About

Ich bin Sozialdemokrat, weil mir Sozialismus ohne Demokratie nichts gilt, und eine unsoziale Demokratie keine Demokratie ist – Günter Grass.

“I am a Social Democrat because to me socialism without democracy counts for nothing, and a non-social democracy is not a democracy” – From the Diary of a Snail  (1974.) 

This blog  will have a number of parts. The politics will be sceptical left of centre, striving for “radical but sensible”; food and drink as it comes; culture likewise; football, Portsmouth FC.

ABOUT PETER A. RUSSELL. follow me on twitter @Planet_Pedro

I was born in the mid-50s in Hanworth Middlesex; my father was a sheet metal worker and my mother a shop assistant. In 1960, the family moved to Fareham, Hants when my father’s employer (a lifeboat manufacturer) relocated their factory to Gosport. In 1966, two events changed my life forever: I passed the 11 Plus exam and went to Price’s School, the town’s boys’ grammar school and I went to Fratton Park to see my first Pompey game – a 2-0 win vs. Wolves.

In 1974 I started at the UEA Norwich, and in 1976-77 studied at University of Regensburg (where I met my future wife). I graduated in 1978 with a BA Hons in Comparative Literature with German. After a very brief false start in teaching, I started work at the Greater London Council, initially in clerical capacities in housing policy and from 1982 in policy positions in the Labour Group Secretariat. In 1985 I moved to Glasgow City Council where I worked as PA to successive Leaders of the Council, then in economic policy, social policy, and international strategies, ending up as Advisor to the Lord Provost.  In 1999 I had graduated from University of Glasgow with an MSc in Local Economic Development. I retired in 2012.

I have been a member of the Labour Party since 1977, in a number of CLPs: Norwich South, Dulwich CLP (where I was CLP Vice-Chair), Norwood,  Glasgow Hillhead/Kelvin CLPs, Garscadden/Anniesland/Glasgow NW.  I joined the Fabian Society in 1987, becoming Secretary of Glasgow Fabians in 1989-2002 and Chair in 2002.

In 2013, I was on Mastermind, with Portsmouth FC as my specialist subject: I scored 27 and 2 passes, which was the seventh-best runner up. (The six best go to the semi-final).

In 2014, I re-entered. My first round specialist subject is the Rolling Stones 1962-82. The heat was broadcast in the autumn of 2014. My account of it is here: http://wp.me/p3f2py-a3 I won the heat with 26 points and no passes.

For my own poetry: please note that I am the author, as in “the Author asserts his/her moral right to be identified as the Author of the work in relation to all such rights as are granted by the Author to the Publisher under the terms and conditions of this Agreement.”

Restaurant reviews on Tripadvisor as http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/members-citypage/Pedro_on_Tour/g186534