Be There or Be Square

Forty years ago (It seems like yesterday - Ed) with the Summer of Love in full swing everyone was totally fascinated by flower power. Disc and Music Echo carried an ad inviting the public to a debate (admission 2/-) entitled ‘Will Flower Power Work’ (in what terms they were unspecific). The Young Communist League, who organised the event, had thoughtfully booked the Conway Hall in Red Lion Square (near Holborn Tube) and cunningly called it not just a debate, but also a ‘Speak-In’. It ran just beneath a story about Paul McCartney’s brother being asked to compere the International Love-In Festival at Alexandra Palace where 5,000 carnations would decorate the scene and Johnny Weider of Eric Burdon’s Animals would play his electric violin for the first time in Britain.

Oh, happy days....