I must admit, the end of the Basildon lockout was a bit of an anti-climax. I had discovered more about the camaraderie of socialism and the true meaning of the brotherhood of the union (be fair, there were not many women in the trade union at that time) in those couple of weeks with theContinue reading “Union bonds do not last forever, but I still had all the world as my stage”
Category Archives: politics
One in the eye for the bosses when picketers produce a Royal edition
The weekend came and the weekend went. The journalists in Basildon were still locked out by the Westminster Press Group management. The printworkers were still refusing to return to work unless the lockout was ended and the journalists also allowed to return. On that Monday morning in November, with the wedding of Princess Anne andContinue reading “One in the eye for the bosses when picketers produce a Royal edition”
Natural suspicion takes a back seat when it comes to bosses v workers
In my early days as a journalist, especially when I worked at Holywell and used to go to the head office printing works with Peter Leaney, one particular point was always drummed into me: “Don’t upset the printworkers.” Once the stories for the newspaper had been sourced, written and subbed the journalists passed over controlContinue reading “Natural suspicion takes a back seat when it comes to bosses v workers”
Take your pick on our origins but it all leads back to socialism
In the beginning . . . What? Was there nothing and did some supernatural being create all we have now? OR; Was there nothing except a tiny condensed spot of everything which then started to expand, like a magician’s box out of which you can pull everything you need, from tiny grains of sand toContinue reading “Take your pick on our origins but it all leads back to socialism”
Springtime carries you forward – and promises a glorious summer
The Spring of 1973 was a glorious time. As far as I was concerned the sun shone every day; I was raking in the stories for the Standard Recorder; my circle of socialist-minded friends was widening; my social circle was a round of fun, parties and theatre; and I was getting to spend more andContinue reading “Springtime carries you forward – and promises a glorious summer”
Still seeking socialism amid the rebellions
The workers of the world have been given many names over the centuries. Nowadays we do actually talk of workers or employees, but in the past it has been working class as opposed to middle class even when the middle class worked; even further back we talk of peasants or serfs which, considering the conditionsContinue reading “Still seeking socialism amid the rebellions”
A neverending journey in search of socialism
The search for socialism has no real beginning and no real end. Even if you concentrate on socialism in the UK you have to figure out where it has come from, including when did it begin, and is it still evolving. More than anything a socialist needs to find a home. There are many choicesContinue reading “A neverending journey in search of socialism”
Seaside resort – not the best place when you seek political answers
Growing up in a middle class household during the 1950s and 60s in a seaside resort in NE Wales is not totally conducive to getting an insight into national politics in general and local politics in particular. For a start nobody really talked about politics to children and when I first started to take aContinue reading “Seaside resort – not the best place when you seek political answers”
Market meeting was a real bonus
Meeting my Muse at the market in March 1973 was a bonus as I thought it would be two weeks after the party before I saw her again. That half an hour with her made all the difference. If you are thinking of a long-term relationship then you should base it on each of youContinue reading “Market meeting was a real bonus”
To woo or not woo – that is the question – only fools rush in
Since I last mentioned the moment I actually met my Muse, and discovered she had a six-month-old baby, I have not gone back to that period, well not until yesterday when I commented on that eventful year 1973. It is not because there were any bad memories from that event, or even that year. InContinue reading “To woo or not woo – that is the question – only fools rush in”
Robin's Nest 