Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Raytheon and Lockheed Martin bidding for Faslane training contract

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Published on Monday, 24 June 2019 10:58

 According to recent reports US arms companies linked to alleged war crimes in Yemen are in the running for a Ministry of Defence contract that will involve training Royal Navy recruits at the home of Britain's nuclear weapons.

RIP Jim Taggart from Brian Quail and Scottish CND

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Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2019 10:28

Dr Jim Taggart was a hands-on and hard-working officer on Scottish CND's executive committee for many years. He was a well-regarded member of CND UK's Council, travelling to London for meetings regularly, and an integral part of Helensburgh CND and immensely practical supporter of the Peace Camp.

Jim’s funeral is on Saturday 6th July, at 10:30am in Craigrownie Parish Church, Cove Burgh Hall, Shore Road, Cove, near Helensburgh G84 0LY

The service will be followed by burial at the Barbour Cemetery and then refreshments by the Green Kettle will be served in the Gibson Hall, Garelochhead G84 0AT

Many years ago when Trident Ploughshares first started I stayed in Jim's house at Cove. He took me on a tour of Linn Gardens, which had been a barren wilderness before Jim transformed it into the wonderful place it became. They even made a TV programme about it.

Whenever I go to that hellish place, the North Gate at Faslane, I see the tourist signpost at the roundabout indicating the way onward to Linn Gardens. The mere sign of this always gives me a brief fluttering of hope, which is otherwise drained from me by the unalloyed evil that is the base.

Jim's gardening genius was integral to his dedication to peace. His making of a garden was the re-making of our primary home, our Eden. A myth is not a lie, but a primal truth told in a tale. Our pride and arrogance drove us into exile from Eden, our garden home. Basically, we are all trying to get back home. And a garden is the nearest place to heaven on Earth.

The last time I saw Jim, it was in the Clyde Bar, at a Helensburgh CND meeting. Jim was ensconced in the corner with the campers and CND'ers around his - Gandalf with the Hobbits. This was not long after he had received the terrible news that his son Jamie had been found dead in Vietnam. The worst news any parent could get. Some people are destroyed by grief, others grow stronger, and are thus ennobled. I admired Jim then more than ever.

It was not all sweetness and harmony; Jim was old-school Brit left, and had no sympathy for Scottish independence. But then, neither did Alan MacKinnon - and he was a giant in the peace movement. To use that most boring cliche, CND is a broad church.

Jim was exceptionally active in Scottish CND locally and on the Executive, for many years. His dedication and untiring efforts will be sorely missed by all who yearn for peace and justice.