SCHOOLCHILDREN, pensioners, mothers, teachers, shopkeepers - all stood side by side in solidarity and defiance.

The previously peaceful coastal town of Brightlingsea went from going about its every day life to becoming a battlefield on a point of principle.

The townsfolk protested at export of live animals through the port and day after day, from January to October 1995, the protesters turned out to try to stop the lorries.

Scores of police officers were drafted in to ensure the lorries had safe passage and, as the two groups clashed, a bitter and bloody battle ensued.

 

 

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At the centre of it was Maria Wilby, a young mother with a keen sense of justice.

Maria, a former bank worker who practised aromatherapy, was aware of issues surrounding animal welfare as her mother, Joyce D'Silva, worked for the charity Compassion in World Farming.

Maria said: "We had seen the protests in Shoreham but live exports did not come through Brightlingsea because the river was too shallow.

"But the Caroline was a draught, shallow boat which was able to go into Brightlingsea.

"We heard on Farming Today large lorries carrying live animals were planning to come through Brightlingsea.

"I made nine A4 posters, each were handwritten. My daughter, Gabriella, was three at the time and I pushed her in her buggy as I delivered the posters to shops."

There was a town council meeting the following night and rather than the usual handful of attendees, 300 people turned up.

Maria said: "A few liked-minded people came back to my house afterwards and we formed BALE - Brightlingsea Against Live Exports - in my front room."

A second meeting was held at Brightlingsea Community Centre to which 1,000 people turned up.

There was only room for 250 in the hall leaving hundreds standing outside in the street listening through a speaker system.

The town objected to the live exports on two levels - the lorries, they said, were too large to negotiate Brightlingsea's old and narrow roads to get to the wharf.

Then there was the ethical issue of the transportation of live animals.

The first lorry carrying live animals for export arrived in Brightlingsea on January 16.

Maria, who became BALE's spokeswoman, said: "There was about 1,000 people there. The road was completely blocked and the lorry was turned back because of concerns over public safety."

But the battle had just begun.

 

 

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The police's force support unit and officers from the Metropolitan police were drafted. They were kitted out in full riot gear and carrying batons.

"I think it was the first time it occured to anyone police were not bobbies on the beat," said Maria.

"Police officers from around here were not used.

"Some of the officers were manhandling protesters, throwing women to the floor. The support unit was hard and was hated by everyone here.

"The local police who had to escort the lorries were different. Some of them hated what they were doing and would walk alongside the lorry with tears streaming down their faces."

Police were also injured in some of the fracas but neither side would yield.

"There was a sense of unity, camaraderie," said Marie.

Maria was arrested eight times and was charged five times with obstructing the Queen's highway.

She said: "I had never even had points on my driving licence before but I was with about 50 other people. I knew I had done the right thing."

Maria and others were also taken to the High Court by farmer Roger Mills, who was the main exporter. He tried to sue them each for £1 million for stopping his trade. The action failed.

Maria's husband, Bryce, was also arrested and was charged with assaulting a police officer.

However, after a three day hearing at Colchester Magistrates Court, the action was thrown out with the magistrates advising Mr Wilby to seek a private action.

In the incident he had been beaten and had his nose and teeth broken. He won an out-of-court settlement for the injuries he suffered.

 

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Finally, after nine months of daily protests and with the cost of policing reaching £3 million, the transportation of animals was moved overnight.

However, the risks to safety meant it was shortlived.

The lorries stopped coming on October 18 and the residents of Brightlingsea has won a hard fought victory.

The protests, however, left an indelible mark on Maria and on the other protesters.

BALE still exists, meeting once a week. Since the protests, it has raised £50,000 to help animal charities.

Maria's life went back to normal but her inherent sense of justice never left her.

On Saturday, she will lead another march for a cause just as close to her heart.

Maria, who lives in Brightlingsea, is a member of Refugee Action Colchester, one of the groups which makes up Refugee Welcome.

Other affiliated organisations include Churches Together, Colchester Quakers, Transition Wivenhoe and representatives from the Jewish and Muslim communities.

The groups will walk from Colchester North Station to Lower Castle Park - symbolising the trek of thousands of refugees from Syria and Afghanistan who have walked a total of millions of miles to find a place to live in peace.

Maria wants the symbolic march to be a gesture of welcome to the Syrian families who are being given new lives in Colchester.

It was a kindness her family was not afforded.

"My father, Amancio, is Indian and growing up in Coggeshall I knew what it was like to be judged by the colour of your skin.

"My father used to catch the train from Kelvedon and people would refuse to sit next to him.

"I saw what it did to him. I had good friends at school but my sister was regularly bullied.

"It heightened my awareness of justice and injustice."

Maria, now 49, has helped the refugees living in the shanty town created in Calais.

She sees it as a humanitarian issue which has become political.

"There is so much misinformation," she said.

"We are not talking about people migrating here to claim benefits. These are people who are escaping war zones.

"I am not a political person, I am responding as a human being."

The march will go from the Mercury Theatre through Colchester's Dutch Quarter, set up by the Dutch who had fled religious persecution to Lower Castle Park.

"Colchester has a history of helping refugees. It still does. Afghan translators have moved here and there are already Syrians living in Colchester.

"The people of Colchester have been amazing and giving.

"We will march in solidarity."