Amongst an increasing barrage of heckling and outbursts of violence, Powell eventually abandoned his speech and vacated the stage. Jeff Coates, who studied economics at the University from 1967-70, was seated in the front row of the Great Hall. He remembers the experience in the audioclip on the sidebar.

As tensions increased in the Great Hall, the conflict developed into an argument between those who supported Powell's right to put his case, and the rights of those who many believed Powell was trying to undermine through his stance on immigration. Within a wider context, it should not be forgotten that 1968 was also the year of student political protests over the Vietnam War and civil rights, across the United States and Europe. The ‘Powell demonstration’ suggests these global movements in student activism were also part of Devon’s history.

Certainly, the events that transpired made enough impact to be recorded in the national press, including the Daily Telegraph, which reported:

‘Student uproar stops university speech’ […] ‘fighting broke out, banners were torn and Mr Powell was pelted with paper darts and marbles.’

In contrast, local newspaper the Express and Echo, took a more reflective stance, reassuring its readers:

What Exeter should remember, when the din has died down, is not that 40 students turned their backs on British fair play and free speech but that something like 1,900 took no part in the foolish 40’s freak-out.’

Over to you!

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