We are mourning due to the sudden and shock recent passing of our dear comrade and fellow radical historian, Ciaran Walsh. Ciaran was a force of nature; a proud internationalist and spirited anti-monarchist. He was a tireless activist for social justice in all contexts, whether fighting to defend his local community centre or showing international solidarity with Palestine. He would stand up in the struggle against racism and fascism, whenever and wherever they arose. Ciaran organised radical […]
This week (30 June 2025) the Labour government Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, began the process of proscribing the political group Palestine Action (PA) under the Terrorism Act 2000.[1] The following article considers the recent history of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (from 1974 to the present), and the attacks by UK governments on the legal defences of campaigners who carry out non-violent civil disobedience. It suggests, from the evidence, that rather than a supposed gradual extension of […]
This eminently readable and thoroughly researched book offers an insight to the rollercoaster ride of the London borough of Lambeth in the 1980s. For the whole of local government, the 1980s brought immense challenges. Under enormous pressure from the Thatcher administration, which stripped very substantial finance from councils, local government faced impossible challenges. But the story of Lambeth, as told by Hannah, offers a detailed insight into attempts to maintain local services, keep […]
I don’t know about the other organisers but I always wake up with a big feeling of relief the Monday after the Bristol Radical History Festival. Now in its seventh year, the festival gets bigger and more ambitious each time. In the week before I always feel a gnawing worry of ‘are we really going to pull it off this year?’ Luckily for us, the answer so far has always been: yes we are! Loads of work by loads of people goes into organising the Bristol Radical History Festival. It’s all done […]
Not A BRHG Event
BRHG's Steve Hunt will be speaking about his new book City of Swimmers at the Henleaze Lake Literary Festival. His talk will be aptly accompanied by a display of synchronised swimming. Full programme below. Saturday 14 June, Henleaze Lake, Lake Road, Henleaze, Bristol BS10 5HG Note: booking required.
Not A BRHG Event
This year we are marking WARREN JAMES DAY, with poems, songs, short stories, and performances that explore the people and events – real and imagined – of the 1831 ‘Dean Forest Riots’ (uprising!), its aftermath and ongoing legacy. Parkend Working Men’s Club, Lion Row, Parkend, GL154JZ. FREE event. 2-5pm Warren James is a Forest folk hero who led a rebellion against the authorities in 1831 to pull down enclosures stopping people getting access to the forest – a key part of their livelihood. For […]
In 2023, I had the honour to meet Guy Bailey, OBE, whilst researching the Bristol Bus Boycott campaign of 1963. At that time I learnt of his social activism not only in relation to employment but also housing and cricket. In 2025, he graciously agreed to have a conversation with me about his activism against racism in Bristol housing. During the 1980s, he was particularly concerned about the housing needs of Black Elders who were either retired or nearing retirement. They were still experiencing […]
Not A BRHG Event
Bristol Radical History Group are very pleased to be invited to this year's Dic Penderyn Society, Annual History Day at the Merthyr Labour Club, 1 Court Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8DU. Roger Ball (11:15am) and Colin Thomas (13:15), both BRHG members, will be speaking at the event. BRHG will also be running a bookstall. The programme for the day: 9.45-10.00am REVOLUTIONARY SONGS BY THE COR COCHION CAERDYDD 10.15-11.00am HUW WILLIAMS: “ART REPRESENTING REALITY” IMAGES OF MERTHYR TUDFUL […]
Bristol Radical History Group are happy and very proud to announce that Hartcliffe Betrayed, the Fading of a Post War Dream authored by Paul Smith has been awarded joint runner up for the Alan Ball Award 2024 in the category best Local History hardcopy publication. Since 1986, the Local Studies Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, acting on behalf of the Library Services Trust, has given annual awards to recognise outstanding contributions in local history […]
Not A BRHG Event
The reaction to the anti-migrant protests in August 2024 and solidarity that regular Bristolians showed to the refugees was not a one-off. The aim of this session is to understand how regular Bristolians have challenged oppression throughout the history of the city. From tackling racism in the trade union movement, comparing the differing experiences of refugees who came to the city, and to a look at the people who fought the blackshirts in the 30s, this session explores the complex history of […]
