Two: Watlington to High WycombeThe second day of the pilgrimage began with breakfast at the church in Watlington, thanks to the hospitality of Father Andrew, before the walkers set out on the road toward High Wycombe. Sunshine and showers marked the day, but so too did rich conversation. In this episode, Matthew speaks at length with Ralph, who shares his journey of faith — from atheism to Quakerism — and how spiritual friendship and activism shape his life. This is not Ralph’s first pilgrimage, and he reflects on how his path now weaves together peace, climate action, and a deep sense of connection with the evolving life of Quakerism.We also drop into the 'Foot Clinic', where Sam speaks with Lorna, Chrissy and Rachel about nature connection and the ways the journey deepens awareness of the land. Along the way, the pilgrims are accompanied by red kites circling overhead and even a family of deer on the path — reminders of the beauty and presence of the natural world.Ratatouille for dinner!Music in this episode: “Slowly Unfold” by Flo Perlin

Day One: Oxford to WatlingtonOur pilgrims set off early from Oxford Meeting House on the first stage of the journey to Watlington. Along the way Matthew chats with fellow walkers about the experiences shaping the day. Among the voices in this episode are Peter, who shares family connections to war; Lorna, reflecting on the moving morning silence with the banner; Rachel, a Methodist minister on sabbatical, finding space in nature and new perspectives; and seasoned activist Rajan, who invites us all to think about the actions we can take — reminding us there’s something for everyone in the work for peace.The day closes with a warm meal, thanks to Father Andrew and the Edmund Campion Catholic Church in Watlington: tired legs, and a sense of purpose carried forward.Music in this episode: “The Green of Grasses” by Joe Holtaway.

For over four decades, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has been at the forefront of efforts to expose and challenge the UK’s role in the global arms trade. In this episode, we sit down with Kirsten Bayes, CAAT’s Campaigns and outreach Coordinator, to explore their journey into activism and their work coordinating campaigns that call out the powerful interests driving weapons sales. Kirsten shares insights into the history and impact of CAAT’s campaigning, offers an overview of the arms trade within the UK, and reflects on the collective belief that a more peaceful and just world is possible.https://caat.org.uk