RED RAG GOES INSIDE Free Fortnightly 12-26 May Next co-ordinator is Mark 782178 or 595605 Going Out 782176 Events 595605 Distribution 669562 Next copydate Thursday 23 May Copy to Acorn Bookshop, 17 Chatham St - - - INSIDE GREENHAM In the first two weeks after April 1st, when the new Byelaw about trespass on Greenham Common came into force, over 100 women were found inside the security fence. They were arrested and charged with trespass. The first of diary entries below records a jaunt into the base before April 1st, the second happened after. We arrive at Blue - lots of women have already been in the base that day - 25 on the runway apparently and they've now let them all go. Lots of police at Orange we notice - and loads of women for International Womens Day. A group of 8 or so women from the camp are going in through a hole near Orange - which has been cut before. I find myself tagging along - not sure whether to support or take part. As it's only 4:30ish and broad daylight I feel more positive. And I don't want to be left on the outside, not knowing what's going on - so I decide to join the party. R leads the way. It's good to be with these women who know what they're doing. We drive round to near Orange, then walk / run round the fence lying down when we hear vehicles on the inside. We finally approach the flap, scramble up the bank. Through one roll of barbed wire then on and under the next. Exhilaration and excitement - we don't have to worry where we are. We scramble up more banks - it feels a bit like "cowgirls and indians" - we are on Our common and we look back and out - a totally new experience. There is a sense of space inside. Tricky as we approach the inner barbed wire near the runway - we have to keep lying flat. Then we are through - we run like mad - suddenly we are there. S holds my hand: "Come on, let's get to the runway - just to say we've been on it," we run hand in hand - laughing. Police vehicles approach at speed - a clever tactic. Some women run away - I stand still. A man grabs my arm roughly. They use unnecessary force. "There's no need to be so violent." They frog-march us to a police van and we pile in. We sing, shout, shriek, make really loud noises with our feet drumming and our voices screaming. "We are a witness to you holocaust And we will remember your face." They drive us to the "interrogation centre" inside the base - a series of portacabins - it's hilarious as all these buildings are covered in bright red women's graffiti. "We are here because we want to live." It seems so farcical. The base is crawling all over with women. We keep us the huge noise for about 1 1/2 hours even though they split us into two groups. Outside we hear chanting and banging against the fence with slogans on sheets. Other women arrested sing. "I want to live in a cottage in suburbia I want to live in a matchbox in Siberia With no more lesbians, no more lesbians, no more lesbians." Oliver and the WPC guarding the door smile indulgently and share their sweet tea. Both of them are known to the regulars. We have only to give in our names - as inventive and cryptic as we can make them - then we pile into a bigger coach and are delivered out at Indigo. A big police presence lines our route. R still chants "Blood on your hands". One woman flings back, "Thankyou for a nice afternoon!" - - - INSIDE GREENHAM (Continued) It feels as though we are totally on our own this time. A small group of us, all relative newcomers to breaking the law, decide to get arrested today. It's an easy decision for me - one I've been working towards since our first experiences of walking on the inside of Our common. But it feels less easy to get in this time. It's Easter and not all the police have gone to Molesworth. Our search for a flap near Yellow is fruitless - they've actually done some mending. Two women spend 15 mins usefully unpicking their darned holes and we are eventually noticed. We are escorted by police inside as we walk the perimeter back to yellow. It'll have to be "criminal damage" as well then! In fact near Orange we reject six huge holes already cut and gaping, before selecting our place - we cut easily and quickly a feeling of urgency now replaces my earlier pessimism and gloom. It feels great to be doing it! We've chosen a place where only one roll of rusty barbed wire stands between us and the common. It's close to building works and to the portacabins of our previous arrests, so we know we will be picked up quickly. Once in I want to get as far from the fence as possible - we disturb two large and beautiful rabbits playing games in the sun, as we skirt the interrogation zone and strike out towards the runway. In the police van which arrives to pick us up, there are as many police as us! This time they give us our official - we say nothing but smile encouragingly at each other. I'm more afraid this time as are "processed - a fear of the unknown which is not counteracted by the singing and shouting we were able to make in a big group. Their officiousness was perhaps made worse by their irritation - after all they were just about to go off duty! All through the interrogation I am aware of the different treatment we are each receiving - they stereotype us, try to wear us down, trick us by different tactics into revealing real names, permanent addresses, A the only one who's frisked twice I don't feel at all privileged. Plastic gloves (of internals fame) abound - a new pair per prisoner. Charges are a long time coming - meanwhile e get irate about the whole loaf of bread dumped in the dustbin outside the charge room - one woman wants to take it or at least draw attention to it. When we are charged, it's a bit of an anti-climax - the standard retort is "no reply". 65 women appeared in court in Newbury last week, charged with trespass. Most have been bound over without bail, refusing to plead to that court - to appear again in July and August. This is merely the beginning of a new phase in the protest. All women can prove that the common is ours. Picnics are now being arranged inside the fence, not outside. F.D. and S.B. - - - EVENTS Monday 13 Greenham Support Group. Meeting at Red Gate at 8pm. Women only. National Bike Week Commuter Race. 8:30am Caversham to Civic Centre - what's the quickest - bus, car or bike? Winner should arrive at about 8:45. Tuesday 14 RRCG Meeting at Women's Centre. 7:30 business, followed by get together for new group. Thursday 16 Unemployment - Whose Problem? Informal course at Centre for the Unemployed continues this week with Family Life 1-3pm Bring a Spade Evening at Reading City Farm. "Come along to our idyllic site in Whitley to find out more about the project, and help us christen(?) it by turning the first sods." 6:30 to dusk. Blagdon Rd, off Northumberland Ave. 15 or 22 bus. Friday 17 Hungry for Change Benefit. Alternative Cabaret, King James College, Henley. Poets, jugglers, folk traditional Indian musician. Tickets 579227. Saturday 18 Organic Gardening. Grand plant sale & garden tour. 2:30 14 Copse Ave, Caversham. National Bike Week. Grand opening of Kennetside Cycleway by Geoff Lowe (chair of transport) 11am at Jolly Anglers. Health & Fitness Day - part of Reading Festival, arranged by YMCA, at YMCA? Jumble Sales. Woodley Peace Group one at Woodley Precinct. Jumble to Debbie Sowerby 690924. Reading Greenham Support Group one at St Johns Hall, St Johns Rd, Caversham. Jumble to Sue Barnet 476196. Sale from 11-1. Help needed from 9am. Sunday 19 National Bike Week, Leisure ride to Bourne End. Ring John for details on 483183. This one I don't believe: Reading Festival Fancy Dress Picnic, theme Schooldays! 12-4 at Caversham Court Gardens. 50p. Monday 20 The 101 Damnations. Civic Society talk with slides by John Punter on post-war office building in Reading. Kennet Room, Civic Offices, 8pm free. Highly recommended! Tuesday 21 "Public Meeting". Reading Highway Strategy - the cross town route and third Thames Bridge. Greyfriars Centre, Friar St, 7:30. Follows exhibition from 11am. Wednesday 22 Tree club Talk. Forestry Commission - Authority & Enterprise. University, London Rd site. LT4 Old Library Building. 7:30. 50p to non-members. Survival in the Music Business. Talk with Stan Martin from M.U. Info on copyright, gigs, royalties, etc. Bracknell Centre for the Unemployed, Bagshot Rd, next to Railway Station. Ring them for time? Pease Pledge Union Meeting. 8pm at 42 Gosbrook Rd, Caversham. All welcome (especially if you're a pacifist). Ambassador of Nicaragua is talking to Reading Central American Group in room 109, Palmer Building at the University. 7pm. Open meeting, 30p on doot. Show your support. Thursday 23 Deaf Television. Talk by Maggie Woolley, for hearing impaired people. 7:30 at Wilson Centre, Wilson Rd, 50p. Unemployment - Whose Problem? as last week. Today "Reading - Boom Town - or is it?" University Arts Lecture. Gay, Pope & Hughes and their contribution to Handel's "Acis and Galtea", by Prof Biran Trowell, Univ of London. 5:15pm free. Red Rag Editorial Meeting. Decisions and organisation for next issue. Ring 782178 or 595605 for details. Friday 24 Association for the Blind - Open Day. Walford Hall, Carey St. Saturday 25 Craft Fair, part of festival. Our Lady of Peace (no, not Maggie) Community Centre, Wokingham Rd, free admission. 10-5. Red Rag Paste-Up & Printing. If you'd like to have a bash ring 782178 or 595605. Sunday 26 Red Rag Folding & Distribution. Contribute an hour or two this morning - the more people the quicker and less painful. Anyone with a car who could take a few bundles round at lunchtime, please contact numbers as above. Monday 27 Banks on Holiday Reading Community Carnival Day - - - 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., St. Mary's Centre. 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 50p 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. - - - Can Larry write to Laura & the Havoc Man & Cobra Club? Can Laura write to the Havoc Man & Cobra Club & Larry? Can Havoc Man & Cobra Club write to Larry & Laura? We haven't got enough money to print your articles at the moment. - - - (paid ad) THE FRINGE READING FESTIVAL 1985 - presents - a splendid evening of theatre, food and music with animals in mind - featuring - "A Fistful Of Lentils" The Leda Theatre Collective's new show - followed by - Buffet (prepared by Katherine Monbiot & Celia Craddock) Disco (the Napthali Sound) The Paradise Club London Street Reading Thursday May 16th 1985 : 7.30pm - late £2 (waged) : £1.50 (unwaged) A Box Office Community Arts and Reading & District Vegan Group Production - - - EDITORIAL Red Rag is Reading's Only Newspaper. It is free and fortnightly and produced by an independent collective. It has no links with any political group or with the University. 1600 copies of this issue will be printed - half go to various outlets around Reading. More people are needed to write, help type (to 12 cm maximum), layout, fold, distribute, etc. To help with the next issue ring 782178 or 595605. - - - OUTLETS You can pick up the Rag from any of the following outlets: Acorn Bookshop, under Chatham St car park Central Club, London St Centre for the Unemployed, East St Continental Stores, Cemetery Junction Elephant Groceries, Derby St Eurofoods, Cemetery Junction Fairview Community Centre, George St Fine Food Stores, 168 Oxford Rd Harrison's Newsagent, Caversham Rd Harvest Wholefoods, Harris Arcade Jelly's Stores, Whitley St Kan's Kitchen, London Rd Ken's Shop, S.U. Whiteknights Ling's Chinese Fish Bar, Wokingham Rd Listen Records, Butts centre Loco, 6 Silver St Mo's Place, London St Music Market, Union St Number Sixty, Christchurch Green Pop Records, 172 King's Rd Rag Doll, London St Reading Wholefoods, London Rd Rib'n'Roast, Cemetery Junction Sugar Bowl, Wokingham Rd Sutherlands, Erleigh Rd Tech College, King's Rd UB Cycles, London St - - - DON'T LET BUILDINGS ROT - SQUAT In Reading, some 2000 DHSS claimants are affected by new draconic measures relating to living in B+Bs. For most it means a substantial cut in their benefit; for those under 26 it will probably mean they will have to move from Reading, and keep moving on every 4 weeks. With substantial numbers of young people with no secure housing the most obvious solution may be to start a squat. In the next Rag we hope to investigate the possibilities for squatting in Reading. There may be more of it about than you think. Do you know of any properties that could be squatted or have you any other information about squatting that might be useful? Please let the rag know. If you live in B+B and need advice: try No. 5, Reading Centre for the Unemployed, or Housing Aid. See "Help" section of Events. The Squatting Padre - Rev. O. Lution - - - THIRD BRIDGE / CROSSTOWN ROUTE A "public consultation" starts this week on council plans to plaster Kennetmouth (plus the first section of the Thames Walk towards Sonning, and the gravel pits opposite) with brand new motorways. Is the wanton destruction of East Reading's little access to countryside really going to improve the quality of our lives? Does it make sense to do anything that might attract yet more road traffic into the Reading area? Or highway strategists are probably no more interested in sense than they are in quality of life. (I mean, what is this lurid fascination with tarmac?) But they are democratic enough to ask us which of their plans for the motorway we like the best. Let's turn up and say we like the lot! Public Meeting - Greyfriars Centre, Friar St, 7:30, Monday 20th. Exhibitions presumably with some opportunity for feedback: Greyfriars Centre, Friar St, 11-7:30 Mon & Tues 20 & 21 Civic Centre 9:30-4 Wed-Fri 22024 and Tues-Fri 28-31 Hedgehog - - - THIRD WORLD "Questioning Development" Interested in discussing critical issues about the Third World and volunteering overseas? Come to a day event organised by Return Volunteer Action, Sat. 8th June, 9:45am - 5pm. Cost £2.50/£1. At Reading Language Centre, Lydford Rd. For more information contact RVA c/o 33, Norton Road. - - - FUNNY MONEY We need you money right away. To make the Rag AOK Keep us out of debt Don't forget Send it to Acorn Bookshop It's a fair cop - - - GOING OUT GUIDE The well nigh anonymous "Going Out" guide lurches across the page again. Same typist (well, sort of) and even more suggestions of publick pleasures. Sunday 12 Hexagon, Queens Walk - Gerry & the Pacemakers 8pm South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell - "The Terminator" (18), 7.45pm National Bike Week Treasure Hunt, 10 am, starts behind Marks & Sparks. Tel. 691314 St. Matthews Church, Southcote Lane - Handel's "Acis & Galatea", 8pm, £3. Readifolk - @ Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8pm; Mike Cooper & lots of blues. Butler, Chatham Street - jazz, 8pm free Caversham Park Village Social Club - The Eldonaires 8 pm, 50p Monday 13 University Students Union -jazz, free 8pm Silks, Bath Rd Thatcham - Shy, 8pm, £2 Thatchers, Fairwater Drive, Woodley - funk & soul from 8 pm, free Martines, Station Hill - Lion Roots Sound The Bull, Nettlebed - folk with Maddy Prior & Rick Kemp, 8pm SHP - "Terminator" (18), 7.45pm Hex - Final of Thames Valley Talent Contest, 7.30 Univ. - Great Hall London Rd - Chamber Orchestra concert - Mozart, Vivaldi, Schubert. 7.30, £2.50 Tuesday 14 Tudor Arms - Gay Disco, 8pm, free Paradise Club, London St. - Free Festival Benefit: Roy Hutchins (alternative comedian) & Lost Weekend. 9-very late, £3? £2 unwaged. Sibly Hall, Redhatch Drive Earley - jazz w/ Flexamus-Cle, 8pm, free Boars Head, Friar St. - Country & Western duo Out Of Town Club Padworth - Fabulous Falling Angels Univ. Great Hall, London Rd. - The Allegri Quartet, 8pm, Hadyn & Dvorak. £3.50 SHP- "Terminator" (18), 7.45pm Wednesday 15 European Folk Dance - Friends Meeting House, Church St (S'ton St.). 7.45, £1 Jive Dive club @ New Yorker bar, Queens Walk Paradise Club - Festival Fringe Pandemonium jazz Reading Film Theatre - "Cal", (15), 8pm Hex - evening of Viennese music, 7.30pm, £6-8 SHP - "Terminator" (18), 7.45pm Univ. Students Union - Myopic Muldoni Boys, 1-2pm free. Thursday 16 Sportsman, Shinfield - Country & Western 8pm free Boars Head, Friar St. - Function At The Junction, 8pm, free. Also disco. Paradise - Leda Theatre Collective: "A Fistful Of Lentils". Vegan meal. Then "The Return Of King Sound" soul & reggae disco 10.30-2am £2 / £ 1.50 unwaged Horse & Barge-folk w/ Spredthick - 8pm. Fringe event RFT - "Cal" (15), 8pm; UB40 reductions Stag & Hounds, Pinkeys Green nr Maidenhead - folk John Sommerville, 8.15 Univ. PBZ Building Rm. 400 - "Parental Behaviour of the Mongolian Gerbil" 4.30pm Hex - VE day do - Go if you must... St. Matthews Church, Southcote Lane - flower festival 7.15 SHP - free video screening, 7.45pm SHP - Undercover Club Cellar Bar 8pm Friday 17 Gay Disco, Tudor Arms, 8pm freeeeeee Cellar Bar, SHP - Friday Live - GT Moore & the Unknown - 8-12 £2/1. RFT - Tirez sur le pianiste / L'enfant sauvage -2 films by Truffaut. 7.30pm UB40 concessions Paradise - Lash Lariot & the Long Riders, + Lost Weekend Folk @ The Lamb, Eversley,8pm Hex - Military Music Evening, 8pm... St. Andrews Hall, Redlands Rd - Poetry evening, 8-11pm SHP - "Metropolis" (PG) 7.45pm Saturday 18 Paradise Club - Friends of the Free Ark (jazz/funk) + r'n'b disco. £2.50 SHP folk - Come all ye... Singers Night, 8pm, £1.80 SHP - "Metropolis" (PG), 7.45 & 11pm Festival Health & fitness day, 10-4 Reading YMCA Univ. Great Hall, London Rd. - Banjo Festival, 12noon-11pm. £4; concert, 7.30pm, £3. Hex - Festival Chorus,7.30 £5-7 Hex - The Morrigan, 12.15pm - free music Norcot School May Fair 1pm, 25p Tilehurst Eisteddfod vocal & choral music: 411309 Sunday 19 Readifolk Singers Night, Caversham Bridge Hotel 8pm Butler, Chatham St. - jazz, 8pm ,free Cav. Park Village Social Club - jazz/ punk w/ the Eldonaires, 8pm, 50p Paradise - Stalingrad sound system, 8-late; £1.50/£1 Festival Picnic, Caversham Court Gardens, 12noon-4pm Hex - Kings Singers, 8pm, £4 & £5 SHP - "Metropolis" (PG), 7.45pm Newbury Spring Festival - Tel N.49919. Also on the 18th Elm Park football ground-cricket from 11am Monday 20 Univ. Students Union - jazz, free 8pm Silks, Thatcham - rock night Thatchers, Fairwater Drive Woodley - soul & funk from 8pm Martines, Station Hill - Lion Roots Sound Paradise Club - The Ant Hill Mob + support. 8-2? Folk at the Bull, Nettlebed - 8pm, free SHP - "Under the Volcano" (15),7.45pm Hex - Wrestling, 7.30 Abbey Gateway, the Forbury - talk & preview of Blake's Lock Museum. 7.30pm Civic Offices - 101 Damnations, the everyday story of irresponsible office developers & what they've done to Reading; 8pm Kennet Morris - @ the Six Bells, Shinfield 8pm @ Bull & Chequers, Woodley 9pm Univ. Great Hall - An Evening with Queen Victoria - 8pm, £4 Dramatised episodes of H.M's amusing life? Tuesday 21 Gay Disco, Tudor Arms - 8pm free Paradise - Free Festival Benefit / Fringe event; Sharon Landau, & Tony Allen - Alternative comedy 9-late £3/2 Boars Head - Country duo SHP - "Under the Volcano" (15), 7.45 Greyfriars Centre Friar St. - meeting on Reading's Highway Strategy; 7.30 pm Wednesday 22 Prospect Park - cricket - Caribbean XI. Radio 210: 6.30 pm start European folk dance - 6 Church St. 7.30, £l (see 15th) Jive Dive, The New Yorker bar Festival fringe - Jazz Faculty / Jive Alive paradise club 8-late RFT- "Eureka" (18) Roeg: 8pm SHP folk - June Tabor & the Andy Cronshaw Band - 8pm £3 SHP-"Under the Volcano" (15) 7.45 SHP- "Innerklang" music theatre, 8pm £3 Civic Centre - Exhibition of Reading Highway proposals. Until 31st Check on dates Thursday 23 Paradise - Soul & Reggae dance, 8-2. Univ, Students Union - jazz, 8pm free Sportsman, Shinfield - Country & Western 8pm free Boars Head - Live band RFT - as 22nd, 8pm, w/ UB40 discount Stag & Hounds, Pinkeys Green M'head - folk with Ramsbottom, 8pm-ish start Hex - Lunchtime chamber concert - 12.45pm free Univ. Palmer Building-Lecture on Handel's "Acis & Galatea" 5.15pm Hex - film show on Gt. Western Railway - £2-£3.50,7.30pm SHP - Free video screening, 7.45pm SHP - Undercover Club , Cellar bar 8pm. live music Friday 24 Tudor Arms - Gay Disco, 8pm, Free SHB Cellar Bar - Friday Live: Daz Odeum, + pop support. 8-late, £2/1 Paradise - Miners Benefit - The Boothill Foot-tappers + Some Like It Hot, 8-late Folk night at the Polish Club London Rd. £1.50 Folkmusic @ The Lamb, Eversley, 8pm freeeeeee Macrobiotic Talk & Meal, 100 Northumberland Ave. 7pm Hex - Community Carnival Queen Dance. 8pm SHP- The Sword In The Stone (U), 2pm & 7.45 Saturday 25 Paradise - Star Rhapsody steel band - 8pm-2am, £3 SHP folk - Dave & Alison Fenner, 8pm £1.80 Sunday 26 Readifolk - Caversham Bridge Hotel - 8pm Free Butler Chatham St. - jazz, 8pm free Smallmead Stadium - American Football Hex - The Hollies 8pm £4.50+ SHP - "the Sword In The Stone" (U) 2pm, 7.45 Monday 27 Reading Community Carnival Day - Procession leaves Gt. Knollys St. at 11.00a.g\iMMMSL. 2S< Readingites Carnival Dance, Paradise Club - Diamond Sound, Stereophonic Sound, Hot Steel (steel band) £3.50 adv./ £5 on Door Univ. Students Union- jazz free 8pm SHP - "Sword In The Stone" (U) 2pm & 7.45 Reading School Erleigh Rd. St John Ambulance Spring Fete - 2pm free Spring Fete - Armour Rd. Tilehurst; 2pm Advance Notice Tues 28th - Free Festival Benefit @ Paradise Weds 29th - Pandemonium @ the Crown, Crown St. Clem Adelman Duo (jazz ballads & blues) & The Cacophonists 9-llpm £1/£1.50 Theatre Guide Hex - Snoopy The Musical - 27/5-1/6 8pm nightly + 2.30 pm matinees on 29 & 30th £3.50-£4.50 South Hill Park - Half A sixpence, Ebos Theatre Co. 14/5-18/5 8pm, with Sat. matinee @ 2.30 Woodley Players, Headley Rd. Woodley - Drama Festival 13/5-18/5 - tel 62546 for details Mill At Sonning - Play it again Sam, 14/5-15/6. Tel 698000 Festival Guide Stolen But Very Useful. Thanks Nick. Key SHP - South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell - Tel, Bracknell 484123 Hex - Hexagon Theatre, Queens Walk - 591591 RFT -Reading Film Theatre, Palmer Building Whiteknights Campus. Paradise Club 112 London St. Reading Please phone in with details of what's on to Mark on 782178 before the curfew hour of 10.30pm. I hope my typing wasn't that bad this time. - - - READING FESTIVAL 85 Do It!! Week One on the Fringe Saturday May 11th Parade Start from Great Knollys.St 11am. Great Knollys Street, Bedford Road, Oxford Road, West Street, Friar Street, Butter Market, Broad Street, Oxford Road. Dr. Bike's Surgery Queen Victoria Statue Friar Street 10 am - 4 pm Start National Cycle Week off right by letting the specialist diagnose your pushbike's ailments. Music + Dance + Theatre + ??? Civic Centre Piazza - Chatham Street Precinct - Other spots around town, 10 - 6. Off-the-cuff acts welcome - just ask! Bayswater Road comes to Reading! Buy local artists' work off the railings - no Taiwanese imports! Chatham Street Precinct, 10 till teatime. Outdoor cafe tables too. Sun 12 Cycle Treasure Hunt Start 10 o'clock at Queen Victoria Statue; finish 12.30-ish at ??? (On good authority, a pub with food.) Readifolk Celebrity Blues Night for Charity Top local bluesmen Mike Cooper, Roger Barnes + Gordon Vaughan, Richard Cox-Smith, Bill Boazman's Sonny Black's Blues Band and friends. Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8 pm. Admission by programme. All proceeds to charity - minimum donation £1. Mon 13 Cycle Vs Bus Vs Cab - Reading Cycle Campaign Commuter Race from Caversham to Civic Offices. All three start at 8.30 am - which one will get there first? Thin Line + support ~ 9 'til ??? Paradise Club, London Street Benefit - £1.50 (unwaged £1) Tues 14 Hutchins in Paradise Alternative humour from Roy Hutchins + band support - Free Festival benefit at the Paradise Club, 9-late. £3 (£2 unwaged) Wed 15 Pandemonium The utterly unexpected in music from the Pandemonium Club + The Willowdale Handcar, "a talking static silent movie with music". Paradise Club, London Street, 9-12. £1.50 (£1 unwaged) Thurs 16 A Fistful Of Lentils Herbivorous comedy from Leda Theatre Collective + 100% animal-free buffet + live music + disco. Paradise Club, London Street, 7.30 till late - tickets £2 (£1.50 unwaged) from Acorn Bookshop, Harvest Wholefoods, Reading Wholefoods. Fri 17 Help Box Office Community Arts finish painting the hoarding between the Hexagon and the Ramada before the Council replaces it. Paint, brushes and overalls provided - ad hoc theatre, spontaneous voice workshops, Allcomers Idiophonic Orkestra, Teatime till we finish or it gets too dark - join us! Week Two Sat 19 Kennetside Cycleway Official opening at the Jolly Anglers, Kennetside, Newtown, 11 am. Ribbon-cutting ceremony; pedal power of all sorts, two wheeled or otherwise; music and street things. Bring your wheels! Art Mart Chatham St Mural Painting continues in Queens Walk if we haven't finished on Friday night. Sun 19 Leisure Cycle Ride from Caversham to Bourne End to wind up National Cycle Week with Reading Cycle Campaign. Leave Caversham Bridge at 10.30 am. Folk Singers' Night at Readifolk - Caversham Bridge Hotel, 8 pm, admission free. Mon 20 Free! Bar and Ger, a one-act play by Geraldine Aron directed by Steve Ball, 8pm at Reading Youth Theatre Studio, Alfred Sutton Boys' School, 8 pm. Fabulous Falling Angels + Insect Matinee + Teenagers From Outer Space at the Paradise Club, 8 till late. £2 (£1 unwaged) Fallen Angels by Noel Coward - Reading University Dramatic Society Production at the Faculty of Letters theatre, Whiteknights, 7.30. Tickets £2 (students, unwaged and OAPs £1.50). Continues all week except Thursday 23rd. Tues 21 Cabaret in Paradise Tony Allen & Sharon Landau - Alternative with a vengeance + blues, ballads and <> from Captain Swing. Paradise Club, London Streit, 9 till late. £3 waged, £2 unwaged - Red Rag benefit. Fallen Angels at Whiteknights - see Monday Wed 22 Jazz Faculty & Jive Alive. Paradise Club, 8.30 - ??? £2 waged, £1.50 unwaged. Thursday 23 - nothing doing unless somebody thinks of something to do at the last minute. Fri 24 Boothill Foot Tappers + The Anthill Mob finish off Paradise on the Fringe - GFF benefit, 8 till late at the Paradise Club, London Street. Admission £2.50. Sat 25 Free! Lunchtime Theatre - Bar and Ger by Geraldine Aron, a one-act play directed by Steve Ball at Mo's Place fitness and dance studios, 8/10 London St (by Duke St Bridge). Art Mart Civic Centre, Chatham Street and ??? Almost anything might happen to wind up the Best Other Party in Town. Co-ordinated by <> Community Arts at RCU, a self-help project based at Reading Centre for the Unemployed 4-6 East Street, RG1 4QL Telephone Reading 596639 Assisted by Berkshire County Council Arts Panel and Reading festival - - - NEW ANARCHIST GROUP Over the last two months or so we've seen an avalanche of analysis and comment on the "Lessons of the miners stride" and yet 98% of the left are still coming to the wrong conclusions. Everyone knows we've been shat on by Kinnock and Willis, but still it is viewed as inevitable that we should have to rely on shits like these to lead us in the hallowed "struggle for socialism". The most commonly held and incomprehensible view is that we should still rely on a parliamentary labour victory to lead us all into some post electoral utopia, in spite of the miners efforts to find a short cut by direct action. At a labour party rally in Reading last month the only time the miners were referred to was to say "we still support them (really?) in spite of the violence we found hard to explain". Don't these people realise there is a Class War going on with the hot war of mass strikes and rioting getting plastic bullets and tear gas in return, or the cold war of 40 hours a week on a production line with "teabreak" strikes, sabotage and absenteeism in response. Then there's groups like the SWP and all the other 57 varieties from whom the cry "sellout" comes so often that it becomes a platitude. They don't seem to realise that this is the function of union bureaucrats and party careerists and building up the rank and file in the unions won't do anything if they continue to be buried in the shit from above. There are several things which need doing to stop the seemingly unstoppable pattern of defeat... - Stop relying on the union execs to make strikes official. - Stop trying to avoid the tag of a political strike, all strikes are political. - Stop waiting for the "sellout" and start to take control of the struggle away from the bureaucrats. Once we have built up our own autonomous working class organisation and solidarity, however ramshackle, we can start to destroy the control of the collaborators in the TUC and the opportunists in the labour party, indeed we will have taken the first step towards dismantling the whole rotten system. The alternative is to see the power of capitalism and the state increase and accelerate towards a 21st century which what we've seen so far on the picket lines and in the inner cities seem like a vicar's tea party. - Thames Valley Anarchists - - - WHY A NEW GROUP? Well, as a relative newcomer to the town, it's been disappointing for me to see that the existing group appears to consist of a loose network of friends, with no regular meetings, or street presence, which means that although actions such as the Dole Office occupation take place, it's very hard for someone new to the town or to anarchism to take part - the group does not grow, but turns in on itself. So, there is hopefully to be a new group, the emphasis being on class-struggle anarchism, with regular advertised meetings for discussion / planning, regular paper sales in town, public meetings, etc. The first meeting will be at the Wellington Arms on Whitley Street on Tuesday 21st May at 8pm. The first suggested topic for discussion is the Tories' attack on the right to work / right to not work with the new B+B laws. See you there! Andy P.S. At the pub, just ask where the meeting is. I don't know if the landlord will like Anarchists. P.P.S. If you want to take part in the group but can't make the meetings, drop a note in at Box 19, Acorn Books, Chatham St., Reading. - - - LETTERS Dear Red Rag Readers, The Rag before last carried an article about the Reading May Day festival; we decorated it with an illustration to which M.P. Allum took offence in the following issue. The picture was of a phallus. A number of women were dancing around it with ribbons, as if it were a maypole. The caption - once we've got this bit well and truly tied down ... maybe it'll be safe to dig up the rest of him. Far from being "completely out of context", the phallus is precisely what the maypole symbolises. As the writer of the original article pointed out this, in its roots, is a fertility festival. But I won't object, even if people want to "trivialise" if by wittering on about the right to work, and how tolerant we all are of speakers from the Soviet Embassy. Nick - co-ordinator of 15 April issue. The Collective Meeting considered M.P. Allum's letter (last issue) and made the following comments. We think the original cartoon should not have appeared in the May Day article (April 15-28 issue) because it was obviously not what the writer would have wanted. Also we agree that it is Rag policy not to tamper with articles in this way. We therefore apologise to the writer. However we do not think that the cartoon itself was objectionable We are not sure what comment it is supposed to make - but those responsible are writing elsewhere in this issue. One suggestion: it's a piss-tale on May Day willy-worship. - - - LADYBIRD - GUIDE TO MULCHING Mulching - isn't it a lovely word? A combination of muck an squelch, I reckon, and that's a fairly good guide to what it involves. If you have any bare soil, the idea i to cover it up, primarily to conserve moisture through the summer. A mulch is a layer of organic matter, the books say, which also adds nutrients and suppresses weeds. Do it when the soil is damp, ideally after heavy rain. It it's dry, you'll get a crust on the soil and the mulch will sit on the top and not be absorbed. Smother You can have a layer several inches thick - OK 10cm - of anything you have to hand. You don't need to dig it in, as it rots down of its own accord. Put it right up to the plants without smothering them completely and they'll flurish. Black Plastic The ideal substance is compost, which you will soon have if you've been taking this column to heart. Sawdust, leafmould, peat, mushroom compost (a reasonable, not entirely chemical-free substitute for homemade compost), forest bark, even black plastic will also help altho' you won't get much nutrient out of some of them. Mulching with bark can improve the look of your plants as well, giving them a rich brown background. Greenstuff If you don't have heavy clay soil you can spread grass clippings and greenstuff generally, which will rot down; if you do it's not such a good idea as it'll encourage the soil to be heavy. So you should stay with compost. Just remember - keep the soil covered. Love, Ladybird PS How are those "dead" houseplants? - - - SMALL ADS Job Adverts 1. Outreach / Youth Worker, 31 hours a week, £85.56 gross 2. Education / Recreation Worker, 35 hours a week, 96.60 gross 3. Women's Worker, 22 hours a week, £60.72 gross - All subject to Community Programme rules - Apply through Job Centre - Phone Alison on Bracknell 53421 for an informal chat - Bracknell Centre for the Unemployed, Bagshot Rd, behind railway stn. Urgent: Unemployed man very urgently seeks accommodation in shared house or anywhere else. Phone Giles on 665140. For Sale: A pin dryer, A TV. video recorder and colour telly plus a double bedstead. Offers / donations to Red Rag. 667085 Apologies: to Paul and Mark who had their letters cut in the last Rag. Please put contact numbers on articles and we'll check with you before "going to press" re editing, holding stuff over. "Ah bidets are 'ere again Phil - have a doozy!" Stu A: Betcha thought we wouldn't notice that you had written your birthday on the calendar? Well we didn't! Tee hee! Always happy daze, from your pals the Bash Street Kids. Two tickets for the Style Council at Birmingham Odeon on June 10. £5.50 each. 6650806 or 54798. Accommodation needed for single parent with small child. Friendly and vegetarian. Can pay £150+ via council. Please write to Tami, Box No 11 c/o Acorn. Rooms to let in shared house. Phone 666528 and ask for Linda or John. Single person or couple required to share terraced house in Caversham, wit hone other. Two rooms available + share facilities. £90 pcm (single) or £150 pcm (couple) + split bills. From beginning of June. Ring Paul on 483183 (evenings). Tortoise wanted for good home. If you want to pass on a pet call Reading 669361. 100%ers wanted! To create an alternative "A Team", whose purpose will be to put together a mind blowing party extravaganza, at the Paradise Club, on Sat. 13th July. Enthusiasm is all that is required. A good experience is guaranteed, If you are interested contact Tim on Rdg 597620 by Monday 20th May... Ta, Ra... - - - (paid ad) THE THREATS TO YOUR HEALTH How our society makes you sick and fails to make you well Social and Environmental Factors in Health and Health Care Day Conference Saturday 1 June Reading Centre for the Unemployed £2 (£1 unwaged) Details tel Reading 669562 West Berkshire Health Watch - - - (paid ad) NEWTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 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 - - - WEDNESDAY IS WOMEN'S DAY AT R.C.U. From June 5th Probable activities include Fabric Crafts - Batik, Quilting, Embroidery etc. Confidence Building, Video Screening, Women's Health, Performance Group. Planning Meetings Wednesday May 15th, 12.30pm Wednesday May 22nd, 12.30pm At RCU Please come along to the meetings. All women welcome Help with publicity particularly needed. Creche Contact: Karen or Helen at: Reading Centre for the Unemployed 4-6 East Street Reading. Tel - 596639 - - - WOMEN'S SELF EXPRESSION PROJECT The project has been really well supported so far and has got off to a good start, with between 20-35 women turning up to sessions. We have had really good workshops in voice, dance and yoga. The idea is to offer women a "taster" of different creative pursuits with the intention that it will lead to groups of women pursuing some areas in more depth. Coming up next: 11 May - Assertiveness - Joyce Chesterton 25 May - Acting Skills - Dee Anderson 8 June - Improvisations - Suzanne Langrish 22 June - Mime - Cathy Nalty 6 July - Writing - Reading Women Writers 20 July - Consolidation - Penny Henrion Workshops run from 10:30 - 12:30 am, at Reading Women's Centre, Abbey Street. Creche facilities available for under 5s. Disabled access - please telephone. Free to unwaged women. Waged £1 Contact number: Penny 662646 - - - $Id: //info.ravenbrook.com/user/ndl/readings-only-newspaper/issue/1985/1985-05-12.txt#4 $