Out of the RED RAG And Into The Black Free / Fortnightly / 29th Sept '85 1600-1800 copies produced every fortnight by an independent collective. We make history(!) after 6 years by getting out of debt. Special thanks to all who made the benefit such a success. But please keep donations coming in, or we'll soon be Red again! We'll print all sorts of things, but nothing racist, sexist, or supportive of oppressive religions... Decisions are taken by the editorial meeting for each issue - phone co-ordinator for details. Longer term ideas are discussed at collective meetings every six weeks: see Events Guide. Next Issue's Deadline 6pm Thursday 10th Oct Co-ordinators: Mark & Jackie 868488 Going Out: Mark 868488 Events: Mark (92) 680051 Distribution: Pogle (92) 680051 Adverts James 595605 Red Rag, Box 79, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street - - - (paid ad) All Women Welcome WEDNESDAY IS WOMEN'S DAY 9.30-4.30 at Reading Centre for the Unemployed 4-6 East St., Reading. Telephone: 596639 In town on a Wednesday? Time to spare? Fancy learning something new? Want to meet more women? Then come along on Wednesdays for a cup of tea and a chat. Bring your children - free creche! Autumn Activities These are some of the things women have said about the last series of courses on "Wednesday is Women's Day" at R.C.U! During the autumn there is another chance to do Fabric-Crafts and Confidence Building or join in with the Performance Group. There will also be the opportunity to take part in three new courses - Self-Defence, Video-Making and Your Rights as Women. From 12.00-1.00 each Wednesday there will be a break for lunch which will be a good time to meet new women. Come along and bring your friends! "Well organized" "Very interesting" "Lots of fun!" "Very useful" "Really helpful" "I enjoyed the courses very much" - - - FREAKY PHIL Report on the Red Rag benefit gig at the Paradise Club. Arrived at 7, helped set up, jumped about whilst the Magic Mushroom (M.M.) Band rehearsed, had some munchies at the free food thing whilst Function at the Junction (F.J.) didn't arrive. 9 pm first people started rolling in and around 9-30 F.J. began dishing out their vibes, a slick funk and jazz blend as smooth as Earl Grey tea. F.J. could easily have headlined the gig being as adept in their field as the H.M. band are in theirs. As it was the contrast was interesting and marked. 10.30 on came the Mushrooms with Garry Masters playing a long guitar instrumental. An excellent set featuring Magick eye and wide eyed electrick (now on album), the sounds took us high on a trip to mystic places and half hidden dreams. The music was a powerful wall of sound leaving all who stayed mindblown. A great evening all in all which raised £53 for the Red Rag. Thanks to those who contributed food. - - - NOTICE BOARD The GREENHAM WOMEN charged with criminal damage while entering ROF Burghfield on 9th Sept 1985 appeared before Bradfield & Sonning Magistrates on l8th Sept. They were remanded on bail until 30th October, by which time a decision may (or may not) have been reached whether or not to prosecute, and what for. SHADOW PLAY Part II Nine of the eleven people arrested in Reading on Aug. 6th (for whitewashing "nuclear" shadows on a fair percentage of central Reading's pavements) turned up at Central Control to be re-arrested on 18th Sept, or something. Anyway we all waited around and then were split up and went through all these forms and questions about what, why, when etc. Lots of no comment. What will happen next, I have no idea. Watch this space for details. Mark. SHELTER Needs your help Shelter, the charity working to combat homelessness, will be holding its annual fund-raising week from 5th to 12th October this year. The local group is planning to organise door-to-door collections in the Reading area, but more volunteers are urgently needed. If you can spare even an hour or two of your time, then please contact Caroline, Tele. Rdg 64447 ACUPUNCTURE has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. It works by keeping the energies of the body moving harmoniously. As a wholistic medicine it treats mind and body together, realising that emotional stress as well as physical trauma or poor life-style can bring on poor health. If the energy in the body is either blocked or deficient, the stimulation of the needles will regulate the flow. A first treatment takes about one hour, when a full case history of the patient is taken, including details about diet, sleep, work etc. The pulses on the wrist are also taken, and a picture is built up of the health of that person. Angela Llewellyn, B.Ac.,B.A.,B.R.O.M. Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Reading 864634 GREENHAM WOMENS SUPPORT GROUP meets fortnightly (alternately at Red Gate, G'ham, and Womens Centre, R'dg.) This Winter we will be doing food runs to camp; bringing back wet bedding; doing Nightwatch & planning actions ourselves at Greenham & locally. If you feel you can help in any way contact GWS Group at Reading Womens Centre or c/o Acorn Bookshop. EUROPEAN FOLK & CIRCLE DANCE Folk and circle dance drawn from the European Folk tradition, danced to authentic music from the countries of origin: Greece, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria and from some other countries such as Turkey and Israel. Partners are not needed. Some experience of dance will be an advantage. From Sept 27th 1985. Regular meetings Friday evenings 7.45 till 10.15 pm. St Mary's Centre, Chain St. A contribution of £2(£l unwaged) is requested. Further information on Reading 864665. The ACORN BOOKSHOP piece Just to tell you who we are what we are and why we are. Three people working collectively in a cooperative meaning, no bosses and full sharing of all aspects of the shop business, we are much more than a bookshop as our regular users can tell you, not only books but badges posters records magazines and cards all of the sort most other shops don't like stocking. Our book range is also there to help you find out things other people won't tell you as well as fine fiction, a large selection of wimmins studies, fiction, herstory and art, we have books for most political colours from building a house to knowing your rights to kids books more suitable for new age livers, and this isn't all, we also provide a comprehensive selection of ways of getting your words into print there's duplicators a photocopier and an A3 litho press we also have a noticeboard for local events small ads and displays for local groups, many of whom find our resources and facilities a great help, more books on/about education, the third world, vegetarian cooking, gay and lesbian fiction and politics, theatre and cinema and probably a few i can't remember at the mo. So if you don't know us come and find us and if you think you know us come and have a fresh look 'cos i always forget something. the Acorn collective - - - CRECHE NETWORK? Two Alternative Views We are white middleclass men & we feel guilty about it. We like children & so we reckon a creche network is an easy option for our ideological credibility. Anyone else lacking plausible oppression please contact us. John 666528/ Cliff 665332 We should each endeavour to take more equal responsibility for children: they all need lots of care & attention, and it often falls upon a few adults to provide it. All too often it falls as a burden upon women. Looking after children can be fun, can be very illuminating, can be very refreshing. It can exercise and strengthen those caring aspects of our personality that we often forget. But too much and it can become a grind, a depressing chore. Some of us would like to set up a creche network. Occasional childcare on a collective basis. Helping children to become non-racist, non-sexist, adult adults. Anyone else interested?. If we get enough replies in the next couple of weeks we'll set up a meeting to sort out our collective aims and commitment. - - - AROUND THE PARISH Last Wednesday saw a boisterous first meeting of the 'Thames Residents and Business Association' an organisation which has pledged to fight the proposal to build a Cross-Town Route and Third Thames Bridge in Reading. Several County Council officials came to the meeting to explain the proposals and met an overwhelmingly hostile response, especially when they explained that the new roads would not even offer a long-term solution to the problem of traffic congestion. Dozens of local people said that they had neither been consulted nor informed of the plans. Many of those present had recently bought houses in the area and had not been told about the road-building plans by the solicitors carrying out the local search; which leads us to ask what exactly solicitors do to earn the huge fees charged for house purchase. The overall tone of the meeting was disappointingly parochial. Many of those present were calling for a public transport strategy in place of road building, but for others the objection was simply to the choice of route. Labour's transport spokesman told the meeting that the failure to expand public transport was the fault of everyone who voted Tory last May. Somehow he avoided mentioning the fact that his Party had also supported the road-building bonanza. Still, after seeing the anger of local residents, who could blame him. Another issue which seems to have generated more heat than light is the plan to cut down and replace half of Reading's mature lime and plane trees. According to the Borough Recreation Officer, the trees, now about 100 years old, are becoming dangerous and costly to maintain, as each tree requires pruning work every three years. His report recommends cutting down half of them now, and replacing them with smaller species. The remainder of the trees would be taken out in perhaps ten years time. According to Howard Rodaway of the Erleigh Road Residents Association, the Council gave the impression of trying to 'smuggle the report through three committees in five days before the amenity groups (known at the Town Hall as Mickey Mouse groups) woke up to what was happening.' The early reaction of groups such as the Tree Club, The Urban Wildlife Group, BBONT and Friends of the Earth is that the plan will be welcome if it can be done on a longer time-scale and if native species suited to wildlife (i.e. not the 'flowering cherry' variety ) are chosen as replacements. Neither lime trees nor planes are suited to narrow streets due to their great size and tendency to put out extensive growth from the base of the tree. Limes also ooze a sticky substance which messes up the pavement. So the replacement of both species would bring eventual benefit to the environment. Trees, however, are an emotional subject, and following the public outcry of last week, the proposals look certain to become a political football between the Parties. Which leaves one wondering whether any coherent proposals will emerge at all. Don Pedro - - - SMALL ADS Wanted any size mattress (cheap). Can collect. Mike 588459. Wanted - to rent- (£20-£30) room/flat for single person Terry c/o RCU. Wanted: your old posters to decorate children's home. Gordon 55763. Wanted cheap accommodation for two students moving to Reading very soon. Preferably cheap/East Reading but anything considered Mike Rdg 58845. Wanted Urgently to rent: self-contained flat with phone. Central Reading/Cemetery Junction. One Woman, no kids. Sarah 587597 New Outlets for Red Rag always welcome: If you know anyone who would like to take Red Rag (houses, shops, libraries anything) please leave a note in box at Acorn or write. Wanted: Vocalists to form a capella band for busking/gigging purposes. John 591904 day 417270 from 7pm. East Reading Adventure Playground are having a jumble sale. Offers of jumble welcome. Sandy at playground/665313. Proceeds for new play equipment. 2.15pm, Oct 5th. at Playground, Palmer Park Job Ad: Bracknell Centre for the Unemployed Community Programme jobs: 1. Welfare Rights Worker, 25hrs/week 2. Outreach worker (making links with community groups etc. B'nell 53421 for details. Nearly New Tandem - for sale or swap/part exchange considered. Red & Black, 5 speed gears cosmic condition. Offers £275 ono 667085 Two Elderly, but Serviceable, Armchairs need new home in exchange for a donation to Leukaemia Research charity. 6l06lx387(day), 66l992(evg). 250 Superdream needs a caring owner. V reg, 25,000. Not brilliant condition but new exhausts, chain. £75 Pete 43 Baker St. Free Cot Bedding - Some brand new, rest in good condition. Tracey 588459. Stereo Radiogram/Record Player set in large wooden cabinet. Good Working Order. £30 Andrew 660373 Fridge £10 667085. Large Wardrobe old & a bit tatty but very nice at heart £10 donation to Red Rag. Laurence or Claire 585879. "New Song" No 2 A further collection of poetry 30p from Acorn. Interested In Training for Reading Rape Crisis Line? 55577 or write Box 9 Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street. - - - GOING OUT GUIDE Below average standard offering of the legendary list of gaudy backgrounds for social chameleons. Please note that the number of the beast is now Reading 868488. Many thanks to Sue, Nick & Jess for the past 365 days... Monday 30 Sept: Silks, Bath Road, Thatcham - Pendragon?? Rock night: 932 65562. Albion, Oxford Rd - Pete James Original Jubilee Jazz Band, 9ish free. Thatchers, Fairwater Drive, Woodley - free soul, funk, jazz amongst the plastic thatch. Til 11pm. S.H.P. - "Witness" (15) Harrison Ford at 7.45pm - detective investigates murder, key child witness lives in reclusive community, where 'tec also ends up. Guess what - he gets the girl... £2.50. Bull at Nettlebed - folk - 8pm - singers night. Tuesday 1 Oct: O.O.T.C. - Namoza (rhythm based musics) & Shoot the Moon. Tudor Arms, Greyfriars Road - disco (free), in a reputedly gay pub, from which, however, a number of gay people were ejected for complaining about sexist beermats. Any alternative venues? S.H.P. - Fred van Hove (piano) & Luk Mishalle (sax) improvised jazz 8pm £2. Talking of which, when does "Pandemonium" seize Reading again?? S.H.P. - film as yesterday... Paradise Club - The Bushmen, Royal Mokees & The Goat Brothers - £2.50. Wednesday 2 Oct: University Sudents Union - Freshers Ball - Rent Party (uptempo jazz & funk??) & Delamitri & somebody else & late bar (2am?). Tickets from Union / Music Market. No Union card needed if you have a ticket. Friends Meeting House, off Southampton St - European Folk Dancing, 7.45, £1. S.H.P. - Harrison Ford in "Witless" (sorry: "Witness") - £2:50, 7.45. Bargain... Quiet tonight innit... Thursday 3 Oct: RFT, Palmer Building, Univ. campus - season kicks off with "Brazil" (15) at 8pm. UB40 discount. Paradise - Lion Roots sound system & guests, til 2am. Stag & Hounds, Pinkeys Green, Maidenhead - folk club at 8ish, free. "The House Band". S.H.P. - "Undercover Club" in the Cellar Bar - 8-12, £1:50/50p UB40. Local bands. Cross Keys, nr the Butts - free country music, 9ish. Sportsman, Shinfield - dire Country & Western duo. People have walked miles just to see how bad... Morlands pub, like Ye Cross Keys, Lord Raglan & other sitres of musical atrocity... S.H.P. Wild Theatre - The Taming Of The Shrew by W. Shakespeare, ex gardening correspondent of the Evening Post. In Elizabethan style, complete with lots of music & ribaldry. 7.30pm tickets £2:50-£4:50. Friday 4 Oct: Tudor Arms discount - see Oct 1st. Horse & Barge, Duke St. - (another) gay & lesbian celebration, 8-late. An alternative to the Tudor? 70p for a raffle ticket. RFT - as yesterday, incl. UB40 discount. Friday live in SHP Cellar Bar: dance-oriented music from 10-2, £3. Food available. Tonight it's Lifecan (psychedelic) - proceeds to Sue Ryder Home. Cap & Crown, Kings Rd - Jive Alive (blues / jazz / mature)/ 8ish free? The Lamb, Eversley - folk club at 8ish, free. Lord Raglan, Wokingham - Dixie jazz from 9, free. S.H.P. - "Hotel New Hampshire" (18) 7.45 £2:50. An "extended American family" move to Europe. Stars Beau Bridges, N. Kinsi, Jody Foster,... S.H.P. - Wilde Theatre - Taming of the Shrew as yesterday. S.H.P. - recital - Nigel Perrin & David Parsons. Part One is restoration court music, Part Two a revue of folksongs in the Cellar Bar. Do Friday Live know about this? 8pm kickoff, £3:30. Saturday 5 Oct: Paradise Club - Soul - Street Level / Master Jammer / Fabulous 5. S.H.P. Cinema as above (*& at 10.30pm), theatre same. S.H.P. folk in the Cellar Bar - Sue & Arthur Knevett & Ken Watson Folk Band, 8pm, £1:80. Just un autre Samedi soir... Sunday 6 Oct: Butler, Chatham St - improvised jazz from Clem Adelman, 8ish free. Pity the Fuller's beer isn't free. Readifolk at Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8.15 free. Turks Head, London Rd - lunchtime meeting place for some gay people. O.O.T.C. - Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders. Hysteria!! Dust off me flares... 8-12, £3/£2:50 members. S.H.P - Tea Dance with Curley Hunt Dance Band - Old Tyme / Mod. sequence dance for the over 50s. Ageist. £1:20, from 3pm-5pm. Hexagon - Jimmy Crocket - Irish comedian (but not like Dave Allen...) 7.30 £3:50 plus... The Boot of the Matter Veggie Restaurant, London St (inside Mo's place) - The Larkins (pop), free 12.00 noon. Do you have to eat anything? Monday 7 Oct: Paradise - John Delahunty's Devil Beat Band (urban funk - well appreciated at the free festival) & A Nation Mourns (dark / beautiful pop) play a Labour Party benefit gig. Obviously thr Union's political levy campaign not going well. Good music, cause needs investigating. £2 / £1 UB40. (No ANM - Stop Press) S.H.P - film pick of the fortnight - "Eureka" (18) at 7.45 (£2:50). Gold miner strikes lucky on island - on which he then becomes a recluse, even when the Mafia are interested. But plot outlines are pointless - what counts is the visual genius of director Nic Roeg (remember The Man Who Fell To Earth & Don't Look Now?...) Univ Students Union - jazz in the Lounge Bar may start tonight, 9ish, free. No Union card needed. Albion - Oxford Rd - Pete James original Jubilee Jazz band, 9ish, free. Thatchers, Silks Thatcham - as last Monday. Bull Inn, Nettlebed - John Kirkpatrick, 8ish, free (folk). Tuesday 8 Oct: Tudor Arms - "Gay"(?) disco - see last Tues. entry. Paradise Club - Royal Monkees (gothic>) & dunno who else. Try nearer the date. OOTC - XS plus support. Earley Cricket Club, Church Rd - organ recital, 8pm, £1. S.H.P. "Eureka" (18) a last night. Recommended. S.H.P. Cellar Bar - "District Six" 7 piece jazz group inspired by traditional Cape Town folk music. 8pm £2 entry. Univ. Students Union - no idea yet. Perhaps a "name band". See Music Met / Listen?? S.H.P. Wilde Theatre - see theatre guide. Wednesday 9 Oct: R.F.T. - Palmer Building, University campus - "The Killing Fields" (15) at 8pm - US journalist in Cambodia leaves his guide to the Khymer Rouge... Paradise - Sue Ryder Cancer Appeal benefit - Overseer, Joker, & The Unlikely Lads & disco. 8-2 £2. Rock night? Eurofolkdancing again - see last Weds... S.H.P. "Eureka" (18) again, 7.45pm Hexagon - "Fascinating Aida" 8pm £4/£4:50. Women comedy trio. Thursday 10 Oct: R.F.T. - "Killing Fields" (15) as yesterday but with discount for UB40s. Paradise - Radio 210's Black Expression reggae roadshow, 8-2am. Univ. Students Union - (perhaps) jazz, 9ish, free. Stag & Hounds, Pinkeys Green, Maidenhead - folk club, 8ish, free. "This, that & The Other." Boars Head, Friar St - Falklands Display, video jukebox, casuals & perhaps a live band. Lager country. Cross Keys, nr the Butts - country music, 8ish free. The Sportsman, Shinfield - excruciatingly maudlin country music, free. Dare you?? S.H.P. Undercover Club, Cellar Bar, 8-12, £1:50 / 50p UB40. Hexagon - Everything But The Girl, 8pm, £4 - Exceedingly talented & competent but often their moody jazz-tinged music is a bit samey. S.H.P. cinema - "The Life & Times of Harvey Milk" (15) 7.45pm, £2:50: documentary of Milk, a gay district supervisor in San Francisco, & of the murderer's very lenient sentence. One night only. Friday 11 Oct: Women's Centre, Abbey St (basement) - meal & social - please bring some food to share, a knife & fork, & some drink. NB it starts at 8.30pm. Macrobiotics Meeting & Meal: 100 Northumberland Avenue - 7pm - please phone Wendy on 860813 in advance. S.H.P. Friday Live (Cellar Bar) - The Firebirds - R'n'B from 10pm - 2am. £3, food available. Paradise - Diamonds Reggae Sound from London & Horseman (recent no.1 single) & others. The Lamb, Eversley - folk club, 8ish, free. Tudor Arms - "Gay"(?) disco (see 1st Oct). An alternative meeting place for gay people is the Dove, Rupert St (off Cemy. Junction). Hexagon - The Chieftains, 8pm - traditional Irish folk. £3:50 - £5:50. S.H.P. cinema - "The Shooting Party" (15) 7.45 £2:50. Quality production - mindless, deluded shooting party on the eve of World War One. S.H.P. recital - William Stevenson & piano at 8pm. Liszt, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy. £3:30. Cap & Gown, Kings Rd - Jonny Blacks Blues Band, 8, free? Saturday 12 Oct: Paradise - Star Rhapsody (funk, I think) & disco. Hex - "Boogie Chillen" in the bar at 12.15 - blues, free. Red Rag pasteup - see cover for details. Make your own entertainment. S.H.P. folk in the Cellar Bar - singers night 8pm, £1:80. S.H.P. cinema - The Shooting Party, as 11th & 10.30pm too. Sunday 13 Oct: Hangover Blues? - fold & distribute the Rag. In Acorn Books, Chatham St. 11am start usual. Butler, Chatham St - Clem Adelman's Modern Jazz (for free) & Fuller, Smith & Turners Ales (ar nearly a quid a pint). 8ish. Turk's Head, London Rd - some gay people meet here regularly on Sunday lunchtimes. OOTC - 60s night again: Vanity Fayre (who??) 8-12 for £3 / £2:50 members. S.H.P. cinema - as before. "Freeing & Exploring the Voice" - Frankie Armstrong, £4 / £3 UB40. Recommended but it's in Camden. Phone Brenda Garrick for details on 01-607 8975. Coming Yor Way Monday 14 Oct - Hexagon - The Fall - one the finest bands around - punk's energy but a totally one off sense of melody & unique vocals. Musical pick of the week, definitely. 8pm start, only £4:00. Party on Mon 14th - Punk Night: Deliverance, Bad Influence & Blind Allegiance. 8-2. £2:50 on door / £2 adv. Friday 18 Oct - Coffin Nail (psychobilly) & Strand Der Vard (heavyweight rock / blues) & Here And Now (Space Rock). £3 / £2:50 adv / £2 UB40, 8-2am. Free tea. A cosmic experience... Key: O.O.T.C. - The Out of Town Club, Bath Rd, Padworth. Phone 713282. R.F.T. - Reading Film THeatre, Palmer Building, Whiteknights Campus. S.H.P. - South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell. Phone Bracknell 484123. Paradise - Paradise Club, 112 London St - phone 576847. Hex - Hexagon Theatre, Queens Walk - phone 519519. Theatre Guide: Hexagon - "Oklahoma" (Rogers & Hammerstein) Oct 1st-5th, 7.45pm. Hexagon - "Sooty's Picnic" (childrens) 30th Sept - 5th Oct, 4.30pm except Sat. Saturday: 10.30 / 1pm / 3.30pm. S.H.P. - "The Taming of the Shrew" (Elizabethan version) 3 Oct - 5 Oct: 7.30. S.H.P. - "A Gown for His Mistress" (Georges Feydeau). 8 Oct - 12 Oct: 7:30. Bracknell Drama Club. "Classical French Farce." Civic Offices - grotesque folk theatre in the council chamber - free, anytime. Important: I've moved, so the new "Going Out" number is 868488. Keep it coming! Hugs & Squeezes. Mark - - - DORIS'S TALLY No arrests; three minor injuries dealt with by first aid; twenty-one bands (we think): Original Gravity The Gathering some form of Pandemonium Earthlore Magic Mushroom Band (Friday) Osric Tentacle Barcelona Bus Company Crumpettes Invisible Band Duane Ford and the Shaking Snakes Here and Now Osric Tentacle Web Core (Saturday) Captain Swing Insect Matinee Charas the Escapists the Chapati Four Royal Monkees Rory McLeod The Gathering with Jonathan Kirkby Beat & the Devil (Sunday) Apologies to anyone who played who got left off this list (we know you exist, we just can't remember who you are...) - - - ANONYMOUS LETTER TO UNKNOWN FRIENDS IN HANDSWORTH Congratulations on giving a Cabinet Minister the welcome he deserves. We haven't heard the full story of your adventures; we've only had ignorant press and TV reports to go on. We can read between the lines, though and we can feel your defiance and your rejection. You showed it in such a clear and dynamic way! Looking to learn from your experiences, one question in particular is raised by our speculations. Any chance of an answer? We suspect that the Government's decision to go for a police report rather than a public enquiry reflects their knowledge that some decisions that were taken would be political dynamite if made public. It has been suggested that the police deliberately left Lozells Road to the rioters for several hours at least, being more concerned to use their manpower to ensure that the "disturbance" didn't spread to the City Centre or affluent areas. Maintaining a cordon and containing the destruction to a limited area is 1. Easier for them until they are organised and confident enough to take the initiative and mount an offensive. 2. Quite acceptable if damage is only done to the "problem" area's own facilities and fabric. (Besides, most businesses in the area were small and asian-owned, much more politically expendable than large establishment-owned retail and commercial enterprises, especially in the racist Tory police force's view). Were you contained in that one area by the police, or did you choose to remain there? Is our speculation justified by the actual facts of the case? We'd love to hear from somebody who knows. The Righteous Brothers. - - - ORGANISATIONS A truncated list of organisations this issue; look out for a new issue of Reading Between The Lines - to be published very soon with details of many more groups and facilities in the Reading area. Anarchists: Mondays, Box 19, Acorn Bookshop,17 Chatham St Berks Anti-Nuclear Campaign CND: General Meeting 2nd Tues PO Box 158. See 'Bancnotes" for details, contacts. Berks Conservation Volunteers Sundays: practical conservation PO Box 165. Keith, B'nell 56796. Berks Humanists: 2nd Friday. 774871. Reading Cycle Campaign: 2nd Monday at 8pm. John 64667 or Amanda 598506. Cyclists Touring Club: Richard, B'nell 50849. Ecology Party: 1st & 3rd Mon Maria 55445. Friends Of The Earth: John or Anne Booth, 868260. Greenham Support (women) fortnightly meet; Nightwatch weekly. Contact via Womens Centre. NCCL, Box 34, Acorn Bookshop. Paul 861582, meet 2nd Monday. Peace Pledge Union: Box 10, Acorn Bookshop, 588459. Reading Birth Centre: 3rd Tuesday, 61330. Reading Org for Animal Rights 1st Tuesday, St. Mary's Centre Geoff 476529. Shelter: 1st Thurs. RCU 8pm Mark Goldup, 863153. Vegans: 1st Sun, 1 Orrin Cl. Tilehurst. Liz 55124. Reading Centre for the Unemployed (RCU) 4-6 East St. 596639. - - - HELP Alcoholics Anon: 597494 24hrs Age Concern: 598097 Family planning clinic: 24 Craven Rd. 864621 10-1. Gingerbread: (l-parent family support) contact via CAB Citizen's Advice Bureau: St Mary's Butts. 598059. Incest Survivors' Group: write c/o Rape Crisis Line. Housing & Welfare Rights: Centre for Unemployed 596639. Housing Aid Centre: 55911, Civic Offices. Nightline: 872268 6pm - 8am in Univ. term time. No.5: 585858. Help for young people. 24 Sackville at. Pregnancy testing: Tues 7-9, Women's Centre, Abbey St. Free. Bring urine sample from first pee of the day. Parents Anon: 587154. Rape Crisis Line: 55577. Staffed Sun 7.30-10.30; 24 hr answerphone. Readibus (transport for old & disabled): 591121 Reading Gay & Lesbian Helpline 597269, Tues and Fri 8-10pm. Info and support. Samaritans: 58454, 24 hrs. 154 Southampton St, 9am - l0pm. Special clinic (VD etc): 863355 before 12 noon. - - - READING TRADES COUNCIL report of meeting on 20th August. Reports about and from various campaigns and activities; A selection: Miners Support Committee: Local fundraising has now ceased. TUC Campaign for reduced working time: Report No 14. Regrettably cuts in basic working hours are being offset by an increase in the number of hours worked as overtime, resulting in a failure to create more jobs. The report includes a mass of detail about recent agreements producing short cuts in weekly working hours. A noticeable trend was many reports of increases in annual holiday allowances with 25 days a year becoming widespread, there were a few developments in the area of early and 'phased' retirement and some small achievements in respect of leave for maternity, paternity and family reasons. NCCL. Reading NCCL are running an affiliation campaign: £5 fee, contact Box 34 Acorn Bookshop. Campaign for the Defence of Comprehensive Schools. Recently formed particularly to defend the schools around the edge of Reading from predictable depredations if the catchment areas for Reading and Kendrick (Grammar) Schools were extended to deal with their falling rolls. Council deadlines require that approval for the extension of the catchment areas be given at the October Education committee meeting and November Full Council Meting. If these deadlines are not met the changes will have to be deferred to Sept 1987 at least. Mass letter-writing and lobbying of County Councillors was required. Local research showed the "outer ring" schools were getting exam results to beat Kendrick and match Reading School. Noted that this time round the Berks CC Tories were "not interested in consultation, we did that three years ago" (and ignored the results then!). - - - BASH THE DEMONSTRATORS Around 200-300 people turned up for the "Bash the rich" in Hampstead demo. on Sept. 21st to cause an afternoon of embarrassment for the Hampstead Jet Set establishment and to waste a few hours of police time. The police staged a counter-demonstration which began peacefully. However, half way up Haverstock Hill the police decided that no anarchists were going to march through Hampstead's millionaires row any day and began to shove everyone down a side street where no-one wanted to go. Anyone not doing as told was roughed up and after a skirmish about 30 people were arrested. After that continuing with the demo became increasingly pointless. The police are practising their re-route the demo on the spot / let's play silly buggers tactic, so whether its a "Bash the rich" march or a "Ban the Bomb" march watch out. Erik. - - - WOMEN'S REVIEW There are now regular meetings for all women involved on Saturdays, 10.30-12.30 - the Women's Centre, Old Shire Hall, Abbey Street - and on Wednesdays 1-3 at RCU, East Street. Anyone who wants to be involved and isn't yet can get in touch with the following women: Bridget, 4722 for singing & music Cath, 864380 for sketches Penny, 662646 for dance & poetry - - - READING CAMPAIGN AGAINST BENEFIT CUTS Munny - Down to a mere £l40 short of what they need to pay bills. Have had a total of £380 ish so far. Public Meeting, Sept 12th - It actually went very well with 4 good speakers and about 45 minutes of discussion from the floor of which a good proportion was very constructive. About half a dozen people either suggested ways to continue the campaign or volunteered the active involvement of themselves or their organisations or both. Attendance was in the mid 50s which is about 50% over par for the course for public meetings in Reading (and it was out of the Town Centre). Especially pleasing was the proportion of unfamiliar faces who looked like genuine or ordinary members of the public. Petition - Running until the end of the Parliamentary Recess, ie mid October. Letters to MPs - Please keep plugging this one... TUC Demo - 27th October - We all know it's the day after a major CND demo but that can't be helped and there is still a faint chance the sun will shine on the righteous thousands who assemble for it. Please publicise. Please plug. Please attend. There seems to be an increasing chance of either a coach or some form of group travel. I'm sorry to say we haven't yet got times for it, nor where it will start or finish. But the usual channels will no doubt let you know. Campaign meetings each fortnight, at 6.30pm Reading Centre for the Unemployed, East Street. See Events! Progress Report, mid September 1985. The Co-op Womens Guild made an appointment to see a local Tory MP on Sat 14th, and took Chris of RCABC with them. Durant is adamant that he won't vote against the proposals but will work 'behind the scenes' against things he is worried about, particularly SERPS (C'est la democracie! Typist). He is particularly concerned about the 'deserving' poor missing put on benefits but is adamant about scrounging and quoted the results of the recent SSCU exercise in Reading. It appears that the briefing MPs have been given tells them to concentrate on ending abuse, making sure the neediest get their entitlement etc. CRUSE have also had a go at him about widow's pensions. He has had numerous 'tear-offs' from our leaflets, but complained that he hadn't had any actual leaflets (he has now). Speakers available to address meetings of any interested organisations. Reading Campaign Against Benefit Cuts, c/o 27 Carlton Road, Caversham Heights, Reading. - - - EVENTS DIARY Hello to the regular reader and all new readers. First news of an unbeatable offer bought to you by the Red Rag events diary all you have to do is tell me about your event nothing too small everything considered and we will give you free publicity for a fortnight, anyhow onto this weeks offer takers. Mon 30th Sept Reading Ecology (now known as Greens) party meets details Rdg. 55415. Pryomaniacs against apartheid, yes folks its Smash South African Business Day do what you can. Tues 1st Oct Take up on our unrepeatable offer (see above) Womens Dance 10.30 - 1200 at Womens Centre, each Tuesday Shelter public meeting. 8pm, Methodist Centre, Rose St, Wokingham. Sheila McKechnie (Shelter's new Director) on "Young Homelessness". Org by Wokingham Shelter Group. Wed 2nd Oct Womens day at R.C.U. 10am-3pm Fabric crafts Batik and basic design, 10am -noon basic self defence bring a pillow, l-3pm performance music singing dancing, 1-3pm video making. Details of all courses from Karen at the centre phone Rdg. 596639 Thu 3rd Oct World poverty lobby meeting to discuss demo at House of Commons on 22nd October at the St Marys centre 8.00pm Fri 4th Oct Gav and Lesbian celebration at Horse and Barge Duke St 8.00pm "Jabbed & Packed by Friday". Snapshots of Oxfam's Programme in the Sudan. St Marys Centre, 8pm, free. Sat 5th Oct F.o.E. waste paper collection meet George St chippy am? Jumbly of the year 2.15 Palmer Park adventure playground 10p to get in all proceeds to help buy play stuff Sun 6th Oct Cycle touring club 35 mile ride to Marlow details from R Dumelow B'nell 50849 Conservation Snelsmore common nr. Newbury, heath preservation details Peter Edge B'nell 420242 x 2343 (day). W'ham 78l04l (eve) Mon 7th Oct open to offers in the future! Tue 8th Oct BANC meeting: "Earth Wars" the threat from the stars(!) Public Meeting at St. Giles Church Hall. 8pm with Rip Bulkeley. Wed 9th Oct Womens day at the centre full details of all courses from Karen at the centre ring Rdg. 596639. 10am to 3pm fabric crafts batik and quilting, 10am to noon practical self defence, 1 to 3pm performance group, 1 to 3pm video making. "Nurseries in the Nineties" Reading Tree Club discuss 7.30pm, Lecture Theatre 4, London Rd Univ Site, with Russell Coates of Wisley Plant Centre on private & public requirements, plant marketing and procurement; and Robert Hillier on the HTA plant-finding database. Sat 12th Oct Sun rise 7.19 sun set 18.14 Oxfam Stamp & Coin Fair St Marys Centre 10-4 free Sun 13th Oct Cycle touring 25 miles Buckleberry Common Paul Rdg. 483183 Reading Campaign against Benefit Cuts meeting RCU 6.30pm. - - - (paid ad) DINNER AT THE WOMEN'S CENTRE Friday 11 October Bring food, drink, knife, fork, spoon, candles, music. We'll set up the tables! We plan to start at 8.30 so be there prompt or it'll go cold! - - - ADVANCE NOTICE! 5pm, Civic Offices, Wed 16th Oct. Norman Tebbit, shit, would hate to meet you. See yer all there. x - - - (paid ad) WOULD YOU BUY DOUBLE GLAZING FROM THIS MAN? He could probably sell you some very nice <> cavity insulated windows........ But we'd like you to think twice about the whole affair and instead come along to the Root of the Matter, Readings' first licenced vegetarian restaurant. We're open all day from Monday to Sunday. Eating Times Monday to Friday 7.45am till 10.00pm Saturday 10.00am till 10.30pm Sunday 12.00am till 3.00pm 6.30pm till 9.30pm Sunday busking sessions (lunchtimes) Inside Mo's Place fitness & dance centre 8/10 London Street, Reading. Tel - Rdg 587238 - - - ADVERTISERS £7 for 1/4 page insertion £12 for 1/2 page insertion (subject to collective approval) - - - COURSES Women's Studies Course Starts Monday 23rd September at 8pm at la Milton Road, Wokingham. A 10 week course covering aspects of Women's history, sexism, women and education, women and class, with general discussions. Contact: Jackie Wall Wokingham 791355 Women's Day at the R.C.U. Wednesday 2nd October 10am-3pm - Fabric Crafts: Do you want to learn a new craft? Then come along and join in. We are experimenting with wax, dyes, weaving, quilting, printing and sewing, with batik every week plus something new. Tutor: Julie Williams. This week: Batik, and a show of the work done so far by women on the course. 1pm-3pm - Performance Group: come along and exchange ideas in song, dance, music and mine. No particular skills needed. At the moment the group is working towards a Review in October. All women are invited to take part. This week: Sketches and Acting. 1pm-3pm - Video-Making: Tutor: Jackie Shaw. Learn how to use video equipment, in this five week series. 10am-12pm - Self-Defence: Tutor: Jackie Shaw. 5 sessions in basic self-defence. Ever feel nervous on your own? Then this is for you. If you come along, please bring a pillow. Wednesday 9th October 10am-3pm - Fabric Crafts (see 25th Sept). This week Batik. Tye Dye. 10am-12pm - Self-Defence (see 2nd October) 1pm-3pm - Performance Group (see 25th Sept) 1pm-3pm - Video Making (see 2nd Oct) - - - (paid ad) NEW COURSES AT READING CENTRE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED, 4-6 East St. Sign Language, Carpentry, Bicycle Maintenance plus many more - check out exactly what in the Events Guide. For more info or details or ideas or chat come to the Centre or phone Tami on 596639. Courses free Snack bar cheap Creche available - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1985/1985-09-29.txt#1 $