Max
Big Flame
I joined the revolutionary socialist organisation Big Flame in 1975 and left around 1983-4, figuring the Thatcher had eliminated the space for the kind of libertarian, autonomous, social movement-oriented organisation I had put so much into, and learned so much from. Many of us left Big Flame at that time and the organisation ceased to […]
Chapeltown News
From 1972 to 1976 I was deeply involved with the Chapeltown News Collective, which produced a community newspaper aimed at the residents of the Leeds 7 and 8 neighbourhoods. We were a small group of young white and black radicals who lived in Chapeltown. For most of its short life, Chapeltown News was literally produced […]
Chapeltown Community Association
I joined the CCA in 1972 when Ruth Bundey was Secretary, and the founder of the CCA, Tim Mobbs, was still involved. I was Association’s Secretary from 1973-4 or 5 and my analysis of this activity can be read in Chapter 6 (pages 183 – 197) of my book The Struggle for ‘Community . . […]
The Leeds West Indian Carnival
Since the early 1970s I have taken an active part in the Leeds West Indian Carnival, which I regard as the most important cultural festival in Leeds. I was commissioned by West Yorkshire Archive Service to write a short history of the Carnival, which is available from the archives, or may be downloaded here: ‘A […]