Hi Everyone

Some of you might be aware that Blue Peter is soon to celebrate its 60th birthday.  You may not be aware however that loveable allotment-botherer Jeremy Corbyn was briefly one of its presenters!

Taking over from Christopher Trace in 1967, he was originally selected for his brightly coloured jumpers which, it was felt, would appeal to younger viewers.  However, after initial success, he signed his own P45 after insisting on presenting titular North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh with a Blue Peter badge, and inviting Ian Mikardo onto the show to talk about his plans for workers to control the means of production.  

Three weeks later, he was replaced by jobbing actor and lapsed Maoist, Peter Purves

(Gary, is all this research reliable?  I'm pretty sure this was all Valerie Singleton's doing.  That, and the time Petra and John Noakes decided the Christmas Appeal should be on behalf of the striking plantation workers in East Timor.  And wasn't Peter Purves a Trotskyite back in the Sixties anyway?  Oh well, I don't suppose no-one will notice.  )

This weekend is a little quiet, so if you're not making things out of sticky-back plastic and coat hangers (do please get a grown up to help you with the scissors), we do have something for you this weekend!

It's on Friday night, and we're paying host once more, to the GREEN ROCK RIVER BAND!

Returning to the centre after a stunning December debut and headlining Here Comes The Sun this August, The Green Rock River Band are a London based folk band crafting original songwriting with eclectic instruments. Washboards, guitars, banjos, trombones, fiddles and three-part harmonies blended together into a unique musical identity.

They've played theatres, bars, concert halls and festivals up and down the UK bringing well crafted songs, sweaty energy, laughter and a love for music with them.

Their songs have been featured on numerous TV shows and adverts and they starred in the multi-award winning feature film, The Fitzroy, as well as composing the score.

Support once again comes from Reading’s own riverbilly skifflers Dolly and the Clothespegs, promising an old-timey knees-up from start to finish.

We're open at 8pm.  And it'll cost you £10 (£7 concessions) at the door or for £9/£6 (plus booking fee) in advance from the snappily-titled http://www.wegottickets.com/event/449497)

That’s everything for another week, just to remind you that we are, as always, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST (If you pop it into your satnav or Google, we shall magically appear!)

Have a nice weekend!