Women and Families for Defence was a Conservative-aligned pressure group originally founded in March 1983 as Women for Defence. It was founded in opposition to the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and aimed to oppose arguments in favour of unilateral nuclear disarmament.
It was reportedly founded by Lady Olga Maitland, Ann Widdecombe, Virginia Bottomley and Angela Rumbold (who also became vice-chairwoman of the organization). However, Alfred Sherman told the Sunday Times that it was Maitland who 'solely' set up the group, with his help."First; Points." Sunday Times [London, England], 25 May 1997, p. 8. Gale OneFile: News. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020. "Michael Prescott writes that Miss Widdecombe set up "an anti-CND outfit called Women and Families for Defence" (Focus, last week). It was conceived and set up solely by Lady Olga Maitland (with my help). Widdecombe subsequently joined and performed valuable service." The Viscount Trenchard, the former Minister for Defence Procurement, became its president.
The group had its own magazine, Deter, and received a commendation from the U.S. president, Ronald Reagan.PHS. "The Times Diary: Swiss Role". Times, 4 Jan. 1985, p. 10. The Times Digital Archive. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020. The group held its first public meeting on 1 May 1983 in Trafalgar Square, whereupon 150 members of the group met, sang "Land of Hope and Glory" and argued in favour of a nuclear deterrent as a precursor to multilateral nuclear disarmament. The group also delivered a petition signed by 13,000 people to respond to the proposals of the West for missile reductions."Pavement and field: Women's bastions on the bomb." Times, 2 May 1983, p. 18. The Times Digital Archive. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020. In 1986, it was expelled from a council that was organising events to mark the International Year of Peace that year.
Maitland later turned the group into a general anti-Labour political canvassing group, Women and Families for Canvassing."Lady Olga steams in; Lady Olga Maitland." Times [London, England], 7 Apr. 1992, p. 9. Gale OneFile: News. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.
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