Sammy Duddy, who died on October 17 aged 62, had a rather unusual curriculum vitae for a member of the Loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association in having been a drag artiste who went by the stage name of Samantha.

During the 1970s the self-styled “Dolly Parton of Belfast” became well known on Belfast’s cabaret circuit, presenting a risqué act in Loyalist pubs and clubs, dressed in fishnet tights, wig and heavy make-up. Once he even performed for British troops on tour.

“I wore a miniskirt many a time,” Duddy remembered, “but it was usually a long dress, a straight black wig, a pair of falsies I bought in Blackpool and loads of make-up to cover my freckles. The darker the mascara the better, and scarlet lipstick, because I was a scarlet woman.”

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15 British marines get arrested by Iranian forces. The Iranian’s say they were in Iranian waters, the British say they were in Iraqi waters. While this is going on, a supposedly spontaneous demonstration occurs outside the Foreign Ministry in Tehran. The crux of the demonstration appears to be that the people want the marines to be executed. The western media quite happily print pictures of the protest, which of course gives the imprssion that the Iranian people, like everybody else in non-western countries, like nothing better than a nice day out burning flags, holding placards and shouting stuff.

Strange thing is though that this was a protest by Iranian people, in the capital of Iran, outside an Iranian government ministry. The people were apparently requesting that the Iranian government take a particular course of action, so we are to believe that the protest was for their benefit – the western media have been covering it as such.

So, can someone explain to me why the signs they were holding up were in English, not Farsi?

For sale in walthamstow! I wouldn’t be seen dead in it.