This is an interesting and entertaining novel about the Greenham Common Peace Camp, established in 1981 to protest about the locating of cruise missiles in the UK. This significant element in the history of the Women’s Movement, together with its gathering of momentum over the years had a definite impact on the withdrawal of the missiles ten years later.

Bridget is a 15-year-old schoolgirl who leaves home, escaping from her parents, Janet and Ray, and then becoming part of the camp. She is helped by her art teacher Annabel Jenkins. The central theme of the story is the politicisation of Bridget and the impact which it has on her family. The consequences extend a long way!

It’s a well written novel but sometimes stretches credibility. Annabel is defended by her Headteacher when, in any sort of reality, she would probably have been sacked. Then, it turns out that Janet and Ray have quite a few guilty secrets to unpack but the drama does give a genuine insight into what it was like to be a part of the different camps, to take part in major protests and to encounter new, and different, people.

Men, understandably, do not come out of this well and it is a neat twist in the plot that even the men who try to understand what is going on are likely to fall short. Meanwhile, the military personnel and the police, as well as much of the public, are as misogynistic as you would expect. Sometimes, the novel is a bit too black-and-white but it will make good television!

Incidentally, the sports TV presenter was Frank Bough and not Frank Boff!