The Bristolian

Having chatted over the phone we arrange to meet next time Ian is up in London, it’s the day after his sixtieth birthday, the sunday of the Notting Hill Carnival and we meet in The Chandros pub next to Trafalgar Square. Supposedly where he was drinking during the Poll Tax Riots. Fucking hell I’m thinking this geezers full on for a sixty year old. I hadn’t eaten breakfast and nervously put away four pints as I chat to Ian and his partner Jane. Good impression is made. Ian declares that I shall have the film rights for £10 and not a penny more! Tells me he is going to be moving back from Bristol to London soon. Says he’s sixty now might as well come back and give it a good ten year crack at kicking something back off again. I leave well pleased and very pissed. Head up to Notting Hill with a stack load of Bash The Rich stickers that Ian gave me and spend the rest of the day in an induced haze plastering them all over west london.

Before November I spend a weekend at Ian and Janes in Bristol. We chatted intensively over three days, going through stacks of old Class War and Alarm copies, listening to Living Legend vinyls and digging out old vhs tapes. It is exciting getting to grips with the book and Ians life. I meet Roy The Bristol Blogger and his lovely wife and child while helping to move a trampoline into their car. Feeling like part of the family. Eating Bristol pub dinners with Ian and Jane and enjoying the warm and friendly company. Sleeping on the blow up bed reading issue one of Class War. I also meet Tyler the dog. A friendship blooms. The three days fly by. And I leave wishing them well with the move and looking forward to seeing them in the Big Smoke soon.

Train back to Paddington. Begin archiving old issues of Class War, Wolverine, Angry, Alarm. Getting into the spirit of book.