Thousands of trade unionists will join together for the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival this weekend - an event last held in full in 2019.
Run by the South West TUC, the event from Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17 commemorates the sacrifice of six farmworkers transported to Australia in 1834 after forming a trade union.
The main event, which includes the big rally, speeches from high profile figures, and wreath-laying at the grave of James Hammett, is on the Sunday.
Admission is free on the Sunday but the car parking charge has risen to £15 (up from £10 in 2019).
Charges apply for events on the Friday and Saturday and for those wanting to camp for the weekend.
The festival has been held virtually for the past two years due to the pandemic so this year will see crowds return to the village again.
Headline acts include Billy Bragg, Ngaio and the Ngostics, Rhoda Dakar and the Cable Street Collective, with speakers including TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner and Ukrainian journalist Serhii Guz. It is understood former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will also be attending although not speaking.
There is a packed programme of music, film, entertainment and topical discussion throughout the weekend.
The festival has kept its promise to musicians booked for the 2020 event but gaps have been filled with some artists from home and abroad. US protest singers who performed online in 2021, Crys Matthews and Carsie Blanton were so taken by the Tolpuddle story they will be in person this time. They will be joined by David Rovics a radical folk singer also from America.
Ukrainian journalist Serhii Guz has been to Tolpuddle a couple of times before but never expected to come under the shadow of war. He is the founder of a new independent media trade union and, as a result of a medical exemption from fighting, was granted a visa to come to the UK to join his family who have fled the war. He will speak about fighting the Russian invasion and defending trade union rights in Ukraine.
Organiser Nigel Costley said: “After two years away, we can’t wait to welcome people back to Tolpuddle for what promises to be our biggest festival yet.
“With the government in freefall, there’s never been a better time for people to join a union to protect their rights at work, their jobs and their pay.”
It will be the last festival for Frances O’Grady and Nigel Costley, both of whom step down in the autumn.
For more information about the festival visit https://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/festival
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