The Story of Cottenham

The Story of Cottenham

February of 2003 was a traumatic time for Cottenham. In the space of a few days it was transformed from a peaceful and sleepy dormitory village outside Cambridge into a cauldron of anger and fear that attracted the attention of the world media.

Cottenham is an ancient farming community sandwiched between Cambridge and the fens. In recent years it has grown to a population of about 7,000. Many of the residents commute to Cambridge to work at the university or in local high-tech industry. Only a small proportion of the population now works on the land.

There has been an authorised Gypsy site on the north edge of the village for couple of generations. It was the home of about thirty English Gypsy families, originally attracted to the area as seasonal farm workers. Relations between the Gypsies and settled community were generally good – there was an ‘understanding’.

In early 2003 everything changed. Initially unnoticed by the settled community, land on the site was sold to some Irish Travellers. In a very short time, the Irish Travellers took over the site, buying out the established English Gypsies. Pitches were set up on parts of the site that had no authorisation. The population increased substantially. The arrival of the Irish Travellers coincided with a number of weddings and Christenings which attracted a very large number of visitors.

It was at this point that the settled community noticed that something had changed. The village shops and pubs were filled with Irish accents, there were incidents of dangerous driving through the village, stories spread of anti-social behaviour. The police were seen in numbers; there were rumours of police raids and stand-offs. It is difficult to describe the mood that absorbed the village. There was fear, anger and a real feeling of hysteria.

The response of the settled community was swift. A Residents Association was set up; a mass meeting was called in the local school hall. This attracted over 10% of the population. It was an angry meeting full of venom and aggression. There were very few voices of moderation. The small group of Travellers who braved the meeting were howled down.

The problem was exacerbated by the news of a murder in the village. A local postman was found unconscious and dying outside The Chequers, a village pub frequented by Travellers from the site. No one was ever charged with the murder, but it was widely assumed that one of the Travellers was responsible. It neatly confirmed the hysterical antipathy that many in the village now felt towards all the Travellers.

The situation in the village was now one of complete stand-off. There was no dialogue. Rumours (some of them clearly monstrous fabrications) circulated. The media took an interest, largely representing the most extreme views of the settled community.

It was in this situation that the Rector of the local Anglican Church, the Revd Michael Hore, decided to act. The Church was not the only section of the community that looked for solutions but it was best placed to make a positive contribution.

The Rector visited the Traveller site. He found a warm welcome and an eagerness that ‘the other side of the story’ should be heard. The Travellers had been demonised by their opponents in the settled community as feral, unreasonable and dangerous. The truth is that they too were frightened by the way the situation had developed and yearned simply to live in peace and security.

Following the initial contact, a process aimed at reconciliation began. The Rector invited the local Member of Parliament to visit the site. There were visits by District Councillors and officers. A meeting was set up at the Rectory between representatives of the Travellers and some Parish Councillors. The local Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops were invited to the village to meet representatives of all sections of the community; this was followed by a joint service in the parish church attended by members of both the Travelling and settled communities.

Further meetings followed that involved outside agencies. Groups representing Gypsies and Travellers at a national level joined the dialogue. The Commission for Racial Equality, the police, education services as well as the Residents Association were involved.

The media maintained an interest, including agencies from Australia, Germany and Ireland. They were still inclined to represent the more strident views of the settled community, but more moderate voices were now being heard. The Church was able to contribute to a more balanced and moderate view.

Gradually, through the process, reconciliation occurred. There remain angry voices in the community, but generally the two communities have become reconciled. It is true that a reduction of the number of Travellers on the site has contributed to an easing of tension, but the dialogue has led to a far greater generosity and understanding on both sides. It has been encouraging to see the way in which views have changed; with understanding has come compassion and friendship. Many in the settled community are now prepared to join the campaign that seeks greater justice for Gypsies and Travellers.

The road is by no means a smooth one. There are still Travellers on the site who face eviction and legal sanction. However, the District Council (the responsible body) has shown commendable compassion and understanding.

The story of Cottenham is not a model. The solutions are not perfect and not all the problems have been resolved. However, it is undoubtedly true that dialogue and conciliation have eased the tensions in the village and led to a situation of comparative harmony.

The Church has played its part, along with many other individuals and organisations, in the process of reconciliation. It took courage, particularly in the early days of conflict – the Church became very unpopular in some sections of the community. But it remains part of the mission of the Church to witness to justice and respect. It can make a valuable contribution.

Many thanks to Rev. Michael Hore

Part of the site following eviction by the bailiffs

Smithy Fen Traveller Site, Cottenham

ECUMENICAL SEMINAR ON GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS

WHY SHOULD THE CHURCHES CARE?

Friday  26 March 2010  10am -4pm

Friends Meeting House, St John’s St, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1SJ

A day for church leaders, members of congregations, those with pastoral responsibility or with an interest in Gypsies and Travellers

 jointly organised by the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich & the Church Network for Gypsies and Travellers (CNGT)

Presentations on culture, the local context, and community safety. Speakers will include the County Council, Police, Gypsies and Travellers and those working alongside them. Theological input and examples provided of churches working together with Gypsies and Travellers. Part of the seminar will be to examine actions that local churches might undertake. Speakers list below.

Venue fully accessible for the disabled.  Close to the main car parks and within walking distance from the railway station and the bus station.

Cost £5 including lunch - PLACES LIMITED

For further details- please email Alice Nicholls at the Diocesan Office,  as soon as possible
alice@stedmundsbury.anglican.org or ring on 01473 298551. Bookings need to be received by March 16^th.

SPEAKERS 

Rev Nick Williams    Anglican curate of Dartford, Kent.  Met Police lead on Gypsy and Traveller issues, member of the Association of Chief Police Officers Gypsy and Traveller workgroup, member of the Ministerial Task Group on site provision and enforcement. CNGT Committee member

Richard Bennett   Formerly Chairman of the Local Government Association Gypsy and Traveller Task Group.

Keren Wright   Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer, Suffolk County Council

Laura Moore and Karen Nelson   Hate Crime Officers, Suffolk Hate Crime Service

Mark Jepson    Chief Inspector, Suffolk Constabulary

Gloria Buckley    Gypsy/Traveller from Suffolk

Shirley Barrett    One Voice for Travellers Ltd., Community group, charity working across East Anglia to reduce violence to and from the Gypsy and Traveller in a sustainable way

Sonny Gibbard    Gypsy/Traveller from London

Fr Joe Browne     Catholic priest, Chaplain to Travellers. Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, voluntary sector, faith based organisation. CNGT Committee member

Rev Roger Redding    Anglican priest, Chaplain to Gypsies, Travellers and Showmen in the South West and Chair of the Southwest Alliance of Nomads

Rev Martin Burrell     Anglican priest, Minister of Christchurch, Bushmead, Luton. CNGT Committee member

Professor Thomas Acton D. Phil. OBE    Professor of Romani Studies, University of Greenwich

Revd Peter Thomas     Baptist Minister, Brentwood Baptist Church. CNGT Committee member / webmaster

The Right Reverend Nigel Stock      Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich