Residents' stories
Hearing that her village was under threat from a third runway had a profound effect on Christine Shilling's life.
Like most Harmondsworth residents, Christine Shilling lived for years in the shadow of Heathrow and got on with her daily life while the airport expanded around her.
"I foolishly believed the there-will-be-no-third-runway promises. I lived an insular life focused on a career and family, then everything changed."
In 2002, the Labour Government issued its consultation documents on the unprecedented expansion of aviation in the South East. Christine was shocked: "I could not believe what I read – ONLY 240 dwellings and one church." She expected other residents to be as outraged as she was and kept waiting for something to happen; for a massive people-led protest. Although people turned out in force for public meetings and added their names to a volunteers list, Christine was impatient for the residents' campaign against the proposals to begin.
One August day in 2002, Christine knew she had to act: "This realisation was like a light being switched on in my head. Since then I have never ceased to fight these inhumane, immoral proposals."
Christine's first step was to start a petition to save St. Mary's Church in Harmondsworth. She then asked John McDonnell MP, who had organised the public meetings, for the volunteers' details so that a smaller meeting could be arranged. Before long, with John's crucial support, the No Third Runway Action Group (NoTRAG) was formed.
The role of Press Secretary position went to Christine, who was keen to speak out. "People matter. Communities matter. Schools and churches matter. The planet matters. Life can never be the same for me ever again. You see I have learned that governments cannot be trusted – I have learned that ‘economic growth’ is the god – that people are seen as expendable, mere detritus in the way of the other great god – aviation."
The local determination to save St Mary's Church in Harmondsworth had an impact on the parish priest, Father Phil Hughes, who was living in the vicarage and was passionate about saving his parish from destruction. He established regular monthly prayers, which some NoTRAG members, including Christine, attended.
Religious faith now plays a huge part in Christine's life. She also has faith in NoTRAG's ability to stop plans for expansion at Heathrow.
"In June 2005 when many people thought that expansion was inevitable, three of us had a meeting with Janis Kong of BAA. I remember our Chair, Geraldine Nicholson, said: "This is not a done deal".
On 13th December 2007, staff journal BA News quoted Willie Walsh, Chief Executive of British Airways, saying exactly the same words. Attitudes are changing, and we know this is a fight we can win."
NO THIRD RUNWAY ~ Heathrow is Big Enough
