RED RAG 1982 May Day Special Vol. 4 No. 10 In this issue - - Mayday march and rally - stop press, hot news, instant reports - News review - Womens centre - Borough council, at work and play - Labour party public meeting - Gay life in Reading - Biking - Food for victory - Anti-nuclear campaign - 1982 Festivals guide - Events in Reading - Going out and around and about and having FUN in Reading - Miscellaneous Write to us - 31B Milman Road or c/o Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street, Reading Deadline for next issue - Thursday 13 May - - - Nazi attack on gay pub Last night (Friday 30th April), about 12 nazis / fascists went into the small bar of the Tudor Arms, Reading's only gay pub, and began chanting NF and anti-gay/nazi slogans. They were asked to leave by the landlord, and eventually persuaded to leave by the twenty or so gay men and women in the bar. The Fascists then stood outside chanting slogans and threw a brick at one of the pub windows. Later on, the landlord called the police, after being asked to do so by his customers. The police apparently took their time coming, but when they did the fascists dispersed, threatening to return later.... - - - CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS FOR "RED RAG" News - Rdg 666681, 662302, 861841 Info about EVENTS - 473205, 666681 Info about GOING OUT - 663083 Distribution - 61257, 666681 .. or write c/o 31b Milman Rd or Acorn Bookshop - - - RED RAG ON THE SPOT MAYDAY REPORT Brought to you by the only sucker who wasn't too busy doing other things and who volunteered to take notes and even listen to the speakers at the rally!! (Even the Chronicle reporter didn't do that but came to us - us! - instead...) Then a quick trip to Acorn to write type and print, back to the Old Town Hall to collate - and to give it to you! Sorry if it's badly written or misses out the important bits... l2 noon outside the Old Shire Hall. It's a lovely day. The police gather slowly. A van. Two motor cycles. Then push bike. About 150 others (maybe 200 by the time we set off} keeping them company and feeling embarrassed, carrying banners and of course 'Militant' 'Soc. Worker' and 'Workers' Power'. A small brass band. Orange Right to Work jackets. Mass-produced SWP "On yer bike Tebbit" placards, home-made anti-nuke and COHSE ones. Latest word is that there are as yet no plans for industrial action in Reading. The sun goes in - still, it'd be nice just to sit in the Forbury Gardens... The band strikes up. The police push-bike sets off for King's Meadow. Street theatre with a giant "I Bomb M" computer, megalomaniac technician, spiv and 9-year old M.Thatcher. Lots of banners: Indian Workers' Assoc, Reading Women's Group, NUT, Labour Party, Anarchists... The band launches into the jolly old 'Red Flag' and we set off, in the sun again, down Broad St and back along Friar St, past bemused Saturday shoppers. "What do, we want?" "Something!" "When do we want it?" "Whenever you get round to giving it to us!" the anarchists chanted in their usual constructive manner. We turn right at Reading Bridge into a little corner of King's Meadow. I've never seen before, next to the big tents of some evangelical religious circus, and safely out of sight of the public. (Council had refused the trad. Forbury Gardens.) A little dancing to the band by the Women's Group and the Anarchists, and then the serious stuff began. First speeches from two of the Bracknell Women's Group, on the effects of unemployment on women's lives ("not even thought important enough to be included in the unemployment figures" - the hassles of being taken seriously even by the Job Centres etc) and the Women's Right to Work march on June 5. A few people stayed to hear Joan Lestor, Claude Harvey and Mike Orton, but those who left didn't miss much. Anyway I haven't space or time for them. Have a good Mayday festival. Some people have put a lot of work into it. - - - NEWS REVIEW READING - A better place to be in the '80's ???? On March 31 of this year, the Reading Borough Environment Committee was presented with a draft Central Reading District Plan. You may have seen it reported in the local press under headlines like 'Reading a Disaster Area', etc. (Local journalists were allowed copies, although it will not be available for public consumption until July, and then in a 'summarised' form.) This document puts into detail the general policies of the Central Berkshire Structure Plan and adds many other policies for guidance of development in Reading town centre up to 1991. (Guidance is the key word here as the policies are not legally binding on the Borough; they are used primarily to affect the activities of the private sector and of public agencies outside the Borough's control.) According to the draft plan, the key problem in Central Reading is the need to balance office and retail growth and the accompanying demand for improved transport to the town centre, with the need to provide more housing employment and a better physical and social environment. The policies outlined in the document are attempts to achieve this balance. The question is - does this 'key problem' reflect the public's concern about its town? We have obtained a copy of the Draft Plan and hope to outline some of its content in the next few issues. We would welcome our readers' comments about the town centre and the crucial issues that should be discussed when creating its planning policy for the next ten years. Why merely tolerate this town, why not do something about it ???????? - - - MEDIA BALANCE A curious insight into the workings of the Police mind. Three quotes from the Chronic. "Thames Valley Chief Constable Peter Imbert is planning to have another film made of a rape interview". "Should the BBC have a re-run of the 'Police' series Mr. Imbert says he will offer them his new film to televise. He (said) that he wants to get across the message that the rape interview seen by 11 million viewers was not typical." "But Mr. Imbert says he is not planning to film a genuine case. He is believed to be considering using actors to play the main roles." Smart thinking, Mr. Imbert! (source - Chronicle, April 23) - - - PEACE VIGIL There is now a 24 hour per day Vigil outside the gates of our local nuclear bomb factory, this has been set up by some people who are also trying to set up a peace camp somewhere in the vicinity. The first need as always is people, so if you get a spare day why not go and support the effort to get Burghfield Bomb Factory back on the map and back in the news? You can find the place by leaving Reading on the Bath Road, turning left towards Burghfield, going over the motorway, and there you will be a few hundred yards later. . - - - DID YOU KNOW: that Someone rang several collective members threatening legal action after the last issue...? Watch this space. By the way, what is BANC / Reading CND' position on nuclear power? 'Cos some of us would like to know. Typist. - - - LETTER Dear Red Rag, As a feminist who has been involved in the Reading Women's Movement for over five years, I would like to respond to S.J.Harlow, Chris Levin and A.J.Warner. To my knowledge they have had no contact with the Women's Centre or women's groups for well over a year. Yet they rail against the 'clique' or 'club' that they perceive to be the 'Women's movement. They present a picture of a monolithic body with structure and policy. (The fact that S.Harlow could not understand that the WLM does not have a structure that can ingest policy statements and accord them a status reflects his basic misunderstanding of what feminism is all about. The fact that some women might even resent his attempts to do so also seems to be beyond his ken.) The nature of the women's movement at any given time is a reflection of the nature of those involved. During the past five years the Reading WLM has changed from a small discussion group of young women, to a varied large active group with socialist leanings to a fragmentation of numerous interest groups based at the Women's Centre. A few of us stayed with these changes. But large numbers of different women have also been involved with a great range of views about 'liberation' and the means of achieving it. Yet one constant characteristic of the Reading WLM (as in the WLM in general) is organisation and activity as women without a male presence. This does not mean that we do not advance 'harmony and understanding between the sexes by debate' nor that we do not seek 'to establish the nature of liberation and freedom of choice by abstract principles which transcend gender'! Nor does it mean that men cannot deliver jumble to the Women's Centre. But the Women's Centre represents the need for a women-centred refuge for many women who feel the tension and repression of living in a male-dominated society. The idea that after a decade women should have 'developed their views' and could now accord men a position in the WLM illustrates a naivete about our ability to alter the social conditioning of centuries in a mere ten years. And if women-centred activity produces images of vulnerability in a particular newsletter, they are every bit as valid and real as those of strength, and merely add dimensions to our personalities that would otherwise be unexpressed. Unfortunately the three writers who choose to criticise made a common journalistic error in seizing a part of an image that fits their own dissatisfactions and assumed it reflected 'the whole'. If you listen to any women talking together, you will know that we are all striving towards similar goals of self-worth and self expression and that feminism is what women make it, not what is represented by media images and fearful men. Like Laura and others I would welcome constructive criticism and participation form the many 'silent' women of Reading. I recognise that those of us who have labelled ourselves as feminists in this society can appear intimidating to women who have experienced us only as in a few individuals or as misrepresented in books, TV and the Press (e.g. dungarees, no make-up, anti-men, anti-housewives). But all of us carry the responsibility for future generations and many more women are needed in the '80s to keep the vision of feminism intact. If Alison and Chris feel so strongly that what they perceive as the 'Reading contingent of today's women's movement' is 'off the rails', it is up to them (and others who feel the same), to participate and not merely jeer from the sidelines. L. Punter - - - GETTING STUFF PRINTED If you want something printed, send it, before our published deadline (and the earlier the better - organising all this stuff at the last minute is getting to be a problem almost) to us c/o Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading, or to 31b Milman Rd, Reading or to 24, Norwood Rd, Reading, or to 31a Hamilton Rd, Reading. Please state whether you insist on it being uncut or whether we can edit it or hold it over if need be. Please also make it clear whether it is news (verifiable) or opinion (an please give a name we can sign it with). And PLEASE make it legible! - - - DEMOCRACY IN ACTION -- READING BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING 21st APRIL Outside the Civic Offices was a picket from Greenham Common, supported by the Reading Women's Group. "What's it all about?" I asked. It felt very odd, being on the other side of a picket for a change. The doors of the Civic Offices open as you approach them. Inside are uniformed staff standing around, glass panels, conditioned air and stuff on the floor which deadens all noise. Imagine the setting for a "world government" in an sf story: that's the Council Chamber. Real power fantasy stuff. There's a narrow public gallery from which you can't see that much owing to a) two huge and purely ornamental hexagonal pillars and b) large plates of dark glass in front of you (also purely ornamental). The best seats are reserved for the press: someone else got turned off, but not me. (Because I was taking notes?) There were over a dozen spectators at one point (5 "press" including me) - and one official to keep an eye on us. A shout. All stand. Enter a flunkey bearing a big gold mace, followed by our mayor. The mace is put onto two black plastic pedestals there for the purpose. (Oh, the dignity of local government!) The mayor chairs the meeting: more of him later. On his right sits Chief Executive and Town Clerk Harry Tee (he who will decide who is to be shot after a nuclear attack), bald and omniscient. He intervenes on points of order: "I anticipated that this might come up and..." On the mayor's left on this three man stellar Command is another official whose function I could not ascertain. In front of the mayor, at the hub of the assembly is a small circular table with two men who look highly efficient spinning round in their chairs but whose sole job seems to be to collect the signatures of those who propose and second amendments... The agenda is 150 pages of A4. A few copies are provided for spectators: otherwise you wouldn't have a clue what was going on. Mostly the meeting is a matter of going through the minutes of the various committees and accepting their recommendations. (The composition of the committees reflects that of the full council, so anything decided on party lines in committee will clearly be ratified in full council... You might ask in that case what the point of the meeting was: and the answer to that (frequently and vehemently denied) is that it's a chance to score political points in the local press. Before the main business are questions tabled to the chairmen of c'ttees ; and at the end a few motions among which was the one to support the women at Greenham. These bits are even more clearly aimed at the press - and at bolstering some Labour members' rad. cred... So, we start with the mayor's car. Yes, "after studying the market", a Daimler is being bought for £20,450 and 32p... No, there are no "hidden subsidies" for the Civic Ball - it's just amazingly cheap!... Putting maintenance work out to tender as per government dictat will cost, in extra documents and supervision a tenth of the total £300,000p.a... No, there is only a three-week backlog in council house repairs (!), and "the vast bulk" of tenants' requests are dealt with automatically and not just after a councillor takes them up. (Seems to me if councillors have any use it's in getting individuals their rights - and that for that you probably do need a Labour councillor.) There are apparently some 2,860 council repair jobs waiting to be done just now... Going through the minutes means a succession of Labour amendments; a debate; and a vote in which the combined Conservative-Liberal vote defeats the amendment. The Tories don't have to say much, and when they do they leave it mostly to the few who can do it. The Liberals, or their leader Jim Day, take a pretty pompous and reactionary stand on most things as it is. (E.g: after an elaborate Labour spiel about the police hierarchy being out of touch with their rank and file in not opposing a renewal of the Top Rank's license (!), Cllr Day got up to "dissociate myself from those derogatory remarks about Chief Supt Webb"...) So most of the talking is from the Labour side: they are the ones with beliefs after all, and the cause of the exploited at heart - and more to the point, they're in opposition. The smartness of saying nothing came out in the debate on councillors' allowances for attending meetings. Tony Page waxed eloquently about "hair-shirt attitudes" and councillors "inflicting misery and hardship on themselves" (!). We heard of members, on both sides forced to leave local govt. owing to financial hardship (!) and of missing promotion opportunities in their jobs... Secretly the Tories agreed: "councillors deserve better recognition and appreciation"; "no-one enters local govt. for financial gain" - and the whole point of the Policy C'ttee's recommendation not to pay the full amount allowed by the government (£12 per meeting instead of £12.56!) was presumably to give Labour a chance of some bad publicity... What about payment for spectators, I say. When the other liberals speak (not often) they seem reasonable people. And just occasionally the Lib vote splits., and you get close voting - the real stuff of political journalism!! This happened on the Greenham Common motion at the end (defeated 19-18), and also on the Tory amendment opposing the withdrawal of investments from companies involved in South Africa (passed 22-21). The S. Africa amendment was called by Ron Jewitt "the best bit of business I've ever seen done in this chamber"(!) This was because of a piece of quick thinking by the mayor, who ruled that, since no-one had got up to speak, the debate was over before it had even begun. Actually the mayor can do what he likes without giving any explanation. He annoyed the Tories later by ruling that their car-park charges amendment needed a 2/3 majority. Last time, if you remember, he refused to allow a debate on rape; this time he did allow the Greenham debate.. The one issue on which the Libs had deserted the Conservatives was on car-park charges. So now the Tories were opposing a recommendation to increase charges to raise an extra £55,000, and had to talk Cllr Pugh: "I can't remember a situation when the members of this group felt so strongly that the Council was taking a wrong decision" (!) He spoke of "the danger of turning this towm into a ghost town" and said, "We don't want a Reading that is offices only" (!). The two sides reversed the arguments they use in public transport debates. The Tories argued higher charges would mean empty car parks and people preferring to shop in Basingstoke (!), Lab that people would go on using the parks anyway and we ought to screw as much money out of them as possible. Cllr Rush said he used the Savacentre but anyone else was mad to do so. Cllr Oliver rose to Labour cheers: "It's cabaret time!" His speech was admittedly incoherent - something about buying tomatoes - but still I was surprised when the Tory summer-up spoke of "going up the Khyber with Cllr Oliver". The biggest laugh of the evening came from the following interruption: "...their bread and butter, without which -" " - you can't make sandwiches". They can't help it; it's a matter of social conditioning, peer-group pressures and frustrations at work. The debate on the Hexagon gave Labour an opportunity to stand for "open govt". The Policy C'ttee proposal was for a new 9-member "Hexagon Advisory Board" to replace the 'current Sub-C'ttee (so as to be seen to be doing something after all the fuss in the papers). The Board will report to the Leisure C'ttee which will debate or rubber-stamp its proposals. Margaret Singh denied any desire for making personal or political capital from the issue and promised that Labour would bring up all the Boards agenda in the Leisure C'ttee. Someone drew attention to Cllr Day "literally standing on his head" (I missed that). Cllr Day defended the "autonomous rights" (anarchists please note) of the new Board to decide whether or not to let the public into its Meetings... - Of course, even with Labour's stipulation of open meetings the Board could have shut the public out for "confidential" (i.e. financial!) discussions, so I can't really see what all the fuss was about. Of the discussions on the Housing C'ttee the chairman Ron Jewitt (easily the pick of the Tories: charming and efficient: should go far) said he agreed with everything that had been said! He admitted that "some of our tenants are living in the very conditions we're trying to get people out of." There is, you'll be glad to know, a Housing C'ttee recommendation: "that the Housing Development and Research Sub-Committee formulate detailed proposals for a survey of council dwellings to identify and define the extent of unsatisfactory conditions, and in particular dampness, in council dwellings on the results of which a future programme of work could be established." Action at last! Mrs Absolom hoped this would be a real survey. Cllr Oliver said the Bison buildings should have been pulled down two years ago. Cllr Freeman asked that GPs be consulted too, and helpfully proposed that the inquiry be not on a sunny day in August but in March (!)... Other highlights: Cllr Robinson. Chairman of the Allotments Sub-c'ttee: "I don't know one end of a turnip from another." Cllr Silverthorne effusing on how we must "sell the museum." The surprising revelation that the Tory Chairman of the Transportation C'tte (Cllr Pugh) has "cycled many thousands of miles" in his time and has the interests of cyclists close to his heart. All in all, except when upstart Labour backbenchers start ranting on about such clear irrelevancies as why it should be a woman with a degree in industrial relations or sociology, and not Cllr Freeman, appointed to a Steering Committee on equal opportunities; or the history and purpose of the Greenham Peace Camp, everything goes with the precision and efficiency demanded by the surroundings. (Eh?) In actual fact the meeting lasted 5 1/2 hours and I wasn't bored... "Your faith in democracy restored, then?" 0h yes...! I'd give anything to get in there...! Or wasn't that quite what you meant? Diogenes P.S. The Tories definitely won in the Chronic, with a follow-up intervention by MP Durant about car-parking charges stealing the banner headline, with the mayor's car relegated to p6. Honours about even in the Post, which took a firm and principled stand, condemning both the mayoral car and the plea for higher pay. For some reason both papers had big stories hailing Councillor Freeman as inventor of a new theory linking damp housing and ill-health... - - - LABOUR PARTY PUBLIC MEETING 22nd APRIL "The Alternative Economic Strategy" I finally made the Old Town Hall, despite the Rag's misinformation. The Hall felt a little empty with only c35 people there. I can't say I found the proceedings very enlightening - three more or less cynical speeches by three careerist politicians. If you want a sympathetic write-up, do your own! First speaker was Brian Revell, "chairman of Reading CND, here in his "professional hat", for the TGWU. First he dealt with the Alternative Economic Strategy: "A central philosophical plank for the Trades Union movement" and "a programme in the course of development". Next came Britain's Economic Decline since the days of Empire, and the "total lack of support for industries over the last 20 years." Local membership of the TGWU has fallen from 12,000 to 10,400 since 1980, tho' unemployment in Berks is only 7% while the national average is 12%. That is due to the concentration of "high-technology industry" - above all, defence. AWRE and ROF Burghfield have increased their workforce and TGWU membership. The problem with investment in nuclear defence is that it is "capital intensive" - the same amount put into education would create twice the jobs. (Knew there was something wrong with nuclear defence.) Moreover, cutting the Trident project would free money for other military programmes such as the dockyard. In fact the T and G is "leading a national campaign against cuts in Britain's Navy" and has a leaflet on the subject called "Loss of a Community". Not, of, course, that the Union is not opposed to defence spending. Meanwhile (the putative Labour govt must have excuses for not carrying out a policy it hasn't got), we were warned of the sinister international forces "behind the Thatchers": the "Trilateral Commission" set up in 1973 as a Western front against the Reds and Third World, with such figures as Rockefeller, Owen, Healey and Jenkins. "Behind the democratic governments there are those powerful liaisons of schemers." To these people, for some unexplained reason, Labour "is seen as a threat in this time of crisis"... Hat or no hat, our Brian seemed amateur beside Jeff Rooker, MP, Labour front bench SS spokesman. His account of the "A.E.S." and "Labour's fight for jobs" was superbly vague and non-committal. Nice phrases about "equal rights at work", "control of our lives", "humanising the public sector" (like it! "We never intended all this bureaucracy"...) "making it so that people count - in reality". The interesting bits were the ones he had to gloss. The "National Economic Assessment", whose chief feature is that it isn't a pay policy, which will ensure "smaller real increases for a greater number." And "import planning" - not import controls you understand, because we don't want to hit the Third World (do we?) - just sensibly allowing imports to grow only in line with the growth in the economy... Replying to a question he spoke of "inserting a social clause into GATT agreements."(!). To another questioner he gave British agriculture as a model of planning and free enterprise working hand-in-glove, recommended a similar setup in industry - "on a more democratic basis, mind you." Mind you. Mr Rooker was rushed back to vote in the Commons and his place was taken by Laurence Silverman of the Berks County Council. He was at least forthright, and made some effort at analysis. Not since the forties. (ah, the forties!) had Labour ever had an economic strategy that was "coherent, clearly worked-out, serious and real" - and he wasn't sure the "AES" fitted the bill, though it was maybe a start. "We must mobilise all available funds for development", we were told. Jeff Rooker had spoken of £1 billion for immediate investment to create jobs; we needed ten times that. (Such figures mean nothing to me.) To take control out of the hands of capital he recommended - wait for it - a change in the Companies Acts, making workers into members of their companies and downgrading shareholders into the equivalent of Govt. stock-holders... Socialism at a stroke! Such naive faith in the power of legislation I find laughable - but to give him his due, this was the only thing said all evening on workers' control; and he did explicitly reject the usual panacea of nationalisation. He also admitted: "I don't like import controls because they are reactionary"- but he considered them "tactically necessary"... Well... There's a sad SWP slogan: "Vote Labour without Illusions". Some wit said that was like praying for rain without believing in God. Diogenes again - - - LETTER -- Gay life in Reading I'm writing from the heart of gay Reading: a pub with a rather disagreeable landlord; a Gay Youth group; a couple of women's groups; a switchboard; lesbian line; a Campaign for Homosexual Equality branch; a Gay Conservative group - and rumours of another attempt to start a gay club... Well, that' it - gay Reading. But the place - the people - both have potential, , if for a moment we forget the differences of opinion. Why not? All towns/cities have potential - Reading is no different. It doesn't matter what parties we belong to; being gay, we have to deal with the politics of the body. The liberation of the body. And through that, the liberation of the mind - the breaking down of prejudices. To do all this we need facilities. To get facilities we need you to ask for them - we've got to put pressure on the council. Also, we need grants, funds - there are a lot of unemployed people around, gays included. At the moment the youth group's funds stand at: "ZERO". Going back to employment (or unemployment), there is a high level of discrimination in most jobs - gay people are sacked for no other reasons than being gay. (The staff refuse to work with... etc). That is why we need law reform, to push the sexual orientation clause which goes something along the lines of: "Sexual orientation shall not be a cause for discrimination in employment etc" We must encourage unions to adopt this clause and help push for change. Gay life in Reading is abysmal... at the moment. But if we could just get up and ask for what we want - instead of thinking that they won't listen - there is a chance to change it: change attitudes and help people - gay and straight - to accept gayness once and for ALL..... - - - LETTER -- Gay life in Reading II Life for gay people in Reading is no worse than in most of the rest of the country. Same prejudices, same police attitudes, same restricted social scene, same liberal tolerance or overt hostility (two sides of the same coin?). But it's not all gloom - some of it is GAY! The TUDOR ARMS (whose office-worker patrons tell anti-gay jokes with impunity at lunchtimes and in the early evenings) is fairly full of gay people later, and has discos on Tuesdays and Fridays; CHE (mostly men) meets there on Thursdays. The Admiral in West Street welcomes gays but the clientele is largely non-gay. But if you want something more than the pub or the cottage, there are other things going on for lesbians and gays in Reading. There's a local GAY SWITCHBOARD which operates on Tuesdays and Fridays 8 - 10pm, Reading 597269, for conversation or just a friendly listening ear, and has information on events and groups, including: GAY WOMEN'S GROUP, GAY YOUTH GROUP, CONSERVATIVE GROUP FOR HOMOSEXUAL EQUALITY, and the University GAYSOC. All these groups cater for (different? -typist) categories, but Gaysoc has an open-door policy and everyone, student or not, woman or man, who thinks s/he's not 100% heterosexual is welcome at meetings. See Events column and Going Out Guide for current events (and don't miss "Taxi Zum Klo" - the uncensored version), or write (an SAE would be nice) for list of future events to: Robert Bell, Gaysoc, Clubs Office, Students' Union, Whiteknights, Reading. - - - READING CYCLE GROUP HITS SECOND GEAR! The Cycle Group held its second meeting last Thurs (22 April) in the back room of the Crown. Having been asked by the County Council for comments the Group agreed a set of general policies: we want to see adopted, e.g. cyclists should he allowed to use all with-flow bus lanes in town including Broad St (after 6pm at least); cyclists should he allowed through road closures via gaps in barriers, dropped kerbs etc; the Council should take advantage of the Dept of Transport project to fund 100% of the cost of innovatory schemes to aid cyclists through junctions (ratepayers please note). The Group then moved on to discuss specifics - what facilities and where? (Did you know the Borough is planning a cycle route along Kennetside?) In the end we decided to split up into 4 groups covering different parts of town (see below) and get together before the next main meeting on Thursday May 20th, again in the backroom at the Crown. If you really want to see the local council get off their arses then get off yours & onto your saddle and down to the Crown. If you're interested in planning for a particular area then get in touch with: West Reading -- Mike Tupper 56429 South Reading -- John Booth 868260 East Reading -- Linda Masters 669562 North Reading -- Derek Richard 85l11 ext. 6277 (day) Come on all you trendies with spacers and sporty foreign machines, get into the Cycling Group before some motorist gets you into the Royal Berks! If we're really going to get some action round here we need you. READING (FoE) CYCLE GROUP c/o 19, FILEY ROAD Psst! You want cheap cycle insurance - we got it! WATCH THIS SPACE - - - As Barbara Cartland so properly says, "You are what you eat darlings", thus it befits the people of this country to equip themselves for the crisis by eating for the crisis; stimulate your fighting instincts and your patriotic fervour. I'm not about to describe in intimate detail the best and only way to make substitute corned beef, but to suggest a few radically tasty ideas to fit the times. In war it is essential to feel hungry, thus stimulating your aggressive instincts. Marionetti, a henchman of Mussolini, remarked that the Italian habit of eating pasta was so economical of grain that everyone was well, if not over, fed. His solution was to increase meat consumption, so creating a grain and general food shortage which would get the bastards off their backsides and onto the front.... neat, eh? So it would seem to make sense to have fillet steak sarnies for lunch instead of corned beef, and very nice they are too, well seasoned with worcester sauce. Now for the recipes... True Brit Rice Salad -------------------- 2 cups long grain rice, cooked and cooled. (Personally I'm boycotting U.S. rice on account of their wishy-washy attitude) 2 large tomatoes chopped finely 2 Chilean apples chopped finely (look - Chile could be a vital ally - support their apple harvest) 1 bunch spring onions 2 oz Brazil nuts (ask the shop assistant politely but firmly if he/she is sure they don't come from Argentina, it is after all very close) food dye, red and blue, and a few drops of oil, vinegar salt and pepper Take 1/3 of the rice and dye it blue with a few drops of colour mixed thoroughly in. Take another 1/3 and dye it red. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl (blue, white or red for preference). Remember to drink your tea from a coronation or Royal Wedding mug. Queen of the Islands Pudding ---------------------------- Trace the outline of S. Georgia from a recent newspaper. Note the position of principle mountains, settlements etc. Enlarge this plan onto greaseproof paper placed in the bottom of a pleasantly rugged flat dish. Fill in the outline with crumbled sponge cake and dribble cherry jam and sherry on it. You may also scatted chopped nuts and bananas on this mess (not all banana republics are bad banana republics remember). Use the ends of the banana to make mountains in the right places. Cover the whole with whipped cream. Finely chop glace cherries and scatter them around Grytviken to represent parts of the Argentine army. Fashion a piece of chocolate marzipan into a submarine and ground it on the beach. Finally, run a thin layer of artic grey jelly around the base, & VOILA! a tasty surprise for all the family. You could write REJOICE across the snow clad peaks in gold dragees, but perhaps that's a little over the top. Grublust - - - BANC COMMITTEE MEETING 28th APRIL A long and exhausting agenda resulted in a rather hurried meeting of Berkshire Anti-Nuclear Campaign's elite committee recently. As a newcomer to this awe-inspiring event I was rather taken aback by the formal atmosphere, but alas rather reassured (?) to know this was a front whereby the committee members can perform selected tasks without getting at each others' throats. The committee is organising transport for yet another national CND demonstration in London on 6th June, and arranging a mass leaflet of the townsfolk of Reading to publicise the event. The 15,000 leaflets are costing the campaign £274 and 85p approx. Members of the committee are also organising a showing of the War Game on 20th May, a Crass gig and a women's day of action for peace on the 24th May... The chair was questioned on financial support and aid from B.A.N.C. for the latest peace camp at Burghfield. It neatly sidestepped the issue by suggesting committee members drop in to boost moral and perhaps even dig into their own pockets. Avman Dale - - - BURGHFIELD PEACE CAMP - dated 29th April and received at the very last minute (after the piece on p3 was printed) Since 10.30 on Sat 24 April, there has been a continual presence at the entrance to the Meerings, a MoD-owned road loading to the factory. At noon there was a Buddhist ceremony, then about 50 people, including a dozen children took advantage of the good weather to picnic on the road side. The police approached several times to move us on, but accepted that there would be no tents or fires; and we are still here. (And the MoD police are still standing by the road blocks.) We've had frequent discussions on what we are doing, and where and how to camp. Saturday night we had a campsite on the far side of the factory but after visits from a farmer claiming to own the land and police we agreed to go by Monday am. By Monday night we had an ideal campsite between ROF and the M-way. On Tuesday two more farmers paid a visit. (Locals are very good at suggesting each others' land for campsites.) By now we were having 2-3 friendly visits from the local police each day. Local supporters have been excellent with early morning coffee and toast dropped off on the way to work, offers of baths, advice on sites. etc. We are moving again today, but are not particularly perturbed as our main concern is the front entrance to the factory. Local reaction has been amazing: most people in the area work at ROF or AWRE or have family or friends there. The issue of nuclear weapons is very sensitive, as so many livelihoods depend on it, and it was hardly ever discussed. Some faces driving past show they feel very deeply about what's going on. Not many have stopped to talk yot, but we're happy to keep a low profile at first, slowly getting to know people before trying anything too ambitious. Our primary aim is to be here, always available to discuss the issue with anyone willing to come to us. By our presence we hope to draw attention to ROF Burghfield. The Press have shown interest - coverage in local papers, STV, 210 and odd bits elsewhere. The National Press hasn't bothored us, and we haven't bothered them. (Same goes for politicians and the like.) For those who don't know where ROF Burghfiold is, catch an Alder Valley bus (143/9). There is a bus stop ten yards from my sleeping bag. It's fifteen minute cycle ride from Reading town centre - along the Bath Road, then left at the traffic lights down the Burghfield Road, keep on past the Cunning Man, over the M4 and 400 yards along on your left - there we are! We are just about established now (well, sort of) and full of ideas for things to do - all we need is your time and energy to help us. (Telephone contact for the camp: Burghfield Common 3732 (daytimes)) - - - PROVISIONAL FESTIVAL LIST 1982 MAY 23 Cannabis Reform Rally, Brockwell Park, London. FREE 29-31 Blue Moon Festival, Nenthead, Alston, Cumbira. JUNE 5 Queen live at Milton Keynes Bowl, Bucks. 5 Womens Festival, Battersea Park, London. 6 C N D Peace Rally, Hyde Park, London. 11-13 Appledore Folk Festival, Railway Inn, Appledore, Kent. 18-27 Stonehenge Free Festival, Wilts. FREE FESTIVAL 18-21 Glastonbury CND Festival, Worthy Farm, Piltom, Somerset. 18-20 Green Fair, Beccles, E.Anglia. 25&26@ Rolling Stones live at Wembley, London. 29@ Youth Hostel Free Evene, Tanners Hatch, Ranmoor Common, Surrey. JULY 1-? Cosmic Freedom Festival, Greenham Common, Berks. FREE FEST 3-4 Faerie Fair, Nr Wymondham, E.Anglia. 16-18 World of Music, Arts and Dance Fest, Bath Agricultural showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. 17-18 Capitol Jazz, Knebworth, Herts. 24-25 " " " " 24-25 Albion Kids Fair, Denham Rd, Stratford St. Mary, E.Anglia 23-1 East Anglia FREE Festival, Near Norwich. 27-1 Green Gathering, Worthy Farm, Piltom, Somerset. 29@ Hells Angels Festival, Hacknet Speedway Stadium, London. 30-1 Cambridge Folk Festival, Cambridge. 29-1 Elephant Fayre, Port Eliot, St. Germans, Cornwall. AUG 1 Follie Fair, Huntingfield, E.Anglia. 1 Motor Cycle Grand Prix, Silverstone, Northamptonshire. 5-8 Womens International Summer Event, Worthy Farm, Piltom, Somer. 6-9 European Nuclear Disarmament Festival, Vienna. 6-7 Fennet Festival, Manor Farm, Caldecote, Cambs. 13-14 Fairport Reunion, Cropredy, Near Banbury, Oxford. 20-22 Stour Valley Rainbow Fair, Lower Rayden, Suffolk. 21 Status Quo, Castle Donnington, Leics. 27-29 Reading Rock Festival, GROAN GROAN 28-29 Albion Fair, Cley, E.Anglia. SEPT 4-5 Rougham Tree Fair. Nr. Bury St Edumnds, E.Anglia. 9-14 Psilocybin Fayre, Wales (no fixed site as yet). FREE FEST 10-12 Folk Festival, Temple Newsom, Leeds. (@ means unconfirmed) This list was compiled from one supplied by Festival Welfare Services (tel. 01-226-2759). They stress that not all these events will necessarily happen and that further festivals will happen which they haven't heard about yet. - - - RED RAG is Reading's only newspaper, containing sections on local news and comment, notices, announcements, articles, cartoons and the now legendary RED RAG Going Out and Events diaries. You can pick up a copy at Acorn, Pop Records, Central Library and branches, Unemployment Centre and even the Butts Centre Information Bureau! {Reading Wholefoods have stopped taking it because they were worried (that some bits were too inflammatory and might attract the police.) Alternatively you can have a copy delivered FREE OF CHARGE to your door - ring Red Rag Distribution at Reading 666681 or 61257 or leave a note at Acorn. Contributions towards the cost of printing all this are always welcome - there's a tin at Acorn or you can send your bullion to Sue Clarke, 181 Shinfield Rd, Reading. (Cheques to Red Rag... £££££££££££) - - - EVENTS DIARY Sun 2 Youth CND meeting (every 1st and 3rd Sun in the month). AUEW Hall, 3pm. YCND aim to have a jumble sale on May 8th; if you've got jumble ring Dave on 416536. They'll even pick it up! And a disco on 25th. Mon 3 Women's Centre: combined 1st of the Month meeting and Policy meeting for the Centre. 7.30pm. Old Shire Hall basement, Abbey St. All women welcome. Women and Gays: joint meeting of the University Women's Group and Gaysoc to discuss common interests and action. 8pm. Students' Union C'ttee Room, Whiteknights. BANC/CND Labour and Trade Union working group meeting. 8pm 56 Hamilton Rd. Anarchists: weekly meeting. 8pm. Ring James on 473205 for venue. Tue 4 Unemployment Centre: new weekly class: Health and Fitness. "A class aimed at the needs of those attending and on the numbers involved." "RBC's Fun Bus will be at the Centre for all keep fit classed, so kids welcome." East St. Friends of the Earth general business meeting. To "consider our stock" and discuss Heseltown too. 8pm at the Crown in Crown St. El Salvador Solidarity Campaign meeting, 8pm. 106 London Road (side entrance next to garage). Contact Clive on 666681. Wed 5 Civic Society: public meeting in the series "The Changing Face of Reading": "The Clash between Reading and Berks" by Ian Morgan (Berks CC). Plus discussion. 8pm. St Marys Centre, Chain St. Free. BANC Tilehurst neighbourhood group meeting. To show "The War Game", have discussion and set up a committee for "Tilehurst against the Bomb". 3,000 leaflets for this meeting distributed April 28th. Newbury Lodge, Armour Rd, Tilehurst. Contact Pauline 27351. Socialist Workers' Party meets 8pm at Red Lion, Southampton St, Reading. Thu 6 Labour Party Young Socialists meet weekly at AUEW Hall, Oxford Road. 8pm. The Ecology Party would like your vote (wouldn't they all), and help in leafleting beforehand. Ring 88294. Fri 7 Unemployment Centre: "Topical Tips on Gardening" (occasional series) 1.30 BANC: a) Crass et al - see Going Out. b) jazz evening at the Griffin, Church Rd, Caversham, 8-11.30... One financial venture, one social? Sat 8 "Feminist Teaching in Higher Education": One-day conference in the Geography Department at Whiteknights (behind FURS). Starts 10am. Minimum charge £1. Mixed. FoE: help wanted with stall at Hants Young Farmers' Show, Hartley Witney. Ring 868260! Sun 9 RED RAG Collective Meeting. 4pm at the AUEW Committee Room, Oxford Road. All welcome - writers, producers, distributors, readers, users, abusers... Mon 10 Anarchists at 8 as last week Gaysoc meets informally at the Admiral, West St (opposite the co-op) from 8 "Women's Work": a weekly series of contemporary films and videos by women at South Hill Park, Bracknell. (Serious stuff - they asked for it under Events not Going Out.) Organised by Judith Higginbottom, Hartley Witney 2099. For transport contact Lesley on 68972. All free, + discussion, mixed. Tonight: "From Water into Wine" (menstruation) by Judith Higginbottom, 7.30 Tue 11 BANC/CND General meeting: They aim to involve people more by splitting into small groups to discuss various topics. Gaysoc shows Taxi Zum Klo - see Going Out Guide. FoE: "Natural Health": Murray Mahon of the Thames Valley natural health centre on cures and medicines not available on the NHS. 8pm the Crown. Wed 12 "Where could the 8,000 houses go?" - travelling exhibition hits the Old Town Hall for the day. 10.30 - 5.15. Unemployment Centre: new weekly class: "Introduction to Batik". "Learn how to print on cloth and to use other art materials for leisure." 1.30 - 3.30 Trade Union demonstration at Greenham Common. Called by London TUCND to protest at work going on there. Rally with national speakers during the day SWP: as last week. "All supporters welcome". Thu 13 LPYS: as last week. "All members welcome". Fri 14 Nothing! Sat 15 FoE: help wanted with stall at Wokingham Animal Charities Bazaar! 868260. BANC stall in Reading town centre can use help too. Ring Pauline 27351. Sun 16 Youth CND in AUEW Hall, Oxford Rd. 3pm. Mon 17 Gaysoc: Sarah Veale of NUS speaks on "Invisible Lesbians" + discussion. Students' Union C'ttee Room, the University, Whiteknights. 8pm. Anarchists as before. SHP Women's Films: "Often during the Day" (Joanna Dow) and "Light Reading" (Liz Rhoades). Details as last week. Tue 18 Families against the Bomb (non-nuclear ones I hope) march & Demo in London. Hopefully a coach will be organised: contact Liz on 690793. Wed 19 Unemployment Centre: "How Unions Operate and Why" talk. 10 - 12. Thu 20 Unemployment Centre: "Guitar Workshop" - not just classical. 1.30 - 3.30. Cycle Group meeting: 8pm in the Crown, Crown St. See article above. BANC: Peter Watkins in Lecture Theatre 1, University London Road site. COMING: Sun 23 National Cannabis Law Reform Rally, Brockwell Park, Brixton. Mon 24 International Women's Peace Alliance Day of Action in United Reform Ch, Broad St. Contact Lindy 61465 or Liz 690793. June 5 Women's Right to Work march (London). Contact Toni Bracknell 55867. June 6 CND rally. Tickets: 24119 (Pete or Dave); leafleting 594855 (Ed or Neil). Coaches organised by BANC/CND. The Women's Centre is open: Tuesdays 10.30 - 3.30 Saturdays 10.30 - 2.30 It's in the basement of the Old Shire Hall, in Abbey Street, off King's Road. The Centre for the Unemployed is open: 9.30 - 4.30 Monday to Friday. It's in East St, which runs between Queen's Road and London Rd. Weekly classes there: Monday & Thursday: literacy (10 - 1pm) Tuesday: silkscreen printing (10 - 1pm) Wednesday: numeracy (10 - 1pm) Tuesday from 4 May: Health and Fitness (1.30 - 3.30) Weds from 12 May: batik (1.30 - 3.30pm) - - - BETTER RED BOOKCLUB - a new radical bookclub with the best new paperbacks - fiction, political books covering the complete left and feminist spectrum, history, trade unionism etc. A new selection each quarter. Starts this autumn. No minimum purchase. See the books before choosing, and no postage - you choose and collect in your local radical bookshop (i.e. Acorn). Membership will cost £2 a year, but to see if it works there's a trial run this summer. Intending members have the following selection at the 20pc discount in May: 'Union St' (Pat Barker, pub £3.50), 'Nukespeak' (ed C Aubrey pub £2.50), 'The Republic of Letters' (ed Worpole and Morley), 'The Devil on the Cross' (Ngugi Wa Thiongo). WRITE: Fed. of Rad. Booksellers (bkclub), c/o 109 Church St, Wolverton, Milton Keynes. - - - GOING OUT GUIDE Sun May 2 Fives - Against the Grain (H.M) lunchtime free. Hex - Philharmonia Orchestra 7.30 £3.50-£8.00. Jack of Both Sides - The Coquettes 9ish free. The Eagle, Baker Street - Jazz ('High Society') 8pm Free. South Hill Park Bracknell - Echo of the Badlands (U) 12.15pm £1.75 + conc. SHP - The French Lieutenant's Woman (A) 7.30 £1.75 + conc. Angies Wokingham (Milton Road) - Rudi (seminal band from Northern Ireland now lacking in sparkle) lateish £1-£2.50. Horseshoe Basingstoke - 'A Touch of Spring' Till May 15. Watermill Theatre Badnor Newbury - Cambridge Buskers 8pm £3-£5.50. Mon 3 Rank - Shakatak 7.30 pm £3.25, £3.50 on door. Hex - Jelly Roll Morton Lives Again 7.30 pm £ .50-£4.50. 20s blues. Hex - Exhibition 'Promoting the Crafts'. Central Club - Benefit Dance (Queen Mother More ?) £1 usual time SHP - 'Traffic' + 'Following Angels' (A) 7.30 £1.75 + conc. Watermill Theatre Newbury - Duet For One till May 8th. 7.30 £2.50-£6.00. Oxford Scamps - King Trigger and Pinski Zoo 10ish £2.50? Tue 4 Hex - Mike Harding 7.30 £4-£3 (only returns left) University - The Danse Society 8pm £1.25 bar extension (will be very trendy soon). Tudor Arms - gay disco. SHP - 'Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man' (AA) Till Sun. 7.30 £1.75 + conc. SHP - The Chicago Rhythm Kings (Trad Jazz) 8pm £1.80-£2. Hex - Booking starts today for Van Morrison tickets (for June 17) Wed 5 Hex - As Tuesday ABC Friar Street - Othello (Olivier) 1.30, 7.30, 9.30 pm £2.20 (Olivier hams it up) RFT - 'The Oberwald Mystery' (A) 8pm 1.40 90p members Shinfield Players Theatre - Carousel 7.45 £1.25 + conc. Till 8th. Thu 6 Hex - Judie Tzuke 7.30 pm £3-£4 'The blonde bombshell of rock makes her annual appearance' (Hex) Cap and Gown - Sara Daniels folk free 8ish. Target - Predatur free 8ish. Central - Film 'Black Belt Jones' £1 50p kids 8pm. Prince of Wales (Prospect Street Caversham) - Jazz free 8pm RFT - 'Jubilee' (X) 8 pm £1.40 90p members. Fri 7 Town Hall - Crass + Dirt + Annie Anxiety + film 'Choosing Death' £1.25. Tudor Arms - gay disco. Boogaloo Club (David's Basement) - The Coquettes free? late. Hex - Schools Prom 7.30 £2 + conc. The Griffin (Church Road Caversham) - Jazz 8pm £1, 60p unwaged. Socialist Workers Benefit - Horse and Barge, Duke Street 8pm Jumin Juke (sounds), Doctor Sax Skiffle Band £1, 50p unwaged. Tickets from Acorn and party members. SHP - Gagliano Trio (classical) 8pm £2.50 + 2.80. SHP - Last Tango in Paris' (X) 11pm £1.75 + conc. SHP - Sculpture Installation by Eric Snell University - Disco in Union ? Late Sat 8 Hex - Don Maclean 7.30 pm £4.50-£5.00 very few tickets left 'folk poetry'. Central - Apollo Youth Club Dance soul disco sounds by Capricorn 8-2 £1.50 Target - Larry Miller 8ish free. SHP - Ron Taylor and Sue Edwards (Folk) 8pm £1 + 1.20 SHP - Last Tango in Paris' (X) 11pm £1.75 + conc. Sun 9 Hex - Halle Orchestra ££-£7 7.30pm. Fives - Access free lunchtime. Target - Rune 8ish free. Reading Cinema Club - 'It Happened Here' 80p 7.45pm. SHP - 'Blind Man's Buff' (U) 12.15 £1.75 + conc. Mon 10 Hex - King's Singers 7.30on £2.50-4.50 Yuk! Hex - To May 22 Watercolours by P.Hay. Recent photos 80-81 by J.Parkes. Rank Spandau Ballet 8pm £3.25 £3.75 on door. Get out your shinies and leather hats. Progress Theatre - Cabaret 7.45 £2.75 + conc. To 22nd. Scamps Oxford - 23 Skidoo 10ish £2.50 (?) Hip. SHP - Womens films and video by Judith Higginbottom. 7.30pm Free. Tue 11 Hex - Lena Martell 7.30pm £3-£5 Sounds wonderful. Tudor Arms - gay disco. The Pheasant Winnersh - Jazz 8pm Free. Central - Social in memory of Bob Marley. All day exhibition etc. Dance in night free. University - Disco 8pm 70p? University - Gay Soc present uncut version of 'Taxi Zum Klo' Palmer Building 8pm. Tickets in advance only from Gay Soc, Students Union, £1.10 (includes membership). V.funny. SHP - Art Themen + Lennie Best Quartet (Jazz) 8 pm £1.60 + £1.80. Wed 12 Hex - Jim Davidson Show £2.50-£5 sounds vile. Concessions on 6pm performance. RFT - 'Eagles Wing' 8pm £1.40 90p members. Watermill Theatre Newbury - Twelfth Night 7.30 £2.50-£3 To 5 June. Thu 13 Hex - Lunchtime violin and piano recital free 12.15. Hex - Reading Symphony Orchestra - 7.30pm £1.50-£3.50 + conc. Central - Film 'Cleopatra Jones' 8pm £1 50p kids. Cap and Gown - Guy van Duser and Billy Novick (folk) free 8ish. RFT - 'Sitting Ducks' (AA) 8pm $1.40 90p members. Fri 14 Hex - Talk by Claire Francis (boats) 7.30pm £2-£2.50. Target - Silhouette 8ish free. Tudor Arms - gay disco. SHP - The Art of Minstrelsie (recital) 8pm £2-£2.50. Sat 15 Hex - Lunchtime Eddie Walker free 12.15. Hex - Ceilidh Evening 8pm £2.50. Central - Dance (no details). Target - Chinatown 8ish free. SHP - Nigel Chippendale (folk) 8pm £1-£1.20. Sun 16 Hex - Mary O'Hara 7.30pm £3-£5 (religious overtones). Fives - Jazz Faculty Free. Rank - Level 42 7.30om £3.50 (Lame funk). Reading Cinema Club - 'Forbidden Planet' 7.45pm 80p. The Eagle Baker Street - Jazz 8pm Free. Mon 17 Hex - Wrestling 7.30 £2-£2.50 (don't forget your handbags) Hex - Exhib 'Playgroups in Action' To 29th. SHP - Womens videos 7.30 Free. New Theatre, Oxford - Sisterly Feelings (Ayckbourn) MTW - Abigail's Play, TFS - Dorcas' Play. 7.30pm, Matinee Wed and Sat 2.30 £2.50-£4.50. Scamps Oxford - Doll by Doll 10ish £2.50? Tue 18 University - High Tension 8pm bar extension £2.25-£2.50 on door. The Pheasant Winnersh - Jazz 8pm free. Cinema - Odeon Cheapside from Sunday May 2nd 'The Boat' - acclaimed new German release. Make sure you get the right studio or you'll end up with 'Confessions of a Young American Housewife'. Going Out Guide exists so far thanks to Civil Service telephones, messages please (before Helen becomes one of the cuts) to Reading 663083 preferably in the evening. Ta. P.S. If you already are one of the cuts, don't forget the Unemployment Centre exists entirely for your pleasure and enjoyment, 2-4 East Street, open 9.30-4.30. - - - RED RAG BUSINESS 1. Money. Before this issue we had £66.14 in the bank We bought a lot of paper and stuff, now we have £22.24 in the bank. Donations of any size or frequency are welcome. Cash via any of our addresses, cheques payable to 'Red Rag' c/o Sue Clarke at 181 Shinfield Road, Reading. 2. Distribution. The Human / Machine system that prints our address labels has had a hiccough and has list some addresses, most of which we can recover from memories. If you love in Katesgrove or Redlands areas, and have not got this through your letterbox, let us know. (Clive/Nick on 666681 or Chris on 61257). Also, if you don't get your rag delivered, or get it late, let us know. And, if you'd be interested in helping to deliver the Rag in your area - or in being a reserve in case anyone moves, falls sick or goes on holiday, ring up as above. 3. Red Rag Meeting. The next collective meeting is on Sunday May 9th, at 4 pm. AUEW Cttee Room, 121 Oxford Road, Reading. All producers contributors, distributors and readers are very welcome. Also - Thanks a bunch for money received after last issue - costs were almost covered. And - if you've noticed, there's no more folk club dates at the Cap + Gown - someone turned the basement into a wine bar - wow. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1982/1982-05-02.txt#3 $