Red rag The Paper that Fights for Moral Decline April 15-28 free free free Red Rag is Reading's only newspaper. We give it away free every fortnight to anyone who wants it. As a result we're frequently broke. This time is no exception... by the time you read this we'll be about £130 in debt. Until our financial situation improves, issues of the Rag will be no more than four pages long. So send us your spare bullion now. Cheques and postal orders can be made out to "Red Rag" and sent to Box 79, 17 Chatham Street, Don't stint on the zeros. There are collecting tins at Acorn Bookshop, Pop Records, Eurofoods on Cemetary Junction and Harvest Wholefoods. Anyone is welcome to write for Red Rag. Send your stuff to Box 79, 17 Chatham Street. Sign it in some way (pseudonyms are ok) and give an address or phone number so that we can contact you if there are any problems with it. If you feel like typing it yourself, please do it single spaced in columns 12 cm wide. The copy date is Thursday 25th, 6pm. Help is always wanted iq producing the Rag: typing, writing, phoning around, sticking it all together, printing, folding, delivering. If you can help at all with the next issue, phone the number below. Next Issue / Events Paul 481081 Going Out Mark 782178 Distribution Guy 669562 This issue of the Rag will be available in cassette form, for people with sight problems. Phone 666681. Red Rag was produced almost entirely without the aid of triangles. - - - LET THEM SLEEP ROUGH About 2-3 months ago I wrote an article for Red Rag on the demise of private & public sector rented accommodation in Reading. In this article was a couple of paragraphs on forthcomeing cuts to money allowed for supplementary benefit claimants living in bed & breakfast 'hotels'. Well those cuts are now with us & they affect thousands of people in Reading. Approximately 2000 people are forced to claim supplementary benefit for board & lodging type accommodation in the Reading DHSS office area. Many of these people have children and/or partners taking the figure including dependants up to three or four thousand. From the 29th April the DHSS will be instructed to start informing many of these people of new cuts to benefits. Once notified, people under 26 who have to 'sign on' to receive their board and lodging moneys will (with very few exceptions) be ineligible for more than 4 weeks lodgings expenses. The exceptions don't cover able bodied single people and childless couples, which means that the majority of claimants under 26 in this type of accommodation will very shortly be without even the most insecure accommodation. Faced with the prospect of no employment, no available accommodation and no entitlement to essential benefit many people will be forced to move to the next DHSS office area, perhaps Wokingham, Newbury or Bracknell where (if they find a place) they will be entitled to another 4 weeks benefit. Since people will not be able to claim more than once every six months in any single office area they will be forced to travel the country to find an area where they are still entitled to benefit. Alternatively many young people may turn to remunerative crime (mugging, pushing hard drugs, prostitution etc.) just to keep a roof over their heads. That fundamental right which has existed since the time of work houses & poor-law for people to have some form of sheltered accommodation (to avoid the worst of the elements) has now been with withdrawn Back on the local scene, one comment in the Chronic from the Borough Council Housing Committee Chairperson (Cllr Markham) is that it "doesn't forsee great problems coming in this direction". Chairing a committee which several months ago had to allocate half a million pounds to the homelessness section or which is responsible for month delays in paying housing benefit or has an almost static housing waiting list or which rents properties which have been condemned as unfit for human habitation or that has senior officers resigning like rats leaving a sinking ship: then it's little wonder he doesn't see it as a great problem. We are now dealing with politicians who see problems only in terms of appeasing voters at election time. For the vast majority of those in board & lodging who are stateless in electoral terms this system makes even less sense than it does to the rest of us (about this much less-XXXXXXXXXXXX) & if it makes no sense perhaps it serves no good purpose? Bomb & squat! John H. * Sorry about mixed metaphors - - - NEWS DIGEST Be Patient That's the message in the Midweek Chronic's four-page pullout as work gets under way on the two-mile road scheme that's going to solve all our traffic problems this side of 1990. Road works are expected to last for four and a half years, which means that this concrete monstrosity will be able to handle projected traffic flow for about three months. All this a snip at £25,000,000. If the rediculousness of all this cementation gets you down, it's still "business as usual ... shopping as normal." What a relief that nothing really important is going to get disrupted. Sex The war in Northern Ireland continues, with two killed in an IRA bomb blast outside a courthouse in Newry. Meanwhile the struggle to liberate - or so it would seem - the sleepy village of Woodcote continues with a bomb attack which demolished the bus shelter there. And in Italy, two members of the Red Brigade have come up with a much better use for courtrooms than explosives practice. They've now been sent down for two years each, for fucking in the dock during their 1982 trial (at which they were imprisoned for life for terrorist activities). Drugs An editorial in the Police Review has called for cannabis to be legalised. Councillor Trevor Brown has called for an impartial investigation into the whole question. (Haven't we had more than enough of these yet?) An editorial in the Evening Post blurted out that, "young people who begin with taking cannabis can end up on cocaine." Oh yes? If the Post or anyone else can furnish one scrap of evidence to substantiate this claim, we'd love to see it. (Box 79, 17 Chatham St.) Otherwise they should retract. There's nothing quite as ignorant as rants like that in the Post. They lead almost ten million people in this country - who've tried cannabis and found it harmless - to associate a substance which is patently safe with several which patently aren't. Reading the Post really can lead on to hard drugs. Or put it this way: how many drug addicts in the Reading area have never seen a copy of the Evening Post? Christ Almighty! A local group of evangelists have slammed (whatever that means} medium Dorris Stokes' show at the Hexagon as pagan. They claim, "Jesus says that spiritualism is wrong." We await reference to chapter and verse. And we'd like to hear more about these "demonic spiritual forces." What are they? Do you actually have to be a Christian to believe in them? Subway Art In Southcote, there's nothing much to do with your time but sit around drinking, sniffing adhesives, smashing the odd window and hurling verbal abuse. In Maidenhead they daub the subways with psychedelic patterns and crude slogans. And in a Newbury subway the graffiti is so bad that Councillor Trevor Brown (him again?) reckons it's forcing his constituents "to go underground." In a subway? Street Art / Sabotage In case you haven't seen it already (it's been there for two weeks already), the Navy recruiting office in Kings Road has been decorated with an (A) on the window. (So what?) It has been decorated with paint? marker pen?... No. Etching fluid! The Navy appears to have two options. Either leave subversive slogans indelibly marked on their window; or buy a brand new expensive plate glass window, so that someone can come along and do it again. Details of where to obtain this etching fluid should be passed to the Rag so everyone can have a go. xxx Kanga & Tigger - - - GREENHAM At Reading Crown Court last week three Greenham women were found guilty of criminal damage. At the end of the three day trial the only publicity was the announcement of the verdict and sentence plus the judge's comment that he had not wanted to allow the women to make martyrs of themselves by sending them to prison. These are some of my observations about the trial. One woman had legal representation but the two others conducted their own defence with integrity and dignity in spite of the intimidating ordeal that being on trial surely is. Occasionally they defied court etiquette to show their disapproval of the system, but never in an uncontrolled or abusive way. The criminal damage alleged was to the perimeter fence, control tower door and to papers in the tower. The women never denied being in the tower. Indeed their going there has demonstrated two things which should be of major concern to us all: (1) That unarmed people with no violent intentions can enter officially restricted "sensitive" areas of the base. Cruise missiles can therefore never be safe from accident or malicious interference. (2) That things go on inside the base of which the British people are kept in deliberate ignorance. The women were frustrated in their defence of themselves because, as they were constantly told, motive is no defence in law. Whilst in the tower the women had access to "sensitive" documents relating to chemical weapons and "hot guns". (Exactly what "hot guns" are was not allowed to be made clear but from what was said, planes with radio-active cargo seem likely.) These documents were not produced as evidence although unimportant ones were. Because they were not evidence, all references to sensitive documents were ruled irrelevant and in vain did the women try to point out that exposing the nature of what is happening at Greenham was central to their action, their decision to be tried by jury and their plea of not guilty. In a moving address to the jury the women were passionate, sincere and sane even if, as yet again pointed out, legally irrelevant. I did not think the majority of the prosecution's case was proved "beyond reasonable doubt" but the 5 women and 7 men returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on 6 of the 7 charges. The judge, sentencing the women, made it clear that he considered the trial an expensive waste of public money when the court could have been dealing with "important" cases. His comments about martyrdom reveal his ignorance about Greenham women who seem to me not to seek a "cross to bear" in the form of imprisonment but rather regard it as an occupational hazard. Many people I spoke to were shocked by the judge's abrupt and discourteous manner during the trial. Although his hubris was general and not directed only at the defendants it was ironic that when one of the women criticised the court and rebuked the judge for his cavalier manner she was told she was in contempt of court! Two women went to prison rather than be "bound over. More women will come to trial. If you can, go along and see for yourself - it's an interesting, enlightening experience. More important: let the Greenham women be seen to have support - everywhere. Messages of support to Rebecca Johson, serving one month (from 4.4.85) at Holloway Womens Prison, Holloway Road, London N7. Sue Sutcliffe - - - P.P.U. NEWS Reading Peace Pledge Union met on Wednesday evening, with a big "hello" to baby Chloe(!') and Ula all the way from Denmark. After quickly drawing up an agenda, it was soon clear that there was an awful lot to talk about. It looks as though the next few months into early summer are going to be very busy for us! Items discussed were as follows: Molesworth - Where next for large organised demos? Mass civil disobedience like the 60's? How do we overcome mental barriers and conditioning; how do we cope with tension, fear, supressed emotion, anger and violence? A proposed "Training weekend" to be put on by BANC should help us come to terms with some of these feelings and assist our future action. Look out for details. Cruisewatch - More help is needed. Contact Joe on Reading 665412. May Day Festival - There will be a PPU stall at the RCU on May 4th. Snowball Campaign - Ongoing direct action at nuclear installations where the numbers of people taking part trebles each time. Arms Trade Fair at Brighton Metropole Hotel 14-16 May. 3 Day vigil taking place with a women's action on the 16th. Greenham Food Van - Reading are doing a whole week this time! 13-17 May. Contact Val on Reading 463416. Peace Bus - Over the next 5 or 6 weeks some of us will be popping up to Norfolk to help fit out the PFU Peace Bus in readiness for a summer-long tour around the country. There isn't a lot of time left to complete the work that needs to be done, so any practical help would be more than welcome. Why not join us? Accommodation and funding can be arranged. Prem Kumar our Indian friend who is waiting for a visa for entry into the US so that he can continue his round-the-world walk, is in Reading at the moment and walked to Greenham on Thursday (1lth) accompanied by local supporters. If some of the above items seem a bit obscure, why not come to our next meeting on Wed. May 1st, 8 pm at 15 Stanley Grove and find out more, or phone. Reading 483416 for further details! - - - CUT AND POSTED The 'Evening Post' has been having its own problems recently with a few nights of the long knives that have added quite a few people from advertising and even some from "editorial" to the local army of unemployed. Thomson International, who own the paper, have threatened closure several times in the past: this seems to be a last-ditch attempt to recover profitability. Citizen Cain - - - ACORN'S BIT This is "Liz from Acorn" signing off, after 8 1/2 years behind the counter of Reading's radical bookshop. I'm both relieved and terrified and would like to take the chance to explain to Rag readers at least the 'why' of what's happening, if only to save the Acorn workers some trouble. I originally intended to leave Acorn after 2 or 3 years and escape to the Northumbrian hills. That was a long time ago! Over the years I've become completely entangled in the institution that Acorn's become. There was an era when that was all I had in life, and I was grateful. That changed, and gradually I became dissatisfied with my role in the shop. I went through a phase when people used to say at parties or down the pub, 'Don't you work at Acorn Book - shop?' and I would snap, 'Not 24 hours a day!' For all I may have railed about (and at) the 'bloody customers', they've been incredibly important to me, and part of my dissatisfaction is that I only got to know most people superficially. Years of snatched and interrupted conversations seriously affect your psyche! Altho' Acorn is an 'alternative' workplace, there's a lot of stress and pressure, and no fresh air. So I'm off. I intend to become a gardener. Quite how or where isn't yet clear, but I hope I can eventually combine my horticultural skills with socially useful work. I'd like to thank everyone who's ever helped me keep going, or think, or change, but I don't want the Rag to get too enormous! Very special thanks to Ian, Maggie, Mark and Vessa for a taste of caring collective working (and Hula Hoops) that I'll sorely miss. Most of all to Ian for keeping me, and Acorn, afloat, and being a dear comrade through it all. The original dreams that Acorn grew out of are now being realised, after many problems and stagnant phases. It shouldn't have taken so long, but I feel really happy at the way the place is going. I hope my moving on will make it more thoroughly a co-op in everyone else's eyes. I'm. going to miss the place and the books and the people but I'll turn into a regular customer for sure! See you all around. Love Liz (no longer 'from Acorn'). We're going to miss you too Liz. Thanks for everything, have fun gardening and take care of yourself. Lots of love from the typist (On behalf of everyone else.) - - - CONSUMING DRACULA Despite the real importance of their contribution to revolutionary theory, situationist writers have always had one major problem: try as they may to say "The cat sat on the mat" it always seems to come out as "The small partially-domesticated feline creature adopted a semi-prone position on the wool and artificial fibre woven decorative floor covering". Attention to accuracy and precision is laudable, but few situationist writers have discovered the difference between being accurate and being pedantic. Unfortunately the anonymous author (hereinafter called 'X') of the 'Rag' article "Who told you, you were consumers?" was no different. As if there was not enough mystification in this world, 'X' begins his article by stating his intention to add yet one more mystification. In this case it is the term 'nosferatu', which cinema-goers will recall was the title of an underwhelming attempt at making an up-market Dracula film. In the first paragraph of 'X's' article, 'nosferatu' takes on the new meaning of 'the ideological inversion of theory'. What 'X' doesn't tell us is that this term 'nosferatu' will not generally be found in other situationist writing because 'X' invented that use of the word himself. Failure to mention that fact is another kind of mystification. Skipping lightly over 'X's' phrases such as 'the world and his wife' (I'm sure we are all happy to learn that the world is both male and married) we come to a critique of the street fashion magazine I.D. When, in 1982, I.D. was bought out by Fiorucci it was not 'a perfect recuperation' as 'X' suggests. The act was simply a sound business decision to place advertising (culture) firmly under the control of the manufacturer. We need shed no tears when the Spectacle devours its own children. If recuperation appeared on the scene at all it was what I.D. magazine tried to do to 'street fashion'- but then I have serious doubts about the illusory autonomy of 'street fashion' anyway. As Bob Black said of, and to, Punks - "If funny clothes and hairstyles could make a revolution, then your hippy parents would not deserve your disdain." 'Nosferatu' turns up again, this time with the more accessible meaning of 'turning the authentic into the inauthentic'. The situationists were great admirers of Lewis Carroll's 'Alice' stories so perhaps, as Humpty Dumpty said, a word can mean "just what I choose it to mean." The above may lead people to believe that I don't agree with the main content of the first instalment of this article. On the contrary, if 'Rag' readers were to analyse its main themes they could start to develop a revolutionary theory that would shake the old world to the ground. Unfortunately, as with most situationist texts, the style of writing ensures that most readers will give up after the second paragraph. In such texts few readers are even able to recognize ideas that are already in their own heads. Hence my hostility to mystifications such as 'nosferatu'. The word occurs again before the end of the article. This time it means 'the longer an activity runs in series - the more useless it becomes...'. I hope that 'X', like Humpty Dumpty, always pays a word extra when he makes it work so hard. Larry Law. - - - HIPPY JIBE BACKLASH SHOCK More bilious rantings about the West Berks. Co-operative Development Agency Steering Group. On April 2nd, various members of the group exchanged information on other C.D.A.s options for the constitution and funding. Pity no-one was there from Acorn or UB Cycles could be there to tell us what help co-ops actually need. (Recap: provision of such support is the purpose of a CDA.) Given a suggested budget of £75000 a year (including the salaries of three investment workers), the CDA more or less has to apply to Berks County Council for its money. Labour members of the steering group enthused as to (a) Labour's unquestionable impending win in the elections and so (b) the CDA's likelihood of being funded. (Certain amount of ideologically unsound faith there comrades.) For them, the anticipated job creation record of the CDA will be a strong enough weapon to win battles for continued funding if the political scene changes. All my fears are thus groundless. I feel there is little alternative to the Council:- Urban aid curtailed; volunteers not able, to provide continuity or sufficient resources; selling CDA business advice to non-cooperative enterprises to earn fees implying spare resources and neglected co-ops; and although the risks shouldn't prevent an application being made, I think they should be recognised. Hmm...paranoia, I know. The proposed constitution of the CDA was the subject of much ultimately pointless argument. Details of the constitution were "settled" on the 9th, but various objections were ignored from the previous week, especially: - a) Given that health and safety, rights to your unions etc could be written into loan agreements with startup co-ops, why have representatives of trade unions on any body which controls the CDA? Such union matters could be independently enforced as suggested above. b) I'd like those helped by the CDA, "potential co-operators" to have a real voice in how the agency worked. A stunning variety of obstacles was erected, none actually discussed though, including "what about individuals influencing the CDA to favour their own venture?" (declaration of interests?) and, "there won't be enough committed people around" (why have a CDA?). Briefly, a co-operative development agency will be formed on April 30th with President, V-P, Treasurer and secretary; and subject to Keith Jeromes suggested constitution, of which salient points include:- a) aims - to promote co-ops and the co-op philosophy. - to give practical advice and help to co-operative enterprises. b) to have 4 elected officers as above c) to be governed by a committee comprising 4 officers of the association 2 Trades Council nominees 1 Industrial common ownership movement rep 1 Co-operative retail society rep 3 reps of Newbury Reading & Berks councils 6 reps of member co-ops. 17 total The trades councils are in, but potential co-ops aren't as of right unless they succeed in being elected into the associations hierarchy. These 4 individuals whoever they may be, have a hard years lobbying and publicizing to do, to ensure funding secured. Only then will the association change to an agency, become registered as a company, employ people and help co-ops; at which point the constitution will have to be amended. So in a sense all our hot debates about "how many angels are on an anarchist pinhead" (sic) are ultimately pointless. Next installment of this simple tale of historically conscious proletarians is on April 30th, when the AGM of the association will take place at Reading Center for the Unemployable, from 7-30pm. As well as tea and biscuits there will be progress reports, speakers, plus a serious non-debate on the constitution and the election of the association's officers. Bring money as you'll probably have to pay a membership fee for the privilege of voting. To quote a namesake, "The fantastic is in league against me" Yours with a pessimism of classical proportions, Mark. - - - SMALL ADS Room available, now in shared flat. £90 pcm and bills Ring Rdg. 667060 Friendly feminist teacher needs someone to share her house in Reading. Own room and share all facilities for £150 pcm and share of bills. Phone Widge, after 4pm, on 0734 508434 Unemployed 23 year old man seeks room in shared house fairly urgent. Phone Giles on Rdg. 665140 after 5pm. Wanted: Home for a large white rabbit. Found on London Road, Phone 665447. Wanted: home for vegetarian male. Phone 666528. - - - OBITUARY On Tuesday March 26th, the Old May Fair planned for May 11th passed away peacefully in its sleep after suffering for some time from a case of galloping apathy. It will be greatly missed by the three people closest to it. No flowers. "Not Dead But Resting" With fondest memories Tigger, Kanga and Roo. - - - THE WELL NIGH LEGENDARY GOING OUT GUIDE Sunday 14th Readifolk Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8pm - Crow Jane, free. Butler, Chatham St: jazz, 8pm, free. Hexagon - Bach Mass in B Minor, 7:30pm SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 2pm + 7:45pm Monday 15th Tudor Arms Gay Disco, 8pm, free Nino's, Duke St: Taboo (toured with Dianne Warwick). Out of Town Club, Bath Rd Padworth - Sideways Laughing + Too Sweet to Suck. Watlington House, Watlington St - Reading Trad. Step Dance Club, 8pm. SHP - "Ghostbusters" (PG) 7:45pm only! Hex - Freddie Starr 6:45 + 9:15pm: from £7. "Adults only", eh? Wednesday 17th Jive Dive Club at New Yorker, Queens Walk. Red Rag Social at the Crown, Crown St. DIY disco. Musicians welcome. 8-12. £1/50p. High Wycombe Old Town Hall - Cod Notes. SHP - Die Fledermaus (Strauss' opera) 7:30pm £2.50-£3.50. Thursday 18th Sportsman, Shinfield Rd - Country & Western, 8pm, free. Paradise Club - Fat Boy <> + sound. Stag & Hounds, Maidenhead - folk with Dand & Alison Fenner, 8.15pm Hex - Reading Scout Gang Show, 7pm, £3 Ship Hotel, Duke St: Reading 18 plus "Ghostbusters" disco, 8pm, 90p. SHP - No bloody Ghostbusters!!! SHP - die Fledermaus as 17th. SHP - Scratch Video, 7.45pm, free - "anarchic alternatives to the boring pop promo"> SHP - Coarse Acting Show 2, 7:45pm, £2.50. Friday 19th Gay disco, Tudor Arms, 8pm, free. Veggie Dining, Fairview Community Centre, George St: Indian food, music & dress. Lamb at Eversley - folk, 8pm, free. SHP Cellar Bar - Friday live - local bands - £2/£1, 8-12. Mike Messer - phone me!! Paradise Club - Serious Drinking & the Shadowmen... Hex - Gang Show as 18th. Loddon Hotel, Twyford - "Children's Day" by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall. Tel. Twyford 345600. SHP - die Fledermaus / Coarse Acting: as above. - recital by the Homolka Trio - Haydn, Dvorak etc, 8pm, £3/3.25. - "Cal" (15) 7.45pm. Saturday 20th Loddon Hall Twyford, "Children's Day" as 19th. Jumble Sale, St. Barnabas Hall, Grove Rd, Emmer Green, 7.15pm. Reading Youth Orchestra, Leighton Park School, Shinfield Rd. 7:30pm £3/£1.50. Paradise - Street Level (soul). SHP folk - Erik, 8pm. 210's Graham Ledger gets married & we are all invited to the party? Central Club, London St. - Asher Senator, Young Lion, Mr Palmer, £5. Hex - Gang Show 3pm + 7:30pm, £3. SHP - "Cal" (15) 7.45pm + 11pm. SHP - "die Fledermaus" / "Coarse Acting Show 2": as above. Sunday 21st Readifolk, Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8pm, free. Singer's Night. Butler, Chatham St - jazz, 8pm, free. SHP - "Cal" (15) 7.45pm. SHP - London Early Music Group - English / Italian c17 music, 7:30pm, £3/£2. Hex - Howard Keel, 8pm, £?, who?? Monday 22nd Thatchers Woodley, jazz / funk / soul, 8pm. Jazz at Students Union University, 9pm? SHP - "Cal" (15) 7.45pm. Civic Society - cheese, wine, Slides & A.G.M, Kennet Rm, Civic Offices. A snip at £1. 8pm. Hex - Mike Harding, 7.30, £4-£5.50 Tuesday 23rd Gay disco, Tudor Arms, 8pm, free. SHP jazz: Art Themes, Don Weller, Bill Le Sage Trio 8pm £3/£2.75. SHP - "Cal" (15) 7.45pm. Hex - Mike Harding as 22nd. Wednesday 24th Crown, Crown St - Pandemonium Club: Cacophonists (free / modern jazz) + didgeridoo + sax improvisation. 8:30-11, £1.50/£1. Jive Dive Club at New Yorker, Queens Walk. Gay Disco, Marines, 9-2am, £1.50 with membership card. Hex - Rita Coolidge 9:30 £9/10. SHP - "Cal" (15) 7.45pm. Thursday 25th Sportsman, Shinfield Rd - free Country & Western, 8pm. Party - Dub master clash part one - Sir Coxsone + Unity the Power, 8-late, £3 + concessions... Butler, Chatham St - GT Moore + Terry Clarke, free concert for Ethiopian Aid. Also raffles etc + guests. Stag & Hounds Maidenhead - folk with Alistair Anderson, 8:15pm. SHP - Video screening from SHP workshop, 7:45, free. Ship Hotel, Duke St - film + talk by member of Red Devils parachute team. 8pm, 70p. Reading 18+. Hex - Duncan Prescott, clarinet: 12:45, free. Hex - Gene Ditney, 7:45, £6/7. Friday 26th SHP Cellar Bar - The Teenagers from Outer Space + Lost Weekend. Trash blues, country + rockabilly, £2/1, 8-12. Windsor Old Court Arts Centre - Siren Theatre Co: part of Ox Festival. (Windsor 59421) SHP - "A Private Function" (15) 7:45pm. Hills Meadow, George St Eaversham - Fun Fair... Macrobiotic Meeting & Meal, 7pm, 100 Northumberland Ave. Tel. Wendy on 860813. Folk at the Lamb, Eversley. Part - World Service (funk). Tudor Arms Gay disco 8pm free. Saturday 27th Paradise - Hurricane Force Steel band + disco. SHP folk - Alistair Anderson, 8pm, £1.80/£1.50. Windsor Women's Festival (see above) - "The Guest Stars" in the evening. Central Club - pre summer clash: Sir Marcus Garve, Lion Roots Army, Stalingrad + more. Reading Bach Choir at St. Giles' Church, Southampton St, 7:30. Tel. 478097. Barn Dance, Chiltern Edge School, Reade's Lane, Sonning Common. £2.80 tickets - phone 867053. Hex - Stampfour, free, 10-5. Hex - The Grumbleweeds 6pm + 8:45. SHP - "A Private Function" (15) 7:45pm, 11pm. Sunday 28th Readifolk, Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8pm, free - Singer's Night. Butler, Chatham St - jazz, 8pm, free/ Windsor Women's Festival - Frankie Armstrong in the evening. Hex - "La Vie Parisienne" - spectacular! 7:30. SHP - "A Private Function" (15) 7:45pm. Monday 29th Paradise - Ethiopian Benefit: Screaming Dead + Foreign Legion + The Gathering 9:30-2, £2. Hex - more Parisienne disinformation? Tuesday 30th Paradise - Free Festival Benefit: Emotional Jacuzzi + A Nation Mourns. Join the campaign to make Reading Cultural Capitol of this howling expanse of bases, estates and totems of viablilty. Keep it coming! Phone me with details of your event, before 10:30pm please!! - Hexagon box office 591591 - South Hill Park 0344 484123 - Red Rag Going Out 782178 Mark - - - READING MAY DAY Reading's May Day Festival will once again soon be with us and will take place on Saturday May 4th, from 12-4pm at Reading Centre for the Unemployed. Celebrations will be taking place all over Britain, to remember May Day, which has become established as an International Labour Day. May Day began as an international day of protest, on May 1st 1890, when the International Workers Congress (2nd International) backed the American delegates call for an 8 hour day. They decided by resolution:- "to organise a great international demonstration so that in all countries on one appointed day, the toiling masses shall demand the 8 hour day, and since May 1st 1890 has already been chosen by the American Federation of Labour, this day is accepted for the international demonstration." The American workers had been fighting for several years leading up to 1890 to improve terrible conditions of exploitation at the work place. A series of strikes culminated in brutal police attacks with seven Trade Unionist leaders condemned to hang in a frame-up trial. These became known as the "Hay Market Martyrs". In spite of this severe set back, it was acknowledged at a Congressional hearing that the working day had been shortened. Additionally, May Day has roots going further back into history when on May 1st, Pagans celebrated the renewal of life through the coming of Spring and the growth of crops. In spite of the struggles of workers in the past to improve their conditions of life, we are perpetually being pushed backwards in this respect, and what little has been gained, the ruling government of this country today, attempts to take away: the value of our income; right to decent housing; the right to a job; to a secure, peaceful future. There is no rest, until the working people of this country have organised and won sufficient power to be able to finally take control over their own affairs. It is within this context that the May Day Festival takes place. The main themes this year will be "Peace", "The Right to Work" and a "Future for Britain". Outline of the Festival The Festival begins at 12 with a March leaving Old Shire Hall, making its way through the town centre to the Reading Centre for the Unemployed. During the afternoon, you can hear speakers covering local, national and international issues, and visit stalls from Trade Unions and local community organisations. Other activities are: Debate; Live Music; Video Films; Childrens activities; Refreshments and child care facilities will be available. For the evening (same venue) we hope to present wide variety of local folk music plus a Disco and Vegetarian Supper. (Tickets available from Acorn Bookshop) Please bring your own drink as a Bar will not be provided. (Further publicity available in next Red Rag) - - - POWELL BILL Kenneth Clarke, the health minister, has told the House of Commons the government are planning to minimise delays in abortion services, and improve health education and counselling, especially for young women. He said, 'We shall be seeking to reinforce in every other way the importance of early recognition of pregnancy and recourse to advice when anyone faces a crisis.' If this is true, why aren't the government openly against the attack on abortion rights by Enoch Powell, who wants to see the embryo being sacrosanct, and the Gillick decision in the High Court which outlaws contraception for the under 16s? Because, like other MPs in parliament - over 45 labour MPs voted with Powell - they refused to 'rock the boat' on what they see as an electorally very sensitive issue. If the Powell Unborn Children Bill is passed it will be a serious setback for abortion rights and some forms of contraception by giving legal rights to embryos. And the Bill is rushing through parliament at a speed of knots. The National Abortion Campaign have called a national demonstration in response to these attacks, in London on Saturday 27 April. Already there are people organising to come to the demonstration. The trades council in Swansea are sending a coach as are the Labour Party in Hull, and there are demands on Colchester trades council to send transport. The demonstration will only be as big as socialists, trade unionists and campaigners for women's rights make it. There is no time to be lost. NAC have produced posters, leaflets, badges and stickers for the demonstration. They are available from NAC, Wesley House, 70 Great Queen Street, London WC2. Socialist Worker has produced a fact sheet, leaflet and a model resolution for trade unions - available from P0 Box 82, London E2. Demonstrate Saturday 27 April Assemble 1pm Lincoln Inn Fields London WC1 - - - (paid ad) NEWTOWN COMMUNITY HOUSE meets every 2nd Weds of the month at the community house. Are you looking for premises in Newtown? The community house offers you space and time for new and exciting community groups. 117 Cumberland Road. Contact Kate 68158 / Hazel 662720 - - - WILL THE REAL M. J. MORLEY PLEASE STAND UP? A while back Red Rag received a letter from a person who signed himself as above and created a storm in a teacup. Remember the blank page of 3 months or so ago? Anyway as one of the editorial group involved I chose to reply to the letter personally. I couldn't let the insults to myself and my political comrades pass without comment. I took a long time composing that letter and now what do I find? Mr. M. J. Morley of St. Georges Hall is "not known at this address - return to sender." So if you're reading this Mr. Morley, there is a polite, informative, well-reasoned reply to your abusive piece of drivel, waiting for you to find the bottle to come clean and admit who you are. Or at the very least supply me with a forwarding address, I was rather pleased with the way that letter turned out and I'd hate for it to go to waste and for you to remain in ignorance. Liz Swain - - - JOIN OUR TRADITIONAL NARROWBOAT journeying from London to Runcorn and back. Any length trips, individuals or parties. Vegetarians and women - only weeks arranged. Slowboat, 39 Botley Road, Oxford (0865) 247675 (l-8pm) all summer until October 15th. - - - MAKING ROOM Your problem may be that you haven't really got anywhere to put any plants - or if you're already hooked, any more plants. There are ways. Two principles: if you can't grow anything in it, dig it up (this goes for lawns, concrete, paving, roads, motorways and so on) and if you can't go along, go up. Lawns - useful in moderation for sitting and lying and parties, also some visual relief from all the tumbling undergrowth. I'm not suggesting you dig it all up. If you have clay soil and the ground is still wet be careful - there are underused muscles around your shoulder blades which you can seriously wrench digging up slabs of heavy wet lawn. Sandy soil people can be smug now. (Just wait for the drought!) Whichever you are, it makes sense to dig square turves out, having marked your square by dropping the spade blade into the lawn, using its weight rather than muscle. Then comes the scooping motion that hurts the back. Bend at the knees. Then you can pile up the turves upside down and in a year or two they'll have turned into useful rich soil. If you don't want wireworm to eat whatever you plant, try burying some bits of potato, to which they will flock - and dig them up later in the year. You'll probably need to dig the revealed earth too. A nice idea is to curve out an existing flowerbed where you'll see it from the house, or make a bed under a dull wall so you can grow things in it. Concrete - if it's old and cracked, try prising it up and see what's underneath, or plant creeping plants in the cracks. There's a wonderful metal rod type of tool which shatters concrete as you drop it on it, but I believe it's quite tough going. A problem here is what to do with loads of unwanted slabs of concrete, if you can't get them to the tip or into a friendly nearby skip. You could try offering them to the Rotarians to make another "garden feature" like the one near Acorn Bookshop... Containers can be stood on any remaining concrete - depending on your style they can be handthrown terracotta objets d'art, or tatty buckets with (necessary) holes in. The big problem here is watering - every day in summer. Seriously. Very sunny sites may not be advisable, or things like hanging baskets that are a pain to water. Increasing your vertical scope doesn't mean you have to buy lots of trellises to support plants in the wall. If you can get nails or staples (big ones from Cooks in Silver St. - hard to get into new mortar) into your wall, then wires run across it with string tied taut between them will support plants well and even last the winter. That's for outside. Indoors the "up the wall" principle holds, if you invest in those Chinese wall baskets from the cooking gear place in Friar's Walk (45p - 65p each). A wall covered with those at different heights with houseplants in, some trailing, some bushy, transforms a mere room into Kew Gardens, and keeps your surfaces clear of plants. They tend to tip a bit when you water, so it's best to lift them off the wall for a minute while you do it. Next time - slugs. Ladybird - - - (paid ad) VIDEO COURSE Do you want to learn how to use video? Community groups and projects can often benefit from the use of video. Do you have limited access to equipment and resources? The ten week course will cover all aspects of basic video, including camera work sound, lighting, and how to edit the finished tapes (2 sessions at SHP media dept- free transport). The workshops will be mainly practical but will also include discussions on locally available equipment, the different ways video can be used, the cost involved in making a video and how to distribute the finished product. There will also be screenings of independent videos. tuesdays 8-9.30pm 23 april - 25 june Reading Centre for the Unemployed 4-6 East st Reading for further details contact robert......rdg 875277 (days) clive.......rdg 595605 (eves) The course has been heavily subsidised but there will be a nominal fee of 50p per session (25p-reductions)/ Come along and register at the start of the course. Tues 23 April at 7:30pm. funded by Reading council for community work training organized by Real Time video collective - - - (paid ad) Panther Presents FATBOY STUDIO + Surgery Sounds At the Carribean Club, London St Thurs 18th April 8pm - late Waged £2 U/waged £1 - - - WOMEN'S MEETING Women's Meeting at Reading Centre for the Unemployed. Wednesday April 17th 12.30 p.m. An informal meeting with Karen Morton the new RCU Women's Worker. To discuss needs of women in Reading area, setting up of courses, projects and workshops for women. Creche available for Children 18 months - 5 years. Sandwiches on sale at snackbar or bring your own. If you can't make the meeting but have ideas or info pop in to the centre, Karen is available most days and would be pleased to see you. - - - EVENTS in and around Reading from April 15th Mon 15 Applied Rural Development I: First of three events. Am at Plant Science Dept, pm at Rural Extension Centre at the University. £8.50. Details: D.Stafford, 10 Highfield Close, Wokingham (send large sae). For this one you'll just have to turn up on spec. Tue 16 Why Kill Baha'is? Talk: Committee Room, AUEW, 121 Oxford Road. 8pm. Free. Cycle Campaign: 8pm, UB Cycles, London St. Business meeting. NB coming soon: National Bike Week, May 11-18. Wed 17 Rural Development II (see 15th): pm at the Univ. Engineering Dept. (Small-scale energy sources) £4.60. Tree Club; Walk around Whiteknights wilderness. Meet "Tate & Lyle" car park (apparently there is one), Plant Sciences Building, 6pm. Red Rag Main Event Social: 8-late, the Crown, Crown St. £1 (50p) Late bar, DIY disco (bring records), music, food (bring some). Don't miss it. Thur 18 Unemployment: Whose Problem? Informal course starts at Centre for the Unemployed, East St. 1-3pm. This week: Benefits - understanding the system (or not, as seems more likely) Fri 19 Rural Development III (see 15th): Day around Harwell: lessons from Oxfordshire in transport etc. £7 incl lunch. Brunel's civil engineering works over 150 yrs: lecture: Abbey Gateway, the Forbury. 7.30. Free. Veggie dining: Cooking by the people for the people, but not of the people. 7.30, Fairview Centre, bottom of George St. Tickets in advance from Acorn Bookshop. NB Acorn does not run the event and can't reserve tickets. There will be candlelight, Indian food and live Indian music. Buy tickets from Acorn Bookshop early. £2.00 waged, £1.50 unwaged. Indian Dress. Sat 20 Berks Conservation Volunteers; Booksale, Bracknell bandstand, 8.30 am - 5. Friends of the Earth Acid Rain petition in town. More details Rdg. 868260 Mon 22 Civic Society: AGM, with slides of Reading, wine & cheese. £1, Kennet Room, Civic Offices. 8pm. Details 696034. Friends of the Earth business meeting discussing Pesticides Campaign, etc. St. Mary's Centre 8p.m. Tue 23 East African Wildlife; slide show for the deaf by Robert illmor. 7.30, Wilson Centre, Wilson Road. 50p. Thur 25 Unemployment: see 18th. This week: Co-ops. Red Rag: Copy deadline and planning meeting for next issue. If you'd like to help with the next issue phone Paul on 481081 for more details. Fri 26 Maps and Genealogy: Talk. Park Utd. Reform Church Ha 11, Wokingham Rd. 7pm. Details? John Gurnett 415169. Sat 27 World Day for Laboratory Animals. For details of a co-ordinated march on Wickham Laboratories, Fareham, ring 01-601-1545. Red Rag: Lay-out and paste-up from c10am. For where, ring Paul 481081. Sun 28 Red Rag: Folding and distribution, from 11am. Help always very very welcome. Venue: ask Paul. Coley Nurseries: open day. "What you should be doing". Why not go tell them what they should be doing? Off Wensley Rd. 2.30-6. Free. Mon 29 Reading and District Vegans: planning meeting 8pm, 1 Orrin Close, Tilehurst. Tue 30 Co-operative Development Agency: Open meeting. 7.30, Centre for Unemployed, East St. - - - ORGANISATIONS Anarchists: Mondays. Box 19, Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St. Amnesty; 2nd Thurs of month, St Mary's Centre, Chain St. Jean 472598. Berks Anti-Nuclear Campaign / CND; General meeting 2nd Tues. PO Box 158. West: Ed Wilson 594855. East: Steve Gavin 663177. South: Stanley Plimsoll 861183. Cav'm: Ruth Winchester 482881. Berks Conservation Volunteers: Sundays: practical conservation Keith, Bracknell 56796. PO Box 165, Reading. Berks Humanists: 2nd Fri, 774871. Communists: 2nd Tues, AUEW, 121 Oxford Rd. Eileen 477913. Cycle Campaign: 2nd Mon, 8pm at UB Cycles, London St. John 483183 or John 64667. Cyclists' Touring Club: Richard, Bracknell 50849. Ecology Party; 1st & 3rd Mon, 8 College Rd & 38 Long Barn Rd respectively. Maria 55415. Friends of the Earth: John or Anne Booth 868260. Greenham Support (women): Fortnightly mtgs. Night watch every Thurs, contact via Women's Centre. History of Reading : 1st Tues, Abbey Gateway, the Forbury. Labour History; Monthly. Mike 867789 or Kathy 590139. Labour Militant: Ian 666734. LPYS: Weds, Fairview Centre, George St, 8pm. Men's Group: Weekly. Box 28, Acorn Bookshop. Miner's Support: Thurs, TGWU, 36 King's Rd. 590311. Nat. Council for Civil Libs: 2nd Mon, St Mary's Centre, Chain St. Paul 861582. Newtown Community Ass.: Alternate Weds, 7.30, 117 Cumberland Rd. Peace Pledge Union; Monthly. 588459, 374532 or Box 110, Acorn Bookshop. Reading Birth Centre: 3rd Tues. 61330. Rg. Org, for Animal Rights: 1st Tues., the Crown, Crown St. Dave 54098 or Geoff 476529. Shelter: 1st Thurs, Centre for Unemployed, East St, 8pm. Mark Goldup 863153. Socialist Workers: Weds, 8pm, Red Lion, Southampton St. Vegans: 1st Sun, 1 Orrin Clo, Tilehurst. Liz or Steve 21651 Workers' Power: 584558. Women's Centre: Open Sat 11-3. Basement, Old Shire Hall, Abbey St. No tel. All women & kids welcome. Meetings on 'first of the month', 7.30. Reading Centre for the Unemployed (RCU): Open 9-30-4.30 M-F not Fri mornings. 4-6 East St 596639. Reading Between the Lines. Red Rag's guide to Reading, has details of many more groups and organisations than are listed here. It costs 5Op from bookshops and other outlets. - - - HELP? Alcoholics Anon: 597494 24hrs Age Concern: 598097 Family planning clinic: 24 Craven Rd. 864621 10-1. Gingerbread: (1-parent family support) contact via CAB Citizen's Advice Bureau: St Mary's Butts. 598059. Incest Survivors' Group: Write c/o Rape Crisis Line Housing & Welfare Rights: Centre for Unemployed 596639. Housing Aid Centre: 55911, Civic Offices. Nightline: 872268 6pm - 8am in Univ. term time. No.5: 585858. Help for young people. 24 Sackville st. Pregnancy testing: Tues 7-9, Women's Centre, Abbey St. Free Bring urine sample from first pee of the day. Parents Anon: 587154. Rape Crisis Line; 55577. Staffed Sun 7.30-10.30; 24 hr answerphone. Readibus (transport for old & disabled): 591121 Reading Gay & Lesbian Helpline 597269, Tues and Fri 8-10pm. Info and support. Samaritans: 58454, 24 hrs. 154 Southampton St, 9am - 10pm. Special clinic (VD etc): 863355 before 12 noon. - - - COURSES Aikido: Tues, St Saviour's Hall, Berkeley Ave. 667863. Alternative medicine: Weds 1-3, RCU. Astrology: Beginners' class, contact Sue 669571. Allotments: Weds 10-12; 9.45 transport from R.C.U. Cartooning: Mon 1-3 ROU. No drawing ability needed. Colour photography: Thur 12-3, RCU. Materials provided. Hindi Classes: Mon 4.30-5.30, Indian Community Centre 2 Norris Rd, 667262. Punjabi; Wed 4.30-5.30, Indian Community Centre. Painting: Mon 7-9, Tues 10-12 Old Town Hall, Blagrave St. 55911 or 661289. Sahaja Yoga: Fri 7.30 St David's Hall, London Rd, room 3. Free. Screenprinting; Tues 1-3, RCU. Also at Newtown Community House, 117 Cumberland Rd. Contact Clive 595605. Trad. Festival Dance: Wed 7.45-10, Friends' Mtg House, Church St. 75p. Anna 864665. Unemployment: Whose Problem? Thurs 1-3, RCU. Video: Enrol Tues 23rd April 7.30, RCU. 10 weeks. 50p per session. Clive 595605. Women's Dance; Wed 8pm, Women's Centre, Abbey St. Self-awareness & confidence. Indian vegetarian cooking: 5 weeks from 3 June. Mon 1-3, RCU. Reading Adult College: 55575 WEA: 86779 or 472546 WEA Industrial Branch: 872464 Univ Extra-mural Dept: 875234 Tech. College: 583501 - - - Free Course at RCU Thursdays 1.00 - 3.00 p.m. UNEMPLOYMENT: WHOSE PROBLEM? A practical, informal group looking at the social effects of unemployment in Reading. All welcome. Creche open. 18th April Benefits: understanding the system. Are you claiming all you are entitled to? Where do you go when things go wrong? 25th April Alternatives To Employment: Co-ops. What is a co-op? Is it a real alternative for you? Co-op or self employment? How do you set one up? Where does the money come from? Who can help? Training: will it help me? Is it the answer to unemployment? Future Courses (next Rag) - Voluntary Work, Health, Family Life, Reading - Boom Town: Or Is It? Further details - ring Jenny at RCU 596639. - - - TAI CHI at the University, Students Union, Main Hall. Wednesdays 24th April - 10th July inclusive. Main class 1 - 2.30 p.m. Additional practice 12-1 p.m. Contact Nick Booth Rdg. 875123 extn. 6221 or 873672 - - - READING MINERS SUPPORT GROUP Meetings on the 18th & 25th of April Will be at the A.U.E.W. Hall on the Oxford Road, starting at 7.30pm. Newcomers very welcome. - - - RIDE FOR LIFE '85 'Star' Bike Rides to Molesworth arriving Friday April 26th. Following last year's successful Ride For Life Around Wales cyclists from all over Britain are invited to take part in this year's expanded event. Cycle rides are planned to start from points all over the U.K., to converge on Molesworth from all points of the compass. Each arm of the star is being organised independently, so get in touch with the South-East co-ordinator: Martin Legg, 47A Thornton Ave., Streatham Hill, London, SW2 4BD. Tel. 01-671-1965, or contact the overall link-person: Tony Fletcher, Tel. Swansea 49825 (home) or Swansea 468500 (work). All anti-nuclear cyclists welcome! - - - POSTIES The Red Rag Postal Service / Publication Exchange ? Why not have Red Rag posted to a friend living outside the Reading distribution area; Wokingham, Pangbourne, Henley or ex-Reading folks who have moved further afield. - All you need to do is send the name and address of the person requiring the Rag - and name of the donor if it's a pressie - plus an amount to cover postage. A pound will give someone the delights of Reading's only for 2 or 3 months. When the subscription runs out, I'll send them a reminder so they can renew it if they wish. - Also if you know of any other community newspaper around, please let us know and we'll be glad to do an exchange - new ideas always useful and welcome. At present we receive the Leeds Other Paper, Exeter's Flying Post and Sheffield's alternative paper. These are available in the Rag box at Acorn. - So next time you write to your granny up north or a friend who has moved further south, ask them if they can sound out local community publications. No postage required for exchanges! Subscriptions, other publications, cheques, views, etc should be sent to Red Rag (Posties), Box 79, 17 Chatham Street, Reading, Berkshire. Happy Days, Paul (present postal personage) - - - Ods Un Sods Fanzine presents A BENEFIT GIG IN AID OF THE ETHIOPIAN FAMINE APPEAL Screaming Dead + supports Foreign Legion (from S. Wales) The Gathering Live in Reading, at the Paradise Club (London Street - formerly Carribean Club) Mon 29th April Doors open at 9:30. Bar till 2 £2.00 on door. - - - SACRIFICIAL LAMBS Thursday April 11th saw report in any papers of an attack by 2 men on 2 Greenham women. One of the women in her 40s was taken to hospital with broken ribs and internal bleeding, while the other was cut and bruised. What the media failed to point out was that there is convincing evidence that the attackers were American servicemen from the base. The evidence for this is: a) The camp which had only been set up a day before was far from the road in the woods near the fence. Consequently only those in the base were likely to know of its existence. b) The spotlights on that bit of fence had been switched off that evening. c) The men were of servicemen age with short hair. d) Neither man spoke at all. Another incident which occurred nearly a year ago at Orange Gate had the same sense of real hatred., panning and a desire to cause physical harm, and was almost certainly the work of Americans. A woman woke about 4a.m. to hear someone grinding their foot into the ground beside her tent. She shouted for help and the man ran away. When other women searched the area they found a tennis ball filled with petrol and a candle wick which had been stripped of wax, also a half bottle of petrol and some pornographic magazines. Beside and on top of the wax candle chippings were several cigarette butts of the Saalem brand which are very popular among the American servicemen. Later that day men in a car entering the base shouted to the women to the effect that they wouldn't fail next time. Other incidents at the camp where local men have come to cause trouble have been very obviously different. They are usually at midnight and involve car loads of drunks throwing things or setting fire to the bushes. The vigilante season is obviously beginning again at Greenham, and as daily evictions with small numbers of women make it impossible for us to do night watches as well, our only defence against vigilante attacks is by having women who feel they cannot be at the camp during the day to come at night and watch for us while we sleep, or to have sufficient women there all the time. There is sometimes the sense that women who are at the camp regularly are martyrs for the Greenham network. They sit ere all day and sleep there all night so that others can stay at home and carry on as usual, only paying the odd visit to bring wood or food. Ideally every woman who believes that Greenham is a worthwhile focus for protest should be taking a turn there, so that no one need be a sacrificial lamb for the movement. The amazing hot food network which has worked so well all winter will be stopping at the end of April, and some women at the camp have suggested that the network and resources which have been used to bring them hot food in the past could now be used to bring women and to allow women to stay at the camp for a week or so at a time. All the cries of "Ah well, I have to look after the children, I have to work, I have to look after my husband / dog mother etc." could be tackled by that network, allowing women the freedom to come to the camp. Of course, that challenges the norm of nuclear families much more than cooking and delivering hot meals, so it remains to be seen whether the idea will take hold or not. Ann Fairnington. - - - ACORN'S OTHER BIT Fancy a skill sharing co-operative service oriented job in Reading's oldest etablished alternative resource centre and bookshop? We are looking for a person who doesn't mind working hard for low pay, who can handle the hassle of 5 things happening at the same time, who is prepared to learn how to handle a printing press (not as hard as it sounds), who can commit themselves to a full time job for some time. All training provided. If you think you might be suitable please come along for a chat or phone to arrange a time. We are an equal opportunities employer but are looking for a woman to maintain the balance. Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading, phone 584425. - - - RED RAG BENEFIT Weds. 17th April 8-12 Fun! A social gathering at... The Crown Pub, Crown St. D.I.Y. disco - bring records & tapes. Bar ext. Fun! Bring along some food. Fun! Musicians welcome ... take along your instruments £1 - on door £0.50p - UB40, or fill in s/o form. - - - Well, that's enough for now, I do hope you enjoyed is as much as I did. - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1985/1985-04-14.txt#4 $