19 March 2019
On Thursday 28 March 2019 the Crispin Aubrey Archive on the ABC Official Secrets case is being launched by Crispin Aubrey Legacy Fund (CALF) and Statewatch. Place: May Day Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1DH Time: 18.00 - 20.00
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EU: London: Launch of the Crispin Aubrey Archive on the ABC Official Secrets Act prosecution in 1977
On Thursday 28 March 2019 the Crispin Aubrey Archive on the ABC Official Secrets case is being launched by Crispin Aubrey Legacy Fund (CALF) and Statewatch.
Place: May Day Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1DH
Time: 18.00 - 20.00
On Friday 18 February 1977 John Berry, an ex-soldier who had worked for British SIGINT (signals intelligence) in Cyprus, met two journalists - Crispin Aubrey and Duncan Campbell - at his home. When Crispin and Duncan left the flat all three were arrested by the Special Branch under the Official Secrets Act. Their trial lasted for two years.
The Archive is held in the Statewatch office and comprises three filing cabinet drawers with 73 files containing voluminous cuttings, trial statements and documents, plus posters and the activities of both of the ABC Defence Committee and the preceding Agee-Hosenball Defence Committee (Philip Agee and Mark Hosenball were both US citizens deported from the UK just before the ABC arrests) . Plus highly detailed files on the background to the case, e.g. SIGINT and the Peace News/NUJ/ Leveller Colonel "B" trial which arose out naming the Colonel as a witness at the ABC trial.
You can access the catalogue of the ABC case collection online at: https://statewatch.omeka.net/
The Speakers are:
Welcome and Chair - Ann Singleton (Co-Chair, Statewatch)
Kate Aubrey (CALF)
Duncan Campbell (ABC)
John Berry (ABC)
Tony Bunyan (Statewatch, ABC Defence Campaign)
Rajiv Menon QC (Barrister, Garden Court Chambers)
Zak Suffee (Library volunteer)
Richard Norton-Taylor (writer on defence and security for the Guardian)
It is hoped the event will stimulate researchers and activists to visit the Archive in order that the lessons of the ABC case can inform present struggles for openness and against official secrecy.
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