On Saturday 11th February 1995, we held the largest ever demonstration against live exports from Coventry Airport. People from all parts of the country responded to our call in terrific numbers with over 1,000 demonstrators turning out on what must have been the wettest day of the year! We were all completely soaked as the rain drove down for the whole day. The march assembled at Siskin Drive which is on the opposite side of the airport to the entrance used for the calves. We heard a range of excellent speakers including Mark Glover from Respect for Animals who helped to organise the march and Zab Phipps, Jill`s brother who made a wonderful speech straight from the heart. He called on us all to join the campaign against live exports and to come to the airport to stop the veal calf flights. We were all strengthened by his words and he made us more determined than ever to stop this appalling cruelty.

Everyone then streamed out and marched around the airport perimeter fence to the veal calf entrance. The marchers stretched out for nearly half a mile as they wound around the road. The procession was led by four campaigners carrying an empty veal crate covered in wreaths in memory of the calves that die every day in the crates. Zab followed carrying a wreath for Jill which was laid at the side of the road where Jill lost her life. Next came giant red `ban live exports` flags and banners followed by marchers carrying more placards and banners. It was a wonderful and deeply moving sight to see all these people who were there to remember Jill and the calves. When the march arrived at the veal calf gate we held two minutes silence for Jill and then tied thousands and thousands of purple ribbons* to the aiport fences and gates - each one representing a calf that had gone to the veal crates. As the march dispersed we could see the ribbons fluttering in the wind, it was as if the whole fence was alive with purple leaves.

It was a very solemn and sad day of commemoration. This is just the start of our battle against live exports. Everyone who was there will surely never forget the day and will become even more committed to end this vile trade, for the calves and for Jill.

* From this day purple became associated with Jill, Live Exports and Animal Rights in general. The ribbons tied to the bare branches of the bushes (remember it was winter) made an incredible impression and over the course of the campaign, more and more were added in tribute to Jill and as a show of strength.

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