20-year anniversary of the Appledore Work in

The North Devon & Exeter GMB Union branch is hosting an event to mark the 20-year anniversary of the workers occupation of Appledore Shipyard.

Back in 2003 workers at Appledore Shipyard were faced with an uncertain future as the yard went into receivership. After 15 weeks of reduced pay and uncertainty, it was announced that the yard was to be closed and receivers where to be called in.

Usually this is how the story would end, but in this instance it did not. The workers backed by their unions decided enough was enough and decided that they were not going down without a fight, what happened next is truly a remarkable story of grit determination and a sense of community spirit to save a shipyard that had been at the heart of Appledore for many generations.

When the workers found out that the yard was to close, the workers organised a sit in and started to occupy the yard, when the receivers were called in the workers and the community of Appledore barricaded the gates with steel bollards a digger and hung banners saying 'no surrender' and refused to let them in, some 700 people turned up to support the workers and this begun the story of the Appledore occupation of 2003.

20 years later and Appledore is still operating, although briefly closed in 2019 it was rescued by the current operators Harland & Wolff. This could have only been achieved by the brave and dedicated workers who took it upon themselves to make a stand and save an iconic shipbuilding yard back in 2003.

The event to mark the 20-year anniversary of the occupation and to celebrate those who made a stand is to take place on Monday, October 30, at the First Inn Last Out Bideford at 7pm, the event is open to all current and previous Appledore workers and anyone that was involved in this historic occupation.