Foul
Play
(4th December 2002)
It would appear that someone has been shooting Swans around Winchester.
Swans shot with an air rifle have been reported in the water meadows
towards Shawford, and around North Walls.
Why anyone would want to kill these majestic animals is beyond me,
and as they mate for life, whoever is killing one is dooming the
other to a lonely life. Apart from anything else, it is very illegal
to kill the birds, as they officially belong to the monarch. To
kill one is treason, and, according to the statute book one could
theoretically still be executed for it. A hanging, and then the
head on a stake at Tower Bridge might well be a good idea for whoever
is perpetrating these horrible acts.
Winchester is no stranger to cruelty to animals. Last year several
cats in Stanmore were attacked with air rifles. There were also
cats found that had injuries suggesting they had been stamped on,
although the vet could not say for sure if this was the case or
not.
Only a couple of weeks ago, two lurcher dogs were stolen in Romsey.
The Winchester owners put out a 500 reward for each dog, and even
called in a ‘pet detective’ from Sussex, but to no avail.
The animals were later found dead, having been hurled onto the railway
tracks.
Iris Walker of Stanmore, Winchester found her cat had been shot
last week. Iris was shocked and disgusted when she realised that
an unknown assailant had unloaded an airgun into Smudge’s face.
The penalties for animal cruelty are so low as to be no deterent
at all. A spokesman for the RSPCA said “someone could shoot
an animal with an air rifle and not even get banned from keeping
dogs. The problem with air guns is that kids as young as 14 can
get hold of them. As everyone knows, children do not think through
their actions as much as adults. A child may well not associate
that ‘target practice’ with the injured animal at the
end of it.” True, or they may just be evil little b******s.
So, it would seem that more regulations on air guns could be the
answer to part of the problem. Surely harsher penalties for people
who are cruel to animals would be another positive thing. England
has always been a country that prides itself on being a nation of
animal lovers, but it seems we are losing that title at the moment.
By Max Jones
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Blast From The Past (4th
December 2002)
A new audio guide to the display of Iron Age jewellery at the City
Museum, Winchester, was launched on Wednesday 27 November.
The Museum’s staff hope that the new guide will encourage more
interest in the exhibition - especially from those who prefer to
deal with aural information.
Winchester City Council's Museums Service used £50,000 Heritage
Lottery funding to commission ‘Antenna Audio’ to prepare
the tour.
The idea of a ‘treasure hunt’ leading backwards in time
through artefacts in the City Museum was devised as a way to provide
a context for the Treasure.
Ken Qualmann, Head of Winchester Museums, said “We are very
pleased with the contribution of Antenna Audio, which has resulted
in a guide that will appeal to people who might not otherwise be
interested in Iron Age artefacts.
It also provides in-depth information for those who want more detail.”
The guide lasts for 30 - 40 minutes, depending on the options chosen
by the listener, and is available free of charge until 27 April
2003, when the exhibition closes.
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Firefighters Vox Pop (4th
December 2002)
So, the firefighters have just finished their second strike, and
it looks like it will not be the last one. Opinion polls have been
conducted in the national press, on the telly and in parliament.
But, what do the people of Winchester think of the actions of the
firefighters?
I was surprised to learn that, in a town not known for its left
wing leanings, a lot of people seemed to think that the strike was
the only the fire services had of achieving a justifiable goal.
Steve Jennings is a beer mat collector (true) and he was down from
London collecting mats when I took to the streets to find out opinion.
Steve supports the firefighters all the way. “I normally wear
a hat pledging support, but I forgot to put it on today,” says
Steve, who thinks the firemen deserve everything they are asking
for and some!
Another Steve, this time Steve Coleman, believes that the Government
has cocked it up. “I think that the firefighters would have
taken 16% but then the offer was withdrawn,” says Steve. Although
agreeing that the army do not do as good a job as the usual firefighters,
Steve still feels safe in bed at night.
These sentiment are echoed by Vera Malone, who feels very safe.
She just hopes the workers get what they deserve. Another supporter
of the strike is Grant Donovan, although he thinks that 40% seems
a lot to ask for. He does agree, though, that the firefighters may
have agreed on this amount as a high one to start bargaining from.
“I support anyone who wants a decent wage,” he says. “40%
seems like too much though, unless you are an MP,” he said,
referring to the 40% pay rise our esteemed government awarded themselves
earlier on in the year.
The ironically named Ian Tory thinks that the firemen deserve a
decent wage, and if they are given on then they can go to work,
end of story.
Flora Waycott agrees that the fireservice deserve more pay, but
thinks it would be unfair on the other emergency services as they
should have raises too. However, she at least still feels safe in
bed at night, believing the army are doing a good enough job.
Hannah Meir also thinks that the other services should get more
cash if the firefighters do, but agrees that they deserve some more
money, particularly in the South, where things are so expensive.
Max Jones popped the questions
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Ragged Glory (4th December
2002)
Sat 30th Nov, The Railway Inn
Peter Bruntnell, The Southampton Automatics & Kate Stables
My expectations of this one were high, after having seen Peter Bruntnell
here almost a year ago I was literally blown away by his songs and
their incredibly young guitar wizard who’s work shone out of
their rumbling rock like a lighthouse beam through a thunderstorm.
But first things first, as I entered the back room Kate was already
on and playing alone with her guitar at the front of the stage.
She has written some really beautiful songs, some of which I had
heard already at the open mic nights and some I was hearing for
the first time. I can’t say I was familiar with her influences
(she mentioned Hawksley Workmen and Fridge) but I can say she provided
a delightfully chilled start to the evening and has a deliciously
soothing voice. She can sing me to sleep after a heavy night out
anytime.
Almost immediately after Kate had left the stage The Southampton
Automatics had taken her place and were belting out there old-school
punk rock three minuters. For me these guys have a totally mixed
bag, one minute churning out some real wallpaper punk by numbers
and then next finding another gear with some great riffs and fist
in the air vocals in true Stiff Little Fingers style. Find out for
yourselves at: www.theautomatics.co.uk
It seemed as though everyone else’s expectations were as high
as mine, evident by the forward surge to the stage as Peter &
Co. emerged. This band is nothing short of brilliant, instantly
calling to mind the raucously overdriven yet gloriously uplifting
classic rock of Crazy Horse and the acoustic country tinged Tom
Petty and The Heartbreakers. Peter is a fantastic performer, if
a little intense and uncommunicative (a polite ‘thank you’
is about all we get) and instantly commands respect from the Winchester
audience. They also have a twenty two year old guitarist who has
quite obviously gained a Masters Degree in Neil Young solos at the
University of Rock, Alabama. We were treated to a good hour of blues/country
melancholia that included a bunch of new songs from August’s
‘Ends Of The Earth’ and a sing-along ‘Silver Machine’.
If you haven’t experienced these sensational aural pleasures
I suggest you get yourselves down to www.peterbruntnell.co.uk
and purchase ‘Normal for Bridgewater’ a great album for
those rainy days when only the blues will suffice.
By Nick Ellerby
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Party
For The Fight To Write (11th December)
On Wednesday
4th December, an estimated 23,000 students took to the streets
in London to protest about the proposed top-up fees which the
government are planning to introduce.
While students are currently paying a flat rate of £1100
a year for their studies, recent discussion papers published by
the Department for Education and skills (DfES) suggest that students
should pay more. According to figures from the NUS, by the time
today’s 11 year old is ready for university they will have
to pay £16,451 for tuition costs alone, and with living
costs estimated to be £22,729 by the end of the decade,
they will be looking at a staggering £39,180 for a degree.
While the Labour manifesto of last year ruled out the introduction
of top-up fees until the next election, Tony Blair has repeatedly
refused to rule out bringing them in after the poll.
A study published last week suggested that, even without these
proposed increases, fear of debt is already a major factor in
deterring students from going to university. The poll of 2000
students at schools and further education colleges, found that,
of those not going on to university, the chief reasons were; wanting
or needing a job (72%), not wanting to build up debt (63%) or
the belief that the cost of studying outweighs the benefits.
The study also found that a student from a private school is 20
times more likely to go to university than a student from a further
education college. Surely this suggests that there is a very real
correlation between a student’s economic background and the
likelihood of them attending university. Increasing the charges
levied at university students for their education, will widen
the education class divide that already exists.
The idea of introducing top-up fees has been met with strong opposition
even within the Prime Minister’s own party. 100 Labour MPs
have signed a motion protesting against the move. We should have
a system where entry to university is based simply on a student’s
merit, and, as Labour MP Tom Watson put it, “Students should
be judged on the contents of their minds and not their pockets.”
Our own MP, Mark Oaten is also against the introduction of higher
fees. A spokesperson at his Winchester office told me that the
Lib Dem party was committed to an overall aim of making the cost
of education as low as possible.
They are opposed to tuition fees in general, and fear that the
introduction of top-up fees could create a two-tier system, as
seen in the US, where the more high profile universities end up
with more money, while others become ‘budget’ universities.
Eager to get in on Wednesday’s action, I headed for the railway
station. Jumping aboard the 9.00 am train at Winchester station,
I found a gang of Peter Symonds students heading up to the capital
to make their collective voices heard. Posing as a student, in
old jeans and an army surplus top, I was invited to join them
in the buffet car for their pre-march chat, and learned that there
was a whole coach of their fellow students also heading for the
demo.
After the finishing touches had been added to their (very artistic)
banners, the talk naturally turned to the impending protest. “I
wonder how many people will be there,” pondered a long-haired
fellow called Rupert. “A lot of my friends who are at uni
can’t make it as they have to work in all their spare time
just to keep up with their rent,” he told me.
Ginger-haired Lockie was on his way to a university interview
before joining the march. “Naturally, I’m scared,”
he told me quietly as we alighted at Waterloo, “the idea
of finishing a degree owing thousands of pounds is terrifying.
I think it’s really hard not to be put off going altogether.”
Racing through the underground, we soon emerged at Goodge Street
Station, from where it was only a short walk to Malet Street,
where the protesters were gathering. Unfortunately, the rain was
now pouring relentlessly, so by the time my new friends and I
arrived on the scene, we were all soaked through. There is nothing
like a good protest, however, and spirits, it must be said, remained
high.
Despite arriving nearly an hour before the march was due to start,
the party was already well underway.
The air was thick with the tuneful sound of plastic whistles and
horns. One university had pulled out all the stops and turned
up complete with a brass band. Other students did their best,
banging out some funky rhythms on old tin cans. The crowd prepared
themselves for the march ahead, the new arrivals stocking up on
banners and whistles, while others huddled under umbrellas to
practise their chants.
By the time the assembled crowd began to move, it had swelled
to an incredible size. As the throng crossed Waterloo Bridge a
total of 23,000 were counted (according to figures published by
the NUS). Impressively, and despite a large police presence, the
event appeared to be passing peacefully.
Judging by the banners being waved, it seemed that people had
come from all corners of the country to attend. I even spoke to
one student who had come all the way from Belfast. He told me
that four others from his university had also made the trip.
We finally reached our destination of Kennington Park, to be greeted
by speakers from the NUS, doing their best to keep the crowd’s
spirits up. Unfortunately, soaked through and starving, there
was little they could do to rejuvenate me, and, feeling like I
had done my bit, I headed for the warmth of the nearest tube.
To find out more about the campaign and what you can do, log on
to www.nusonline.co.uk
By Sam Leyden
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Lord
Of The Dance (11th December)
Anyone of a clubbing bent must have noticed the posters in town
talking about a night in the Guildhall starring those two heavyweights
of the dance scene, Judge Jules and Norman Jay.
Apart from this pair, the event, scheduled for December 27, will
also be showcasing a whole host of local talent. Matt Flynn is
a local DJ, who has been playing in and around Winchester for
at least ten years, and the lovely Emma and Vicky B are two twin
sisters from the South of England who are all set to take the
nation by storm. Lady J, otherwise known as Jenny, is another
DJ who Wintonians will know from the nights she does at Muswells.
How do I, whose knowledge of dance music extends to Chaka Demus
and Plyers or Roni Size because my girlfriend likes him, know
this? I tell you why, because last week I met local impresario
Harvey Simmons, the man whose mission it is to put Winchester
on the dance music map.
The first of a series of occasional, exclusive nights, December
27 promises to be a night to remember for dance music fans in
Hampshire. “Winchester has never had big names and I really
want to show what we can do” says Harvey, who used to own
the eponymously titled bar in town, and is from Compton (not the
same one as Dr Dre and Easy E rap fans). As well as the events
in the Guildhall, Harvey is hoping to open a nightclub in the
town. “For 12 to 15 years big clubs have been under the auspices
of large corporations and I think it is time that one worked with
the local community,” says Harvey, who promises that there
will be a trouble free atmosphere in any club he runs.
His partner is a man called Dan Prince, who used to own a magazine
called Mixmag, almost a bible in clubbing circles. Between the
two of them they should certainly have the connections and the
clout to make it work. "We know there is the demand and we
certainly have the ability,” says Harvey.
At the event on December 27,as well as the music they have a VJ
(video jockey) called Charles Kriel, who puts on a great live
light show to correspond with the tunes.
At the moment there is very little to do in Winchester after 11,
so a good club can only be a good thing, and, as a reggae fan,
I can certainly recommend going to see Norman Jay at least on
December 27.
Although he does not play predominantly West Indian music, Norman,
or Normi as I call him is a fixture at Notting Hill Carnival on
his Good Times Bus. Mr Jay was almost single-handedly responsible
for making the West London festivities more accessible to the
masses, with his mixture of good vibes tunes. I do not know what
kind of music Judge Jules plays. Perhaps one of the readers can
enlighten me?
Anyone who went to Louder Sounds the other week knows that the
Guildhall is great venue and although tickets to the gig are a
score, drinks are at normal bar prices, which means that if you
have a few pints at 2.50 each rather than bottles at a fiver then
you have effectively made your money back.
As well as his background in the entertainment industry (Harvey
used to own the bar in town called, you’ve guessed it, Harveys,)
Harvey is also no slouch in the world of IT. "New technology
will allow us to log every person who comes to any gig or party
we put on, allowing us to target them with any marketing we come
up with in the future,” he says. Tickets for December 27
are available from Jazz Clothing, 01962 853321, Music @ Winchester,
01962 877977 or from www.ticketweb.co.uk. See you there!
By Max Jones
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Cartography
Of Death (11th December)
Winchester-based provider of TV and video production services
Cine Wessex were responsible for editing Channel Five’s crime
series ‘Mapping Murder’
Produced by Pixelle Ltd and presented by renowned criminal psychologist
Professor David Canter, ‘Mapping Murder’ dealt with
the ‘geographical profiling’ of notorious murderers
including Jack the Ripper and the Yorkshire Ripper.
“This six-part series of half-hour programmes were broadcast
on five in the autumn of 2002,” says producer and director
Nigel Swettenham. The programme had an intriguing premise: “In
many cases, it’s possible to look at the patterns of crimes
committed and their sequence, and then pin down where the murderer
is likely to be based,” says Nigel.
“Cine Wessex did a first class job on the edit. In fact,
they were incredibly helpful throughout. Specialist software was
used to create some very sophisticated graphics that involved
digital maps supplied by the Ordnance Survey — these were
very important to the series. The effect is extremely good, with
the camera ‘flying over’ parts of Britain digitally.
People in this industry sometimes get obsessed with having to
do things in London, but Jennifer Wilson, Executive Producer at
Pixelle Ltd suggested we use a local company, and I couldn’t
have asked for better than Cine Wessex.”
For the past 26 years, Hampshire-based Cine Wessex has been providing
professional services to broadcasters, production companies and
businesses from its state-of-the-art facilities in Winchester.
This includes crews and equipment hire, editing, graphics and
the duplication of videos and CDs.
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Ho
Ho Ho (18th December)
Although he is obviously magic, sometimes even Santa needs
a little help, and he often sub contracts his work out over the
Christmas period.
So it was that I found myself ho-hoing away down at the Brooks
Centre last week. Santa’s Grotto did seem quite magical as
I sat there surrounded by toys, and, to cheer things up even more,
I was accompanied by the delightful Donna as Dancing Mother Bear.
Mother Bear would bring the children in, and then Santa would
enquire as to whether they had been good all year or not. The
cagey kids would all answer in the affirmative, apart from William,
from Winchester, who had to think about it for a while!
I liked William, who, prompted by his mother, told me that what
he really wanted was a new Mini. Not a toy one, but the real thing!
When his mummy told me that he wanted nanny to chauffeur them
all over the place I realised that both of them believed in the
magic of Santa.
Sarah, who was five, told me that she loves Christmas so much,
and that it is her favourite time of year. She wanted a riding
crop, although her mummy told me that maybe she should wish for
a horse first!
William and Sarah had both brightened up when they saw the toys
on offer. Although Father Christmas obviously does not give the
children their main present there and then, being a kindly old
soul he does let them have a little gift to tide them over. There
are big teddies, little teds, model airplanes, plastic lizards,
bouncy balls, picture frames and trolls. There are hanging cat
mobiles, squidgy things that you throw, keyrings and dolls, and
many other toys too numerous to mention. The toys were all donated
by Russ Berrie, the toy manufacturers based in Southampton.
Santa’s Grotto in the Brooks Centre this year is donating
all of the proceeds to Wessex Cancer Trust, and entrance is 4
pounds, or a fiver if you want to catch the magical moment on
film. So, for those young and old who believe in Santa, come on
down to the Brooks.
By Max Jones
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One Hundred Not Out
(18th
December)
One hundred sizzling editions of the soaraway Winchester &
Mid Hampshire Observer have come through your letterbox and thwacked
onto your doormat since we set up shop in January 2000.
Over the next few pages Winchester & Mid Hampshire Observer
contributors list their top eleven things of 2002. Yes these lists
go to eleven! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and
we’ll see you for more of the same on the 8th of January
2003
Jobs a good ‘un!
Peter Harvey:
(1) Jumping off the rock into the sea in Thassos (pictured above!)
(2) Completing the Southampton Airport 5km Runway Run
(3) Directing the film ‘Born with a Tail’
(4) Playing with the Southampton & Semi Automatics
(5) Listening to ‘The Family Cat’.
(6) Watching Rock Shows.. like: John Spencer, The Supersuckers,
The Goodtime Charlies, The Paybacks and Eighties Matchbox B-Line
Disaster.
(7) Reading loads of stuff including: Super Cannes by JG Ballard
and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse 5 again.
(8) Gorging on Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
(9) Drinking Abbott Ale
(10) Doing this paper
(11) Being alive in general
Richard Williams:
(1) Tony Bennett live at The Paris Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas,
May 12th. We sat next to Denzel Washington. Beat that gig-kids!
(2) Peter Bruntnell new LP, Railway Inn gig and LP ‘thanks
list’.
(3) Fred at The Railway being mistaken for Pete Waterman.
(4) Writing the film ‘Born with a Tail’
(5) Spurs going top for about 24 hours.
(6) ‘The Money & The Power: Las Vegas and its Hold on
America’ by Sally Denton & Roger Morris.
(7) The Supersuckers live at Camden Underworld.
(8) Cave Samrai’s sneering face on the new edition of Oliver
Gray’s ‘Volume’. And Harvey on the back I suppose.
(9) The Sense & The Semi-Automatics at the Hat Fair.
(10) The West Wing. Special mention to Toby ‘I’m smiling
on the inside’ Ziegler. Winchester MP Mark Oaten told us
‘I’d like to be CJ’. Fans of the show can draw
their own conclusions.
(11) The Tower’s John Tellett and his year-round tan. It’s
the Cup-a-Soup that does it.
Sam Leyden:
(1) The launch of the online Winchester music guide, www.loudersounds.co.uk,
at the Guildhall, November 15th.
(2) The long awaited arrival of Jewish geek-rapper genius, MC
Paul Barman’s first full-length LP, ‘Paullelujah’.
(3) Nizlopi at the Railway (30th Oct) and Kashmir Club, London
(4th Dec) and their amazing debut album ‘Half These Songs
Are About You’.
(4) Fridge, live at King’s Cross Scala and their ‘Happiness’
LP.
(5) Sage Francis LP, ‘Personal Journals’. In fact respect
is due to the whole Anticon record label, who released this. In
fact, hip hop in general - it’s been a good year.
(6) Jeffrey Lewis. Okay, he didn’t release an album this
year, but he had a couple of singles out. And he’s great.
(7) The Hat Fair. Excellent as always. Though who were that dodgy
rock band?
(8) Watching the semi-final of the All-Ireland hurling competition
in a pub in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Kerry won.
(9) Roots Night at the Railway Inn. It just keeps getting busier
and better. That said, Mark is still playing ‘Living On A
Prayer’ every week.
(10) Free party last New Year. Difficult beats in sub-zero temperatures.
And snow!
(11) Mending my dynamo.
Max Jones:
1. England beat Argentina
2. My friend Gary getting a girlfriend
3. Homelands
4. John & Hester Privett’s Wedding
5. Groove Armada
6. The Summer solstice
7. Mark Lamarr’s Beginners Guide to Reggae
8. Liam Gallagher getting his teeth knocked out
9. Lennox Lewis beating Tyson
10. Cherie Blair getting loads of shit in the press.
11. Buying our dog Ronnie.
Simon Thorpe:
1) First year of marriage - totally awesome
2) Shooting 102 round Southampton Municipal
3) First year of marriage – totally awesome
4) The Office 2nd series - untouchable
5) Tanya Donelly - Shepherds Bush empire Feb
6) JJ72 Pyramid centre - Portsmouth
7) Monty the cat - an inspiration to us all
8) England v Macedonia at St Mary’s
9) Making targets at The Observer
10) Saints beating Arsenal 3-2
11) Having a group of mates that stick together though the good
and bad times
12) Long may it continue
Nicola Welch:
1. Pearl Jam releasing Riot Act and proving that Nirvana was not
the greatest grunge band.
2. Ozzfest 2002, with American Head Charge, Ill Nino, System of
a Down and Kittie (mental note, bring waterproofs and sweaters
next year and avoid Tool playing live).
3. Reading Festival whereDave Navarro (Jane's Addiction) reached
guitar God status and A, Incubus and Andrew WK put on a good show.
4. Ill Nino playing the Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth, rocking like
no-one has rocked before in a blur of dreads and very loud music.
They also caused havoc at their record signing at HMV.
5. Audioslave finally releasing their self titled album, despite
Chris Cornell insisting on wearing that awful pink vest and succumbing
to the perils of bad highlights.
6. Incubus playing a packed Wembley Arena, January 2002.
7. Rockworld and the readers' letters
8. The Railway Inn expanding the music room
9. The Dakoma Sessions, Modular Series' debut album. They will
be playing the Railway on 12th January 2003
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers gig at London Arena ably supported by
Andrew WK partying hard and oblivious to the crowd mercilessly
heckling him.
11. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - another success
for Chris Columbus and the cast.
Heather Connor:
(1) Cooper Temple Clause, Biffy Clyro and Eighties Matchbox B
Line Disaster at the Wedgewood Rooms 16th Jan.
(2)Ikara Colt at The Railway Inn 26th Jan
(3) The Movielife, Thursday, Not Katies at The Joiners 1st Feb
(4) The Hives Birmingham Academy 2 8th Feb
(5) Desman, Baxxter Railway Inn 13th Feb
(6) Ballboy Railway Inn 17th Feb
(7) The Catheters Joiners 11th June
(8) Interpol Barfly @Monarch, Camden 3 july
(9) The Liars, Miss Black America, Martini Henry Rifles Birm’ham
Academy 2 2nd Aug
(10) The Pattern, The Beatings, Har Mar Superstar Birmingham Academy
2 21st Aug
(11) Mclusky, Reuben Joiners 13th Sept
Top of page
Docu Dope (18th
December)
Five King Alfred’s College students are to have their documentary
about drug abuse shown in schools and drug clinics throughout
West London.
As part of an effort to raise public awareness of the dangers
of drug abuse, London’s Ealing Council are planning to screen
the film in schools throughout the Borough. A number of drug treatment
clinics in the west of London also intend to use the film to help
users kick the habit. The documentary which was made by Graeme
Dawes, Jon Clarke, Dean Snowden, Matt Farrow and Mandeep Jutla
started life as a regular college assignment.
Graeme Dawes from Romsey said, “As part of our Drama, Television
and Theatre Studies course we were asked to make a documentary
on the subject of our choice. We chose drug abuse because we thought
it would be an interesting subject to tackle in our own way. Media
coverage given to drugs is often sensational. We thought it would
be refreshing to find people affected by drug abuse and let them
tell their story. Our aim was to let the viewer come to his or
her own conclusions.”
It was the team’s search to find these contributors that
led them to Ealing Borough Council and E.D.A.S (Ealing’s
Drugs Advisory Service), the two groups who plan to show the film
in their Schools and Clinics. “They were great”, said
Graeme. “Initially it was very hard to track down people
who were willing to share their stories with us. The documentary
focuses not only on those with past or present drug problems but
also with the people who surround them – their families and
friends. The help we received from E.D.A.S and the Ealing Borough
Council to find these people was fantastic.”
It was upon seeing these interviews that the two groups decided
to employ the documentary for their own cause. Candid, touching
and at times harrowing the stories contained are more than enough
to make anyone think twice.
One such story regards a young man who is caught deep in the grip
of addiction, yet is unable to support his habit. The man’s
mother recounts how, driven by a misguided love of her son, she
began to pay for him herself. Now, she is financially ruined with
a £40,000 debt and has been ostracised from her friends,
her family and the community, all due to her son’s dependency.
“Making the documentary has certainly opened all of our eyes”,
said Graeme. “It is hard to comprehend the affect that addiction
has on so many. Meeting people whose lives have been ruined by
drug abuse and listening to their stories first hand will stay
with me forever. Now others have the opportunity to see our documentary
and listen to the stories themselves I hope that it will at least
make them stop and think.”
By Lee Bradley
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A Wolf in Thief’s
Clothing (18th December)
For Tim Barron, playing the wolf in the Theatre Royal's Christmas
musical ‘Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf" is something
of a homecoming. As Oliver Gray reports.
Tim was the lead singer of the Winchester band Thieves Like Us,
who were touring and recording in the late Seventies and early
Eighties.
In fact, on June 3rd 1979, Thieves Like Us played at the Theatre
Royal, in a double bill also featuring the Eric Bell Band (from
Thin Lizzy).
“The theatre had been closed for years,” remembers Tim,”
and was only used for very occasional one-off shows. The carpet
hadn't been cleaned in a decade. It was the height of punk rock,
so, as the audience pogoed away, huge clouds of dust rose up and
engulfed us. We didn’t need a dry ice machine that night!”
In the meantime, Tim has had a flourishing acting career, including
TV appearances and an eighteen-month stint as Captain Tempest
in "Return
To The Forbidden Planet" in the West End. He has also appeared
at the Theatre Royal twice more in the interim, once in Noel Coward's
"Hay Fever" and once in the musical "Cabaret".
That production of "Cabaret" went down in Theatre Royal
history. Tim recalls: "A member of the cast made a dramatic
exit stage right and burst through the fire doors, which slammed
shut behind him. Finding himself out in the street, he had no
option but to re-enter via the main doors and the auditorium!"
Red Riding Hood is brought to you by the team responsible for
many successful Christmas shows at Salisbury Playhouse. Tim is
well attuned to his traditional ‘baddie’ rôle.
“I used to howl quite a lot in Thieves like Us,” he
says, “so playing the Big Bad Wolf comes easily to me.”
By Oliver Gray
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