The weather was awful, strong gales and driving rain! It has to be said that the turnout was very poor, compared with previous years, there were less than 100 people. Some people may have been put off by the weather. Lastly, the police seemed to be in absolutely huge numbers and protesters couldn`t move an inch without having a video camera shoved in their face!
But there were still some good things about the day. Protesters gathered for a rally at a shelter on the promenade. Veggies were there and their vegan delights were as usual delicious! As we listened to inspirational speeches given by some of the best known activists in the movement today, protesters desperately tried to huddle under the shelter for some respite from the rain! A 2 minutes silence was held for Jill and the millions of terrified animals that had passed through Dover over the years.
A march set off towards the docks but sadly it was the promenade/pavements all the way so our banners and placards were not seen by many of the traffic driving by. At all previous Dover events in memory of Jill, flowers were laid and tributes tied on the island by the docks, but this year the police refused to allow us across to the island! Shame on them!! So instead some people chose to throw their flowers into the rough sea whilst others brought them back to be laid at Jill`s grave and at Baginton. Back at the shelter, more veggies food was very welcome but that was about the end of the day and sadly it did not live up to Jill`s Day events that had gone before!
On the coach back to Coventry, several people put alot of thought into how a better tribute and memorial to Jill could be planned in future years. An event that would do justice to Jill`s life and a day that hundreds of people will be proud to say `I was there!` Jill`s Day 2005 was born!
Come to Coventry on Saturday 5th February 2005, for Jill and for the animals!
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