Red Rag Nov 14 Free Next Issue: Copy Deadline Thursday 24th. Nov. Offers of Help: 666681 News:666324 666681 Events:37 3117 aping Out: 507598 Distribution: 665676 Money : Cheques to 'Red Rag' to Flat 7, 66 Wokingham Head. Send stuff to: Red Rag,c/o Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St, Reading. - - - MOLESWORTH Dear Red Raggers Being in Reading we're sure you all know about Greenham Common and its connection with American Cruise Missiles, but you may have never heard of Molesworth (Peace Camp). Molesworth has been allocated the second batch of Cruise Missiles to arrive in 1986; if we're all still here. The Peace Camp at Molesworth has been outside the base for nearly two years. We're a group of about 20 people. Unlike Greenham we are a mixed camp, with men and women from all walks of life. The age range is extremely large, the youngest being nine months old, the oldest being about 60. As I've already said, our peace vigil has lasted for nearly two years, and within that time we've carried out many, many actions demonstrating our disapproval of the governments' (US and British) plans for the base. Our actions/demos are, at present, aimed at the local people thus they are usually large local events and not large national events. The advantage of this is one of complementing rather than competing with Greenham, publicity-wise at least. Building hasn't yet begun at the base, so if you'd like to see what a Cruise Missile base looks like before a Cruise Missile (or SS201) does, you know where to come. We welcome anybody for any length of time - a day, a weekend, a month, a year. Zoot Molesworth Peace Camp Warren Lane, Fayway, Clopton Kettering, Northants, NN14 3DZ - - - STOP THE CITY On Friday defendants from Stop The City action appeared before magistrates court guildhall London, on the 2nd of the 3 major trial dates. Most were on obstructing the highway charges - charges obstructing a Police officer were dropped. Those with previous convictions were generally given a fine of £20 with £10 costs. Those with no previous convictions were given conditional discharge for 6 months. Although I was on a conditional discharge already (from Upper Heyford) this was accidentally overlooked by the court and I got another 6 months conditional discharge! - and didn't have to pay any costs. Andrew - - - GOING OUT Index Hex: Hexagon Queens Walk 591591. Target: by Tesco's at the Butts 585887. Tudor Arms: Greyfriars Rd. Central Club: bottom of London St 54421. Caribbean Club: top of London St 51312. Uni: University (Students Union Whiteknights Campus unless stated different) 860222. RFT: Reading Film Theatre Uni Site Palmer Building. Treats :Kings Rd. Progress Theatre: off Cnristchurch Rd 874230. Bulmershe Coll: Woodlands Rd Earley 666506. South Hill Park: Near A322 Bagshot Rd Bracknell (arts centre) 9l 27272. Angie's: Milton Rd Wokingham 789912. Mon 14 Hex: Berks Sinfonietta (schools concerts) 10.30+ 2pm kids £1 teachers free. 7.30 Blaster Bates £2.50- 3.50. Bulmershe: A Place In Europe 7.30 £2.50 + concessions. Apollo Oxford: Hot Chocolate 7.30 £4.50-7. Tue 15 Hex: 8am Beaujolais Breakfast £2.75 in advance only. 7.30 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra £4-7. Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Central Club: Peaches Disco 8-late £1. Uni: Disco 8-1 probably about 60p. Target: Keylover 8ish free. SHP: 7.30 Jabberwocky £2+conc also on 16th. 8pm Five Leaf Clover £2.40 (New Orleans Jazz). 8pm Talk on Scott Fitzgerald 50p. Mill Sonning: Last of the Red-hot Lovers 8.15 £10.50-12.50, matinee 2pm £7.50 to 3rd Dec (inc meal) Playhouse Oxford: Marat/Sade. 8pm £2.65. to 19th. Specials on:- 15th 2 seats for l; 19th performances at 4+8pm £2+£3.25 (film version is fine so this should be good). Wed 16 Hex: Transglobe Express 79-82 (talk) 7.30 £2-3. RFT: A Good Marriage 8pm £1.60*» conc frivolous french film. Apollo Oxford: Russ Abbott's Madhouse Show 7.30 £4.50- 6. Central Studio Cliddesden Rd Basingstoke: The Servant of Two Masters 7.30 £2+conc (classic comedy). Thu 17 Hex: 12.45 Violin Recital free. 7.30 Reading Symphony Orcnestra £2-5 +conc. Uni Great Hall London Rd: Piano Duet 8pm £2 +conc. RFT: Cat People 7.30 & 10pm £1.60 +conc. (basic story is women = cats). Target: Spring Heel Jack 8ish £1. SHP: Sweeney Todd 7.45 £1.90 to 19th. Angies: The West 8-12 £1/2. Central Studio: QMC 7.30 £1 +conc (Orch + Wind Ensemble). Fri 18 Caribbean Club: Sounds played by an American DJ. 8-late £1.50. Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Target: Octel 77 Roadshow 8ish free. SHP: 8pm Yolange Wrigley + Bernard Roberts £3.20 (recital). 9pm Roy Harper £3.25, £3.50 on day Angies: The London Appaches 8-12 £1/2 Apollo Oxford: Val Doonican 7.30 £3.50-6. Central Studio: Great Expectations 7.30 £2 +conc (radical adaptation) Sat 19 Hex: 9.30am Brass Band Festival £1. 7.30 Sound of Brass And Voices £2.50-£3.50. Christ Church Christchurch Rd: Concert by Reading Bach Choir 7ish £? Caribbean Club: West Indian Annual Domino Dance 8-late £7 St Giles Southampton St. Reading: Haydn Choir 8pm £? Uni: All Night Film Show no details known at university yet. Target: English Rogues 8ish 50p. SHP: 8pm Come All Ye £1.50 Folk 8pm A Lot on the Blandscape £2.50 (contemporary cabaret) All day Video Festival £2. Angies: Ruthless Blues 8-12 £1-2. Sun 20 Target: Octell 77 8isn free. Hex: Precisely Percussion 7.30 £2-3.50 (drums and things). Merry Maidens Shinfield Rd: Jazz 8ish free. Caversham Bridge Hotel: Readifolk 8ish free. Treats: Jive Dive 8-late £1.50 Angies: The Time(UK) 8-late £1/2. Mon 21 Hex: The Nolans 7.30 £3-5. Tue 22 Hex: Kelly Monteith 7.30 £3-5. Uni: SPK 8-late £2/2.5ish often approaches white noise. Uni Palmer G19: Campus Concert 1.10pm 20p. Progress Theatre: Getting Plenty 7.45 +conc (Temba Theatra Company). Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Central Club: 'Peaches' 8ish £1. Target: band to be announced 8ish. SHP: 7.30 The Front £2+ conc also on 23rd. 8pm Talk on Edward Albee 50p. 8pm Terry Smith + Lennie Best Quartet £2.40 (jazz). Playhouse Oxford: The Changeling 8pm £2.65. specials on:- 22nd 2 seats for 1; 24th mat 2pm £1.50; 26th 4+8pm £2+3.25. to 26th Wed 23 RFT: Yol 8pm £1.60 + conc (critically acclaimed Turkish film) Progress Theatre: as above. Playhouse Oxford: Serendipity Bop 11pm £1.75 to 26th. Central Studio: Scanners 7.30 £1 +conc (Gory Film). Thu 24 Hex: Mayors Market 10.15-5pm 15p RFT: Aspern 8pm £1.60 +conc. St George's Hall, St George's Rd: Peter + the Sad Princess 7.30 Sat mat 2.50 £1 + conc to 26th. Target: Chinatown 8ish £1. SHP: 7.30 A Midsummers Night Sex Comedy £2 +conc to 27th. 7.45 Alpha Beta £2.50 to 26th Apollo Oxford: Max Boyce 7.30 £4.50-7.(awful) Central Studio: Midas Piano Trio 7.30 £3 +conc. Angie's: Jeep 8-12 £1/2. Fri 25 Tudor Arms: Gay Disco 8ish free. Christ Church Christchurch Rd: Play of Adam 8pm £2 +conc also on 26th. Unemployment Centre South St: Video + Film Night with 'Rosie the Riveter!', 'The Point is to Change It', 'The Double Day' + many others 8 - 1lpm £1 (part of Reading Women at Work Exhib) Caribbean Club: The Orson Family 9-late £2 (manic rockabilly I'm told). Target: Octell 77 Roadshow 8ish free SHP: 8pm Vocem £3.20 voice recital? 9pm Sunwind £2.50 (jazz). 1lpm Richard Pryor Live on Sunset Strip £2 + conc also on 26th. Angie's: The Vetoe's 8-12 £1/2. Sat 26 Hex: Stamp Fair 10-5pm free. 7.30 Main Street + Urban Warrior + Geisha Girls £2.50. Progress Theatre: The Ramsbottam Chronicles 2.30 £1.25 (Kids theatre). Leighton Park School Shinfield Rd: Bach's Christmas Oratoria 7pm £1.50. Caribbean Club: Barbados Independence Anniversary Dance 8-late £2.50 £3 on door prob with Hurricane Force. Uni: The Cherry Boys 7-30 £2. Target: Tne Dagger Band 8ish 50p. SHP: Jonn Kircpatrick 8pm £1.50 folk. Angie's: KKKhan 8-late £l/2. Apollo Oxford: Billy Connolly 7-30 £5/6. Sun 27 Hex: Arion Orch 7-30 £2-4 +conc Merry Maidens: Jazz 8ish free. Caversham Bridge Hotel: Readifolk 8ish free. Treats: Jive Dive 8-12 £1.50. Target: Tracer Roadshow 8ish free. SHP: 12.15 Friend or Foe + serial + shorts 80p (for Kids really) 8pm Horatio Raphael £2.25 (recital) Angie's: Juvessence 8-12 £1/2. Every Sunday 8-11ish G.T.Moore + friends (folk, Reggae, Rock & Roll) Free. At Alfreds Head, Bedford Rd. (opposite central swimming pool) Get a grip on any situation! - use a torque wrench - - - ACORN One reason we've not written a 'bit' lately is that we've been busy! This is good news, but it makes for hectic times. First, an appeal for help:- If anyone has experience of repairing gas-fired hot air boilers, could they contact Ian at Acorn. Our heating boiler need fixing and it's getting cold! There's a lot of good books coming out lately - here's a selection:- The Ostrich Position/Carol Lee - on sex education, whether sex is in fact no longer taboo, how we talk about it. Title Fight/Andrew Lumsden and Gill Hanscombe - about what really happened at Gay News and why it folded. Fascinating inside story - every movement project should write theirs! Battle for Bermondsey/Peter Tatchell - what happened to Tatchell and the Labour Party. Trouble with Tranquillisers/Release - good basic pamphlet about how to cope with tranquillisers, why they're prescribed, problems of coming off. Peace Camp Book - loads of pictures of peace campers. Alternative Printing Handbook - good introduction to artwork, preparation, description of different processes with lots of different examples. The If Chronicles - Steve Bell cartoons. More Frustration - Claire Bretcher cartoons. The Meaning of Life/Douglas Adams and John Lloyd - the book to 'change your life'. The Bad Days Will End - this one just might: new Spectacular Times handbook. Also lots of new gay novels and more children's books (suggestions for children's books welcome). Diaries and Calendars galore - Spare Rib, Women Artists, Peace, Big Red, Gay Men's, Everywoman's, Women Writers', Past Participants (lesbian), Women's Calendars, Better Day Calendar and Black History Calendar. Phew. We now stock Traidcraft tea and coffee, where more of what you pay goes to the producers and not the multinationals. And (if we can handle it') we'll be open Mondays (28th Nov, 5th, 12th, and 19th Dec) as well as Tues-Sat 10-6. - - - EVENTS NOV 14-27 14 Monday Anarchists weekly meeting. For time and venue contact Box 191 Acorn Bookshop. The Great Lunchtime Debate 1.00pm-2.00pm. The Vachell Room, Hexagon. 'One Man, One Vote'- A case for Change?' Free admission; bring your lunch. WEA Capitalism Course Public Expenditure and Privatisation. 7.30pm. £1. Free to unwaged. Reading Centre for the Unemployed. Caversham Anti-Nuclear Group Planning Meeting, 70 St Peter's Avenue, 8pm. University Public Lecture: 'Stenton Lecture'. "Nuremberg and After: The Continuing History of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity". Professor G Best. 5pm Faculty of Letters Lecture Theatre. BANC West Reading CND; 19 Hollins Walk, 8pm. 15 Tuesday NCCL Reading group meeting, St Mary's Centre, 7.45 Discussing Freedom of Information and Police Bills. Reading Health Watch campaign, meeting 6pm Reading centre for the Unemployed. This is the day the Health Authority decides what jobs to try and cut. Come and help the fight back. 16 Wednesday May Day 1984: Meeting to assess resources available for Readings May Day 1984, and to decide what kind of May Day to go for. New people are needed to take on the advance work of organising premises, making contacts organising co-ordinating or doing fundraising, publicity, rounding up attractions, and so on. Anyone interested in working on a suitable play for May Day would also be very welcome at this meeting. Reading Centre for the unemployed, 7.30pm 18 Friday Christmas Bazaar organised by Save the Children Fund St Mary's Centre, The Butts. 9.30am-1.30pm. 19 Saturday Christmas Market with Mini-auction. Abbey Baptist Church Hall, Abbey Street, 9.30am-2pm. Auction 1pm. Admission free. Woodley/Earley Peace Group Public meeting 8pm. Coronation Hall, Headley Rd. Geoffry Downton on Non-nuclear defence. R.O.A.R Stall at corner of Broad St. and West St 10am to 4pm. 20 Sunday Red Rag Collective Meeting 4.00pm community house, 117 Cumberland Rd, will discuss possible free stall at Ecology Fayre on 26 November. Reading Vegans A.G.M. 2.30pm Richard + Viv Lund 11 Beverly Rd Tilehurst. Phone 4l2l62. Heartfelt plea - "please try and attend this annual opportunity to air your views on the groups activities + to influence its future. 21 Monday University Gay Soc: Peter Tatchell speaking about his new book 'The Battle for Bermondsey' and about the Labour Party + Gay Rights 8pm Students Union Whiteknights. Everyone welcome. Anarchists regular meeting. For venue contact Box 19 Acorn Bookshop. W.E.A Capitalism Course "Capitalism in Reading" Led by Kieth Jerome. "What do we know of our local economy and how does it relate to the development of capitalism nationally and internationally?" Reading: Women and Work Exhibition 21st - 26th. A photographic exhibition will be displayed at Reading centre for the unemployed. Videos, pictures, tape slides, oral histories of Reading's Women talking about their lives and work. Today: 11.00am - opening by the mayor Mrs Lawrence. Speaker- Valerie Wise (Chairperson of GLC womens sub-committee). 12.30 - 2.00pm Discussion. Women and work strategies 11.00- 8.00pm tape slides/videos. Education Otherwise Speaker: Jane Clitheroe. Organised by Reading Branch of National Childbirth trust. Community Health Council Gun Street 8pm. Tel 65648 for details. Caversham Anti-Nuclear Group Letter writing meeting. 5 Oak Lea Rd. 8pm 22 Tuesday University Public Lecture Richard Wagner: the last hundred years of the future. Mr N.M. Burton Lecturer in Music. 8pm G10 Palmer Building Whiteknights. Berkshire organic gardeners "Plant experiments at the Henry Doubleday research association" a talk by Pauline Pears. 7.30pm St Marys Centre (off Chain street) All Welcome. Bookstall + seeds. Women and Work Exhibition (for info see Mon 21st) Computer Day- displays, demonstrations and discussions. 10.00 to 8.00pm continuous showing of Tape slides/videos. 23 Wednesday WEA "Workers writing" John Still leads an evening of discussion and workshops on the theme of workers and writing. Reading centre for unemployed. East St. 7.30- 9.30pm Women as Workers (see Wed 16th) "Alternative economic strategy and women" Tess Woodcraft. Peace Pledge Union: meeting at 11 George Street, 8pm. All interested welcome. 24 Thursday Red Rag Copy Deadline + editorial meeting 8pm Acorn Bookshop. In which we decide what to put in the next issue. Please write something and bring it with you. Young Vegetarians Meeting The Sun, 8pm Tel 866259 for details. Talk: "Recent advances in the treatment of diabetes" St Marys Centre, Chain St 7.30pm Free Admission. Tree Club: Tree preservation. 7.30pm Lecture theatre 2 Reading University, London Rd. Tilehurst CND meeting St Micheals Cottage, Routh lane 8pm Women and work exhibition: Black womens day. Film: Union Maids 3pm. 25 Friday Women & Work exhibition (see Mon 21st) Photography Day: Take your own self-portraits and obtain the results. Evening - Films: "The point is to change it" 8.00-10.00pm (£1.00) "Rosie the Riveter" "The Double Day" 26 Saturday Eco-Fayre St Marys Centre. Environmental/alternative groups including FOE, will be purveying goods and ideas to all comers. Please let us know if you can make things to sell, or want to help on the day. 2-5pm Room 1, Contact Maria 663195 Wargames: Warfare '83. Programme to include wargames and painting competitions etc. Reading Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading 10am-5pm. Needs a demonstration - contact Andrew 37 3117 27 Sunday Warfare 83 - as above. Forthcoming Event Sat 10th December- action Against Cruise in Reading. Details to be arranged. Tel Ed 594855 with ideas. Stop Press P.P.U. Day of action at High Wicombe, demo in the town centre at 11 am, blockade of hunker at Daws Hill 6:30am. Also action at Nap Hill. Be there: December 19th. Phone campaign atom on Oxford 726441 Regular Events City Farm Meetings still held on Wednesdays 7.30pm in the staff room, Ashmead School, Whitley. Work continues on the site. After School Club Newtown Community House, 117 Cumberland Road, Newtown. Mon and Thurs 4.00pm-5.30pm. See noticeboard and local schools for details of activities etc. Thurs:- inflatables at St John's School. Mon:- swimming. Young Vegetarians Meeting last Thursday of every month (except December) The Sun, Castle Street, 8pm. Details 866259. Berks Humanists Second Friday of the month. 8pm-10pm. Friends Meeting House, Reading 21307 or Wokingham 780944 for details. East Reading Adventure Playground Palmer Park, Reading. 11am-6pm. Tues-Sat. Tel 665313 Anyone interested/talented/free - with ideas to share should contact Sandy or Bob on 665313, or call round during opening hours for a chat. Help and suggestions always welcome. Housing and Welfare Rights Community House, 117 Cumberland Road, Newtown, Reading. 8pm-9pm Thursdays. Share your problems and knowledge. Women's Centre Abbey Street, Reading. Open Tues, Weds 10.30am-2.00pm; Sat 12.00-4.00pm. Also free pregnancy testing Tues 7-9pm. Bring urine sample from first pee of the day. Shared Childcare group Thurs 10.30am-lunchtime. Women's Self Defence Reading Centre for the Unemployed, East Street. 1pm-3pm every Friday from now to Dec 9th. Free for unwaged. Creche available. Reading Gay Switchboard Ring 597269 8pm-10pm Tues and Fri. Anarchists Meet Monday evenings. For venue contact Box 19 Acorn Books. East Reading Rights Group Stall outside the church on Cemetery Junction, every Saturday 11am-1pm. SWAG (Charity Paper Collection) Skips at Superkey, Palmer Park, Northumberland Avenue, St Martin's Precinct, Great Knollys Street Recreation Ground. 8.30am-12.30pm first Saturday of the month. Central Club Bottom of London Street, Reading Fridays: 10.30am-4.00pm creche. Fridays: 3pm Uprising, a new Black women's support group. Come and tell us what you'd like to do; what you'd like to see; what you're interested in. FOE Paper Collection Door to door in Great Knollys Street. First Saturday of the month. Meet 11am George Street Chippy. Newtown Community Press Silkscreen workshops. Fridays 10 to 1. Free. Newtown Community House 117 Cumberland Kd. - - - WATCH OUT! THERE'S A POLICE BILL ABOUT Defend civil liberties in 1984 1984 has been gathering pace for some years now; the drift into a law and order society and the erosion of personal liberty have been obvious. The new powers to be handed to the police in the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill, which last Monday received its second reading in the Commons, will be seen by many as a commonplace - a sort of 'so what?' phenomenon. I think the biggest danger in the Police Bill lies in the new powers conferred upon the police - they have acted as if they had some of them for years - than in our acquiescence in the inevitability of it all. The National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) is mounting a campaign against the more horrendous clauses in the Bill in the hope that the more human of our representatives in Parliament, and the great and good outside it, will help us achieve some of our objectives, though the awareness and support of ordinary people of the importance of civil liberties is the key. Contrary to the spirit of the new Bill, those suspected of serious crime deserve at least as many safeguards as anyone else. They have the most to lose. The police will have, as a result of the Bill, the power to detain you for 36 hours before producing you in court. At the end of 36 hours they must charge you and produce you in court or produce you and ask for your further detention. What information the magistrate will require from the police before giving you a further spell in the cells is not spelled out, you will be granted a lawyer, and if the magistrates agree to your further detention you may be kept for a further 96 hours without a further court appearance, without indeed being charged with an offence. Two observations on this - first in Scotland - not an entirely crime free country you will agree - the maximum period for detention without charge is 6 hours. Secondly the whole grisly history of the impending legislation began with the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure, which followed an enquiry into the Confait case. As a result of that famous murder trial, two juveniles and one mentally-handicapped adult spent several years of their lives in prison for crimes which they had been forced to confess to in the police station. Far from providing effective safeguards against false confession, the new Bill will give succour to the police's already excessive reliance on uncorroborated confession evidence. To detain a person for longer than 24 hours the police have only to assert that they are suspected of a Serious Arrestable Offence. The Home Secretary crows that 'Serious Arrestable Offence' has now been tightly defined - but it hasn't because there remains the catch-all whereby any offence which might result in serious injury to any person, serious public disorder, or serious financial gain or loss to any person, may be defined as a serious arrestable offence. That most mundane of crimes, the taking of a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, could clearly cause serious injury to someone, meanwhile almost any theft could be defined as serious if the police had a mind to. These comments have barely scratched the surface of the issues raised by the Bill, and I plan further articles to look at new powers of arrest, search and other matters. But to mount a campaign NCCL (now an active group in Reading; next meeting Tues 15 St Mary's Centre) needs examples of how the police have abused their present powers. One final point if you are wondering whether to add your protests about the Police Bill - it allows the police to mount roadblocks pretty much as they see fit, so our coaches and cars to the demo, the picket, or Greenham Common just night not get there. Greg - - - RED RAG Free, fortnightly and in debt; Red is Reading's Only Newspaper. 1300 Rags are printed; with each one this week you should receive Reading's long-awaited alternative guide Reading Between the Lines, further copies of which are available at the unbelievable price of 30p. If you have copy for the next Rag, to Acorn Bookshop please not later than Thursday 24 November. If you can type, 12cm wide columns and single spaced lines is how we like it. If you can help with the next issue phone 666681 for details. Opinions expressed are those of individual contributors and the people in the collective are discouraged from making replies to articles in the same issue (so they're in the sane situation as everybody else, so there!) Anyone is welcome to write (but please say how you can be contacted1 and whether you mind being edited). Money: There is £110 in the bank which has to pay for 2 rags and Reading Between the Lines this month. We know you've heard it all before, but any donations or standing orders would be much appreciated. Have a plant/book/anything sale to raise some if you like - it seems this is a much more efficient way of making money than Jumble Sales, gigs & all the effort involved in organising them. Any contributions to Acorn, or to Basement Flat, 66 Wokingham Rd. Get your copy of the next issue from:-- Acorn Bookshop, under Chatham St carpark Listen Records, upstairs in Butts Centre Pop Records, 172 Kings Road Central Club, bottom of London St Centre for the Jobfree, East Street Our Price Records, downstairs in Butts Centre Mace Grocer, Crown Colonnade, Cemetery Junction Johal Cash and Carry, 14 Cholmeley Road Elephant Off-licence and grocer, 1 Derby Street (open till 10p.m.) Fine Food Stores, 163 Oxford Road. Ken's Shop, Students' Union, Whiteknights Outlets! if you run out of copies of any issue of Red Rag, you can phone Reading 666681 and we'll see if we have any left over. - - - HOUSING (or would you rather be a fish?) Dear Red Rag As a member of Reading Borough Council I must comment on the way that this council is being run by the Conservative Group. Apart from the incompetence of selling off houses and losing £4,000-16,000 on each sale I am also concerned about re-sale as well. Being a member of the Resources Sub Committee I sometimes think that I am in an Arabian market not a Council Committee meeting. This is due to the fact that the Tories are selling off everything from land to Public Conveniences. Surely the Council is there to provide services not to cheapen its image by becoming an auctioneer. With regards to the office development in the town which the Tories are allowing to escalate I find it an absolute disgrace that listed buildings are being ruined by being next to new office blocks and fast food establishments thus making the town an architectural mess. This Conservative Government intends to bring in an act to make all empty office blocks ineligible for rates. I therefore look forward to this Council allowing more of the same. I have pride in this town and do not want to see it become a concrete citadel but a place that people can enjoy both in their leisure time and working time. Yours faithfully Maureen Lockey Borough Councillor Church Civic Offices, Reading - - - CIVIC NEWS We hear such a lot these days from the Tories about discipline, morality, and the virtues of family life. But the behaviour of Councillor Ron Jewitt, Chairman of Housing and hot favourite to be the next mayor, has begun to raise mumblings of discontent within the inner circle of the ruling Tory group. The Friend of the Homeless was recently seen sneaking into the members' bar at the Civic Offices at 2.30am a bottle-opener in one hand and accompanied by a young lady, (not his wife, not that we care.) Shortly afterwards a discrepancy of some £17 was discovered in the bar account. Chief Executive Harry Tee has demanded that Jewitt give him a cheque for this amount or else. T. Bunker - - - IRVING Anyone who is still wondering how David Irving appreciated all the publicity he received at Reading may like to rend this cutting from 'The Guardian' diary column on 2 October. Mr David Irving, the "historian" in charge of Hitler's PR, is indulging in one of his periodic bleats about a student conspiracy to prevent him from speaking at universities around the country. Five hundred demonstrated against him at Reading last month, he claims. Now he protests that he has been formally banned, from speaking at University of Kent following an "orchestrated campaign," "threats of violence," and a "vendetta born of fear." At Reading, Mr Irving spoke on "the great fakes of historiography," a subject on which he must be considered dubiously qualified to spout, given his topsy-turvy behaviour over the alleged Hitler Diaries. Despite pronouncing the Diaries both probably genuine and false, he sued the Observer, for not paying him for his advice. In the end, the Observer paid him a few hundred pounds to go away. - - - SPECTACULAR TIMES THE BAD DAYS WILL END A playful attitude - as a response to everyday life - is the theme of the latest S.T. pocketbook. Liberally (??) sprinkled with quotes from 'famous' Situationists, especially Vaneigem of 'Revolution of Everyday Life', it's quite heavy going in parts but if the words are too long for you, look at the pictures; they'll draw you back into the text which is worth a couple of tries. I don't know why Situationist ideas seem so difficult or why thinking about everyday life should seem so weird! Why not consider it politically, live it to the full and make mistakes (or as a quote in S.T. 12 says "...what we must aim at is to fail clearly each time, over and over" - try that out on your hard, upstanding revolutionary vanguard!) There's a lovely bit contrasting computer 'games', as programmed passive consumption, with genuine play. And if you don't know what that's like, it's time you remembered! Liz - - - Grenada A meeting to discuss the American invasion of Grenada took place in Reading on October the 30th. The meeting was organised by various groups and joint press statement issued from the Grenada Association, Caribbean Association, St Vincent Association, Antonio Maceo Community Centre & the Central Club. The groups condemned the American invasion calling it 'an act of the most barefaced international banditry' and called for an immediate withdrawal of all foreign invading forces. The groups expressed their support for the 1979 revolution and the advances in education, housing, health agriculture and industry which it had brought to Grenada; and paid tribute to those who have resisted the invading farces. The groups asked the British government to put pressure on the Americans to withdraw forces, and also to prepare for the 'urgent dispatch of a Task force to aid the people of Granada in driving the American invaders from their soil.' - - - SMALL ADS Small fridge for sale - ideal for bedsit £10. Ring 860290 Karen or Martin. Have you been watching 'Utopia Ltd.' on Channel 4? Would you like to join a discussion/viewing group arising from this series of programmes? If so, contact Mike Lyle 662621. Would you like to see a Wimmin's Conference after Xmas? Maybe lasting a long weekend with workshops, discussion groups, speakers, theatre and fun fun fun. We need to organise it now. If you have any ideas, what workshops you would like to run or if you would like to be involved in organising it, contact Michelle or Ana on 666681 or Elaine on 64173. We hope to provide floors for wimmin to sleep on, a creche and food (veggy). Anybody want a freezer? It's big, (12 1/2 cu. ft.) and it works. £25 to anyone who'll come and get it! Ring Jon or Laurence on Goring 873643. To all my friends in Reading, I love you and I know you love me. Paul Henry. 4 Minute Warning Fanzine No.6 15p + sae. Screaming Head, Annie Anxiety, Huevara, Xmal Deutschland, Futurama 5.tapes and Sines from:- Steve, 41 Fifth Road Newbury, Berkshire RG14 6DN. Newtown Community Press Silkscreen workshops. Fridays 10 to 1. Free. Newtown Community House 117 Cumberland Rd. - - - FRIDAY VEGGIE DINING NOV. 18TH Veggy dining is a cheap, wholesome way of eating out in an unusual but interesting environment. A three course vegan meal is prepared and served by a collective of cooks and accompanied by various musicians. The venue is Fairview Community Centre, George St, Reading where there is room for thirty guests and a kitchen that is not quite too small or badly equipped. Veggy dining should be a regular fortnightly event and anyone who wants to cook is welcome. Tickets are £2.00 and £1.50 (unwaged) from Acorn. Bring your own wine etc. Menu Surprise Greek Bean Soup - Stuffed Cabbage Leaves Mixed Fired Vegetables Rice and Wheat - Fruit Salad Teas Arrive 7.30 for service at 1/4 to 8 - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1983/1983-11-13.txt#3 $