King George Hospital Protest 29th January 2011

A protest with a difference whilst some were marching others were providing free hot food and drink in the town centre, whilst collecting signatures for our petition.

100's of people joined the rally in Ilford Town Centre.

At the end of the Rally Wilson Chowdhry (British Pakistani Christian

Association/Green Party) and Upkar Rai (British Sikh Council) event organisers for the protest shared a moment of thanks with all the volunteers.

Upkar Rai from the British Sikh Council speaking against health cuts that could create substantially negative impact to local health.

Pastor John Figueras form Potters House Christian Fellowship Romford spoke of the impact it would cause in his borough. He spoke of the Christian Principle of caring for the sick and vulnerable.
MEP Jean Lambert spoke eloquently on the need for local hospital facilities and the potential harm caused by any loss of services.

Local leaders and National Campaigners in solidarity clamoured against the dire proposals.

Small to start with but the protest grew.
Darren Johnson London Assembly Member (centre) spoke of the need for local services and the appeal he will make to Boris Johnson to be more involved in the campaign for retention.


Ghazanfar Ali from the Albert Road Mosque joined the throng of campaigners and spoke of the need for local services for the burgeoning local community.


Numbers grew and 105 People were counted by the Police at the beginning of the protest.

I could not resist a photograph with Green Party London Assembly Member Darren Johnson, the first LA Member to openly support our cause.

Our protest on the 29th January was a great success close to 4000 signatures were obtained on our petition.

110 people were counted by the Police starting the march and a second count indicated 350 people were at the main stage area in the town centre to the end of the protest.

Free food and drink were provided and one of the most illustrious speakers list of any UK protest, completed a very successful first campaign for 2011.

Speakers included:

MEP Jean Lambert (Green Party)

London Assembly Member Darren Johnson (Green Party)

MP Lee Scott (Conservative - Ilford North)

Cllr Keith Prince (Conservative - Leader of Redbridge Council)

Cllr Ross Hatful (Labour - Health Scrutiny Panel)

Cllr John Benham (Conservative - Empowering Communities Havering)

Cllr Samir Jassel (Conservative - Gravesend)

Former Cllr Ralph Scott - Liberal Party

Consultant Dr Anna Athow ( British Medical Association)

Len Hockey - Unison Joint Branch Secretary Whipps Cross

Shirley Franklin - Chairman Defend Whittington Hospital Campaign
Barry Cross - Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield KTNHSP
Jim Page - Keep the NHS Public Waltham Forest
Frank Wood - UNITE NEC Trade union Office
Norman Traub - Southend Against The Cuts

Brian Davison - Borough Dean United Free Churches

Pastor john Figueras - Potters House Christian Fellowship Romford
Shahid Dastigir Khan - Pakistan tehreek-e- insaaf
Ghazanfar Ali -Chairman Ilford Islamic Centre
Raj Chahan - VHP Ilford Hindu Centre
Upkar Rai - Secretary British Sikh Council/Vice President Seven King Gurdwara
Wilson Chowdhry -British Pakistani Christian Association/Chadwell Green Party

The campaign is not over and we ask people to join the Redbridge Protest scheduled from Havering to Ilford in April. Look at the Redbridge Borough Council website for more details.