From the Newbury Advertiser 9th October 2004
HOLY DAD’S ARMY!
Hunger striker ‘too weak’ to join campaigners
Group denies exploiting local father
Existing on red wine and soya milk
Women `support pressure group's cause
BY JOHN GARVEY
john.garvey@newburynews.co.uk
CONTROVERSIAL pressure group Fathers 4 Justice pressed Batman into service in Newbury on Saturday.
The caped crusader has become an unofficial symbol for the group, after a supporter used the costume when he scaled the walls of Buckingham Palace.
Some passing motorists hooted support as Earl Jesse from Hungerford sweated in the rubber outfit and waved at shoppers.
Fathers 4 Justice's Newbury area coordinator Mike Ellis said: "We have collected around 350 signatures in just three hours."
The group was surprised to discover the high proportion of women signatories.
Mr Ellis added: "It appears that, of those who signed pledging their support to our cause, around 70 per cent were women."
The three-hour demonstration began at 10.15am and organisers hope it will become s regular occurrence.
But one member who hoped to attend was noticeably absent.
Hunger striker John Brown, who claims to have gone without food for 12 weeks, was too weak to lend support.
Mr Brown claims to have been surviving on s diet of tea with soya milk and red wine.
This provides him with an estimated 500 calories per day.
He recently dropped s threat to switch to a water-only diet after the Child Support Agency put s demand for £11,000 in payments on ice.
His ex-partner Ann has disputed his inability to pay.
Mr Ellis said: "According to the experts, the red wine and soya milk is just about keeping him going.
"That's why he has managed to keep going longer than hunger strikers in the 1980s."
Mr Ellis has denied that Fathers 4 Justice is exploiting Mr Ellis.
He said: "We do not encourage it or condone it, but we are not going to abandon someone."
But Mr Brown appeared to be weakening.
Mr Ellis said on Saturday: "He was desperate to get here to lend his support, but he is getting s lot weaker.
"He sleeps about 16 hours s day now."
Earl Jesse really this man has bin having an affairs with my wife and this now has cost me my home the privilege of being there all the time for my daughter and my wife that's sum representative you have
Posted by: rrays | September 07, 2011 at 08:28 AM