In 1955, when I was 15 years old, I went with my mother to a meeting at the Golders Green Co-operative Guild and heard a teacher from Hiroshima tell of what happened to the children in her class. One child in hospital had asked her: why didn’t you tell us about the burning sun? She told us she would spend the rest of her life telling the world about the burning sun.

My mother and her guildswomen formed the North West London Committee for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons Tests, the first of many which eventually merged into CND three years later. I took part in street campaigns for the first time in 1955 and, with my school friends, in 1958 marched to Aldermaston. The photo of the two girls is myself and friend: then we were Sonya Leff and Tessa Woolf. We both became doctors and worked solely in the NHS. I have never stopped agitating and am a founder member of MEDACT.

-Sonya Baksi


What is The People’s History of CND?

To celebrate six decades of vibrant and powerful activity, this online exhibition displays photos and memories provided by our members and supporters. They selected the photos that best symbolised a significant memory from the past 60 years. The exhibition shows photos from demonstrations, vigils and blockades; significant sites, like Greenham, Molesworth, as well as photos of artefacts, like favourite badges, banners, and knitting.

The People’s History of CND homepage