Arise, ye workers from your slumber.....

We braved the big storm and went through to see my mum today (cold is better) and found this tucked away in a drawer.

We were all socialist at one time, with family and friends members of the Communist Party, Labour Party or active in the trade unions.

My pal was even a member of the Young Pioneer League complete with red scarf and Party badge. The highlight of his pre teen life was meeting Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tershkova, the first man and woman in space, when their aircraft stopped at Prestwick Airport to refuel on their way back from a visit to the US.

They presented him with an album of all the Soviet space stamps with their signatures over the top. Amazing gift which had the rest of us boys drooling - we were only 12 ish at the time.

It seems like another world now. Then I wonder did it happen at all?