Gerry Brooke loooks back on stories about industrial unrest, Bristol Rovers and the ss Great Britain

This was the autumn week in 1970 that Texas born singer Janis Joplin was found dead in her Hollywood apartment.

The 27 year old, said the press, had taken a drugs overdose.

In September, they reminded us, guitar legend Jimi Hendrix had died in London in similar circumstances.

Joplin had risen to fame as a member of the San Francisco based band, Big Brother and the Holding Company.

She had wowed the crowds at Monterey Pop and then, later, at Woodstock, with her passionate, raunchy, delivery.

“I’d rather not sing than sing quiet” she once said.

So much for the US – what was happening in Bristol?

Making the front pages of the Post all this October week was industrial unrest.

This time round it was 5,OOO plus council workers who had gone on strike demanding more money.

They wanted a pay rise of £2.75 to take their wages up to a minimum of £16.50 a week.

In those days an all out strike meant that vital public workers – everyone from social workers to dustmen – were absent from their duties.

The vital services – firemen and ambulancemen – said that they were “working to rule.”

As the dispute spread to pumping station staff so it looked as if raw, untreated, sewage would find its way into the River Avon.

After a few days Bristol’s 2000 busmen decided to join in, calling a mass meeting to decide what to do over an unresolved pay claim.

As a strike moved ever closer Bristol Omnibus management told the Post that the dispute had to be resolved at a national level.

Despite pleas from the busman they refused to enter into any local negotiations.

On a happier note soccer fans were taking advantage of a “free stand” on the Stapleton Road to watch Rovers play a Saturday match against Chesterfield.

The “stand” – which gave an almost complete view of the pitch – had recently been a row of shops and houses by Napier Road.

As forty or so people drifted in and out of the gap, Roy Miller, an ardent City fan, told the Post “ I would’nt pay to watch this lot.”

A Rovers supporter said, “ It’s a good shop window for Bert Tann.”

Finally, the ss Great Britain – now back safely back in the dock where she had been built – desperately needed money for restoration.

Industrialists were being asked to rally round and help preserve what in those days was pretty much a big rusting hulk.

Bob Holder, from the CBI, said “ I feel industrialists will want to support the restoration fund – and supporting the appeal could have great advertising value for them.”

She may look great now but back in 1970 Brunel’s pioneering iron vessel needed all the friends she could find