READING’S ONLY NEWSPAPER * EVENTS FROM SEPTEMBER * FREE RED RAG OLD WHINES AND NEW BOTTLE What’s now in politics? Biggest political event of the last fort- night in Reading was the launching in the town of a local branch of the New National Front, no doubt hoping to cash in on the recent screening of the film ‘Excalibur’, which turned Reading’s head with its glorification of the ‘spirit of nation’ and similar mystic claptrap. Unfortunately, it is difficult to take a romantic view of the the New National Front – it seems to be the same old fascist front, even headed by the same old fascist. Philip Baker himself is no real threat to anyone, except that he has rather more staying power than most of the kids who are conned into joining or tagging along with the now much-splintered fascist groups in the UK. And he claims to be a constitutionalist, holding to what was the National Front manifesto at the 79 Election (yes, they did have policies on The economy, employment, foreign Relations etc – look up the bit Of paper that came through your Door at the time, or turn up Mein Kampf). His organisation is something slightly different. On a local level, at has not many miles away a part of its Strategic and Tactical Action Group. Inter- nationally, it has links with the European far right who have distinguished themselves by blowing up railway stations etc. Unlike the British Movement, the NNF has a political philosophy of sorts, and is happy to organise quietly for years, awaiting the right time to take power. One interesting fact (?) to emerge from the Chronic’s announcement of the launch of this new ‘right wing’ party was that the Reading National Front never had more than 30 members. INSIDE: EVENTS *GOING OUT GUIDE *FILLERS *ETC Red Rag page 2 The News Section News tips to Sue,861841, Mike, 83275, Lesley, 68972 or send stuff c/O 31B Milman Rd, RG2 0AZ If you want to get the Rag delivered, call Clive, Rdg 61257 and he’ll put you on the list If you want to give us money, See ‘business News’, p5 CUTS? The effect of cuts in public spending seem to have reached the local police force. At the recent rock festival, not only were a large number of the force unable to afford uniforms, but two members of the drugs squad were reduced to selling Tshirts in the Caversham Road. Meanwhile their motor- ised colleagues were reduced to similr straits with a number of vehicles for which they were unable to afford the regulation blue and white paint job. We reproduce here a list of some of these vehicles as an aid to policing, so that our readers are restrained from enetering into criminal activities in their vicinity. YBW 87V green cotina; SJO 985T red Cortina; FWL 104V blue cortina; RWL 961X red cortina; NBW 268T yellow cortina; RUD 432T blue fiat 132; SJO995T green marina. DEMOCRACY IN ACTION Rumour has it that the Liberal group on Reading Council has become rather fearful of community ‘participation’ on Council subcommittees. They have pushed through a motion declaring that lay members on any Council sub committee (eg a member of a tenants’ group on a housing subcommittee) should be proven to be ‘representative’ of their constituency. So who judges whom to be representative? Are Liberal councillors representative of their wards if they win an election in which only a third of the voters turn out? Does a formal constitution ensure that a group will select its representatives ‘democratically’? Perhaps that is why a conference has been called by the Voluntary Service Council at Bulmershe College on Saturday 3 October, called ‘Decision making processes in Reading Council’. A number of tenant’s associations and community groups will be attending and possibly a federation of these groups will be discussed. Further information from X Shirley Blights, VSC housing officer, 38 Caversham Road. PEACE NEWS There is a Women’s Peace Camp now outside the main gates at Greenham Common, formed from the women who marched 125 miles from Cardiff. They are holding meetings there every Sunday at 2pm. The Rag went to the first of these, and found a cheerful group determined to stay until the weather drives them away. Between Sundays they would appreciate visitors bearing gists of food, toys, etc and will tell you some good stories. BUS STOP? Those of you who never leave Reading may not know that we have damn near the best bus service X in the ~UK, and one of the least expensive, despite the recent fares rise. Thos e who don’t read the papers may not know that there are moves to hurt it. The knee-jerk Tory and crypto-Tory reaction to a service which runs at a loss (as Reading Transport does), is to stop buying busses, cut the route network, cut frequencies and raise fares. This what has been done at Alder Valley, with the result that people in rural Berkshire have no bus service at all and the company is locked into the spiral of higher fares to cover costs driving people off the bus, meaning more services becoming uneconomic, so they are cut, so overheads rise (eg same garages and central staff to service fewer busses), so fares have to go up… Is it starting in Reading? The council’s transport committee has decided to cancel planned new busses, and to shelve development of the Mill Lane depot. And RT’s transport manager recommends raising fares and cutting routes. Will he be allowed to manage RT into the ground? The decision to allow him to do so has not yet been taken. (continued p 5) Red Rag page 3 Events 28 Sept – 11 Oct To get your event listed call Mike, Rdg 83275 before 9 October WOMEN IN EDUCATION WEDNESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER Women in Education meeting at 181 Shinfield Road, Reading at 8pm. Contact Sue on 861841 SOCIALIST WORKER PARTY WEDNESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER The regular S.W.P. meeting at The Red Lion, Southampton St. at 8pm. All supporters welcome. WOMENS CENTRE THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER A WOMENS MEETING at the WOMENS CENTRE, Old Shire Hall, (no longer at No 5) 7.30pm all women welcome, as from this weekend the Womens Centre will be open from 10.30am every Saturday. KATESGROVE CLARION NEEDS MONEY! SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER KATESGROVE CLARION are holding a Jumble Sale at St Giles Hall, in Southampton Street, at 2.30pm. The Katesgrove clarion is a free community paper sent to every household in Katesgrove, they need Jumble and money. WOMEN FOR LIFE ON EARTH RALLEY SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER At the WOMENS PEACE CAMP outside the gates of the Air Base at Greenham Common, 2pm. See leaflet. FILM SHOW SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER The READING PEACE ASSOCIATION along with BERKSHIRE ANTI-NUCLEAR CAMP. Are having a film show at St Mary’s Centre, off the Butts, at 7pm. Showing Jonathon Dimblebys film ‘THE BOMB’ B.A.N.C. TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER The Berkshire Anti-Nuclear Camp. are holding a general meeting to discuss Direct Action and future Demos. At the Friends Meeting House, Church Street, Off London Street, 8pm. S.W.P. MEETING WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER The Socialist Workers Party are holding a meeting at the RED Lion, Southampton Street, 8pm all supporters welcome. SOC.FEM. WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER The SOCIALIST FEMINIST meeting will be at Bridgets, 33 Oxford Street, Caversham, at 8pm. contact Bridget at 472297. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY 8th OCTOBER READING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Now meets at St Marys Centre every second Thursday in the month, 7.30pm. WOMEN FOR LIFE ON EARTH SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER Another rally of Women for life on Earth, 2pm outside the gates at Greenham Common, speakers and music have been arranged. * * * Anybody interested in Reading ANARCHIST GROUP? Contact James On 473205, or via Acorn bookshop. * * * In our next issue of RED RAG “THE COHABITATION LAW – HOW TO CHALLENGE IT” & & & THE BIG C.N.D. DEMO. RedRag page 4 Going Out Guide details to John, 662740 before 8 October Going out til 10 October 28 SEPTEMBER South Hill Park, the Long Good Friday, 7.30. Til 4 October Hexagon. Hawkwind. Not like they used To be, more of a heavy metal outfit, Weird replacement for Third World. £2.75up. 7.30 TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER SHP, modern Jazz with Terry Smith and Lenny Best. 8pm. £1.80 Top Rank. Simon Bates, disco, 9-2 WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER Hexagon. Frankfurt radio Symphony Orchestra. Britten, Saint Saens, Beethoven. £3up, 7.30 University. Rock. Polecats. Dressy rockabilly band, they can play but can’t sing much. Odd selection of material, Bowie/rockabilly, Bolan/ rockabilly, Marie Celeste/rockabilly £2 8pm THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER If October continues like this then Reading’s starting to be worth living in: Hexagon at lunchtime, Catherine Bott & Melvyn Tan, programme of English song. Free. Prince of Wales, Caversham, Trad jazz. Recommended for foot tappers, beer taps serve Brakespeares. Free Hexagon. Tribut to Louis Armstrong. Evening of jazz with members of the original band, plus Digby Fairweather and Keith Smith on trumpet. £2.50up, 7.30 Cap & Gown, folk, Eddie Walker, £1 (probably), 8pm Target, the Tenants, 9pm, free. Reading Film Theatre. Manhattan. Yet another instalment in the long saga of Woody Allen’s sexual and social failures. Nice photography. 90p or £1.40, 8pm FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER University, Some folk band at the students union. £1, 7.30 SHP. Gordon Giltrap. 8pm, £2.25 SHP, The New Canterbury Tales, Horseshoe Theatre Company. 7.45, tomorrow as well. Hexagon. Lindisfarne. Pasteurised, like Newcastle Brown; the music changes very little with time. £2.75up 7.30 Caribbean Club. Between Pictures. Lively local Band. £1.50, 10pm SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER Hexagon. Classical. Marisa Robles and friends. Harp ensemble. £2.50up 7.45 Watermill Theatre. Night and Day, Tom Stoppard. £7, 4.45 Hexagon at luchtime. Quadrant’s modern swing jazz sounds (sic) free. Central club. Reggae sound system £?, late. MONDAY 5 OCTOBER SHP Knife in the head. W German film about police-civilian relations. Barbarism at the Top Rank. ABA boxing at 7pm. TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER University. Freshers disco at the students union. A sociologists goldmine. £?, 8pm. SHP. The Tempest. 7.30. Til Sat WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER Top Rank. Irish Show Bands inc Brendan Shine Band. Sounds good. £?, 8pm Old Town Hall. Classical Organ recital, Carlo Curley. £?, 7.45 RFT Last Tango in Paris. Learn how butter became a cult subject along with Mr Brando and Ms Schneider. 90p/£1.40, 8pm, tomorrow too. Hexagon at luchtime. Omega guitar quartet. 1.10 -2pm, free. THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER Cap & Gown, folk, Ratcliffe Stout Band, £1, 8pm Newish folk club at the Horn, st Mary Butts. One punter’s opinion: ‘Why did you put that in Red Rag? I went and it was dire.’ Free. Prince of Wales, Cavershan. Jazz. Free FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER Caribbean Club. Something tasty, but they haven’t decided what as we go to press. 10pm. £1.50 Target. Rock. Spoilers. 9pm, free. SHP. Roger McGough & Adrian Mitchell in Cellar Bar. £2.25. 8.15 SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER Cherries. Rock. Free. Arris. Central Club. Reggae sound system and possibility of a good reggae band. Watch for posters. £? Late. SHP Margaret Drabble, Brian Patten, Shaun Taylor, Bracknell Lit Festival. No time given. Red Rag page 5 – Going Out Guide continued Various people have suggested that Red Rag should have a review section, so with our finger as ever on the pulse of popular opinion, here it is. Venues, first, then performances. The Top Rank we rated at less than 0 on the grounds that you might leave minus your boots or teeth. Most people will have heard of the Central Club, if only because of the shock horror stories in the local papers (but not here). Every Saturday they have a reggae sound system, sometimes live acts too. Recently they put on a full night’s do with 3 bands, finishing at 4 in the morning – extremely good value for £3.50. The main thing about the Central Club is that it is so well run Security is all but invisible, and you can buy a plate of home-cooked food for £1 and a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks. According to the Chronic the police regard the place as a no-go area which has advantages and must improve the (rather smokey) atmosphere. The Caribbean Club (also London Street) is an excellent venue, with a late bar and a welcome absence of the restrictions normally placed on non-student Reading folk, it’s a preferable option to trying to get into the university students union on a Friday night. That’s all this issue – sorry to those who submitted reviews. No room. No time. Next time. OK? News continued from page 2 As we were saying on page w, the key to resisting attempts to shut down Reading busses is partly in the Council, but x mostly in the hands of the bus staff. In the case of Alder Valley, the staff have consistently swallowed the arguments of its incredibly incompetent management on the need to raise fares/cut services. Will RT staff be as credulous? What are the lessons of the Abbey Ward election in which Labour held the seat, the Tories maintained their share of the vote, and the SDP candidate got about the same vote as the Tory? I do not know but I am sure we will be told. STP PRESS The anarchists are back! First meeting Monday October 5, in the committee room upstairs in the students union at the university. Be there or be square! Non-students welcome. BUSINESS NEWS: Very little, since our treasurer hasn’t surfaced recently (where are you, Heather?). There appears to be some prospect of us acquiring a press in the fairly near future. Negotiations continue. Readers worried about us losing our status as the world’s worst printed newspaper can relax – we are assured that it is a very old and troublesome device. This means that we still need your money. Send cheques made payable to Red Rag c/o 42 Bulmershe Road. If you would like to get involved in the Rag (there are now nearly 20 people doing a bit each) might like to come to a meal/meeting or most of them next Friday evening 2 October. We are all paying £1 a head to cover nice food. If you want to come, call Sue on 861841 to say so as soon as po s to find out where it is and so we can cater for you. LATE GOING OUT DATES: Judi and the Shades are playing on 1 October at the union hall, university and on 3 October at Cherry’s wine bar.