Monday 8th July 2019
Alfriston - Eastbourne (by foot) - Ashford (by train)
Three pints of IPA following the event the night before had encouraged my decision to sleep outside under the stars. It was peaceful and liberating but waking up cold was not ideal and it wasn't the wisest thing because I lay close to the River Cuckmere - so the mist at dawnbreak was felt by my lungs and subsequently my throat and voice. It improved during the morning yet I was hoarse again by the afternoon.
After an enjoyable breakfast of granola, yogurt, milk and two coffees we headed off alongside the river. I spoke to one of the Trustees of Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (GDWP) about the funding they had received to support this project, the great volunteer support (70+ people assisting along the way) and how the idea had flourished from a book, to a walk to live literary and music events.
As we walked on, across undulating fields past sheep and through woodland I spoke to a volunteer about their experience visiting detainees at Bridge House, a detention centre near Gatwick Airport. One of the key expectations GDWG has of its volunteers is that they turn up for every appointment they make without fail, as the detainees have often been let down so much throughout their lives. The volunteer explained to me how he visited a detainee once a week for one hour and they were now participating in the walk. For the detainees his visits raised morale, helping them to remember that they hadn't been forgotten and there was someone there for them.
After lunch where I rested and relaxed in the sunshine we walked up onto the South Downs Way with magnificent views of the emerald English Channel. I spoke with a French academic who had lived in the UK for twenty years and recently applied for a British passport due to her worry about Brexit. As we walked and talked I learnt how she felt the United Kingdom (UK) leaving the European Union (EU) was like a marriage, the UK had signed up to the rules and couldn't now just leave expecting that the last 30 years did not count. Her view was that the British contingent involved in the negotiations had been extremely naive and unaware of how entwined EU and UK law was. She also suggested an answer to why people chose the UK as their country of destination - colonialism, a historic connection similarly to how a person from the Congo may choose France. This combined with other family members or friends indicated to me why the UK would be some asylum seekers preferred location. I also learnt about Theresa May's Guardian interview in 2012 about making the UK a hostile environment for illegal migrants. As a Brit I associated the government with encouraging diplomatic relations with people of all nations so found this quite surprising.
We also discussed how psychologically when you make a decision about something, in particular when you have voted for something you gain a strong attachment to it being right. This helps explain people's staunch views on the subject of Brexit. Of course, hopefully all people can be wise and rise above any conflicting views leading to civil unrest.
Refugee Tales walking along the South Downs Way
As we walked past Beachy Head I learnt how one of the hopeful refugees had acted as a father figure to another young man from his country whilst they awaited the British system to make a decision on his immigration status. Throughout the weekend I had seen the great connection between the group travelling with us. I continued to converse with interesting people before having to divert towards the train station to head home. The rest of the party would continue on to Hastings in two days time.
As my train left Eastbourne I reflected on what had been a fantastic experience. Undoubtedly the movement was a powerful demonstration of support for the call to an end to indefinite detention and there was a real feeling of community between the organisers, refugees/asylum seekers, walkers and volunteers. Walking and talking together side by side was an effective way of communicating with each other and was something I had thoroughly enjoyed; I plan to attend again next year.