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THE People’s March for the NHS strode into St Alban’s yesterday following a rousing send-off in Luton.
The marchers will reach the penultimate leg of their 300-mile trek today from Jarrow in north-east England. They are walking from St Alban’s to Edmonton in north London.
And tomorrow they complete their mission by marching into central London where thousands are expected to welcome them at a rally in defence of the NHS.
The rally takes place in Trafalgar Square and speakers include journalist Owen Jones, Darlington women who organised the march, and Billy Bragg.
Marcher Icarus Williams, from Rochdale, said: “In Luton we were put up at the local community centre. It was brilliant — we were really taken care of well and looked after.
“Today we’re marching from Luton to St Alban’s. There’s probably another hundred marching with us. The atmosphere is really, really good.
“We are all tired, worn out. We’ve got blisters. But the solidarity and support keeps us going. It’s socialism in action.”
The march from Jarrow outside Newcastle is following the route of the historic 1936 Jarrow Crusade against unemployment and deprivation.
It started in Jarrow on August 16, when 50 stalwarts committed to undertaking the whole of the march were given a heroes’ send-off by 2,000 supporters.
When complete the march will have taken the campaigners through 23 towns and cities en route.
Thousands of supporters have joined the 50 on different sections of the march, and trade unionists and NHS campaigners have staged rallies for the NHS in many of the communities which welcomed them.
