------------- Red Rag ------------- ---- Reading's lonely newspaper ---- free fortnightly April 1-14 Money:--- Collecting tins in Acorn, Pop Records, Eurofoods on Cemetery Junction, Harvest Wholefoods. Cheques to "Red Rag" to our address above. Standing order forms are available on request: we very much want to increase the number of these. This issue cost us around £65. We have only about half of that. Next issue:--- Co-ordinator: Nick 666681 Events: James, Clive 595605 Going out: Mark 782178 Distribution: Guy 669562 Red Rag, c/o Box 79, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street, Reading. - - - MOLESWORTH BLOCKADE On Thursday March 21st, a group of six went from Reading to USAF Molesworth in support of the Molesworth. The affinity group was formed by Reading PPU. We arrived at Peace Corner around 1.30 am. Two or three stalwarts were keeping watch by the fire, eyed by dozens of riot police behind the fence. The police had large, hot braziers; we had our convictions and woolly hats. The 'base' is just a field (now barren), surrounded by rings of barbed and 'razor' wire. But it was real enough when dawn arrived. We were frozen and glad to move round to the access road used by contractors' vehicles. There we met two women who were fasting. With just six people we had barely enough for our plans. As the first two lorries drove fast down towards the gate, we lined up across the road and sat down. It was about 7a.m. Hearts went into mouths as the first truck kept coming; he pulled up two feet away. After some revving and hooting he moved over and his mate drove through from behind. This character was more aggressive - he drove until he had legs under his cab and bumper-to-chest contact. Then the MoD police moved in and heaved us out of the way, pushing some of us into the barbed wire fence. Later we were 'adopted' by a transit van full of civil police, who became quite fed up with lifting our limp bodies to the side of the road. They also had to turn their van continually as we walked up and down the access route. Things looked like getting heavy, and the number of vehicles coming in decreased, so we took a break. Policemen shadowed us all the way back to the fire, where we listened to the birds singing in the coils of wire. At about 9 we walked back across, picking our way among the thawed puddles and the feneside rubbish. 'Our' police van was waiting patiently, and we were dutifully lifted and dropped in the mud when we stopped the next lorry to arrive. Deciding we'd made our point, we made for our vehicle for lunch, and drove around to the Peace Chapel for a religious service. Bruce Kent was there, so we were subjected to the usual caravan of press and photographers covering the 'event'. Once the service ended they drove away quickly: it was cold at Peace Corner. As the afternoon got under way, we began a sleepy journey home. Let's hope Southern Region can manage more than six Real People next time (Molesworth Pledge Day is Thursdays). We gave them trouble enough: a hundred people and they'll really be struggling! Flatfoot P.S. Don't forget the BANC tickets to Molesworth at Easter! - - - USEFUL OCCUPATION I Over the ten days of the occupation of the old dole offices in South St., several hundred people passed through the doors, with over a hundred and fifty attending the various workshops. Once the authorities found out the Squat was of limited duration and that it was well-organised they left us alone. (We'd be out before they could serve an eviction notice anyway.) Music was a particular feature and ranged from informal jamming throughout the week to a jazz band on Wed., sitars on Thurs., and the brilliant final day 'exorcism of the squat', including galvanised metal water-tank sledge hammers and lots of enthusiasm. We were unable to coax the local priest, who called in to give support the day before, to bring his saffron robes. Over twenty people collectively produced the largest screenprint in Reading, some 30 foot long by 12 ft high. This formed part of the exhibition that was held as a culmination to the occupation, together with other screenprints and photographs and videos of the squat. (The final edited videos will be available soon for viewing.) In the evening there was a full length play watched by an audience of 70 people who then stayed on for a hectic drama workshop. Numbers swelled for the party that followed but fewer people were around on Sunday to clear up, finally leaving at 5.30 p.m. Given that it was impossible to publicise the event in advance, the turnout was amazing; so too was the atmosphere, always supportive, creative, even exciting. When things needed to be done, there were always people around, at least ten people stayed each night, food was brought in or cooked there, workshops were arranged and materials found. The impressive atmosphere reflected the flexibility in organisation, with people accepting their own responsibility; and I doubt if the occupation would have been as friendly or such a success with a more rigid structure. The feeling of solidarity and working creatively together in a building under out own control was wonderful. The building had been left empty and useless for nearly a year. There are other buildings; this must be done again soon. Don't let buildings rot, squat. Phil Beal II Musically South 3t. was one of those proverbial boiling pots into which funk, heavy metal, jazz, blues, feedback, industrial percussion, Indian and various stolen ethnic musics were thrown to re-emerge in fantastical grotesque and sometimes pleasing combinations. Individual details of the musical events are spurious as the most important aspect of the week was that a similar but regular space for musical adventure could lead to some interesting twists in Reading's musical life. T. III Well I arrived on the Wednesday. I was no stranger. There was electricity everywhere - a hot celebration of community. Very warm. The Occupation was a focus for diverse people to come together and engineer a social declaration. Above all it seemed to unify people under one ambition and cement new friendships. Fresh new art jumped out of the corners of the ghost building. We were atoms, musicians, hindus, gurus, painters, poets and lovers. Thank you everyone who made the 12th week of 1985 a time to remember. Come on everybody let's have more adventures in art and politics. John Del. IV The dole office occupation was a great success. About 500 people passed through the building in the ten days. This is probably more people than attend workshops at the nearest established art centre in a year. Its success was due to the fact that people were organising what they wanted for themselves. The space was there to be used positively, and it was. People came to attend and run workshops, to watch performances and screenings and to perform, or simply to come along and see what was going on. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and someone described the place as an anarchist community centre. There were some worries beforehand that things had not been organised enough, but once we were in the building there was plenty of time to ensure that workshops took place and that publicity was distributed. We discovered that we do have the ability amongst us to share our skills with other people, once we have the confidence to believe that we can do it, and once we take the responsibility for organising for ourselves. A lot of people said it was the best thing that had happened in ages, and that it was a pity it couldn't carry on. We felt it was better to make it a concentrated event for 10 days, and to leave in our own time, before we were thrown out or our energy dwindled. The people living there found they were quite exhausted by the end of the time. However we all felt pleased to see the space used so creatively and as we all feel let down now it's over, we'll have to start thinking about next time. Sarah Bright V I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to encapsulate 10 days of art, music, solidarity and fun in just a couple of hundred words. If you didn't join in the occupation then you missed the best event to happen in Reading. It was one of those things that you hear about going on in Sheffield, London or Brighton and assume it will never happen here but always wished it would. I've just learnt the secret, you go out and do it yourself. Without help from council grants, council blessings or council control we found a space and everyone else took it from there. There were no big problems because desire and determination took the place of the usual tedious organisation. Everyone involved accepted responsibility for making it work. The UBO was perfect for our needs, various sized rooms for living and holding workshops, a hall large enough for the Occupation Theatre Company to perform or for people to play cricket in. The Property Services Agency say they're going to find another use for it, I bet they won't use it half as well as we did. L.S. Don't let buildings rot Squat - - - HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES Co-operatives seem hot news in Reading at the moment, what with the recent exhibition at the Centre for the Unemployed and the pieces in Red Reg. This is to be welcomed. But I'm a bit concerned that some contributors seem to have taken it for granted that a firm bond exists between all sectors of the co-operative movement. There are good reasons why Worker and Housing Co-operatives should not be seen as automatically sharing a common interest. Having lived in Reading's only housing co-op, Orts Road Housing Co-operative, (ORHC) since it was built, I can see two important differences between worker and housing co-ops. The first is specific to ORHC and that is size. Orts Road has 136 residents, fairly large by housing co-op standards, and this acts as a barrier to effective organisation. The co-op's size means that a formal and to an extent hierarchical management structure is inevitable. It has also led to major problems with communication and in encouraging ordinary members to participate in the running of the co-operative. Small is beautiful as far as co-ops are concerned. Very few worker co-operatives have anything like 136 members. The other difference relates to the conflicting goals of the two. Workers co-operatives are concerned with production and housing co-operatives with consumption. This works against the development of an outwardly strong communal spirit within housing co-operatives. Workers co-ops all produce goods or services and so demand an active, participatory membership. They also have readily identifiable criteria for success or failure. You can set goals of 'x' units of production per week and ultimately the co-op can produce the goods at a reasonable price and so remain viable - or it cannot. Housing co-operatives on the other hand are concerned with consumption: they offer people a place to live. Most people just want warm, dry, well-furnished accommodation at a reasonable price - all of which co-ops provide. Like most people co-op residents want to use their home as a base from which they can lead their own lives. In ORHC's case this means that only when a direct threat is posed, such as Borough Council interference or police harassment that the majority of members take an active interest in its affairs. Otherwise success is a quiet life - no rent arrears, no maintenance problems, no tenant disputes and everybody is happy. These negative objectives tend to foster a passive attitude towards the Co-op's management. Because of these major differences, caution is needed when talking of CDAs and sharing experiences. The most useful advice ORHC receives comes not from other co-operatives per se, but from other housing co-operatives, and from those involved in housing management. Most co-ops must have similar experiences; there are few hard and fast rules about running a co-op. In fact one of the attractions of being part of a co-op is the absence of firm guidelines, which gives people the chance to learn from their own experience, both individually and collectively. What many co-operatives need is more expert advide in their particular field, be it housing, book-selling or making machine tools. If the opportunity for collective action is limited at a practical level on a political level the situation is very different. ORHC is committed to an anti-racist and anti-sexist stance. It is seeking to maximise the housing opportunities of deprived groups within Reading. These political aspirations are reflected in the courtyard names: Biko, Morris and Mandela. The co-operative aligns itself with anti-imperialist, progressive movements, and there must be great potential for joint work in this area. What then are the prospects for co-operative housing in Reading? ORHC will continue to offer the best cheap housing for young people in the town. But there are no more large co-operative schemes in the pipeline. Suitable sites are scarce and the council continues to sell off land at every opportunity. Only recently it blocked a new co-op scheme on the ATS garages site in Katesgrove Lane. The present administration evidently has little sympathy with the co-operative movement. Similarly at a national level the prospects are bleak. Funds for public housing for rent are constantly being reduced and the government agency responsible for funding co-ops, the Housing Corporation, has criticised the way many co-ops are managed. Clearly there is room for improvement in most coops management practices. A greater problem, however, is the poor image that housing co-operatives have amongst many policy makers. This poor image needs to be challenged, as for many groups they are an attractive and beneficial form of housing. Greater resources need to be made available so that housing co-operatives can demonstrate that there is an alternative to owner-occupation and an increasingly residual municipal rented sector. J.P.B. - - - Instead of thinking of houseplants as bunches of flowers with a slightly longer 'shelf-life', try thinking of then as furniture. Not seats, or ash-trays (!) but long-term, large objects that get attention and repay it (lover substitutes?). Unless you can afford massive plants, or get given then when people move, the only way to get them is to keep repotting the ones you've got. Spider plants, tradescantias, irises, asparagus ferns, coleus - all the easy plants can grow to impressive proportions if you let them. You need - your plant - probably still in the yoghurt pot you bought it in a a jumble sale two years ago. - a bag of potting compost. John Innes no.2 is best, according to my prejudice. Levington's peat-based is unecological and less satisfying to use; also lighter to carry and best reserved for the 15" pot league, so you can still lift giant plants. - some bits of broken pot, or saucer, or pebbles, to put in the bottom of the pot for drainage and to stop the compost from seeping out of the hole. - a clean pot, a few inches bigger in diameter than the last one. Too big and the plant may get cold, too small and there's no point. This can be a bigger yoghurt pot, a hand-crafted ornamental clay one, or anything in between, as long as it has a hole or two in the bottom. If you have several plants, watering's easier with either clay or plastic pots, but not a mixture. Now take your plant, upend it and tap the pot rim on the table edge or the sink (having spread newspaper!) The plant will fall out into your hand, and probably reveal roots wrapped round and round. You'll need to tease them out a little, gently, so they can grow into the new compost. Do bear in mind that your plant is in shock. Prepare the pot with the drainage stuff over the hole(s) and a layer of compost. Think ahead here and don't put in too much or the plant will be too high up in the pot and any water will run straight off. Get the plant central, unless you're being asymmetric on purpose, or putting several in one pot (dodgy unless they all like the same conditions and grow at the same rate). Then start adding in the compost evenly round the sides, ramming it down firmly, till you've reached the level of the plant stem, ideally about 1/2" from the pot rim. Tap the whole pot on the table to help it settle and water it gently, preferably with tepid water. At this point any parts you broke off in your enthusiasm can can be poked into the compost as cuttings - if you're lucky they'll root and your plant will get bushier faster. Not with all plants but coleus, beganonias, the little offshoots from spider plants or 'Mother of Thousands' for starters. If you feel guilty about not feeding your plants, don't. Repotted ones don't need it for three months, and by then they may need repotting again, which you can check by looking for roots growing out of holes, or by tapping it out gently. Your household or workplace may be one where the plants are all dead but no-one can get it together to throw them out. Seasonal advice - give them some water now. OK, done that? - then keep watering every week till two Red Rags have gone by. If they're still dead save the pots and throw out the plants. And think hard before taking on any more. Next time - digging up lawns and making room. Ladybird - - - SMALL ADS Small ads in Red Rag are free! Double mattress - fairly old, going free or for donation to the Rag. Phone 584191. Hoover much wanted by Clive and James on 595605. We also have a double mattress, free to anyone who can pick it up. Join our traditional narrowboat journeying from London to Runcorn and back, any length trips, individuals and parties. Vegetarian and women-only weeks arranged. Slowboat, 39 Botley Road, Oxford 0865-247675 (l-8pm). - - - (paid ad) Aisha Promotions (People's Choice) presents THE PRE-EASTER SOUL - REGGAE - FUNK DAN The Paradise Club, London St., Reading Town nice. Thursday, 4th. April, 1985 Entertainment of your choice - we've got the lot! Freakie Deakia - To Keep you on the Move From London, with the Hi-Technology sound: Soul To Soul with Jazzy B, and The Rocker's Crew Along with Oxford's No.1 Monster Roadshow: Street Level and The Oxford Breaker's MC's Body-popping Reggae Calypso Funk Admission - £3.00 Ladies/U.B.40s £2.50 Youths £1.00 Just be cool Just be nice see you there One love - - - A RED COLUMN Washed out Talking of financial considerations, it is worth noting that Reading-based firm Whiteknights pulled out of the bidding for the laundry contract at Basingstoke Hospital because the Health Authority's contractual terms were too onerous. A precedent that in the privatisation struggles ahead in the NHS other Health Authorities would do well to follow. Puffing Billy (1) Although Health Authorities as such may not have any say. Take the sorry saga of the attack by Wokingham Tory M.P. William van Straubenzee on Dr Mike Ingram for having the nerve to tell him that smoking can result in cancer and cancer can result in death. The Authority has never discussed the matter, but its senior officers, whose promotion is dependent on Government patronage, have fallen over themselves to propiate the little bully and reassure him that Dr Ingram won't do it again. If a Labour M.P. had been involved, of course, it would have been another matter. Not that a Labour M.P. would have been so bloody daft in the first place... Puffing Billy (2) William's attack on CND for "spying" on him (meaning for reading and remembering his speeches as reported in the Wokingham Times) is just another example of the man s paranoia, which in a person other than an M.P. might be regarded as grounds for medical treatment. But with M.P.s (particularly but not exclusively Tory ones) paranoia is probably classed as an industrial disease. Rich Pickings? The man most embarrassed by the Leisure Committee's decision to throw out the Beacontree plan for Richfield Avenue is of course Tory leader Deryck Morton, who did his utmost to get them the contract in the first place, over-ruling the recommendation of the all-party group which looked at the competing bids. But as a developer himself, Deryck should really have known that a firm like J.M. Jones would put financial considerations above mere provision of facilities for the people. Or if he'd forgotten, their mutual friend Roger Smee should have reminded him! Delfino The leader of Wokingham's Tory Council, Mrs. Delphine Hoyle, seems to suffer from quite some other disease. Only someone unable to distinguish when walking between the ground in front of them and the mouth in their face would on a day when the Tories were going to vote against nursery education on principle come along and say that was right except in the case of Arborfield which she represented. She even tried to delete a nursery school recommended by the Education Committee from somewhere else so that Arborfield could have one. Subtle manouvering by the other parties got Arborfield added to the list instead so the county got seven units instead of six. And Mrs Hoyle no doubt gets another term on Berkshire County Council! Shopping Around The Tory moves to limit development to the south of Reading, at least in the eye of the public and at least until after the County elections next month, have meant that the alliance between Tesco and Marks & Spencer has turned its attention to the west instead. The two firms are in discussion with Newbury District Council about another superstore a bit beyond Savacentre to mop up the trade from the housing developments engulfing what was once a green and pleasant land. Orange Paper Other parties are maneuvering too. Take the Alliance, whose Liberal column on the County Council managed to vote every which way on the issue of Reading's secondary schools through 1981-4. They started from a principled position of support for comprehensive education and ended up proposing a merger of the two grammar schools to maintain a centre of excellence, a proposal that some of them had the grace not to support. Their Manifesto for this May's elections makes a gallant attempt to paper over the same cracks: they will "aim to complete the establishment of non-selective education... but we shall seek out and respect the views of local communities on this issue". Which basically means that Tom Heydeman, who sunk the comprehensive plans last time round and whom the Liberals are running again in Kentwood, will be able, if elected, to do the same again. You have been warned. Citizen Cain - - - TOFREK 100 Ladt Friday evening, mayor Ron Jewitt officially opened the "Tofrek 100" exhibition at Reading museum which is described as a "celebration of the Royal Berkshire Regiment". Tofrek was a battle 100 years ago; an appalling "Victorian adventure" where the regiment was involved in the slaughter of 1600 Sudanese for the loss of 22 of its own men. 7 PFU folk turned up on the night to leaflet & chat with people going in & after as they left. We wanted to draw attention to the manner in which this whole event was being promoted. "It's just history" we were told, "not glorifying war at all". History yes. But why toast a massacre with champagne? I suppose it's of no relevance that the regiment were awarded the title "Royal" afterwards! The leaflet the PPU have put together points to the fact that militarism, exploitation of poor people by self-centred governments and racism are still very much with us. Since Tofrek, 120 million people have died as a result of armed conflict. Only when the killing stops & we begin to recognise our common humanity that problems can be tackled in a constructive way & humane resolutions found. During the course of the evening we also managed to leaflet & chat with a few passers-by, 2 police who had arrived, the Post reporter and an army chauffeur; the latter returning his leaflet after reading it for 10 mins. saying that it would look out of place amongst the stuff on his wall at home! What other reactions did we get? Well, most accepted leaflets. Those attending the "do", mostly ex-officers & the like with their companions, were often very courteous to us in accepting them, particularly the old ones (& there were a lot of those). People even started reading them as they walked up the road! A high point was when someone 50 yds. away turned round, walked back to us & said "I throughly agree with what you are doing". We had an equally enthusiastic response a bit later. It may have been significant that both were women! On the negative side, there were a few firm "no thank yous" and a dismissive wave from mayor Jewitt before he was whisked away in "MRD 1". Whether our action will affect peoples thinking in the long-term, who can say? Everyone has the capacity to absorb new ideas, even those brought up in the military tradition. Finally, there was one severe middle-aged man who said "I remember the last one". We should have reminded him that for some people in the world the last one still goes on. Afterwards we all felt our efforts had been worthwhile and weren't that disappointed that there had been so few of us because personal approaches made by a handful of individuals can often create more of an impression on those with differing views than say a faceless group of 100 holding placards. If you'd like to help the PPU during the period of the exhibition (it lasts until April 13), pop along to Acorn where leaflets are available. Love, Chris. - - - PPU MEETING 21ST MARCH 6 or 9 people discussed: The Tofrek exhibition (see article above) Molesworth (see article above! and the BANC ad about April 8th), the South St. squat. 'The Gates of Greenham' - large-scale choral drama at the Royal Festival Hall organised by the Quaker Youth, project for the Year of Youth(!). Writing letters to New Zealand and Dutch embassies supporting their non-nuclear stand. Making banners for April 8th. Next meeting on April 10th at 44 Gosbrook Rd, 8pm, all welcome. Paul (drastically cut, with permission!) - - - CHRISTIAN SOCIALIST MEETING 14 MARCH The Reading branch of the Christian Socialist Movement held its first meeting on Thurs. 14th March. The Rev Mike Fielding spoke on the subject of Christianity and Socialism which sparked off a lively discussion. The group thought CSK should not become a 'talking shop' but be involved in actions relating to local issues such as housing and racism. If you are interested in joining CSK or want to know more about future meetings contact Dave and Liz Budd, 68 Edinburgh Rd, Reading. Dave Budd - - - DISTRIBUTION Thanks to Joanna for taking on North Woodley distribution. Is there some-one who can help distribute to about a dozen addresses in the Wykeham Rd, Wokingham Rd, St Peter's Rd area? If you can spare some time every other Sunday we will deliver a bundle of Rags to your door ready for popping through chosen local letterboxes. Ring Guy on Reading 669562. - - - ACORN'S BIT Hi people reminders and news from Acorn. This week (March 30th - April '6th) is National Peace Book week, organised by Book action for Nuclear Disarmament and designed to offer a selection of the best books on the subject, naturally Acorn is at your service. Womens Press have just published the first in their new "Science Fiction" series - The Wanderground by Sally Miller Gearhart, Extra (Ordinary) People and The Female Man by Joanna Russ, more to follow later in the year. Glastonbury tickets now on sale at Acorn see ya! - - - READING MAY DAY '85 Reading May Day '85 sponsored by Reading Trades Union Council is being co-ordinated by Jane Carter 39 Ashmore Road Whitley. The themes for this years Festival are to be Peace, The Right to Work, and a Future for Britain. May Day will be on Saturday 4th May and starts with the usual march at 12.00 noon. All organisations are encouraged to take part and bring banners and you are asked to plan for a float if possible. Enquiries to Ray Parkes Rdg. 27781 (home). Organisations can hire a stall during the afternoon at the RCU - cost £7.50 payable in advance. The festival starts with a zero bank balance so it's needed in advance to cover the cost of the festival. Cheques to Chris Borgars, 27 Carlton Road, Caversham Heights, Rdg. 477073, the treasurer. Make payable to Reading May Day Festival. Further details nearer the time - but start planning now. Experience shows - the more the merrier! - - - RED RAG BENEFIT Weds. 17th April 8-12 Fun! A social gathering at... The Crown Pub, Crown St. D.I.Y. Disco - bring records and tapes. Musicians welcome... Take along your instruments. Bar ext. Bring along some food. Fun! £1 - on door £0.50p - UB40 or fill in s/o form. - - - EVENTS April m1 Open Forum in Unemployment 8pm Reading Centre for Unemployed, East St. Hindi classes 4.30 Indian Community Centre, 2 Norris Rd. Carpentry Course 1-3 Wilson Centre t2 Reading recreation art centre 10-12 Town Hall Pregnancy testing 7-9 Womens Centre Screenprinting 1-3 RCU East St. Gambling Problems 2-4 RCU w3 R.O.A.R. Reading Organisation for Animal Rights. 7.30 St Mary's Centre, Chain St. Labour Party Young Socialists 8, Fairview Comm. Centre, George St. SWP 8, Red Lion. Trad. festival dance 7.45-10 Friends meeting house. Tai Chi class 12-1 Univ SU. Dance 8 Womens Centre Punjabi class 4.30 Norris Rd. Womens discussion group RCU 10.30 t4 Miners Support group 7.30 TGWU Mini market, 9-1 St Mary's Centre Dance - fitness 10-12 RCU Shelter, Reading group 8 RCU Writing workshop 1-3 RCU f5 Veggie Dining 8 Fairview Comm. Centre, George St £2 Sakaja Yoga meeting 7.30 St David's Hall, London Rd, Rm 3 Weekend Action at Molesworth s6 Cruelty free toiletaries. Market stall Womens Centre open 11-3 s7 Vegan meeting 1 Orrin Cl. Tilehurst contact 21651 m8 BANC Berkshire Anti Nuke Campaign - day trip to Molesworth. Bus leaves Rdg station 8am $4/2.50 unwaged from Acorn NCCL National Campaign for Civil Liberties meeting 8 St Mary's Centre Reading Cycle Campaign 8 UB Cycles London St. Reading Recreation Art Centre 7-9 Town Hall. Hindi Class 4.30 Norris Rd. t9 Reading Gay & Lesbian helpline 8-10pm 597269 RR art 10-12 Town Hall Pregnancy testing 7-9 Womens Centre Screenprinting 1-3 RCU Gambling Problems 2-4 RCU w10 Womens discussion group 10.30 RCU room 1 PPU Peace Pledge Union 7.45 44 Gosbrook Rd Caversham LPYS Fairview Newtown Community Assoc meeting 117 Cumberland Rd 7.30 SWP 8 Red Lion Trad. Fest. dance 7.45. Tai Chi Univ SU 12-1 Dance 8pm Womens Centre Punjabi class. Norris Rd. t11 Amnesty mtg 8pm St Mary's Centre. Miners Support Comm. TGWU Mini Market 9-1 St Mary's Centre Dance for fitness 10-12 Rd Writing workshop 1-3 RCU Red Rag Production meeting 8. Ring Nick 666681 for details. f12 Berkshire humanists: <> mtg phone Crowthorne 774871 for details Womens confidence building 1-3 Unemployment centre s13 Womens centre open 11-3 Rag paste up phone 666681 for place & time. s14 Rag collating many hands make light work phone 666681 Birth Centre "Active birth" by Janet <> 12 Fairview £1/80p m15 Study Tour of rural development Reading Univ. £8.50 55415 for details. RR Art Centre 7-9 Town Hall Hindi class 4.30 Norris Rd. t16 History of Reading meet Abbey Gateway Lesbian & Gay helpline 8-10 RR Art Centre 10-12 Town Hall Screenprinting 1-3 RCU Gambling problems 2-4 RCU The Rag still needs a regular events person, the system is undergoing a major overhaul at the moment. That's why there i no regular events this week. If you would like to do the new improved group & events listing phone Clive or James on 595605. - - - GOING OUT Sunday 31st: SHP - "Gremlins" (15) 7.45pm Readifolk at Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8pm Butler, Chatham St - jazz, 8pm, free Monday April 1st: Folk - The Bull, Nettlebed, 8pm, free Thatchers, Woodley - jazz / soul / funk, 8pm, free SHP - "Gremlins" (15) 7.45pm New Yorker, Queens Walk - The Boys from Brazil Hex - Pack of Lies - spying for the Ruskies, 8pm, £3.50-£4.50 Mill at Sonning - Absent Friends (Ayckbourn) tel 698000 Silks, Bath Rd Thatcham: Shy & Tour de Force, 8.30pm, £2 in adv. Tuesday 2nd: Tudor Arms, Gay Disco, 8pm, free Paradise Club, London St - Free Festival Benefit: Myopic Muldoni Boys + Chewey Toffees + Surgery sound system: also Anarchist Video Show: Harlan County (US miners) + Call It Sleep. 8-late £1.50/£1 UB40 Hex - as 1st Mill at Sonning - as 1st SHP - Bracknell Fusion Dance night (jazz et al.) 8pm. £2/£1.50 SHP - "Gremlins" (15) 7.45pm SHP - Mardi Gras night of New Orleans jazz. 8pm Out of Town Club, Bath Rd Padworth Fair Exchange & A Nation Mourns 8pm £1 from Evening Post / £1.50 on door. Wednesday 3rd: Pandemonium Club at the Crown, Crown Street. Mike Cooper, The Cacophonists. £1.50/£1 8-12 New Yorker - Jive Dive Club, 8pm Hex - as 1st plus 2.30 matinee Mill at Sonning - as 1st too... SHP - "Gremlins" (15) 7.45pm Thursday 4th: High Wycombe Multiracial Centre - Roots Man (Manchester) & Scientist (Leicester) Paradise Club - jazz / soul / reggae party 8-late £3/£2.50/£1 youth. Aisha Promotions wish everyone at Acorn + ISWE + everyone in the Thames Valley a happy Rasta New Year (1/4/85 - 31/3/86). Peace and Love to Everybody SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm + 7.45pm Hex - as 1st Mill at Sonning - as 1st SHP - Nola Ray in her one person show "the Urge", 7.30pm £3 Sportsman, Shinfield, Country + Western 8pm Friday 5th: SHP - three new exhibitions until May 26th: ballet / dance photography / collages (Ronald Penrose) + Lee Miller in Sussex Hex - as 1st Mill at Sonning - as 1st Veggie Dining at Fairview Community Centre, George St - Harvest Wholefoods birthday party. Tickets from Acorn. Tudor Arms, Gay Disco, 8pm, free Friday Live, South Hill Park Cellar Bar - The Miller Family (reggae / salsa) 8-12, £2/£1 UB40 Folk at the Lamb, Eversley, 8pm SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm + 7.45pm Saturday 6th: Hex - as 1st + 5pm matinee Mill at Sonning - final night Central Club, London St - Sir Coxsone & Foundation, £3 8-late Paradise Club - Hurricane Force steel band + disco. £2.50 in adv / £3 on door Hex - Tudor Lodge: close harmony music 12.15pm free SHP - folk with Cockerdale, 8pm, £1.80/1.50 SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm, 7.45pm Sunday 7th: SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm, 7.45pm Butler, Chatham St, jazz, 8pm, free Readifolk - cruise on Thames from Caversham Bridge Hotel 8pm, tickets £2.75 from Cav. B. Hotel Monday 8th: Folk at the Bull, Nettlebed, 8pm, free Thatchers, Woodley - jazz / soul / funk, 8pm, free Paradise Club - something Big Big Big for the Bank Holiday... All converge on Molesworth with food, banners, etc: details elsewhere?? High Wycombe Old Town Hall - reggae / soul all-dayer, 12noon - 12midnight Hex - The Readl Thing (Stoppard), 8pm, £3.50-£4.50 Mill at Sonning - "House Guest": chiller / thriller tel 698000... runs til May 11th SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm, 7.45pm Tuesday 9th: Gay Disco at Tudor Arms, 8pm, free Paradise - Miners Benefit? Hex - as 8th SHP - Tommy Chase Quartet, modern jazz, 8pm, £2.50/£1.50 SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) (again) 2pm + 7.45pm (again) Wednesday 10th: Jive Dive at the New Yorker, Queens Walk Hex - as 8th SHP - Oliver! (Lional Bart), Bracknell Drama Club, 7.30, £2.50 SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm, 7.45pm. Yes, yet again... Hex - Mister Merlin - children's musical set in computer fantasy!?! 1pm / 4pm, £2.50 Thursday 11th: Paradise Club, London St - Sir Coxsone Outernational Sound + Unity the Power, £3 8-late Sportsman, Shinfield: free country + western Thatchers, Woodley - The Emotional Jacuzzi at 8pm, free SHP - "Ghostbusters"! same as ever SHP - Oliver! - as 10th SHP - The Young Ladies of Wilko (PG) Andrzej Wajda film, 7.45pm Hex - Real Thing + Mister Merlin Ship Hotel, Duke St - quiz - Reading 18 plus group 8pm 70p Walford Hallm Carey St - free talk on "Owls" at 7.30pm Friday 12th: Hex - both as above Gay Disco, Tudor Arms, 8pm, free Paradise Club - Red Lorry Yellow Lorry Macrobiotic Group meeting + meal, 100 Northumberland Ave, 7pm - Wendy Shute 860813 Folk at the Lamb, Eversley, 8pm, free SHP - Oliver! as 10th SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm / 7.45pm SHP - recital: JS Bach, Scarlatti, Handel; 8pm, £3.25/£3 Friday Live at SHP: good music... Saturday 13th: Emmer Green Club - Chester's Disco, 8pm, tickets Pop Records + Listen Paradise Club - Hot Steel steel band + disco - Charity Dance Hex - Real Thing - plus 5pm matinee Tilehurst Esiteddford - arts, crafts, verse etc. Meadway School, 12noon Reading Bacchus Group - Bavarian Evening tickets phone 785005 Barn Dance, Loddon Hallm Twyford - Pete Gregory + Cuckoo's Nest, 7.45-12. £3 ticket incl buffet - phone 471522 SHP - Oliver! as 10th SHP "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm / 7.45pm... Sunday 14th: Butler, Chatham St - jazz, free, 8pm Readifolk - Crow Jane @ Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8pm, free Hex - Bach Mass in B Minor, 7.30pm Coley Nursery Open Day - 2.30-6pm free - entrance off Wensley Rd SHP "Ghostbusters" (PG)!!! 2pm / 7.45pm. Monday 15th: Thatchers, Woodley - jazz / funk / soul, 8pm, free Hex - Wrestling, 7.30, £2-£3.50 Folk at the Bull, Nettlebed, 8pm SHP "Ghostbusters" !! usual times. Tuesday 16th: Hex - Freddy Starr, 6.45 / 9.15pm Free Festival Benefit at Paradise Note - for more details of Hexagon phone 591591, South Hill Park (SHP) - Bracknell (0344( 484123 - folk clubs, local bands, local theatre etc are much more interesting to me (& a lot of Rag readers) than mainstream mindlessness. So tell me about your events!! Phone 782178 before 10.30pm. - Mike Messer - phone me!! Mark - - - SMALL ADS Lots & lots of peace loving, vegan stick insects desperate for homes. Good for flats, bedsits etc. where pets are "strictly forbidden"... Contact Tina 482869. 4th organic gardener wanted to share allotment in Caversham. Must be prepared to work with 3 totally mad people! Contact Tina or Vessa (482869), or Michael (65532). Duff portable typewriter available free - no good for 'proper' typing, but would make a great toy. Playgroups? Contact Liz on 867955. - - - MYOPIC MULDONI BOYS + CHEWEY TOFFEES Anarchist Video Show Harlan County (110 mins) + Surgery Sounds £1.50 £1 unwaged 8-late Paradise Club Tuesday 2 April - - - CYCLING FOR PEACE On April 13th, various groups from in & around Slough will be cycling around the far too numerous dodgy companies in Slough. It is a protest against the way society is geared to ripping people off, and making profits rather than helping them, and how by their apathy they are supporting apartheid, porn, vivisection, the arms trade, violence and the whole deathist mentality of those that continue it. Any groups or individuals are welcome to come down and either leaflet, or make their own protests against their pet hates, or just swell the numbers amongst cyclists. The original idea came from Slough's Youth Peace Group on the grounds that this year is supposed to be peace year in Slough, though I don't suppose that any of Slough's inhabitants will have noticed yet - and also it's supposed to be International Youth Year, which doesn't appear to extend beyond the youth clubs and the Guides and Scouts. We want to avoid calling it Stop The City (or town in this case), so that our efforts can't be brushed aside because we can't, and so the council stiffies don't get wound up about the idea of their town being overrun by hordes of screaming Anarcho's, (the chance'd be a fine thing) after all, they are supposed to be on our side. If you want any more information, blah, blah, blah, phone Slough 40878, otherwise see you there... love Flatus. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1985/1985-03-31.txt#2 $