Catalogue Number
NMLH.2016.2
Object Name
Banner
Title
'Manchester A Nuclear Free City'
Place
Greater Manchester, Bramhall, North Manchester, Cheadle Hulme, Royton, Marple, Pendleton, Salford, Altrincham, Wilmslow
People
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
Date
Early 1980s
Creator(s) Description
The central panel reads 'Manchester A Nuclear Free City' and shows a white dove on a purple background. 13 surrounding panels, each with the name of the local group that created them, have images including doves, CND peace logos, people making a human chain, a tree in front of a rainbow, a cruise missle, a teddy bear.
This banner was created to represent the Greater Manchester Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) groups including Altrincham, Bramhall, Cheadle, Hulme, Marple, North Manchester, Pendleton, Sale and Wilmslow. CND groups from these communities were involved in making the individual squares of the banner which represent the different communities. The patches were sewn together by banner makers Marjorie Byrton and Doreen McCann. The methods used include patchwork, applique and embroidery, and many include the CND peace symbol or the white dove. The central section of the face side reads 'Manchester: A Nuclear Free City', which was the slogan used by the Greater Manchester regional government to show their commitment to making the city a nuclear-free zone in 1980.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) organisation formed in 1957 in response to widespread fears of nuclear conflict and saw a revival in the 1980s in response to increasing tensions of the Cold War. While CND is based in London, there are national and regional groups across the UK, including in Manchester. The group continues to campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, a nuclear-free and less militarised Europe, and the closure of nuclear power stations.
Multimedia
