UK Decay

[Neil]

I'm writing something about the Luton riot in July 1981 and wonder if anybody's got any memories they might want to share (names may be changed to protect the innocent). The basic facts - it was the week of 'Ghost Town' at number one and riots all over the country (Toxteth, Brixton etc.). In Luton there had been a couple of months of racist attacks and general agro from dodgy skins (the Bedford UK Decay trouble was part of this).

On the Friday night, the Plume of Feathers, skin hang out, got smashed up. The next day a crowd of black, white and asian youth gathered by the Arndale, all the shops were shut as they marched through. There was a rumour that nazis were going to attack the High Town festival so people ended up there, before moving on to Bury Park. That night, the skins were out in the town centre as well as the opposition, who got driven by the police back to Bury Park where it kicked off with petrol bombs etc. A lot of people got nicked and some got sent down.