In time for the 40th Anniversary of the Beanfield (1 June 2025), when the police brutally attacked a convoy of people heading to Stonehenge for the annual free festival in 1985, we are releasing hours of previously unseen video testimony taken in 1990/91 during the making of our documentary ‘Operation Solstice’. Footage that has survived over 30 years, saved largely thanks to Dale Vince, who funded the digitisation, and who took on the role of outrider on the day. Some once familiar faces and voices here, Mo, Phil and Don, now long since passed, brought back to bear witness to the shameful barbarism of that day, ‘the worst police treatment of people’ in living memory, for which there was no public inquiry, but about which we will neither forgive nor forget.
The Beanfield
A special 40th Anniversary edit of the original director’s cut version released in 1992, now containing a lot more unseen video testimony and archive - the most comprehensive take of the day yet. A good place to start to familiarise yourself.. A 25 minute version of this film was shown on Channel 4 in November 1991.
Phil drove the lead vehicle and provides a unique perspective on the beanfield , moving on to describe what happened at Stoney Cross the following year. Part Two of a lengthy and powerful interview with Phil called ‘Go Move Shift’, with Part One below, covering the lead up to the Beanfield (Nostell Priory and Molesworth).
Helen the Hatt was 19 and near the front of the convoy when her ambulance home was attacked on the road and she assaulted. She, along with 26 others, went on to sue the Wiltshire police for assault and wrongful arrest in 1990.
Maureen Lodge ‘Mo’ was arrested on the grassy field at the start of the police’s invasion at 7pm, and also sued the police, Here, also arguing that Stonehenge was just an excuse to destroy the travelling way of life.
Lin Lorien, also known as Decker Lin, gives her account of the Beanfield, including chilling detail of masked up police, and the traumatic treatment of families and children at the hands of the social services.
Phil drove
Phil drove
Extra viewing
FACING SOUTH -
A TVS Special on the Convoy (1986)
A TVS Special report on the Convoy and the threat to civil liberties (1986) A documentary about travellers parked up in Bristol after the police operation to clear them from Stoney Cross in 1986.
A landmark BBC2 documentary from 1986, with lots of witness accounts of the Beanfield from the travellers, the Earl of Cardigan, and the Observer’s Nick Davies.
Trashed, BBC2 1986
An Englishman's Home -
BBC Debate on Right to Roam (1986)
A BBC 2 studio debate focussing on the right to roam, to live the travelling lifestyle, and to gather at Stonehenge. Lots of familiar faces, and loads of fair comment from the likes of Brig, Eavis, and Phil the Beer. According to Moz, who was in the audience, they made sure that there was plenty of booze laid on to encourage 'the verbals', and a confrontational vibe..