‘Wonderful human’ Liz Stanton who fought anti-fracking battle and founded Preston Greenpeace

Tributes have been paid to the founder of Preston Greenpeace and a key figure in Lancashire’s anti-fracking protests.

Liz Stanton was described as a “committed and brave activist” and a “wonderful human being” following her death. As well as extensive volunteering, campaigning and protesting, Liz managed a women’s refuge as part of her efforts to help those in need.

She regularly also put herself on the frontline of environmental battles and was a key figure in the fight against fracking at the Preston New Road site over several years. Indeed, she was among a group of 10 people who were taken to court in 2017 and found not guilty of obstructing a highway.

A tribute posted on the Preston Greenpeace Instragram page read: “Liz was a founder of Preston Greenpeace and has constantly been at the centre of the group and it’s activities, she was Preston’s GP leader, Co ordinator for Greenpeace in Lancashire and the north west as well as a committed and brave activist taking part in many Greenpeace actions all across the UK.

“She was arrested several times including in an anti fracking protest at Preston new road against cuadrilla where she was, with other Greenpeace activists charged and taken to court only to be acquitted and allowed to walk free from the court.

Liz was a key figure in anti-fracking protests in Lancashire

“For most of the last twenty years she volunteered at Glastonbury for GP and worked on the Greenpeace field most often running the showers allowing festivalgoers to have a free hot shower every day.

“In her private life, she worked as a manager in a women’s refuge although she also volunteered for the Samaritans for whom she manned the phones every week. A committed and lifelong vegetarian she was also a longtime supporter of Oxfam and CND, though it was Greenpeace that really captured her heart.

“Those of the group who knew her and loved her will miss her terribly, she really was a wonderful human being and a bit of the world’s sparkle has been lost from her leaving us.”

A tribute page has been set up in Liz’s memory here.

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