A Student Demo: Say No to Fowler!, London - 25th February 1987

Nosher was not much of a political animal at Uni, but being the official Students' Union photographer meant he did get to go to a few demos. This one was against something to do with grants and benefits and was aimed squarely at Normal Fowler, who I think was Mrs Thatch's Education Secretary at the time (or maybe still at Health and Social Security). It included the memorable chant "Nothing stinks Fowler than Norman!". It was quite groovy, really: Nosher getting interviewed by London radio. the massed barricades of police on Embankment and the coach trip on the way home, desperately listening to the radio to hear if we'd changed the world...

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These are cropped thumbnails. Click on an image to view the full photograph.

In the tradition of these photos, this has nothing to do with the demo. It's Christos Zarakovitis by the window of his digs. I think I had asked him to "look moody" so I would get a good photo

"Jane Doe" and Karen on the coach on the way down to London

As we march along the streets on the way to Elephant and Castle, this old geezer gives us some support

Grant Thornton

This was (at least at the time) the offices of the Department for Education (or maybe DHSS or somesuch). It seemed suitably poignant whatever...

On Waterloo bridge

Nosher fancied an "aerial view" so, with Sam Kennedy in tow, we found ourselves up the top of a tower block to take this photo of the whole demo

Some Coppaz

In the thick of the demo crowd

Massed police in Trafalgar Square

Students occupy the base of Nelson's Column

More demo action

Grant gets well into a bit of chanting. Nosher changed film at this point and it was so cold, the film kept breaking.

A sit-in takes place

I'm not sure whether dressing as a rabbit sends quite the political message required...

The whole demo had at one point converged on Trafalgar Square. There were police blocking off exits, and helicopters in the air (the tip was not to look up, or else The Man would take your photo and stick you on a file). Meh - Nosher is probably on that file, because he can't help looking up at aircraft in the sky :-)

The end of the line came on Embankment, where massed lines of police (on horses too) blocked off the route. The demo, after a few minor scuffles, fizzled out at this point. Nosher thought about flashing his NUS Press Pass to get through, but didn't have the nerve...