Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
FOR an island that has been under such vicious attack since its socialist revolution, Cuba is highly blessed in so many ways.
A beautiful island with a resilience that is hard to find anywhere, Cuba is also able to send top-class diplomats out across the world.
Britain has been fortunate to have received some wonderful representatives from Cuba. The latest in the line of excellent ambassadors to Britain from the Caribbean island is Ismara Mercedes Vargas Walter.
ADRIAN WEIR charts the intercontinental trade union solidarity with Cuba and its desperate predicament
Where normally only the US and its ally Israel vote to strangle Cuba economically, there have been special efforts to slander and isolate the besieged socialist island nation year — so we must redouble our solidarity, writes TARIQ ANDERSON


