Two themes underpinned the cover designs of Radical Community Medicine in the 1980s: the style of William Morris and the art of Cliff Harper.

I have long been inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement and also by the revolutionary socialism of William Morris. Hence it seemed entirely appropriate in 1980 to commission a cover design based on Morris's design style. Morris made explicit links between Arts and Crafts and his vision of the world - a vision which was wholly in keeping with our present day understanding of the social determinants of health. Here is an extract from a political speech he gave in 1884, entitled 'How we live and how we might live':

…and, at least I know this, that if a man is overworked in any degree he cannot enjoy the sort of health I am speaking of; nor can he if he is continually chained to one dull round of mechanical work, with no hope at the other end of it; nor if he lives in continual sordid anxiety for his livelihood, nor if he is ill housed, nor if he is deprived of all enjoyment of the natural beauty of the world, nor if he has no amusement to quicken the flow of his spirits from time to time: all these things, which touch more or less directly on his bodily condition, are born of the claim I make to live in good health…

William Morris (1884) How we live and how we might live. In: Morton A, ed. Political Writings of William Morris. Lawrence and Wishart, London, 1979, 148-149.

Cliff Harper is an anarchist artist and designer probably best known for his woodcut-like illustrations in the style of the early 20th century Belgian anarchist artist Frans Masereel. I had seen his iconic work used very effectively in political settings, and was delighted when he agreed to design the covers for RCM. He continued to do this throughout the 1980s, producing a memorable body of public health art. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Alex Scott-Samuel

Issue 10, Health & Food, Summer 1982

Issue 11/12, Aspects of Inequality, Autumn/Winter 1982

Issue 36, Sexuality, Winter 1988-89

Issue 1, Primary Care, Winter 1979-80

Issue 6, Ethnic Minorities, Spring 1981

Issue 7, The MOH & the Community, Summer 1981

Issue 35, Pills, potions , profits, Autumn 1988

Issue 5, Community & Health, Winter 1980-81

Issue 2, Health Education & Prevention, Spring 1980

Issue 34, The NHS - a mid-life crisis?, Summer 1988

Issue 9, Health in Cuba, Spring 1982

Issue 4, Inequalities in Health, Autumn 1980

Issue 8, The Inner City, Autumn 1981

Issue 3, NHS Planning, Summer 1980

Issue 38, Autodestruction, Summer 1989

Issue 37, Valuing human resources, Spring 1989

Issue 39, Sport and Health, Autumn 1989

Issue 14, Housing and Health, Summer 1983

Issue 13, Health Care and Sexism, Spring 1983

Issue 15, Fares Fair, Autumn 1983

Issue 16, Race and Health, Winter 1983-84

Issue 17, Birth and Power, Spring 1984

Issue 18, The Elderly: Who Cares?, Summer 1984

Issue 20, Sick South Africa, Winter 1984-85

Issue 19, The Public Health, Autumn 1984

Issue 21, Unemployment, Spring 1985

Issue 22, Beyond Health Care?, Summer 1985

Issue 23, The Nuclear Industry, Autumn 1985

Issue 24, The Value of Health Economics, Winter 1985-86

Issue 25, Water, water…, Spring 1986

Issue 26, User Power, Summer 1986

Issue 27, Public Health up for grabs, Autumn 1986

Issue 28, Health for some, Winter 1986-87

Issue 29, Heatlh inequalities - where now?, Spring 1987

Issue 30, Health of the Scots, Summer 1987

Issue 31, AIDS and oppression, Autumn 1987

Issue 32, Work and Health, Winter 1987-88

Issue 33, Health and Housing, Spring 1988