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Durham Working Class Bookfair Nov 3rd

T

The Black Hand

Unclean
Recent publicity;

"Bookfair has Working Class Agenda

A Bookfair for enthusiasts of working class and labour movement history will be held in a Durham Church.

St Nicholas Church, Market Place, will be the venue for the event on Saturday, November 3rd, from 10am until 5pm.

Trevor bark, one of the organisers, said that the region did not have a bookshop dedicated to books about working class politics and the co-operative movement and North East History.

He said it was hoped that the fair, sponsored by the NUM, would become an annual event and be a meeting place for different groups. The nearby Market Tavern pub, where the Durham Miners Association was formed in the nineteenth century, will also be involved in the event."

The Advertiser, Thursday, October 18, 2007.
 
I heard there were problems with the venue. Can you confirm that these have now been resolved?

Maybe you could highlight which groups are involved/coming along so punters have some idea of what to expect (in the same way that the bi-monthly Radical Independent Bookfair in Glasgow include groups/publishers in their publicity).

I hope it goes well.
 
Ungrateful said:
I heard there were problems with the venue. Can you confirm that these have now been resolved?

Maybe you could highlight which groups are involved/coming along so punters have some idea of what to expect (in the same way that the bi-monthly Radical Independent Bookfair in Glasgow include groups/publishers in their publicity).

I hope it goes well.
Click to expand...

From Indymedia Uk;

"Despite venue problems we are determined to press ahead with this event, which will be established in the annual political calendar in the North East


Despite being booked since early this year, and publicity on the internet and leaflets having been spread since then. The venue (St Nicholas Church, Durham Market Place) had to pull our events cos of concerns with fire regulations. Despite negotiations and options being explored, we have recently received final notice that this is the case. It was felt that there was no way of contacting all those who have received leaflets and so as not to have a wasted journey the event should go ahead elsewhere.

After searching for a viable close central alternative cos it was felt that the older generations leafletted at a couple of Miners events such as the Durham Miners Gala would not walk very far, it was decided to book the Meeting room at Durham Central Library 100 yards away on Claypath so that a smaller event can take place.

Bookfair activists will be at the old venue from the advertised time to re-direct people to the meeting room will be available at Durham central Library from 12-30 onwards on Saturday November 3rd, until 4.30pm."

AS far as I know; Sunderland University Press, RCG, Class War, IWW, 2nd hand books from Gateshead, History of Education project, the fabulous Autonomous Class War book stall and I can't remember any others off the top of my head but there is at least one more official looking stall. The books available will live up to the labels.

And forward to another bigger and better bookfair next year.
 
have you arranged a play-pen/boxing-ring for any lib.com types who turn up? In the spirit of non-sectarianism, like ;) :D

Hope it goes well, seriously--if so, I might even turn up next year...lovely place Durham...
 
Larry O'Hara said:
have you arranged a play-pen/boxing-ring for any lib.com types who turn up? In the spirit of non-sectarianism, like

Hope it goes well, seriously--if so, I might even turn up next year...lovely place Durham...
Click to expand...

I am only expecting one and I would like to get talk with him seriously believe it or not:eek: :D We'll see though. I hope Revol comes though too:p it's about time we had some anarcho Sumo:cool:
 
Ungrateful said:
I heard there were problems with the venue. Can you confirm that these have now been resolved?

Maybe you could highlight which groups are involved/coming along so punters have some idea of what to expect (in the same way that the bi-monthly Radical Independent Bookfair in Glasgow include groups/publishers in their publicity).

I hope it goes well.
Click to expand...

Oh I do know there will be material from the North East Labour History people as well. I think there may be some AF material if the gadgy brings it.
 
Attica said:
TODAY!
Click to expand...

Misc-Retard.jpg
 
It went well in Durham central public library, and so there was substantial passing trade as well as bookfair people.

We had several different types of stall holders and a great deal of warmth and solidarity was felt. NUM, UCATT, Trades council people, booksellers, socialist groups, Industrial Workers of the World, and of course a variety of anarcho groups - Autonomous Class War, Projectile, NAN, AF. The only group not represented was Sol Fed, AFAIK they have nobody in the region.

The great new magazine MAYDAY of course sold out again:eek: :p :D
And many new books, CDs, Dvds, second hand books, magazines, papers, and black and red cufflinks (! - for court appearances and other peoples weddings...) were sold. Every stall holder was pleased with the day and their takings, and we will definately be looking to do similar events to this again - at least once a year.

Overall lessons have been learnt and we will be able to improve as well. As for turnout, I do not think it would be contraversial to call it 'good', perhaps other people could say what they thought if they were there?

I think the location had something to do with the success, the church cancelling ironically made the event more popular than it might have been. By making us look for a different venue in the library, we had the advantage of being amongst people who were there for books as well as those who turned up for the bookfair.

We got congratulated in the pub for organising a good bookfair! And it wasn't drunken rambling these were early doors comments...:D
 
Attica said:
It went well in Durham central public library, and so there was substantial passing trade as well as bookfair people.

We had several different types of stall holders and a great deal of warmth and solidarity was felt. NUM, UCATT, Trades council people, booksellers, socialist groups, Industrial Workers of the World, and of course a variety of anarcho groups - Autonomous Class War, Projectile, NAN, AF. The only group not represented was Sol Fed, AFAIK they have nobody in the region.

The great new magazine MAYDAY of course sold out again:eek: :p :D
And many new books, CDs, Dvds, second hand books, magazines, papers, and black and red cufflinks (! - for court appearances and other peoples weddings...) were sold. Every stall holder was pleased with the day and their takings, and we will definately be looking to do similar events to this again - at least once a year.

Overall lessons have been learnt and we will be able to improve as well. As for turnout, I do not think it would be contraversial to call it 'good', perhaps other people could say what they thought if they were there?

I think the location had something to do with the success, the church cancelling ironically made the event more popular than it might have been. By making us look for a different venue in the library, we had the advantage of being amongst people who were there for books as well as those who turned up for the bookfair.

We got congratulated in the pub for organising a good bookfair! And it wasn't drunken rambling these were early doors comments...:D
Click to expand...

Alternatively it was...'a bit piss poor. Four small tables in a library, class war esque one, IWW, RCG, and some NUM one and well its was about 9' by 9' next to the kids play area. For TBH it was a 'resounding success' I found the whole thing increadibly grim as did the rest of people with me. No social and no 'lefty beers' in fact it was the saddest thing I have ever witnessed'.

Posted elsewhere by someone who Attica called a 'good man'.

You pays your money and you takes your pick - Louis MacNeice
 
Louis MacNeice said:
Alternatively it was...'a bit piss poor. Four small tables in a library, class war esque one, IWW, RCG, and some NUM one and well its was about 9' by 9' next to the kids play area. For TBH it was a 'resounding success' I found the whole thing increadibly grim as did the rest of people with me. No social and no 'lefty beers' in fact it was the saddest thing I have ever witnessed'.

Posted elsewhere by someone who Attica called a 'good man'.

You pays your money and you takes your pick - Louis MacNeice
Click to expand...

Really? Where's the link then Louis.
 
Attica said:
Really? Where's the link then Louis.
Click to expand...

Just go and look at The Black Hand's 'Durham Working Class Bookfair' thread on another board; it's all there...but of course you know that already.

Louis MacNeice
 
Louis MacNeice said:
Just go and look at The Black Hand's 'Durham Working Class Bookfair' thread on another board; it's all there...but of course you know that already.

Louis MacNeice
Click to expand...
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Doh!! You are being disingenuous. You know I am banned and proud:D :p
 
Louis MacNeice said:
Alternatively it was...'a bit piss poor. Four small tables in a library, class war esque one, IWW, RCG, and some NUM one and well its was about 9' by 9' next to the kids play area. For TBH it was a 'resounding success' I found the whole thing incredibly grim as did the rest of people with me. No social and no 'lefty beers' in fact it was the saddest thing I have ever witnessed'.

Posted elsewhere by someone who Attica called a 'good man'.

You pays your money and you takes your pick - Louis MacNeice
Click to expand...

This is factually incorrect, and a typical laypersons pov - Hmmm 'Good man' can mean anything, you need to indicate the user name as otherwise I have no idea - I call a lot of people 'good man' and it doesn't always mean what it might;)

There were not 4 small tables, there were 6 large tables and one longer library one. It was the main feature inside and close to the entrance of a large new open space library, so there was a large passing trade as you had to go past it.

Apart from the stalls indicated above there was Tyneside Socialist Forum, a 'Capital and Class' half table, and a second hand Gateshead seller.

As I said, all stall holders are happy and it WILL happen again. This is what counts, those who got involved are enthusiastic enough to do it again. I knew a lot of the people who turned up and so I think it was a success as these different groups were represented.

What would have happened those 27 years ago if the 10 people at the first London Anarchist bookfair had given up? It would not be the large event it is today.

SO, a sense of perspective is needed, it was a first attempt, and on that level it worked. We went to the Pub for the social as advertised, there were about 20 people in the pub I guess, where we had a 'de-briefing' session. I asked the management what happened to the beer promised, and the manager said he tried to get 'Maggies End' from the Jarrow brewery, but as the Pub was tied he had to climb the bureaucracy and he couldn't get it. They were good people and it means we will be able to work with that pub again.

Problems there were, but not the ones indicated.
 
cesare said:
Well fair play that you did it, gotta start somewhere aye
Click to expand...

indeed, and thankyou. The task now is to go further forward and get better. I am 100% sure that the next event will be bigger and better. More links have been made, more people have expressed an interest in having stalls, and this is the dynamism that praxis creates.

Watch this space:D
 
Attica said:
indeed, and thankyou. The task now is to go further forward and get better. I am 100% sure that the next event will be bigger and better. More links have been made, more people have expressed an interest in having stalls, and this is the dynamism that praxis creates.

Watch this space:D
Click to expand...

Reckon if you concentrate on this sorta thing you might move it forward. Direct your energy and relinquish peripheral distraction.
 
These threads are one of the delights of this board. The squabbles and strange hobbies of the retro left are as soothing to watch as a tank of tropical fish.

All power to your praxis, Mr Attica.
 
Maurice Picarda said:
These threads are one of the delights of this board. The squabbles and strange hobbies of the retro left are as soothing to watch as a tank of tropical fish.

All power to your praxis, Mr Attica.
Click to expand...

Good man:D
 
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