A Black & White Tale

Comrades,

Whilst most of us benefitted from the support of the labour movement during our time at Ruskin, and felt either that this was reciprocity bestowed following years of activists efforts and/or that they would go on from Ruskin to repay the debt, others not only bit the hand that fed, but tried to drink from it as well.

The particular tale I have in mind is the unfortunate episode of the decision (to be regretted in the annals of labour history) to ask The Badger to undertake his dissertation around a piece of research that was required for bargaining purposes by the National Association of Licensed House Managers (NALHM - Since merged with TGWU, AMICUS and now UNITE).

It seemed a strange choice at the time given the rodents lack of labour movement activism, but the indolent wretch was still casting about for a dissertation idea long after the point that the topic should have been registered. Given that Ruskin was regulalrly commissioned, via TURU, to undertake pieces of research for trade unions, it was decided to give the fleabag the NALHM work. It even came (we should have know what would happen) with some money for the Brummie's 'expenses'.

A spectactularly short burst of energy on the part of the night beast was followed by months of nothingness. He didn't even despoil Ruskin library, as the good folk of NALHM had presented him with volumes of relevant literature and data. He was though spotted with great frequency at certain licensed premises - the NALHM 'expenses' depleting at a rate disproportionate to his academic output.

Arguably the black and white one was engaged in varying forms of qualitative research exercises, perhaps participant observation? No.

The day of reckoning eventually ultimately came. The money was gone, the NALHM materials still in the envelope they were posted in. The Badger was called. I remember distinctly this day of shame. Roy Moore tried to assemble something from the incoherence of The Badger's testimomy and the trusting souls of NALHM wandered listlessly out of Walton Street unsure how something so simple could go so wrong. Ruskin never again received a request for help from NALHM.

Somehow The Badger was able to submit a dissertation, probably due only to Roy's biblical abilities to engineer structure from wreckage. When asked what had happened Jim could only suggest, with that wry Brummie accent, "I got distracted".

Perhaps we can end this reflective piece with a quote from that great man of letters Victor Hugo: "A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor."

Invisible labour, perhaps the best description of the activities of Jimmy The Badger - still sought after for the 2012 reunion.

In Solidarity

Ian