'He would be pleased': Family reflects on man's 1971 'Santa' protest to pedestrianise Oxford Street
Summary
A plan to pedestrianise nearly 1km of London’s Oxford Street reminded Helen Davey of her father, John, who took part in a 1971 protest against traffic and pollution. Dressed as Father Christmas, he and fellow campaigners briefly chained off the road before police arrested them; his family says he would have welcomed the street’s transformation.Key Facts
- John Davey and his wife, Lizzie, were members of the youth wing of the Liberal Party.
- In the early 1970s, Oxford Street had four lanes of traffic, and police used loudspeakers to keep shoppers from spilling into the road.
- The Daveys and other campaigners formed the Oxford Street Action Committee.
- On 18 December 1971, campaigners staged a protest on the last Saturday before Christmas.
- John Davey, celebrating his 28th birthday, wore a Father Christmas outfit and carried a pole with balloons.
- A campaigner disguised a heavy chain and padlocks in a pram, then used them to block the road at traffic lights.
- Police removed the chain and arrested campaigners, including John, on suspicion of obstruction.
- Nearly 1km of Oxford Street has now been pedestrianised.
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