Seize the day

April 8th is celebrated around the world as Romany Nation Day. But did you know it started here in the UK in 1971 when Romany and Traveller activists from across Europe to begin a Romany and Traveller civil rights movement? Jake Bowers met up with a legendary fight for our rights, 86-year-old Grattan Puxon.

He’s been a hero of mine for over 25 years. I first met him when we were fighting to stop the police killing off Horsmonden Fair in 2000, and he’s been involved in every major human rights struggle for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers since. In fact, it’s now understatement to say that Grattan Puxon has been fighting for us since way before I was born. From his first fight alongside Irish Travellers in Dublin in the 1960s to his current work to create democratically elected Romani leaders he has never given up.

Meet Grattan Puxon, the incredible fighter for Romani Rights. In this extensive interview about the foundation of Romani Nation Day, Grattan gives a first-hand account on why a day, flag and anthem was adopted at a meeting he helped in organise in Chelsfield, Kent in 1971.