photo Mike Forster (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Mike Forster , Chair, Hands Off HRI (personal capacity)
Over 7,000 people turned out for the ‘Hands Off HRI’ (Huddersfield Royal Infirmary) fun day and festival in Huddersfield’s Greenhead Park.
The park is around two square miles big but was filled to capacity. We had three stages for people to visit and watch local performances, brass bands and live music.
It was impossible to take in the whole event as it took up the entire park. There were over 40 stalls and attractions including axe throwing and free tennis induction. It lasted from midday until 8pm, a huge community event!
The festival was preceded by a march of 1,000 from the hospital to the park. Speakers included Mike Forster and Jackie Grunsell of the Socialist Party who spoke on behalf of the campaign, as well as local MPs and trade unionists.
This was the first big gathering of campaigners since the announcement of the junior doctors’ strike and the sustainability and transformation plans announced by the government.
There was a feeling of anger but also solidarity throughout the day. Huddersfield continues to mount huge and mass resistance to the plan to shut our A&E.
This tremendous turnout will make the local NHS bosses think very carefully about their next steps. Socialist Party members continue to be an integral part of the campaign and will continue to offer leadership and resources to secure a victory.
Support for our ideas was reflected in the sale of 120 copies of the Socialist and over £200 raised in fighting fund.
