RED RAG Fortnightly Since 1979 Only 20p Red Rag, Box 79, 17 Chatham Street Reading, Berks:- Next Issue: Coordinator Cliff - Tel 665332. Copy deadline 6pm Sat Nov 15. Typed copy to 8cm column width, & single spaced. Published by the Red Rag Collective, printed by Acorn Bookshop. Advertising Rates £3 for 10 by 6cm £6 for 10 by 12cm "Small Ads" are still free. 4 ads in consecutive issues are £2.50/£5 each. For more details - Simon on Reading 666354. Red Rag Outlets: * Acorn Bookshop, * Blue Moon Arts and Crafts, * Bulmershe S.U. * S.U. Reading University (Communication/Liaison Office), * Filyaz, 60/62 Manchester Rd, * Harvest Wholefoods, * Pan Bookshop, * Pop Records (Yield Hall), & * UB Cycles... - - - GURDIP KAUR CAMPAIGN: BENEFIT GIG & PICKET. 'The police protect - murderers! The courts protect - murderers! The law protects - murderers!' These were the angry words chanted by fifty or so Asian, Afro-Caribbean and White women outside Reading magistrates court on September 24th. The women, carrying banners saying 'domestic violence is a crime', were outraged that the police and courts could have set free one of the murderers of Gurdip Kaur. We wanted our protests heard at Harbax Singh's committal for trial: she was murdered by both her husband Gurbax Singh and her brother-in-law Harbax Singh. When Harbax Singh arrived for the hearing, the women, many wearing black scarves, pointed our fingers at him and shouted 'murderer!', which immediately aroused the attention of the people inside the waiting room. Once inside, Harbax Singh felt brave enough to turn round and laugh at us through the window. We moved closer, and despite police orders pushed forward to the window and screamed 'murderer!'. Harbax Singh, no longer able to withstand our collective accusing gaze and pointing fingers, then hid from view in another part of the building. We stayed until we heard that Harbax Singh had been charged with murder and committed for trial, and then marched through town to the women's centre, where women from London, Reading and other towns talked and made plans for an hour or so before dispersing. Campaign News Since the picket of the magistrates court, the campaign has heard that Harbax Singh's case is to be heard just after Christmas, probably in Oxford, Windsor or Aylesbury (not in Reading because of the strength of local feeling). The campaign is in touch with many women's networks (black and white) and is planning a national meeting in London before Christmas - so watch this space. London WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women) are planning a picket at the DPP's office. Gurdip Kaur's funeral took place on Wednesday 22 October. It was a very sad occasion for both family and friends, who had to wait for the inquest to take place before being able to bury her. The campaign intends to bring a private prosecution against Gurbax Singh, in the hope that the DPP will eventually take up the case and relieve us of the financial burden; but in order to start the ball rolling, we do need money. We also need as many people as possible to send letters to the DPP demanding that Gurbax Singh be re-arrested and charged with murder. To make donations, ring Reading 54123 or 584531. Write to: Mr C.J.E. Nicholls, Branch Crown Prosecutor, 4th Floor, Liverpool Victoria House, 7 Cheapside, Reading, RG1 7AQ. To raise money the campaign will be staging a benefit gig at the Paradise Club in London Street, with help from the Conspiracy. The event will be on Wednesday November 14th, with the Mudcats and Surgery Sound, and also with vegan and vegetarian food for sale - so come on down and give your support! Laura - - - HOUSING CO-OP: IDEAS WANTED! Time to try a new solution to your housing problem? I'm sick of being a tenant - of living in someone's financial investment. Paying high rents in crowded houses to enrich the landlord and suffering the insecurity of having to move when they wish to cash in or move that investment. Worse, little control over repairs and improvements, putting up with grotty furniture, having to live to a stranger's standards of tidiness and, for the few of us able to get council accommodation, a bureaucracy's "choice" of location and appearance. I don't want to get myself a mortgage and be trapped in a job for evermore under the threat of financial disaster, always being personally responsible for that drain, seeing to the roof, being vigilant against planning permission for a new office block next door... Perhaps there is an alternative: that provides permanence and security, control over the fittings, the furniture, the improvements, the hot water system, but sharing it so that the responsibilities are never too onerous. A small housing co-operative, set up and run by the people living in it. Are there any in Reading? Why don't we set one up? A minimum of seven people committed to the initial bureaucratic hassles, and the continued responsibility for their own homes. An optimum perhaps of a dozen people sharing four houses in the same neighbourhood. Each resident would pay rent, which even at a lower level than that charged by many of our private landlords, would cover the mortgages, rates and running costs, and possibly leave a surplus for further development. Each person would have to share some responsibility for the upkeep of the property, for living together harmoniously, and for including new members or developing the coop. Initial funds are a major problem. If we can overcome several hurdles and appear organisationally stable and credible, a mortgage is possible. If we accept the strings, there are possibly grants from housing bodies and local councils. We could so structure ourselves that any private investments are preserved in line with increases in house values, thereby allowing people already with mortgages to transfer its capital value to the co-op without losing money. There are many considerations to be dealt with, but the possibilities do exist. Time, waiting and work, but possibly the best of both worlds. If any one is interested, then get in touch. Cliff, Rdg 665332. - - - HI-TECH FUN Earlier this year Berkshire County Council got a bit flustered when a couple of anarchic messages were hacked in to the Shire Hall mainframe computer. Berkshire C.C. issued contradictory press statements; one claiming that such an act was impossible and another saying that it was a piddling inconvenience which happened all the time. On one occasion, soon after this event any attempt to access the system by Viewdata subscribers was met with a rejection and the flashing words 'Security Alert'. Shire Hall denied that it had a security alert system which operated in this way and even suggested that we had implanted the block and flashing words! (While at the same time denying that such an implant was possible). The main problem for Shire Hall is that their mainframe and its software are so bloody awful that it is hard to tell the hackers from the bugs in the system. After years of work the system still has a propensity to take whole sections of terminals off line for no apparent reason, resulting in whole departments being left helpless until contact is restored. When it comes to going 'off line' computers can always use a little human help. This month's prize goes to an anonymous building worker in central London who, with one deft movement of the bucket of his JCB, severed 30,000 computer and telephone lines to the Stock Exchange and numerous City merchant banks. Computers are vulnerable in all sorts of ways and it is very easy to cause problems by accident. State and big business computers are busy collecting data on citizens and transferring capital and profit; obviously none of our readers would want to inadvertently disrupt this worthwhile work. To assist readers we have compiled this list of safety hints, should you find yourselves alone with a terminal and unsure how to behave. a) Be careful if you are drinking. Hot drinks spilt on a keyboard easily gum up the works. Fizzy drinks are even worse as they are very corrosive to the foil conductors on the circuit board. b) It is only natural curiosity to unplug leads on the terminal, but always put them back in the same socket. Never leave anything sharp near ribbon cable in case they are accidentally cut. c) There are air vents on the top and at the back of tho terminal. Be very careful not to allow paper clips, staples, ball bearings, tacks or pieces of aluminium foil to fall down these vents. d) Cigarette smoke condenses on slip connectors and then they don't want to make contact any more. Keep smoking to a minimum and never blow smoke down the air vent holes. e) Floppy disks are very sensitive to magnetic fields, so make sure that you haven't absent-mindedly brought any magnets with you. Be vigilant, magnets occur in all kinds of unlikely places - radio and cassette speakers, telephone handsets, TV screens, etc. * Recommended further reading is the radical computer journal 'Black Chip' available for 75p from Richard Alexander, 55, Dupont Road, London, SW20 8EH. Mike Roe - - - MUDCATS Surgery Sound System Benefit for Gurdip Kaur Campaign 19 Nov Paradise Club £2/£1:50 (unwaged) Vegan/Vege food - - - ORIGINAL ROCKERS "Easy Mister Fabulous, easy now man. Easy Little Twitch, we say easy now man Easy Junior Frost-easy now man, Easy everybody, we say easy now man - London a London England a England Sound a Sound - Old pan a old pan, Listen Nicodemus inna style and fashion" Hold tight all massives and crew, seen? Back in tune to Original Rockers the best and the rest of soul and reggae in the Thames Valley area, and this week have we got news for you! Friday 7 Nov sounds like Taurus, Java Hi-power and King Tubby's nice up Brixton Town Hall, same night as the man like Fato Banton (remember "Secret Thunderbird Drinker"?) and Grandmaster Richie Rich play as part of a showcase at High Wycombe College, on Queen Alexandra Rd. DJs like Tony Williams, Tim Westwood and Tony Bevans with sounds from Wycombe soul crew Masterjammers and fresh from Slough Chemist Hi-power. Back in Reading town nice... Saturday 8 Nov at Central (36/42 London St) we have Michael Romeo live on stage, with FAs by Demon Rocker (Unity Hi-power supa), Kenny Knots, and sounds as well. "Hold up your hand if you're a Unity Fan!" Dance of the week this week is definitely Unity Hi-power and Sir Coxsone Outernational; when they met on April 28 1985 at the Caribbean Club, it was the dance of 1985 for me. Unity BJs like Demon Rocker and Riba at the Controls, will be up against Blacks Dread and the SCOM massive... they meet at Central on Friday 14 Nov. so miss it and blame yourself... Ragamuffin business this... Saturday 15 Nov - after all that excitement, it's local sound African roots and calypso sound King Dick at the Central. African Roots are still doing regular Thursday night sessions at the Caribbean Club, (112 London St) which are worth checking out. Well, it's finally come to pass, Thursday 20 Nov mighty man like Jah Shaka comes to Reading again after too long a time away... definitely not to be missed. The best dub around and all done by just one man... Boom Shaka Laka replaces African Roots that night. Well what a week indeed... Friday 21 Nov Readingites get a chance to see Freddie Macgregor at the Central Club performing with a 9 piece Studio One band who play regularly for Coxsone Dodd's world famous label, and 'nuff sounds and lyrics from Volcano Hi-power and Reading's own Studio Magic. Recently reviewed in Echoes as "not to be missed", Freddie MacGregor plays for 1 1/2 hrs plus, and you can't feel away. Same night in High Wycombe, three sounds in a Dance Hall Cup style, at the Multi-racial Centre... sounds like Countryman (Wycombeposse), Raiders Hi-power (Reading bubblers) and from Luton Gemini (who have Unity's old boxes, I understand, and a lot of dubplates from them too)... every time, every time give me the Reading session. Saturday 22 Nov at the Caribbean we have the Barbados Independence dance with, guess who, yep, you got it, King Dick... calypso calypso... and the Blue Wonders (soca group)... an event which comes up again at the Ramada (Ragamuffin style seen??) with Count Adolphus sound... that's Saturday 29 Nov... In a different style, man like Sly Dunbar and the man called Robbie Shakespeare come fe tear down the dance hall at St. Austell Colisseum, Cornwall on Thursday 27 Nov. Starting at 7.30, the evening also features Mr Slackness, the man like Yellowman, and also Eek-A-Mouse, with Half Pint and Ini Kamoze on the bill too. It's repeated at Portsmouth Guildhall on Sunday 30 Nov. starting 6pm, gate price £5:50. And last and least, Saturday 29 Nov in Slough there's another LWR all nighter at the Community Centre. How many thousand at the last one?? Deadstock business this... One Love. - - - READING BETWEEN THE LINES The unofficial guide 1986-7 "Reading is shaped, not inappropriately, like the symbol for radiation hazards. The gaps are the floodplains of the Thames and Kennet, suitable only for sewage farms, rock festivals, speedway and gravel extraction." £1:20 from all good shops * Reading Between the Lines is on sale at: Acorn Bookshop, Bookends, Town Bookseller, Friar St Bookshop, London St Bookshop, Eurofoods at Cemetery Junction, Reading Wholefoods, Harvest Wholefoods, Pop Records, Blue Moon and Back Numbers at the Emporium, Pages Bookstore and Saffron Strands in Traders. Also at the University S.U. from Community Action. - - - POP RECORDS 6 Yield Hall Place and 172 King's Road. Reading's only shop for second-hand records. We buy albums for about £1 and sell them at between £2 and £2:90 unless they are really crap ones. We've also got thousands of singles from 10p-90p each. About 15,000 discs to look through. Open Mon-Sat 9-5pm. Jazz - Rock - Soul - New Wave - R&B etc - - - GUY FAWKES The only person to enter Parliament with honest intentions - - - EVENTS Thurs 6 Nov The Return Of Veggie Dining!!! Straight from the Middle East, Reading's hungriest collective bring you a four course vegan nosh-up at R.C.U. Tickets only from Acorn Books. Fri 7 Nov * British Trolleybus Society meet 7.30 Abbey Gateway * Third Oxfam Sponsored Fast. Info: Debbie 690924 Sat 8 Nov * 0xfam workshop on development Info: Sue Errington 874515 * "Stop the Rot" exhibition on conservation in museums and galleries. Art Gallery, Blagrave St. till Jan 1 Sun 9 Nov * PPU lay white poppies at the cenotaph, Forbury Gardens 11am everyone welcome. * Craft Fair 10am-5pm Hexagon * Coley Nurseries Open Day off Wensley Rd 2.30-4pm Free * Berkshire Ramblers walk St Patrick's Stream and Roman Walk. Meet 11am at Wargrave Station Info: 781784 Tues 11 Nov * Young Socialists talk on International Solidarity, 121 Oxford Rd * BANC action meeting at Friends Meeting House 8pm * "Ssh Minister" Talk on government secrecy. Palmer Theatre, Univ. Free * Film Show: Trams in Fleetwood and Belgium (what about Barcelona??) St Mary's Centre Wed 12 Nov * Young Socialists talk on Trade Union rights for youth, 121 Oxford Road Fri 14 Nov * CND conference Blackpool till 16th Sun 16 Nov * Berks Conservation Volunteers Scrub removal, Broadmoor Bottom, Crowthorne Info: 874034 (evenings) Gorse Burning at Watlington Hill Info: Dave Riley 698740 * Local Vocals invite you to a voice workshop at 4-6 East St £3/£2 unwaged tickets from Acorn 11-6 Nowt About!! or at least until... Sat 22 Nov * Green Party Alternative Fayre; Church Hall, St Mary's Centre, Butts lpm-4pm with stalls, slide show. Free admission. Info: Andrew 660373 * The Anarchist Bookfair. Booze, books and Bakunin. Conway Hall, Red Lion Sq. London 10am-5.30 Admission free Mon 24 Nov * "Peace through power of silence" Raji Yoga Meditation Programme 8.30-9.30 Civic Centre * Happy Birthday Chris! * Red Rag collective meeting. All welcome, get involved! Write to Box 79 for details Coming Soon! Nov 29 Royal air Force Grand Xmas Fair Ideas anyone? Events this week is unfortunately a little sparse at the moment. Is there really not anything happening in Reading at the moment or is it just not reaching us? Send details of your event to Box 79 and we will gladly publicise it (even armed forces bazaars - see above) - - - WHOSE TOWN IS IT ANYWAY? Reading's Labour-controlled Council is having to deal with the continuing property development cancer smiting the town. Developers, using investment money from pension funds and insurance companies who are pushing millions into "prime" developments here, are getting rich at the expense of our environment. As the town becomes more congested, and more sterile, it's the Borough Council who are meant to be looking after our interests, within bureaucratic laws which give "the public" little say in what happens. Abiezer Coppe Toppe Shoppe... For example, Rockfort Land have their capitalist eyes on the Alder Valley bus depot between Weldale St and Chatham St. On 19 Sept they applied for planning permission to build 66,000 square feet of shops and some housing on the 3 acre site, which they do not even own. Readers may recall the Abiezer Coppe Solstice festival held there in Dec. 1985. The council's officers must report on the scheme within 8 weeks of the application being made. They will recommend refusal/acceptance to the Planning Sub-Committee on 28 Nov. Public consultation is limited to being allowed to object to an application, (but who says an objection will be listened to?), and being allowed into meetings like the one on the 28th. For their part, Rockfort are only interested in money, in spite of their "community" image, for which benefit they are involved in Reading FC, joined with Radio 210 for their 10th birthday ,... and have a steady stream of profitable schemes underway, including an attempt to redevelop Henley Cinema for well known philanthropists Waitrose. Rockfort are after a 20700 and a 43930 square foot shop on the site. No small units aimed at local traders, but biggies for branches of the High St multiples (a better investment), or maybe even retail warehouses for car-owning, careerist, credit card-laden morons. Rockfort are prepared to put some housing on the site, as a kind of bribe to the Council. The plans which go with their application, (but not the application form itself), refer to "40 sheltered housing units". Very vague. Bockfort's proposals are totally at odds with the major planning document for Reading, The Central Reading District Flan (CROP), which states that:- "proposals for(retail) development which would result in a net increase in shopping floorspace in excess of 350 square metres (3500 square feet) will not be permitted outside the central or fringe shopping areas." (Policy RET l.CRDP) The Abiezer Coppe site is outside both these areas. If the Labour council allow shopping development there they would just be giving Rockfort and the shop chains the chance to make more profits. We just get more neon-lit opportunities to spend our housing benefit. Thanks a bunch! To ignore the CRDP's recommendations for this site would also undermine its role as a defense against scumbag developers like Rockfort when they push for planning permission at appeals. Such appeals will become more frequent if the council refuse planning consent on more commercial schemes - for such refusals will be challenged by the capitalist development industry. It will be useless if the Council take decisions which contradict it. It's especially stupid if those decisions allow worthless developments through. I mean, what will you or I gain from Rockfort scheme? The CROP has Abiezers marked out for housing, industrial (50,000 sq. feet), and community uses with possible leisure facilities. Rockforts "get rich quick off the mug consumers" scheme is therefore totally unacceptable. Will our beloved Cornell say so on the 28th? The Borough Planning Committee will also have to make a decision on the Oracle scheme, a 3 level, 330,000 square foot shopping centre complex suggested for the old Courage Brewery site on Bridge Street. London & Edinburgh Trust are already developing an 84,000 square foot office block on the other side of the road. Now they want even more profit from * 50,000 square feet of offices * 330,000 square feet of shops * 186,000 square feet of service areas, malls, open space * 36 housing units as a planning gain /bribe. This will involve demolishing 2 listed buildings in the adjacent Gun St/Minster St conservation area (Cartoons and the Gallery), to make a "shopper access point" through to the back of Heelas. It will also create more traffic congestion, make the conservation area into even more of a tiny architectural island, and add to the huge heap of concrete and mirror glass which soils the town centre already. London & Edinburgh Trust (LET) do not care about these things as they are not financial costs which they have to bear. All they want is a scheme which makes money as an investment. They are not doing out of a wish to make Reading a better place to live in. That's obvious, because what good will The Oracle actually do us? On the other hand, Oracle could do LET a huge amount of good. They would not be interested otherwise. They play for big stakes... They were responsible for Waterside Park in Bracknell, a 140,000 square foot "hi-tech" scheme which, was let to ICL at £12/sq.foot/year... that's £1.68 million rent per year, worth £15 million as an investment (at least!)... of which a developer such as LET would typically get 10 per cent. Maybe more.... They now want to build a very similar scheme, only 300,000 square feet, in Guildford. Big business!! So in the blue corner we have LET and Closearm Ltd of Knightsbridge, who own a part of the site and applied for planning permission for the Oracle scheme early in August 1986. They held a press conference a couple of weeks ago. Red Rag wasn't invited. What a surprise! And, in the red corner, there's the Labour controlled Borough Council, who have made a commitment to reducing office development in the town. Except that it's a bit late really... most of the 750,000 square feet allowed for in the Central Reading District Plan is already built/under construction. And 750,000 square feet is equal to 9 Bridge St Plaza office buildings, and that's a big lot. Will the council refuse to give consent to the 50,000 sq. foot office part of Oracle? If it does refuse, it'll have to be prepared to fight on at an appeal. The council seem to have said much less about curbing retail development despite this being a highly profitable form of capitalism, in favour with pension funds and other institutional investors. The property industry thinks the Council is in favour of large scale shopping development. Yet the Central Reading District Plan (CRDP) states that the quality of shopping developments is what counts (Para 4.6), and whether they are aimed for existing shopping areas or not. In this context, it's hard to see how Oracle could be given the go-ahead: * Only half the site is within the "central shopping area" designated by the council, * In the CRDP, site 34, the Brewery site, is zoned for "major town centre redevelopment," comprising offices, housing, leisure uses, public car-parking, bus accommodation and a small shopping element." * Site 34 isn't mentioned at all in Schedule OFF 1, which lists permitted sites for major office development. If the council give Oracle the OK it means they support the interests of LET and their greedy friends, and dump, on the people who they supposedly represent, congestion, anyplace architecture, anyplace shops, and lots of cold concrete. They would also greatly weaken the major line of defesce against the pressure from developers wanting to carve up Reading as they want - that is, the Central Reading District Plan... which is none too wonderful, like the planning committee, but at the moment there is little else. It's the officers of the Planning Department and the elected members of the Planning Committee that have the power to refuse Oracle. Will they do so? mark r. - - - RED RAG SUBSCRIPTIONS Fill in the form below, enclose £4 and we will send you the next twelve issues of Red Rag fortnightly, reminding you when your money runs out. Please send me six months subscription to Red Rag including postage. I enclose £4. Name: Address: Cheques payable to Red Rag. Send to Box 79, 17 Chatham St, Reading - - - MUSIC FOR FOLK Your compiler is currently being distracted by a record by Ti Jaz, the Breton band who've been touring locally. All errors are down to them. Some real goodies coming up. Open minds and open ears this way... Fri 7: Comrades. Sat 8: Oxford. Arabic percussion workshop with Hassan Erraji, master musician from Morocco. The techniques of the darabuka, bendir & other traditional percussion instruments. Inspirational. 0865/511620 for details. Bracknell. Keith Marsden, fine singer from Yorkshire. Sun 9: Readifolk. Oxbow Bash. Local Irish music. Should be good. Fressgang Club at the Cap & Gown. Mon 10: Nettlebed. Nigel Chippendale Music Hall. There has been a regular music hall night at Nettlebed for a while, with varied acts and a pit orchestra, in which the late Nigel Chippendale was heavily involved. He died earlier this year and the club have named the evening after him as a special tribute. Various associates of his will be playing, including Colin Thompson from Brio and Roger Watson. Should be quite a night! Tues 11: Turk's Bottom at the Bistro. Oxford (Jericho). Patrick Le Mercier and Marc Rabine. French singer/songwriter/guitarist and fiddler. "Promises to be electrifying", it says 'ere. Wow! Fleet. Jacko Lantern. Wed 12: Eversley X . Knows O'Deil. Two man from Orkney playing a wide range of trad and not so trad instruments, with vocals. Thurs l3: M'head. Bill Caddick. One of the greats. Good songs, good voice; if you're remotely keen on the Man-with-Guitar syndrome, this one's for you. Fri 14: Comrades. (It's really called Friday Folk, but I reckon Comrades sounds nicer. The power of the press, eh?) Sat 15: Bracknell. Whippersnapper. I'd go and see this lot now before they get too famous. On the most absurdly long tour, so if you miss this one you could try the Half Moon in London (20th), Windsor (22nd), Bourne End (Jan 11), Aylesbury (Jan24), The Chestnuts, London (Jan l8). Details from O327/6157O. That's the practicalities. The reason you'd want to go is that this is quite possibly the fastest-fingered, most lyrical, experienced, innovative, balanced and downright happy acoustic band you're likely to find. Dave Swarbrick's in it, for you dyed in the wool Fairport lot, but that's not really the point. If you're late you definitely won't get in. New album out ("Tsubo"). Sun 16: Readifolk. June Tabor and Martin Simpson. I'm running out of superlatives. JT's singing is wonderful. So is Martin Simpson's guitar playing. I defy anyone to be disappointed by them. Pressgang at the Cap & Gown. Mon l7: Nettlebed. The Kipper Family. Very funny piss-takers of the folk scene. Possibly a bit obscure if you're not familiar with their targets. Tues 18: Turk's Bottom at the Bistro. Wed 19: Eversley X. Dick Miles. Relaxed songs and conoertina. Going bluesier last time I saw him. Thurs 20: M'head. Jubilee Row. A local traditional foursome. Fri 2l: Comrades. Sat 22: Bracknell. Bob Walser. American shanty singer, with concertina and guitar. Aldershot. Ricardo Tesi & Alberto Balia. Italian melodeon & vocals with Sardinian guitar. Recommended. Sun 23: Readifolk. Singers' night. Pressgang Club at the Cap & Gown. Mon 24: Nettlebed. Nick Dow. Precise singer/guitarist, mainly trad material. Tues 25: Turk's Bottom at the Bistro. Fleet. Richard Grainger. Oxford (Jericho). Tesi & Balia see above. Venue key Comrades = Comrades Club above BSM, Oxford Rd. Bracknell = South Hlll Park, Cellar Bar. 0xfolk = Clarendon Press Centre, Walton St, Oxford. Readifolk = George Hotel, corner of Broad St & Minster St. M'ship £l. Cap & Gown = King's Rd, opp. Tech College. Nettlebed = The Bull, High St, N'bed. Bistro = Studio Bistro, London Rd Oxford = Jericho Tavern/St. Paul's Arts Centre, Walton St. Fleet = The Fox & Hounds, Fleet. Eversley = The Toad & Stumps, Eversley Cross, opp. Cricket ground. Maidenhead = The Rose, King St, M'head. Kennet Arms, Pell St Mondays for Irish music. Forthcomings: Oxfolk ceilidh (still can't spell that) A dance with Blowzabella. Worth going just for the music anyway, tho' their style of running dances is about as un-off-putting as the medium allows. That's on Nov 29. And the day after, Local hero and heroines Terry Clark, Fippa Jones and Sara Daniels at Readifolk. PS Voice workshop with Mavis Sawdy on Nov 16 at RCU, East St. PPS At some point I was going to plug Folk Roots, the national folk paper which informs this column and many other things besides. If you've not bought one before, this month's issue's a good one to go for cos it's got a flexidisc inside. Yes, a folk flexidisc! And it's all right, too: The Oyster Band, gone even more rooky, Texan Michelle Shocked, The Mekons and Rory McLeod. Give it a whirl. Available at horrid shops like Smiths and Knights. Details of anything vaguely folky, please, c/o box 79, 17, Chatham St. Or ring Liz on 53437. Stop Press Stop Press Stop Press Nov 23: John Penbourne and Stefan Crosman at Readifolk. Two brilliant guitarists... Nov 13: Tony Allen at South Hill Park. Not a Folkie but simply essential. - - - The Conspiracy Wed 26th Nov 1986. 9-12.30 POISON GIRLS and You & I Live at the Paradise Club London St, Reading TICKETS: £2 in adv. £2:50 (UB40 £2) on door. From: Acorn Bookshop, Listen Records, Pop Records. A Berks Anti-Nuclear Campaign / Reading CND benefit. - - - LIVE MUSIC Well, here we go with another load of live music delights (and a few others as well!). Please send details of your events to Live Music, Box 79, 17 Chatham Street, Reading. Thursday 6 Nov: * Reading Centre For The Unemployed, 4/6 East St... Veggie Dining, a 3 course vegan nosheroonie, collectively cooked. Tickets £2/2:50 if a wage slave from Acorn Books. I'm looking forward to it. Please note that it's tonight and not tomorrow as it said in the last Rag. * Cap & Gown: Midnight Sun. Rock. £1:50 with 2am bar. * SHP: The Family Vault (gothic punx) and The Skelfs (ex Some Like It Hot), who used to be awful but now have a new and improved line-up, I'm told. 8-llpm, 75p/£1:50 waged. Friday 7 Nov: * Paradise: The Jive Dive - regular club night with 60's soul/hip hop from The Cuban Heel, plus films and fun and a 2am bar all for £2. * Basingstoke Caribbean Assoc, Priestley Rd... The Plot present The Ozric Tentacles (far out space captain!!) and The Magic Mushroom Band from Bracknell. 8-lam. £2:50 on the door. * Cap & Gown: Beyond The Blue?? 2am bar for £1:50. Saturday 8 Nov: * University - The Damned. Punk's not dead, it's just, er... * Hex - The Juke Boys, 12.15, free * Cap & Gown: Fair Exchange. That curious thing, pop/rock. Hmmm. Sunday 9 Nov: * Radio 210, 7pm-8pm... Off The Wall with Jonothan Richards... local bands demo tapes, gig guide etc. * Cap & Gown: The Pressgang Club, organised by mod folk rockers Pressgang. * 0xford - Jericho Tavern: Tim Hill, local sax wizard and well dressed person, with 6 piece jazz group Freelance. Monday 10 Nov: * Bye Bye to John H, who is off to pastures new on the Costa Del Dole. Thank you for being such an advertisement for well-dressed class struggle, for not being right on, and for putting so much into the Rag, not least printing the damn thing during Saturday night pub time. Keep in touch! Tuesday 11 Nov: * Majestic: ommm my brain's gonna like, y'know explode maan part 453...space pixies the Ozric Tentacles and Bilbo Baggins faves The Magic Mushroom band get the grobblies for entertaining us. Who's going to skin up in the bouncer-filled Majestic? * Central Library - an evening about Thomas Hardy, at 7.30pm. Jolly good stuff. And he was a Gemini... Wednesday 12 Nov: * Majestic - They were too busy to tell me what's on. * Cap & Gown - Tamla / r'n'b disco nite * Paradise - The Conspiracy present a donations only gig. The Mighty Ballistics Hi-Power (political dub) and The Particles (multi-layered music and lyrics about reality/illusion.) 9-12.30 with late bar. * Nino's - Duke St. Mr Moonlight's Sick, sorry, Slick Serenaders. 20's/30's twee slush. Used to star a high-up in Social Services. Thursday 13 Nov: * Cap & Gown - Swamplust, 8-2am £1:50 well, swampy, you could say. * SHP - The Asylum, who are evidently Einsturzende Neubauten types... industrial noise merchants. Should cheer up the poseurs at South Hill Park no end... 8-1lpm, 75p/£1:50. Friday 14 Nov: * Paradise - The Jive Dive... fun films and 60s soul/hip hop from resident DJ The Cuban Heel. 8-2am, £2 * Cap & Gown-Burma. Rock. Saturday 15 Nov: * Readings Gay Disco at the Centre for the Unemployed, 4/6 East St, 9pm-2am more details from Acorn Bookshop. * Red Rag copy deadline 6pm today... see front cover for details. * Hex - Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band 7.30pm. A return to my Northern roots? * Univ, London Rd - celebrity piano recital by Charles Rosen: Beethoven Eliiott Carter and Schumann. £3:50/1:50 from Hickies. Starts 7.30pm. Sunday 16 Nov: * Radio 210 - The Fence 7-8pm within Off The Wall, features local folkrock crew Pressgang. Their Club at the Cap & Gown is also on tonight. * Hex - Radio 210 sponsored Lindisfarne Christmas gig. 7.30. £5:50/6:50.Free tickets if you can guess the combined age of the "band", to the nearest 50 years? * Babylonstoke - The Plot Thickens, with The Gathering and The Heartthrobs at The Priestley Rd Caribbean Assoc. The Gathering play guitar based "new rock" and have recently been on a national tour. The Heartthrobs are 2 girls and 2 boys who play lovely pop songs with lots of noise. 8-lam, £2:50. * Leighton Park School- violin recital. Kreystof Smietana plays Mozart Debussy Shostakovitch and Bloch. 8pm. Details 864917. Monday 17 Nov: * Nowt. Tuesday 18 Nov: * Majestic - Zodiac Mindwarp... have played Reading several times. Dress in neo-Nazi biker gear, it appears. Wednesday 19 Nov: * Next issue of Red Rag should be out tonight. * Majestic - too busy to say what they've got on tonight. * Cap & Gown - Tamla/soul disco night with Mark n Mark. 2am bar £1:50 * Paradise- the Conspiracy presents a benefit for the Gurdip Kaur Campaign (see elsewhere in this Rag for details). The Mudcats (garage rockabilly/blues, used to be The Teenagers From Outer Space), and perhaps The Surgery Sound System. Food will be provided too. Yes, the Surgery are definite, I've just read. * Wanted - a vocalist for a Reading based band with their own material and with gigs waiting. Phone Brian (Reading 584677) or Jim (Newbury 37665). Thursday 20 Nov: * Teach Yourself psychobilly lesson 5. Well, we're drawing to the end of the first module of this course and so there will be a mock exam next week. Meanwhile, today's in phrase is "That's near enough", to indicate total agreement... as in "Stroll back my hairy arsed friend, how's about a my man pint then??"... "That's near enough my man.." * Cap & Gown - Smokey Joes Blues Band, 2am bar £1:50. Blues! * SHP - It's Again. Yep, that's what they told me. I don't know either. It's 75p/£1:50 if waged, 8-llpm. Friday 21 Nov: * Paradise - The Jive Dive... films, fun and the music of resident DJ The Cuban Heel, 8-2cm £2. * Cap & Gown - Vagabond. Rock. Dross. 2am bar, £1:50 * The Crypt, Deptfird High St-like, weeellll, Boring!! This week's offering to middle class hippies is Phoney American Accent and Steel Blue Buffaloes. No I don't make them up... * Univ, London Rd - Univ chamber Orchestra present Music Of Our Age, 20th century music in the Great Hall at 7.30pm. £3:50/1:50 from Hickies tel 54771. Saturday 22 Nov: * Hex - Hook line and Silverfish, 12.15 free. Pop with a soulful edge. * Cap & Gown - Raildogs?? 2am bar £1:50 * University - Military Surplus (good roots reggae, poetry in dub) and Namoz (exciting rhythmic funk/rock) do a benefit for the Bennet Rd Centre for people with special needs. Town people should get advance tickets, £2 from the Ents Office, or from the usual outlets. A Conspiracy do. NB early start and early finish!!! Sunday 23 Nov: * Radio 210 - The usual Off The Wall from 7-8pm, with local bands, gig news and so on. * Riverside Club, Fetcham - The Jeremiahs, supporting 1000 Violins. Fresh, soulful, semi acoustic pop combo from Tadley. * Butler - jump, jazz jive and blues tunes from a very good record collection. Free, during evening opening hours. Monday 24 Nov: * Paradise - Webcore (the promoter described them as psychedelic/ spacey, but he was drunk) and The Jeremiaha (see above)... both to be confirmed. * Happy 5th Birthday to Jessica, xxx Info: * Paradise: Paradise Club 112 London St Reading, Tel 576847. Disabled access good except for 2 steps down into the bar. * Majestic: Majestic, Caversham Rd, Reading. Tel 586093. Be careful of the door staff. Loony dress restrictions at times. * Cap& Gown: King's Road, Reading, tel 586006. Gigs are downstairs, which makes access for disabled people very bad. * SHP: South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell: tel 0344 484123. Gigs are in the Cellar Bar, so disabled access is not good. But there may be a side entrance. * University: Student Union, tel 860222, ask for Ents Office for Info. Good disabled access as there is a ramp from one level to the next. Can town people get in? * Hex - Hexagon, Queens Walk, Reading tel 591591. Good access for disabled via basement level car park. Very bad from the main entrance. - - - Familiar? ALTERNATIVELY... Give y(our) excess* to Oxfam - 373 Oxford Rd, Reading * pudding / munchie / beer money - - - A Conspiracy Benefit presents MIGHTY BALLISTICS plus The Particles at the Paradise Club 112 London St Reading on Wednesday 12th Nov 9-12.30 Donations only - pay what you can - - - PRESSGANG CLUB Roots Music Sunday 9th Nov: Wayland Smithy & guests. Sunday 16th Nov: Pressgang & guests. Cap & Gown Sundays 8pm £1:00 - - - LETTERS When Red Rag was free it had a lively letters page. Although the Rag has changed in some ways it is still an open forum and any correspondence is more than welcome. - - - GREEN ALTERNATIVE FAYRE Saturday 22 November, 1pm-4pm * Stalls * Refreshments * Local groups St. Mary's Centre Broad St. Reading Free Entrance Contact: Andrew, Rdg 660373 - - - A Conspiracy Presentation Saturday Dance Night at The Coffee Lounge Reading University Wh1teknights Pk. Reading. Jo Jo NAMOZA Nov. 22nd 1986 Everyone welcome Military Surplus A benefit to purchase equipment for the physically handicapped. Tickets: admission by advance ticket only £2 From: Ents Committee / Community Action Group, R.U. Whiteknights Pk - or Students Union Note: entry for students or guests on the door with union card £2:50 - - - READING MAN'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE IDR/QUEEN'S RD. Pedestrian Essential: Lightning quick reaction times Good eyesight to spot speeding commuters in time An up to date chart of traffic direction for various lanes A PhD in Road Traffic Control to understand the traffic light sequence at the Duke St lights The ability to sprint Desirable: Ropes, crampons etc, to scale the brick cliffs, fences & bumper to bumper traffic Sewing kit to repair rents to clothing caused by brick cliffs, fences etc Luck Motorist Essential: To withstand the stress of sitting in a traffic jam: entertaining reading matter, the mind of a zombie, inexhaustible patience Petrol to burn getting nowhere A PhD in Road Traffic Control to understand the lane system Desirable: An in car phone (perhaps the whole scheme was conceived by local firm Racal Vodaphone!?) to keep people informed about length of delay in rush hour traffic Iron rations, ie chocolate, glucose tablets in case delays exceed the usual two hours - - - COMMUNITY POLICE - POLICE COMMUNITIES Last week the Thames Valley Police Consultative Committee (E Division) decided to hold a public meeting in Reading. It was announced that the committee would be happy to face questions from the public and also to hear what the local community expected from its police force. The committee, made up of senior police officers and selected representatives from the local community, sat on the platform and waited... and waited... and waited... and then packed up and went home. Not one person turned up to the meeting. Zed - - - UNITED WE STAND "Give Blacks a Chance" said the headline on the front page of the Weekend Post on June 21st 1986, following a Berkshire County Council report which revealed that 76% of Berkshire's black teenagers are leaving school with only one CSE or less. In response to the article, the Reading Caribbean Association drew up a list of proposals to improve the situation of Afro-Caribbean children in Reading Schools and sent it to Berkshire's new Multi-Cultural Education Sub-Committee. This letter was leaked to the press and in good journalistic style, the article played down the main body of the letter and sensationalised the last point made in it, which became the front page headline "Blacks plan Own School" in the Reading Chronicle, October 3rd 1986. The Reading Caribbean Association is angry that its proposals for black children in Berkshire was leaked and has been misrepresented in the press at a time when something desperately needs to be done. The following week, again on the front page, the Reading Chronicle ran a story with the headline, "Black Mum Slams Afro-Caribbean Education Scheme" in which a black mother criticized her own community for wishing to set up separate black schools and accused the proposals of the RCA of trying to "turn Reading into another South Africa". We contacted the Chronicle and spoke to the author of the articles, Tim Hanley, who assured us that the "Black Mum" in the article did exist, that she lives in Reading, has 3 children and is called Caroline. Why didn't Caroline have the courage of her convictions and use her full name? Tim Hanley told us that Caroline holds what she believes to be a "prominent position" within the black community and that to reveal her name would jeopardise her position. We have investigated this matter further and can confirm that Caroline is employed by Berkshire County Council Assistant Education Officer, Madhu Anjali, as a Community Education Officer. Caroline's job, ironically, is to help Afro-Caribbean and Asian children with problems at schools. So why is Caroline so intent on discrediting ECS's proposals for improvements. We are aware that the assistant education officer in her bid to have various frozen posts released has encouraged Caroline and other black workers to send letters to support her policies. Therefore Caroline's actions and misplaced loyalty has supported her employers but attacks the black community she is employed to help. We demand to know why she took this course of action. The time has come for the black community to consider seriously why the Community Education Officer Posts were created in the first place. The Afro-Caribbean community must unite in order to give our children a chance. 'Legba' - - - FILM AND VIDEO Info: * Reading Film Theatre (RFT) is in the Palmer Building, Whiteknights Park. Adm. £1:90, (members, senior citizens & UB40s £1:20). * South Hill Bark cinema (SHP) is in Bracknell. Prices vary. Substantial discounts for UB40s etc. * ABC Reading: tel 53931 for details. * 0deon Reading: tel 507887 does bargain shows for 4.55 screening - all seats £1:40. * RCU Reading Centre for the Unemployed, 4-6 East St. * UEA Workers Education Assoc. Fri 7 Nov Anne Delvin (PG) RFT 8pm Eire 1984 dir Pat Murphy. Despite her imprisonment & threat of execution, Anne Delvin the house keeper of an Irish Republican leader of the rising of 1798, refuses to betray her fellow conspirators. Freddies Revenge (18) SHP until Wed 12 Nov. 7.45 (Sat 8 also 10.30) U.S. 1986. Sequel to the thriller 'A Nightmare on Elm St'. Wed 12 Nov Wages Of Fear (le Salaire de la Peur) (15) RFT 8pm Fr/Italy 1953 b&w S/titl dir Henri-Georges Clouzot 144m. Cannes grand prix winner. Four men trek across precipitous C. American roads with two van loads of nitroglycerine. Womens Video Course RCU 10am-12 all women welcome, free. Film & Video Course WEA organised 7.30-9.30 Waingels Copse School. Thur 13 Nov Dreamchild (15) RFT 8pm GB 1985 dir Gavin Millar 94m. In 1932 the now 80 year old model for Alice visits the centenary celebrations for Lewis Caroll in New York. The commercial exploitation of the event mixes with her childhood memories of Caroll in an interesting & imaginative film. The Official Versi0n (15) SHP 7.45 Argentina 1985 dir Luis Punzo 112m s/titl. The first film to be given sponsorship by Pres. Alfonsing Govt. A compelling vision of contempory Argentina, based around the enlightenment of a bourgeois middle-aged teacher. Fri 14 Nov Sid & Nancy (18) SHP till 19 Nov 7.45 (Sat 15 also 10.30); G.B.1985 dir Alan Cox 118m. You know the story, more about romance on a downward slope than about the Sex Pistols. Wed 19 Nov Subway(15) RFT 8pm Fr 1985 s/titl dir Luc Bresson 102m. An exploration of the paris metro and its denizens. Long on style but the plot is not so hot, but still an exiting and pleasurable film. Film & Video Course as last week Womens Video Course as last week Thur 20 Nov Defence Of The Realm (PG): RFT 8pm G.B. 1985 dir David Drury 96m. A rare British political thriller, a journalist investigates MP's KGB links, cover ups and media manipulation in this gripping & thought provoking film. Video Workshop For Young People 7-9 pm Reading Activities centre, corner of Bulmershe Rd & Cresent Rd. Fri 21- Sun 23 Nov 7th National Independent Video Festival. SHP. Many independent videos from trade union to art. Is the independent sector conceding to comercialism or can it keep it's political edge. The only event of its type in the country. Details from Media Dept SHP. We still need someone to do a theatre guide but one thing we do know about is:- Ferente Orjna by Lope de Vega translated by Steve Gough 20- 29 Nov 7.45pm Progress Theatre, the Mount, Christchurch Rd box office 477594. - - - RED RAG COLLECTIVE On 27 Oct there was a Red Rag collective meeting which 5 people attended. On the agenda were a no. of items about the general progress and existence of the Rag, including :- * The Rag needs more news and info. Short pieces are as welcome as long ones. * 15 Nov coordinator Cliff (665332) 29 Nov coordinator Laura (668825) (provisionally) * Sales and distribution are sorting themselves out quite well. But we're not sure of exact sales figures yet... * Advertising rates have been brought down, as the Rag isn't reaching as many people as it did when it was free. (The print run is 400, not 1600 or 2000 as it used to be). New rates are:- £3/6 for 1/2 column/quarter page £2:50/£5 for 1/4 col/quarter page for block booking of 4 consecutive ads from the same advertiser, in 4 issues. Artwork need not be the same for each ad. "Small Ads" / classified are still free. Advertising enquiries to Simon Reading 666354. * Red Rag production list of people who want to help in specific or general ways is being compiled. If you want to help in any way at all leave your name, phone no, and what you'd like to do, in Box 79, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham Street. * Next collective meeting is Mon 24 November, 8pm, basement of 63 South St. Anyone who is interested in Red Rag is welcome. - - - NEWSPAPERS NEED NEWS Red Rag is Reading's only newspaper. Therefore, it needs someone to write news stories for it. Not a small journalistic staff, but anyone who feels they want to. The Rag needs reports, articles, and information about what's going on in Reading. If you know something you think other Rag readers would like to know - write it down! Articles, long or short, are welcome. Contributions to the Rag are subject to an editorial meeting, which anyone can attend; phone the next issue's coordinator for details of when and where. Red Rag looks forward to hearing from you - if no-one wrote, there would be no Red Rag!! RED RAG NEEDS YOU To all former distributors of Red Rag:- Lots of appreciation for all your efforts getting the Rag around Reading. (Was it fun? was it?) Although the Rag is no longer distributed free, there are still things you can do to help it keep going. Come to the next collective meeting (Mon 24 Nov, 8pm, basement 63 South Street) if you still want to do something. PS This goes for anyone else too! - - - POISON GIRLS TO PLAY BANC BENEFIT Just a word or two about the "Grand Berks Anti-Nuclear Campaign / Reading CND benefit" to be held at the Paradise Club, London St; Reading on Wed. 26th November, start time 9pm; featuring Poison Girls & feminist duo You & I. An exciting prospect! Poison Girls have expanded immeasurably since the raw punky days of eight years ago. A whole new range of words and sound which have delighted listeners in the States and Scandinavia in recent times. A good deal of new material will be on offer on the night as both bands warm up for a mini Euro tour in December. Funds raised would go to help BANC establish a higher profile in town than of late by means of obtaining and producing new and updated publicity material (by the way, have you seen the anti-nuke billboards around town which BANC helped to sponsor?) More adequate financial help could also be given to projects ouch as the Greenham Food Van, Cruisewatch, Polariswatoh and Nuclear-Free Zone Campaign. See you all on the 26th! Chris. - - - OTHER EVENTS Thurs 6th Nov: Peace Pledge Union meeting at 1 Halstead Close, Woodley. 8pm. possibly with members of Reading Wargames Society. Phone 690924. BANC/Reading CHD meetings: Tues. 1lth Nov. & Wed. 19th Nov. Details: Rob, 67824. "Green Fair" 12.30-4.30 at St. Mary's Centre (behind St. Mary's Church) - Sat. Nov 22nd. Contact Debbie, 663432. - - - WOMENS CENTRE NEWS The women's centre collective meets every week on Tuesdays at 6.30 pm in Abbey Street (still). In addition from Monday December 1st the Women's Centre will be reviving its 'First of the Month' meetings. These will be at 8 pm on the 1st of every month (whatever the day) and are the opportunity for women to air their views and catch up on the latest news and happenings. If 6.30 is a bad time for you, or you can't make a meeting every week but would like to input into the women's centre, keep the first evening of every month clear! On December 1st there will be the meeting at 8pm followed by a women's party, so bring along a bottle or some munchies. PS If you read this please tell other women, in case we don't get a newsletter out in time. For more information contact: Karen on 482237 or Lynette on 661275. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1986/1986-11-04.txt#3 $