Villagers terrified by racist invasion in North Somerset
I was meant to be a fun day out for scooter lovers in a quiet North Somerset village.
But a council-licensed show descended into mayhem after more than 800 neo-Nazi skinheads ran amok in sleepy Redhill.
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Homeowners fled in terror when the white supremacists stormed into their quiet hamlet draped in swastika flags, chanting racist slogans.
Swigging beer and whiskey, they marched through the streets in leather jackets and army boots, shouting "sieg heil, sieg heil".
Horrified residents watched as some thugs urinated on their cars and threatened anyone who intervened with violence.
Villagers had expected a fun weekend of moped memorabilia when record label ISD arrived last Friday afternoon to set up a giant marquee in a local field.
But the village turned into a "miniature Nuremberg rally" as hundreds arrived in cars, coaches and on motorcycles.
Mum-of-two Sarah Gooding, 39, who recorded the destruction on video, broke down in tears as she re-lived what took place.
Mrs Gooding had to grab her daughters and flee their four-bedroom cottage.
"My daughters were petrified, I was terrified and so was my husband," she said. "We ran into the house and I burst into tears and said to my husband 'we've got to go, I don't feel safe'.
"I just can't stop crying as I think back to how bad it was – it was like a miniature Nuremberg rally full of thugs."
Husband Paul, 41, said the event should never have been allowed in the first place.
He said: "My first thoughts are that this shouldn't have been happening anywhere, let alone on my doorstep."
The event began when record company ISD contacted managers of Redhill's pub the Bungalow Inn and asked to use their field for a scooter and music festival.
But brewery bosses failed to realise the label bills itself as the "oldest and most dependable White Nationalist Movement CD label" in the world.
Organisers even revealed the event was in tribute to the late British Nazi punk-rocker Ian Stuart Donaldson, but no one made the link between the two. The brewery provided the extreme far-right firm with a 150-seat function room and a two-acre field with a marquee.
North Somerset Council also unwittingly granted the fascist organisation a "temporary events notice" allowing them to sell alcohol and stage live music.
But when the German, eastern European and British Nazis arrived, they began head-banging to fascist heavy-metal and the gathering soon "turned nasty", residents said.
Resident Debbie Johnson was forced to flee her home as drunken revellers invaded her garden.
She said: "I think it was disgraceful behaviour to see from anybody. I was very upset that anyone can hold those views after what's happened in the past, and I found it incredibly distressing and so did my family."
Dozens of police were called on Saturday afternoon after complaints, but no arrests were made.
The manger of the Bungalow Inn, Ian Saunders, said: "I had no idea what it was going to turn into when the man rang. If I knew that this would happen I would never have allowed it and anything the police want to do, we will support them in anyway we can."
The 800 white supremacists left the village on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction.
Avon and Somerset police are currently investigating residents' complaints about the racist chanting.
Neighbourhood inspector Steve Date said: "Police take any reported hate crime very seriously indeed."
North Somerset council licensing officer Steven Makin said: "There were no objections from local residents so we were obliged to grant the temporary events notice. Unfortunately, we had no idea what would happen and from all accounts it seems to have got a little out of hand."
ISD records was unavailable for comment.







8 Comments
by Ian Stevens, Bedford
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 7:44AM
“I think everyone on this blog should learn to spell!
No, joking aside, it would be a good idea to investigate the Landlady/Landlord to check out if they have any affiliations with any anti-social movements and to monitor any future events they plan to have on their premises so that the local people feel safe and secure.”
by Gemma Wedmore, Bristol
Sunday, October 05 2008, 1:32PM
“I THINK U LOT ARE BEING A BIT HARD ON IAN!!
i recon it was not there foalt if theey book in a diffrent name is it if they say they are scoorer players and they rang your pub u would let them wouldnt of u so cust ian some slack!”
by renny, somerset
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 1:35PM
“If you are shoked and appalled at Nazis organising in our midst write and complain to the licence holders of ¿The Bungalow Inn¿ ¿ Wadworth. You should ask for the landlord/lady to be investigated ¿ they are known racists and remember this happened before ¿ and ask if such people be allowed to organize on their premises.
The person to write to at Wadworth is:
Jonathan Pollock
Wadworth Co. Ltd
Northgate Street
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 1JW, UK
I intend to generate as much publicity as possible to ensure that the brewers either sack the licensee or close down the pub. You should do the same.”
by whitehammer, essex
Tuesday, September 30 2008, 9:50AM
“oh renty thats a bit rich.i think you missed a few of my points on this one.”
by renny, Somerset
Monday, September 29 2008, 2:42PM
“whitehammer is telling porky pies. This was a organised nazi event with attendees from all over Europe. Funny "scooter" rally with not one scooter to be seen. The pub manager is a well known local racist.”
by whitehammer, essex
Sunday, September 28 2008, 9:55AM
“its a shame some local news papers find it hard to go and talk to the locals instead of just copying a story from a tabloid,that has a long track record of getting their news ever so wrong.I went to the scooter rally and ISD memorial with my wife and 13 year old son and I can say there was no violence drugs vandalism or graphiti,no one urinated in the Goodings garden in fact a couple of europeons urinated in the headge over the road from the Goodings after geeting stuck in traffic on the M4.That was the only over bad thing over a great week end .As for your dozens of police it was 2 officers that came out on sunday morning had a look around and said everything was good.As for your trail of destruction Me my son and few other people tidyed up the small amount of rubbish around the pub car park tins and bottles wet in the recycle bins and other rubbish went in the pubs bins.Do us a favour and talk to the police they will tell you no damage of any sort was done no locals were thretend and no one urinated on any cars the locals that visited the pub had a great time go and ask them even ask the Goodings I think if this story was true they would have got it on film after all mr gooding was spotted by our security creaping around our tents ask the goodings how many times they have complained about the bunglow pub if they are honest you might find their real gripe.A big thankyou to the locals for makng us so welcome and all so te great people we meet in Gloughester on thursday and friday”
by antifascist bristol, bristol
Saturday, September 27 2008, 10:49AM
“Why didnt the licensing officer check the credentials of the applicant with the police before granting permission?
If I was the local councillor I would be seeking disciplinary action against the officer!”
by renny, Somerset
Thursday, September 25 2008, 8:56PM
“Is it right that neo-nazis are allowed to organise on our doorsteps? I have a non-white son and I dread to think what might have happend he ran into some of these thugs.”