Kmflett's Blog

Let’s make the 50^th anniversary of Murdoch’s S*n in 2019 its last one

The tragic death of Caroline Flack has brought into the spotlight yet again the gutter journalism of the Sun

The paper published a large number of articles about Ms Flack which at best didn’t help matters and certainly weren’t designed to

I dont expect anyone reading this reads the S*n (I certainly dont) but 17th November 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the first edition of the paper under Murdoch’s ownership. It had previously been the Labour backed Daily Herald until 1964 and then The Sun owned by IPC.

The S*n which is not normally known for paying any attention to history strangely noticed the anniversary and marked it over several editions

The Guardian in autumn 1969 published a report about the preparations for the new paper including an interview with the first Editor Larry Lamb.

The tabloid style was there from the start with the headline to the first Editorial being ‘Reach for the Sun’. The Guardian also noted that the paper had no specialist editors (Defence etc) and no Foreign Editor. In short Murdoch started as he meant to go on.

There were few job losses in London but the Manchester operation of the old Sun was shut with no jobs kept on. Murdoch was clearly already gearing up for Wapping in 1986

The Sun was sold by the owners of the Mirror, IPC and from the first issues of the Murdoch Sun the competition was on.

At that time, 50 years ago, both papers supported Labour and the new Sun carried an interview with Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

The tabloid style has lasted 5 decades, the political allegiance soon switched.

Surely this latest Sun related event after all the phone hacking and made up stories suggests that the 50^th anniversary of the Murdoch paper should be its last. Circulation has been in decline and Murdoch’s UK media interest, post Sky ownership, appears to be the Times, the new Times Radio and taking on the BBC.

That also needs to be opposed but the Sun may not fit Murdoch’s business model much longer and it certainly doesn’t fit what a paper should be in a democracy.

Love Beer London: beyond the big brands of craft beer

I paid a second visit to the Love Beer London craft beer keg festival on Saturday afternoon.

Storm Dennis notwithstanding it was only a short windswept walk from my Tottenham abode.

It was, as on the opening night, busy but there was no problem with getting served and the beer range had changed considerably since my first visit on Thursday evening.

That is a tribute to the organisers who had had to change venue at short notice with all the reorganisation and challenges that this can bring.

I noted a few complaints on social media (as ever) but actually I thought it all went very well. I noted a complaint for example that the beers were served too cold which wasnt my experience (being familiar with having to get imperial stouts well before drinking in Brewdog bars so they can warm up a bit) and that some were fizzy. Obviously individual views and experiences differ but I rather think that the person who argued that had never had even so much as a sip of Twitbread’s Wankard

It meant of course a lot of hard work for some. There is an interesting perspective on that here:

https://brewreport.co.uk/2020/02/16/volunteering-at-love-beer-london-2020/

Anyway it being an afternoon I didn’t go overboard with the beer (not that I would have done in the evening btw!) and confined myself to sipping four halves at £2 a go.

The event was slightly differently configured to previous years (it’s a not for profit festival with money going to a health charity) in that it was linked up with the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) covering the south-east of the country.

Hence, for example, there were craft beers from Dorking, Portsmouth and Ramsgate that you wouldn’t normally see in London despite its geographic proximity.

I must admit to not trying them as I was more interested in trying some London beers that you don’t normally see in bars in North-East London.

London is obviously a large place and the market is to some extent localised. I can find the excellent beers from Pressure Drop, Five Points and Redemption, for example, quite easily. I might also see beers from around the UK, from, for example, Manchester, with places like Newcastle and Birmingham rather less likely.

Anyway I tried the Italian grape beer from Ora (which is a Tottenham brewery but aside from the tap itself not seen that often in bars) a fruit IPA from Brewdog Tower Hill (which has its own on-site brewery) a chocolate wheat beer from Brixton and hazy pale from Boxcar in Bethnal Green (again tap aside, not seen that often in bars).

The standard was excellent and reflects I suspect a kind of levelling up of quality in London craft beer that was certainly not there when the scene got going 10 years ago.

I hope it will become an even more established part of the annual beer festival scene and with the specific and important focus on keykeg beers which do feature at other festivals of course, but not in such large variety and number.

My earlier thoughts

https://kmflett.wordpress.com/2020/02/14/confessions-of-a-lifelong-camra-member-at-a-keg-beer-festival/

Beard Liberation Front

Press release, 15th February

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

Voting opens for St David’s Day Beard of Wales poll

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that voting is now open in the 2020 St David’s Day Beard of Wales poll

The poll aims to determine the St David’s Day Beard of Wales, the Welsh beard that offers the most positive national image.

The campaigners say that images of St David suggest that the Welsh Saint himself may have had an organic beard

Welsh rugby prop Adam Jones won the Award in 2013, voted for by BLF supporters, just shaving former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Another rugby player Leigh Halfpenny won in 2014. In 2015 the Award went to Thee Faction musician Chris Fox in 2016 footballer Joe Ledley and in 2017 to Charcutier Illtud Llyr Dunsford, with Chris Fox winning again in 2018. In 2019 journalist Grant Tucker shaved the opposition to claim the accolade

It is the eighth time the Award has been given following the traditional UK Beard of the Year at the end December each year and the BLF says it is a mark of Wales as a modern nation on St David’s Day that beards are now playing an increasingly significant role in national life.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said we’re expecting competition for the Beard of Wales to bristle again in 2020

Beard of Wales 2020

Jake Ball, rugby player

Chris Elmore, politician

Michael Sheen, actor

Tom Jones, singer

Grant Tucker, Sunday Times journalist

Joe Ledley, footballer

Gruff Rhys, musician

Hefin David, politician

Huw Irranca-Davies, politician

Gwilym Pugh, model

Adrian Masters, ITV Wales political editor

Beard Liberation Front

Media Release 15^th February

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

Beard Wearers urged to take ‘significant’ precautions if venturing out in Storm Dennis

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that it has issued an Amber warning for Storm Dennis this weekend.

The Amber warning signifies that there may be a significant risk to the beard if beard wearers venture out in Storm Dennis without following BLF guidelines

Amber is the second most serious beard warning with Red meaning that the beard may be in danger

BLF organiser Keith Flett said, Storm Dennis brings an unusual combination of heavy rain and high winds that pose a real threat to beard wearers

Storm Dennis guidelines

1 If your beard does not need to be outside this weekend then keep it firmly indoors

2 If venturing out in Storm Dennis take the following precautions

1. Marinade the beard in beard oil or imperial stout before going out to prevent water damage
2. Make sure that the beard is covered by a snood to mitigate wind impact
3. Wear a hoodie to deflect strong air currents and rain

3 If the beard becomes damp or windswept despite 2, enter the nearest craft beer pub to allow the beard a cooling off period before any further weather engagement

Confessions of a lifelong CAMRA member at a keg beer festival

I joined the Campaign for Real Ale in 1975 (I was 18) and remain a member. I expect to be at the annual meeting in York in April.

On Thursday night taking a short walk from my Tottenham residence in Tottenham Hale I went along, with my partner Megan, to the annual Craft Beer Cares festival @lovebeerlondon. The not for profit festival raises funds for health causes.

There were a large number of beers on tap and they were all keg.

In 1975 (notwithstanding 70s Dinner Party on twitter) such an event would not have been conceived of. Keg was awful and no one wanted a Watneys Red festival.

Times change. Now there are fantastic beers available in keg, often keykeg.

The festival was busy (sold out on Thursday but I believe some tickets are available for Friday and Saturday) and the range and quality of beers was superb.

I enjoyed the Kernel’s Saison (Goldings) not least because in modern brewing traditional hops like Goldings and Fuggles are being used to brew great beers, not the dreadfully dull ones they were once associated with.

I also enjoyed several other saisons- BoxCar Rainy City was particularly good- also a very good dark sour with cherries from Brewdog Tower Hill and a Hammerton’s chocolate fudge cake stout (6.5%) that were impressive.

Lots of beards were there of course but amongst the crowd I noted some CAMRA stalwarts like myself, some serving behind the bar.

The beer times are indeed changing…

https://www.lovebeerlondon.co.uk/

All to The Bull for Valentine’s Night

Trade at The Bull is still slow due to Lynda Snell’s campaign to get the pub shut & despite the best efforts of the Ambridge Socialist. Valentine’s Night is key. Of course Snell is planning to try and wreck it. We are calling for a big turn-out tonight  at The Bull. If you cant make it, raise a glass to keeping the pub open wherever you are.

We remain resolutely opposed to the planned change of name, but if the pub shuts thanks to lack of trade what it is called will be sadly irrelevant

Sign the petition to stop the name change and KEEP THE BULL OPEN here

http://chng.it/8gwW6Ysg

A genuine Valentine’s Day tradition: the rich giving to the poor

Valentine’s Day in 2020 is all about the commercialisation of romantic lurve.

Of course there were other more robust Valentine’s traditions which have been edged out of history

In his book about traditions, Stations of the Sun, Ronald Hutton notes the existence of Valentining.

It was mainly for children who demanded from wealthy neighbours Valentine’s gifts for themselves and dates back the eighteenth century.

Needless to say as with many of these traditions it was robust and accompanied by rhymes containing veiled threats:

Good morrow, Valentine,

First ‘tis yours and then ‘tis mine

So please give me a Valentine

A tradition well worth reviving in the age of Boris Johnson

Beard Liberation Front

14^th February 2020

contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

ITS OFFICIAL: VALENTINE’S BEARDS ARE SEXY

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, which campaigns against irrational prejudice against the hirsute, has announced the result of its annual poll to find the My Hairy Valentine poll, the sexiest beards

After a hard fought campaign the winners were (in order)

1 Peter Mac Ciarrai, craft beer man about town

2 Daniel Fooks, artist and campaigner

3 Mauricio Pochettino, football manager

4 Jeremy Paxman, University Challenge host

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, forget the stereotypes and the prejudices, on Valentine’s Day, beards are smooth, silky and above all sexy!

What is the criteria for the sexiest Valentine’s Day Beard?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder & likewise what people find sexy can vary widely

1] A beard from Clint Eastwood stubble to full Brian Blessed organic

2] A stylish deployment of the beard, at least sometimes in the public eye

3] An attractive disposition in relation to the beard (the fulfillment of this criteria is up to the voter)

4] An appealing beard in terms of length, colour, style. Again its a matter for the voter

My Hairy Valentine Shortlist

Idris Elba

Prince Harry

Tom Jones

Gary Lineker

Mauricio Pochettino

George Clooney

Mo Salah

Justin Trudeau

Chris Woakes

Peter Mac Ciarrai

Drew McIntyre

Beard Liberation Front

14^th February 2020

contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

‘MY HAIRY VALENTINE’ POLL FINDS CRAFT BEER BEARDS THE SEXIEST OF ALL

Peter Mac Cairrai (photo:Matthew Curtis)

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, which campaigns against irrational prejudice against the hirsute, has said that the annual poll to find the My Hairy Valentine poll, the sexiest beard, has concluded with well-known North London man about the craft beer scene Peter Mac Ciarrai, shaving opponents for the title.

After a hard-fought campaign artist Daniel Fooks was second, former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was third and Jeremy Paxman fourth

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, craft beer and beards are a bit of stereotype but the BLF poll has found that for Valentine’s Day they are the sexiest of the lot

What is the criteria for the sexiest Valentine’s Day Beard?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder & likewise what people find sexy can vary widely

1] A beard from Clint Eastwood stubble to full Brian Blessed organic

2] A stylish deployment of the beard, at least sometimes in the public eye

3] An attractive disposition in relation to the beard (the fulfillment of this criteria is up to the voter)

4] An appealing beard in terms of length, colour, style. Again its a matter for the voter

My Hairy Valentine Shortlist

Idris Elba

Prince Harry

Tom Jones

Gary Lineker

Mauricio Pochettino

George Clooney

Mo Salah

Justin Trudeau

Chris Woakes

Peter Mac Ciarrai

Drew McIntyre

Daniel Fooks

Eric Hobsbawm on Arsenal & the London Working Class

There is not and has never, I think, been a football team bearing the name of London. All the celebrated teams of the capital are named after neighbourhoods, except Arsenal, which moved to North London from its original location as a works club in Woolwich. They belonged to Queens Park, the hills round Crystal Palace, to Charlton, Leyton and Tottenham, or to West Ham—another team which began as a works club.

Now, this way of defining communities is directly relevant to labour movements. Out of the twenty-three metropolitan branches of the Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners in the 1870s, eighteen actually had the same locality names as either music halls or football teams or both. And if we take an area like Woolwich, it was by general consent a town within a city, a defined community whose working class was based on the great Arsenal, which generated both the football club and the Royal Arsenal Cooperative Society which eventually colonized other parts of London. (The other metropolitan cooperative society of importance, the London, was originally based on the railway workshops in Stratford.) And if we take West Ham, whose Thames Ironworks generated the famous ‘Hammers’ team, its character as a separate proletarian community was so marked that it was the first district in Greater London to elect a Labour majority on its council, having already, in 1892, elected the socialist Keir Hardie to Parliament by means of a coalition of the Irish with the local Left.

From New Left Review No 1/166 November/December 1987 Labour in the Great City

Eric Hobsbawm, who *may* have been an Arsenal supporter would surely have been impressed by the North London celebration of Arsenal men’s Premiership title on 31st May 2026. Not the United Kingdom which Farage tries to misrepresent with the politics of division. Guardian report below

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/31/arsenal-trophy-bus-parade-supporters-north-london-champions-league?CMP=share_btn_url