Apocalypse
No! (October
2nd
2002)
Last Saturday I headed up to London to take part in a march which
was to protest against the idea of a war in Iraq as well as calling
for an end to the oppression of the Palestinians in Israel.
Several other like minded folk were on the train from Winchester
as I headed up there with my photographer and general factotum,
Clare.
Lorna Capel is a student at the art college, and was heading to
town with her friend Sophie Morris. “No one can deny that Saddam
is a nasty piece of work,” said Lorna “ but an attack
on Iraq would more than likely not get him. The people who would
suffer would be the normal folk, the soldiers and their families.”
Sophie agreed, and added that if Saddam, as he apparently
did, had the capacity for weapons of mass destruction in the 1990s,
why did he not use them then?
Upon arriving at Waterloo, we strolled over the bridge to the Embankment
just as the march was starting. It was an amazing sight.
Gazing down from our vantage point I felt as if I was looking upon
an army going to war.
Gaudy banners were being waved, the noise was incredible, and the
phalanx of people stretched as far as the eye could see in both
directions. The most popular sign was one bearing the legend ‘not
in my name’ on one side, and ‘no war in Iraq’ on
the other.
There were many others though, and one that caught my eye was ‘Bush
is just another name for a c**t.’ The Palestinian flag was
everywhere, and the eclectic mix of people was great. Old hippies
brushed past young class war activists who were walking along next
to big groups of burkha clad Muslim women.
As we got to Cleopatra’s needle, it was prayer time for the
Muslim men, and the sight of them all laying out their mats towards
Mecca was astonishing. With the M16 building in the background,
the men were seemingly unconcerned by being surrounded by policemen.
Groups of young Palestinians were celebrating the second anniversary
of the Intifada, the Palestinian uprising that has so far claimed
hundreds of lives.
Some of these rather intimidating looking fellows were carrying
what I presume were fake suicide bomber belts, and venting their
spleen at Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister. Although found
guilty of his part of a brutal massacre of Palestinian refugees
in the 1970s, Sharon has still managed to become the leader of a
country permanently on the brink of war.
With this madman in charge, and his army with a seeming carte blanche
to shoot, starve and generally brutalise anyone they feel like,
no wonder the Palestinians are so upset.
Another link is the fact that the U.S gives Israel over $4 billion
a year in aid, despite all these crimes. This is more than the U.S
and Britain combined give to the whole of Africa.
Sung to the tune of the popular song, one of the chants went ‘who
let the bombs out.’ And the answer would be ‘Bush, Bush,
Sharon.’
Another good one was ‘Bush, Bush, we know you, your father
was a killer too.’ Some were slightly duller, such as plain
old ‘Free Palestine,’ or ‘Bush out.’
As the crowd walked past Downing Street, most were silent by the
Cenotaph, so the booing of Blair was perhaps not as vehement as
it should have been, but our esteemed Prime Minister was certainly
not a popular chap last Saturday.
We followed the march all the way up to Hyde Park, where a stage
and video screens had been set up for the speakers. The body of
people in the park was astounding, and announcements that many of
the marchers had not even left Embankment made me question the official
figure of 250,000 protestors in total.
Anyway, the first official speaker was the Bishop of Bath and Wells,
who gave a great speech, reminding our leaders that they are supposedly
Christian, so blanket bombing an entire country may not quite fit
in with their dogma. “Nation shall no longer up sword against
nation,” he said. “There are peaceful ways around the
Iraqi problem, we just need to find them before we rush into anything
else,” he said.
Next up was the head of the Muslim Federation of Britain, who launched
into a ripping tirade against Bush and Sharon, and then encouraged
everyone to shout Allaa Waakbar, which vaguely translated means
that no one is above God.
This chant was taken up with great gusto by the Muslims in the crowd,
and the noise was deafening for a while.
After him came good old Tony Benn, who talked with great eloquence
about the need for a peaceful solution before damning the eyes of
the Prime Minister for his pandering to George W Bush.
I thought it good to leave on a high note, so after Tony, I wended
my way home, past an enormous crowd that was still snaking up the
road from Embankment.
When Bush was the Governor of Texas, he asked all people on death
row who were about to be executed if they could make their final
pleas for clemency less than two minutes long. This would spare
him the tedium of having to read something that may take longer
than a cup of tea.
It is this same strategy that he is applying to Saddam. The gall
of the man is extraordinary. If anyone can remember the voting debacle
in the States when Bush got in, they would recall that he attained
power with less actual votes than his rival.
So, the irony of him making his speeches about how we have to rid
our world of any unfairly elected regimes with weapons of mass destruction
is quite incredible, and would be funny if it was not so tragic.
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of page
Iguana Done (October
2nd
2002)
Keen readers of our letters pages will have seen that there is a
feeling amongst the youth of Winchester that they are poorly served
as far as evening activities go.
It would seem that to anyone below the age of 18 the city is a cultural
wasteground. Teenagers of certain social groups go in fear of being
hammered by their more unruly peers, and the only thing to look
forward to is the odd roller disco. So, what do they do? As generations
of drinkers know, you arm yourself with your brother’s driving
licence, or make yourself up to look as old as possible, and head
off down to the boozer. Once there you choose your most grown up
looking chum to get the beers in and off you go.
However, in Winchester police are on a drive to crack down on anti
social behaviour. As part of this they are targeting under age drinkers.
The latest place to feel the wrath of Hampshire’s finest was
Bar Iguana, on Jewry Street.
On one night, virtually one third of drinkers were under 18. 27
out of 80 revellers had to fill in a questionnaire, and their parents
are to be informed.
A spokesman from North Walls police station said that they had received
information from various sources that had led them to target the
bar. “I hope the message would have gone out to other licencees
that this kind of thing will not be tolerated. I understand that
one or two may be able to slip through the net, but not almost a
third of all drinkers in the bar!”
The licence holders of the bar are due to appear at North Walls
police station where the next course of action will be decided.
Any other pubs letting in people under the age of 18 will be the
target of a similar action.
I phoned the bar, and was told that no one was available for comment.
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It's
Different For Joe (October
2nd
2002)
The Wedgie was stuffed with gentlepersons of a "certain age"
(that being roughly Joe Jackson's "certain age") for a
night which was always going to be very special.
Joe is Portsmouth's only truly huge musical export and he retains
a strong attachment to the city, reflected in the "may be sentimental
but who cares?" strains of "Home Town". When he played
this song, alone on stage during a mid-set break for the band, it
was goosepimples a go-go as the audience's affection for Joe overflowed.
What a fantastic moment.
This reformation of the original Joe Jackson band after 25 years
is anything but a nostalgia trip. The new songs being road-tested
in this low-key little "toe in the water" tour almost
outnumbered the oldies, and what's more, the quality was every bit
as good. Someone like Joe Jackson won't be involved in any half
measures. "Take It Like A Man" was a kind of fusion of
Jackson old and new, punky attitude mixed with orchestral melody,
while "Little Bit Stupid", billed as the band's glam rock
anthem, had the unlikely effect of sounding like the Sweet at their
best. "Chrome" ("for people who have become hard
and shiny" - ahem) was an instant hit with the audience, while
"Love At First Light" was classic Jackson, poetic, suggestive,
romantic and just plain heart-rending. There was even a cod-ska
song which could have been written in 1977: "Thugs 'R' Us".
And talking of the seventies, these guys don't seem to have changed
at all. If they've lived the rock and roll lifestyle, it didn't
show. The only difference was that they were all sporting hearing
aids ..., no hang on, it's some newfangled audio technology. Whatever
it was, it enabled hem to play the hits with even more inspiration
and energy than back then: "I'm The Man", "Different
For Girls", "Look Sharp" ... You'd forgotten what
great songs they were, hadn't you? On "Is She Really Going
Out With Him?", the audience remembered the lyrics better than
Joe.
It was strange, then that the most memorable moment was the set's
only cover version. A solo Joe, gangly and awkward as ever, sweating
buckets in a leather overcoat, yet exuding an air of total contentment,
brought the house down with the song which most reminds him of Pompey:
Bowie' s "Life On Mars".
"... Sailors fighting in the dance hall". Yes, that's
Portsmouth.
By Max Jones
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of page
Tubular Hell (October
2nd
2002)
Once again commuters from Hampshire have been affected by the 24
hour tube strike in London.
Last Wednesday saw all tube trains being put in the sidings while
the union demanded a higher pay rise than the derisory 3% they have
been offered. Aslef and RMT, the two unions, have also said that
they will refuse to operate if the fire brigade go on strike, so
commuters should prepare themselves for another day of disruption
soon.
I took a walk up to the train station on the evening of the strike
to hear about the adventures of some of the travelers from Winchester.
Fairly predictably, after a hot day in London and the hell of being
unable to get from a to b, a lot of the commuters were not keen
to speak to yours truly.
However, I managed to collar Chilbolton Avenue’s Bryant Turner,
who works in the city. “I am a very keen walker, so I simply
strolled from Waterloo to my desk at Deutsche Bank,” said Bryant.
“I am not that unhappy about the whole thing, as it meant that
I got to leave early and got in late!”
Richard Gordon, of Hyde, is an office manager in Vauxhall, and he
was not quite so forgiving. Perhaps he does not like walking as
much. “ It was murder up there. I was queing for a bus for
forty minutes, and then it crawled along at snails pace. I think
it is nothing but selfish for the unions to strike, it does not
get them any sympathy from me at all.”
Both of the men I spoke to said that if there was another strike
then they would be taking the day off. Richard does not want to
go through the rigamerole of the bus again, and Bryant “because
I can. Work would think I was stuck in traffic, whereas really I
would be stuck in the pub!” Hear hear.
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Unfair
Grounds (9th October 2002)
Last Thursday,
in St. Lawrence in the Square church there was a meeting about
the Trade Justice Movement.
I went along to have a look. The first thing that struck me was
how crowded it was, and not just with the older, worthier attendees
one normally expects at such events. A wide cross section of ages
had turned up to hear about how we need to buy products that give
a fair amount of profits back to the actual producer.
It would seem that the crux of the argument for Fair Trade is
to help the third world, rather than bulldoze in profiteering
and take all their own trade from them, selling it back to them
later!
At the moment, for example, the farmers in Haiti get 6% of the
price of an average jar of coffee, with the rest going to the
multinational corporations. The Trade Justice crowd think that
this should be stopped, and make the very valid point that if
the rules were changed, $100 billion dollars could enter the coffers
of the developing world every eight weeks!
Although I cannot work out quite how they came to this figure,
it would seem churlish to deny the poor and starving such a vast
amount.
The movement is made up from a whole plethora of groups, a great
deal being from the church. They are also widely supported by
the Save The Children campaign. Adam Robertson was there on Thursday
night to tell us more. “Sanitation is a huge problem in the
developing world. One of the main problems is lack of access to
clean water. In many countries Western companies come in and charge
the locals a fortune to use their own water, the price goes up,
urban areas are targeted more, and so the rural poor get left
behind,” he said. He gave the example of South Africa, where
in 1999 they had to pay to register with a new, Westernised water
board. Many people simply did not bother, or could not afford
it, so were left at the mercy of the diseases that come with unclean
water supplies.
Mark Oaten was there to regale us with his thoughts on the issue,
as well as to tell us about his fact finding mission to Burkinha
Faso and the Ivory Coast. Before this, however, the debate was
put to the floor. Some interesting points were raised, such as
Judith Martin’s question about whether we should buy Fair
Trade products over organic ones. One helps the environment, the
other helps people. It certainly made me think, the next day as
I was in Tescos. So, to prevent argument I went for economy!
Another member of the audience was Robert Hutchinson, who told
us about plans to turn Winchester into a Fair Trade city. This
would mean that all council offices and large companies have to
buy Fair Trade certified drinks and stuff. Seems like a good idea.
There is also a water company that supplies office water coolers,
with all profits going to water aid in the third world.
Then it was the turn of Mark Oaten. Before he started, he gave
us an insight into the heady, crazy world of the MP. He had been
in Westminster talking about a referendum on the euro, then he
was at the meeting, then off to Stanmore to judge a version of
pop idols! After, he addressed some of the questions that had
been raised, then told us about his trip to Africa. It was whilst
on this mission that he found out about September 11, and the
whole world changed!
After a bit more of a debate, we all slipped off into the night.
I think the idea of Fair Trade is a great one. Upon leaving the
hall, the majority of the congregation had to walk through the
alleyway toward the Butter Cross. In the tunnel bit, as usual,
there was a beggar. Not one of the people who had been bemoaning
the plight of the Haitian farmer a few minutes before gave a penny.
Whoever said charity begins at home!
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Alfred
the Freight (9th October 2002)
Virgin Trains welcomed King Alfred aboard for a trip to Birmingham
to launch the new trains on their cross-country route (30/09/02).
An imposing King Alfred - better known locally as Spatz Crawford,
Technical Manager of Winchester Theatre Royal - joined the train
at Winchester Station for a 9.21am departure, and was waved off
by the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr John Steel. The new service,
which had started from Bournemouth on its three hour run to Birmingham,
also carried a little fairy princess. She was one of 78 who converged
in Birmingham, each representing one of Virgin's new trains which
have cost the company £1 billion.
King Alfred was much in demand along the route, taking photo calls
at every station, including Reading, Oxford and Banbury. He arrived
- rather faster than his Saxon original would have done - for
lunch at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham, or the region of
Mercia as the real King would have known it.
“It was a great day for Alfred. Winchester’s profile
was certainly very high throughout the event, thanks to our colourful
King. I am sure that once news of the improved train service spreads,
Winchester's tourism industry will benefit” said Valerie
greenwood of Virgin.
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Bulla’s
Beef (9th October 2002)
Rough diamond Ricky Grover brings his hard-hitting brand of stand
up comedy to the Tower Arts Centre on October 25th.
At the other end of the phone Ricky’s new windows had just
turned up, the dogs were barking and there was a rat faced kid
squealing on the TV. “Some-one turn that kid off!” shouted
Ricky ‘it’s one of those child stars they make you sick
don’t they? I’ve gone for some moody plastic windows,
wanted wood but its a question of bundle innit?”
I asked him if he was the singer out of Therapy? “What the
fu** are you talking about, you saying I’m like some fat
singer or something? I may have to have a word with you..”
Luckily Ricky’s daughter informed him that he had a similar
beard to the Therapy bloke. Ricky said the forthcoming Tower show
would be divided into three sections; stand-up, the ‘bulla’
character (as seen on the 11 O’clock show) and some shocking
revelations “about where it all comes from” he explained
“I’ve been a boxer a hairdresser, I’ve done the
lot.”
Ricky has resisted joining a large corporate entertainment conglomerate
in favour of staying with a relatively small agent. “I can’t
have that corporate f**kin’ nonsense, they asked me to join
and I said ‘you don’t want me I’m not your type
of act’.. ‘we do, we do’ they go and I say alright
what about if I’m in Edinburgh and I run up a big bill in
a restaurant and don’t pay it. You send me a solicitor’s
letter, I won’t send you a solicitor’s letter back..
I’ll come to your office and throw you out your window.”Ricky
is currently making a ‘bulla’ movie. “I nearly
broke my hand going mad in a cell and punching the wall”
he said.
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Stadium
of Write (16th October 2002)
Hampshire County Council held a literacy fun day at the Friends
Provident St.Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on National Poetry
Day (11/10/02).
Forty three children in the care of Hampshire County Council (and
their carers) could choose to take part in any three literacy
themed workshops. Winchester poet Pete Dixon was at the football
ground to run a poetry workshop entitled ‘Come on feel the
noise!’.
Pete was ensconced in one of the executive boxes and had his embryo
poets brainstorming rhymes on a flip chart. The theme of the poem
was the ‘dream team’ and a flurry of sports and celebrity
inspired ideas were rapidly knocked into shape.
The other workshops were; ‘Match of the Day’ drama,
‘Art Attack’ sculpture and physical art, ‘Picture
This!’ photography, ‘Street Talk’ rap and song
lyrics and ‘In the Pink’ news reporting with Adam Leitch
and Dave Kelly from The Southern Daily Echo
The home ground of the Southampton Football club was buzzing with
activity and excitement. Children and stewards spilled from every
lift and stairwell. The whole staff of the stadium seemed to be
involved with the day whether they were giving guided tours or
ushering groups from one activity to another.
Down in the Ted Bates suite the popular ‘rap workshop’
was being run by Wavey a rapper from Leicester and set to music
by Ken Freeman, composer of BBC TV’s Casualty and Holby City
theme tunes.
The Southern Daily Echo generously offered a day’s work experience
covering a match with their Sport’s reporter to the most
enthusiastic and creative young person in their workshop.
As well as having a great day, the children and young people went
home with a goody bag each from Southampton Football Club, a book
of their choice from the National Literacy Association, prizes
sponsored by Friends Provident for The Dream Team Literacy competition,
and one lucky person won a signed England shirt!
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Winchester
Girl Survives Bali Bomb Terror (16th October 2002)
A Winchester girl was amongst those who survived Saturday’s
horrific bomb attack on the Indonesian island of Bali.
I communicated with Karen Dean, from Weeke, by e mail as she told
me how lucky she and her Australian boyfriend Jim were to avoid
being killed in the explosion that ripped apart an area crammed
with backpacker hotels, bars and the popular Sari Club.
Karen has been working in Australia for a year, and, like many other
backpackers, makes the occasional foray to other parts of the region
when finances allow. She is taking a couple of years out to travel
the world after finishing a degree in French and Spanish at university.
“Bali is like the Benidorm of the Southern Hemisphere,”said
Karen, who was drinking in the ‘Bounty Bar’ when the blast
struck. “Everyone there that night was out having fun, doing
no one any harm. No one had fought in Afghanistan or had given any
reason to make themselves a target.”
The car bomb hit just a hundred metres away from where Karen, Jim
and some friends were enjoying cocktails. “I cannot describe
in text how awful it was,” wrote Karen. “Bodies were everywhere,
and power cables were snaking across the road. We just ran, and
did not stop until we could go no further.” Karen is still
waiting for news of other friends who she was meeting up with that
night. “There are still loads of people from all the local
hostels missing, and pretty much everyone would have been heading
for the same area,” said Karen.
The horror of the atmosphere in Bali at the moment can only be imagined.
It is thought that up to 35 Britons could be in the final death
toll, which is climbing all the time. It is not yet known if anyone
from Winchester or Mid Hampshire was a victim of the atrocity.
Another, smaller explosion hit the American consulate on the island
as well, and it would appear that both blasts deliberately targeted
Westerners.
The Indonesian Archipelago, of which Bali is a province, has the
highest Muslim population in the world, at 230 million. It is widely
believed that the blast was the work of Islamic militants, and perhaps
even Al Quaida.
There have been all sorts of troubles between different ethnic and
religious groups on the island in the last few years, with many
of the provinces demanding independence since East Timor broke away
two years ago.
Since September 11 there have been several anti-Western demonstrations
in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. There have been threats that
all Americans and British will be expelled unless the ‘war
on terror’ is stopped.
However, Bali, predominantly Hindu, has usually been exempt from
these problems, being largely a holiday playground for Antipodeans.
It would seem that all this has changed though, with up to another
200 innocent people dead.
It will also give Bush more chance for a bit of sabre rattling,
bringing us ever closer to the edge.
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Visual
Art ‘Passage’ at The Guildhall (16th October 2002)
Cleave is
a group of professionally trained visual artists who work in a
variety of disciplines including painting, printmaking, photography,
embroidery, sculpture and installation. The exhibition, entitled
'Passage', is now on display in Winchester Guildhall, by the Courtyard
Café, until 1 November.
Grace Thomas' photographic record of an unscheduled journey by
road between Darwin and Kununnara in Australia can be compared
with Sandie Flower's 60 metre long text installation depicting
a regular journey from home to Winchester. The set of photographs
depict dark, cool passages which provided shelter from the heat
to both the animate and inanimate, whereas the text, consisting
of over 1300 words, provides evidence of words noted during a
regular journey over four years.
Three paintings by former physician Helen Sutton are entitled'
Migration 1 and 11', and 'Passage', which are important steps
in both normal and abnormal chromosomal and cellular development.
Reference to human biological patterns implies earlier beginnings
and potent ancestral traces that contribute to our identity.
Judi Osman's sensitive images on aluminium display her intense
understanding of water. A raindrop is but a moment in time, passing
through life forever reinventing itself. The etchings titled 'The
Warmth of Remembering' by printmaker Lynne Savage explore memory
and loss of a loved one.
An interest in current issues of conflict inform Jennifer Buckle's
embroideries which stimulate thoughtful deliberation, conversation
and even argument.
Gill Horn's installation of over twenty pairs of shoes filled
with diverse materials such as soil, bones and mirrors act as
metaphors for various aspects of Mary's life. Words burnt or drawn
onto the surface reflect her inner thoughts at times of great
celebration, fear and trepidation, and during her advance into
adulthood.
Part two of this exhibition can be seen at the Link Gallery, King
Alfred's College, Performing Arts and Conference Centre, Romsey
Road, Winchester. Mon - Fri 9 - 5, until 25th October.
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Going
Back To The Country (16th October 2002)
The history
of rock music is littered with British acts who have built up
huge reputations in America, while at the same time remaining
modestly anonymous on their home turf.
Described by Rolling Stone as 'Englands best kept musical secret',
this is definitely the case with Peter Bruntnell, who plays The
Railway Inn on Saturday 30th November. Luckily for Bruntnell,
who is a massive draw from New Jersey to San Francisco, the rest
of the world are about to catch up with him.
A native of South London, he first came to attention with his
two highly acclaimed albums for Herb Alpert’s Almo Sounds
label; 'Cannibal', and the follow up 'Camelot In Smithereens'.
He then signed to Boston based Slow River Records (their first
British act) and released the album that sealed his reputation;
'Normal For Bridgwater'. Hailed as a classic by everone from Time
Out to the Vice President of VH-1, ‘Bridgwater’ proved
that here was one Brit capable of giving any Ryan Adams a run
for their money.
Recorded in the States with his own band plus a few special guests,
'Normal For Bridgwater' took Bruntnell all over the world and
from the first listen you realise why the NME said 'his records
should be taught in schools'.
His latest album, ‘Ends Of The Earth’, has just been
released in America on the Virgin off-shoot Back Porch Records.
The show at The Railway will be the first opportunity since that
release to hear Bruntnell and band play the new tunes live. The
gig also acts as a special warm-up for their headling London show
at The Borderline the following week.
The new album features a startling collection of songs, ranging
from the acoustic reverie of ‘Laredo Kent’ to the out
and out eco-rock of ‘Rio Tinto’ and the chilling ballad
‘Murder In The Afternoon’. All the Bruntnell trademarks
are perfectly in place, and with the same band as ‘Bridgwater’
(James Walbourne, Pete Noone and Mick Clews), ‘Ends Of The
Earth’ takes up where the last album left off and sees the
Bruntnell sound and vision ease into an orbit of ever greater
form and content.
Live, the Bruntnell band are an even more formidable beast. Twenty-one
year old guitarist James Walbourne has secured a reputation as
one of the great plank-spankers of his generation - his immense
talents have been borrowed by everybody from Bap Kennedy to Proud
Mary. These guys are, without doubt, at the serious end of Rock
'n' Roll, no waste, no mess, just big guitars and even bigger
songs. Mojo Magazine said 'we defy anyone not to be moved' - and
they're right. It would be too easy to compare November’s
gig as the closest to thing to seeing Neil Young and Crazy Horse
in Wincheste' - but it wouldn't be far from the truth...
With old favourites such as the ripping 'By The Time My Head gets
To Phoenix' (without doubt the greatest song about cryogenics
ever written), the almost Swervedriver-esque ‘Camelot In
Smithereens’ and the epic ‘Shot From A Spring’
thrown into the bargain, this is a real chance to get it while
you can - remember, David Gray onced played The Joiners to about
twenty people, and with ‘Ends Of The Earth’ due for
a UK release in the Spring, Bruntnell could be well poised to
take over the hearts and souls of his homeland any day soon.
Also on the bill are Southampton old schoolers ‘The Automatics’.
A great producer once said “rock and roll speeds up”
- he could have been talking about ‘The Automatics’.
Shooting straight from the hip with a magazine full of ‘magazine’
- it’s like having a wall stapler punched into your temple.
A dream line-up, be there or forever hang your head in shame.
By Richard Williams
Tickets are £5 and available from The Railway Inn, Hayward
Guitars or by calling 01962 714520.
‘Ends Of The Earth’ is available on import from amazon.com.
For more information head to www.peterbruntnell.co.uk or www.backporchrecords.com
Automatics can be found at www.theautomatics.co.uk
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Rhi-nosh-eros
(23rd October 2002)
Appleton’s Restaurant at Colden Common have adopted a white
Rhino at Marwell Zoological Park.
Hannu (pictured left) is a nineteen year old White Rhinoceros.
Appleton’s donation will contribute to a year’s accommodation
and veterinary bills for Hannu as well as the tons of food he
consumes. A fully grown White Rhino can weigh as much as two mini-buses.
In Southern Africa, Rhinos are endangered by poachers who slaughter
them for their valuable horns. It is important for the survival
of the species that Rhinos breed in captivity. In 1999 Hannu made
history at Marwell by fathering Bhasela the first rhino born of
British reared parents.
“We have a strong link with Marwell” said Appleton’s
manager Kevin Keenan “we cater for families and our location
is ideal for visitors to drop in for a re-fuel after a day at
the zoo.” Appleton’s has a children’s library and
play area and is a mile away from Marwell on the Portsmouth Road
at Fishers Pond, Colden Common.
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Dad
to be Gay? (23rd October 2002)
The Bishop of Winchester, Michael Scott – Joynt has been
at the forefront of a move preventing unmarried couples and homosexual
people from adopting children.
The Adoption and Children Bill was launched as a government initiative
to try and make it easier for potential parents to adopt form
the thousands of kids in care in this country at the moment. Although
horror stories from these institutions seem to surface with an
alarming regularity, it is still incredibly difficult for a loving
couple to take a child into a home environment.
This difficulty becomes impossible if the couple are unmarried,
or, heaven forbid, gay. A group of MPs have been lobbying to have
these arcane laws changed, and the case recently went up before
the House of Lords. Not being known for their forward thinking
nature, the Lords of course threw it out. This was after extensive
lobbying by the Bishop of Winchester and his supporters.
Just to show that Christianity is not the only religion that can
be blinkered and intolerant, a letter appeared in The Telegraph
(surprise) last week from Bishop Michael and three others. These
were the Archbishop of Cardiff, Indarjit Singh, the editor of
the Sikh messenger, and Iqbal AKM Sacranie, the Secretary General
of the Muslim Council of Great Britain. These four said that adoption
by gay or unmarried couples would not be in the best interest
of the children, claiming that “marriage provides the surest
foundation for raising children.” They went on to say that
the prospect of a change in the law raises deep questions of conscience
for religious people.
As an unreligious person myself, my conscience would be a lot
clearer if I had placed a child in a loving family home and away
from a sterile, unnatural institution.
One need only look at the prison statistics to see that a disproportionate
number of offenders are from children’s homes. Surely to
get a child out of this loop would be the thing. Living with gay
parents may lead to an unhealthy obsession with Erasure and Right
Said Fred, but I cannot imagine it could lead one into violence
in the way that any kind of institution does.
Sandra Gidley is the Liberal MP for Romsey. She was on the special
committee that looked at the Children and Adoption Bill. She points
out quite vehemently that the whole bill was a government initiative
to make adoption easier, and the gay and unmarried issue is only
a very small part of it. She was present when 19 sets of experts
were asked for their opinion on the issues of gay and unmarried
couples adopting children. “Bar a few of the religious groups,
every expert was in favour of allowing it,” she said. “
Anyone who thinks that there would be a rush to place children
with homosexual couples must be barking mad.” She went on
to say that whoever was considered to take on a child would be
subject to very rigorous checks.
I put it to Sandra that the only possible reason I could think
of against allowing gays to adopt children was the ribbing that
they may get at school. Sandra agreed with this, but said that
we ought to be more tolerant of other lifestyles, and this understanding
should start at school. I agree with this, but as yet I do not
think these sentiments would stop little Johnny getting a battering
for having two dads. However, it would obviously be better than
languishing in a children’s home.
Sandra said that she will be interested to see whether all the
MPs who wanted to allow the move in the first place will carry
on the fight now that the lords have had their say. One MP who
would certainly be behind a change in the law is Winchester’s
Mark Oaten. “The House of Lords were wrong to reject the
idea when so many children are living in care homes and institutions.
It makes sense to get them into a caring environment, and same
sex couples can provide a loving home as well.”
There, so two democratically elected MPs think there should be
a change in the law. I cannot recall ever voting for an Archbishop.
In 2002 do we really think that the church should have a say in
how our children are brought up?
By Max Jones
Top of page
Winchester
victim of Bali Bombing (23rd October 2002)
Winchester has not been spared any grief in the latest terror
atrocity. A talented sportsman from the city has been named as
one of the more than 200 innocent people killed in the car bomb
on the Indonesian tourist resort of Bali.
Although originally from New Zealand, Mark Parker had come to
England three years ago to play cricket. He was the overseas player
for St Cross cricket club, and as such played the game to a very
high standard. He divided his time mainly between Winchester and
Clapham in London, where his English girlfriend lives. He had
a great love for both cities, and really enjoyed living in England.
He was in Bali for a short break, en route to his home town of
Wellington, on the south island of New Zealand.
His team mate, Richard Jones, praised Mark, saying “he had
a zest for life, his death is going to hit the club very hard”.
Matt Blyth is another cricket player who knew Mark, although they
played on rival teams. “I met Mark many a time at matches,
and I often wished I was on his team, he was that good. He was
always very friendly and a great laugh, and he will be sorely
missed by all who knew him.”
By Max Jones
Top of page
The
Soft Parade (23rd October 2002)
I wake up a worried man. I'm worrying about everything, but about
one thing more than others, namely: Will the venue be too full
and will the customers complain? No, hang on, there's a bigger
worry than that: What if the Soft Boys don't turn up? There's
no reason even to consider this eventuality, but people are travelling
from all over the UK for this "secret" warm-up show
and won't like it if they're disappointed.
Now, have I thought of everything? That thing with the bass amp
last night was extraordinary. My friend Phil has agreed to lend
us his amp, which previously belonged to the Joe Jackson Band.
We have to load it onto a straw-covered trailer in the pouring
rain in the car park of Fleming Park Leisure Centre. Why? No idea.
The speaker is the size of the Empire State Building, housed in
a flight case so gigantic that it barely scrapes through the Railway's
door.
The Soft Boys haven't played in Winchester since 1978 and I'm
so excited. They've re-formed and have made a great new album.
Prior to their American tour, they need a warm-up show and somehow
or other I've booked them for this tiny venue. The interest is
high but the organisation is demanding. We normally put on much
"smaller" bands and it's all done on a handshake, but
here there is a contract involved and I have to be conscientious
and responsible. This is my first experience of purchasing a "rider"
and it entails spending over two hours in Sainsburys. It's surprising
how confusing your local supermarket becomes when you're buying
unfamiliar things. There's a whopping great list of items such
as soya milk, honey, olives and pitta bread, not to mention copious
amounts of alcohol, all specific brands. At one stage, I'm fretting
about whether I'll get into trouble for substituting Sainsbury's
own-brand vodka for the specified Smirnoff. Like I say, I'm a
worrier.
The contract is full of all sorts of specific demands that we
can't possibly fulfil. I have penned an addendum and made the
agent promise to pass on all the details to the band, so they
know what to expect. I've also emailed a reminder with a request
to pass it on to the band members. Principal among these is the
vital information that there is no dressing room. So Robyn Hitchcock
arrives and his very first words are, "Hello, where's the
dressing room?" He looks genuinely hunted when I say there
isn't one. "I have to have somewhere to hide away. If I stay
in the pub I'll be hassled." It's true that he has a disturbingly
large number of obsessive fans, some of whom (inexplicably, really)
are actually quite unruly. So I have a brainwave and ask my friend
Hector, who lives just down the road, if they can use his house
as a dressing room. "I'll have to tidy up first", he
replies. What a hero.
They sound check for ever (part of the point of a warm-up show).
Ben, the engineer at the Railway, displays the patience of Job
as he assists the meticulously professional sound man the Soft
Boys have brought with them. And then, would you believe it, apart
from the drummer, they don't use the dressing room at all. Instead,
they watch football in the front bar while Robyn disappears into
town.
He spent his teens in Winchester and wants to explore (not to
mention being tempted by the Gurkha Chef). Support artist Mark
Andrews is performing solo for the first time in his life and
is absolutely terrified. The audience receives his set of carefully-chosen
covers warmly, but before long I'm worrying again. I've impressed
on the Soft Boys that they MUST be on stage at 9.30, but Robyn
has disappeared. It appears that he's managed to get himself lost
and the rest of the band, while mildly concerned, can do no more
than shrug their shoulders as if to say, yup, that's Robyn. As
the clock ticks ever onward and the crowd starts to become restless,
I'm almost on the verge of panic.
It's nearly ten when I run down to Hector's house, where Robyn
has somehow gained admission and is sitting in the kitchen. "Sorry,
I haven't got a watch", he says. Still, I've had a beer by
now and have decided that at least it's another good Hitchcock
story. A lifelong ambition is fulfilled as I push my way through
the crowd, making way for the star. He towers above me, which
rather spoils the effect. All the effort has been worthwhile.
The sound is perfect, the band performs sublimely, but still it's
impossible to relax. There are a couple of annoying talkers in
the audience, one of whom has sneaked in without paying. I have
to tell them to shut up, and you never know how people are going
to react. Worse, at the back of the hall is a group of extremely
drunk blokes. Who knows why they follow Robyn Hitchcock, merely
to shout out inappropriate remarks and stagger around, but they
do. No wonder he's desperate to have a dressing room. I am nice
to these guys, who are actually harmless music-lovers with a strange
way of showing it. My magnificent wife, who has been acting as
bouncer, charms them and keeps them relatively quiet. "I
love you, door lady", announces one. "Is that your wife?
Bloody hell", gasps another.
The gig is over. I've had to interrupt the band in mid-flow because
there's a strict 11 pm curfew. Immediately, Robyn is at my shoulder.
"I need protection, get me out of here." I'm beginning
to enjoy my new-found "minder" role, so it's all back
to Hector's house. It's all worked out, but one thing has been
missing: enjoying the show. So, the next evening, I travel up
to London to enjoy the Soft Boys as an untroubled audience member.
There they are, playing to a large audience in a big venue. I
like to think that the warm-up show has helped them. But, on the
train back, I'm still worrying: What the hell are we going to
do with that whopping great bass amp, still cluttering up the
Railway's back room?
By Oliver Gray
Top of page
Thai
Miss Money (30th October 2002)
A Winchester girl has come fourth in the Miss Thailand competition.
Although Naomi Binns won the public’s vote in one of the biggest
public polls ever held in Thailand, she missed out when the panel
of judges decided not to award her first prize. Literally millions
of people voted on the internet, in magazines and newpapers over
there. However, the final decision laid in the hands of a panel
of judges including ex Miss Thailands.
Still, it would be churlish of Naomi to complain, as she was voted
‘most photogenic contestant’. I think readers will agree
that this accolade is deserved. So, fourth overall in a country
which is rather famous for producing beautiful women is not bad,
but what is Naomi’s story?
Originally from London, Naomi has lived in Henley Upon Thames as
well as Winchester, before heading over to Thailand just over a
year ago.
“My mother is Thai, and I have been there many times before,
but I wanted to get in touch with that side of my life,” says
Naomi.
To say that the country took to her would be an understatement.
Approached by a scout to try out for Miss Thailand, Naomi has now
been offered a job as a VJ (video jockey) for Thai MTV. This is
on top of modeling work, TV roles and studying at Southern Thailand
University for a degree in Media Applications. Naomi is only 21.
So, although she just missed out on the Miss Thailand prizes, Naomi
is still making an impact in many different arenas.
“If I had won the nomination to go to the Miss World Competition
I would not have taken part anyway” said Naomi. This is because
the tournament is being held in Nigeria. Part of that country is
governed by Moslem Sharric law, which is notoriously misogynistic.
At the moment there is a woman there who has been sentenced to death
for being made pregnant after she was raped.
For a competition like Miss World to be held in a country with that
kind of reputation would seem like a PR disaster. The tournament
is trying to reinvent itself after the halcyon years of bikinis
and contestants saying “I just want world peace!”
Now the girls are judged on a whole plethora of things, including
singing, how aware they are of world affairs etc. Now it looks like
half of them are using that knowledge to boycott the Nigerian contest
anyway!
Although Naomi is loving Thailand, she is missing her dogs, Bingo
and Bella, a Jack Russell and a Doberman. She also would like to
see her mates, and go to the pub! When I spoke to her she seemed
very well, and is enjoying seeing the country. “I have been
all over the place, spending time in monasteries, as well as obviously
a while on the beach!”
Her plans now include carrying on with the study as well as doing
some intensive Thai language courses, which are apparently no mean
feat! The winner of the competition overall was a girl called Ticha
Luengpairoj.
In a slightly strange magazine article from Thailand that I read
it said “the winner is not utterly gorgeous. Her looks would
help her blend easily into the crowd in Chinatown!” Cheers!
It also said that “it was speculated that one of the more Western
contestants would win.” Still, fourth out of 3000 is certainly
not too bad.
Top
of page
Meet The Firm (30th October
2002)
Three friends from Winchester have decided to bite the bullet and
follow their dreams by setting up a documentary and film company.
Giles Maltby, Henry Neild and Max Jones (keen readers may recognise
the name!) are all working together to produce new television programmes.
The company is called Mad-Dogs TV. Giles Maltby says “we have
the name, the website and the equipment. Now all we need is some
work really!”
The trio intend to make documentaries on anything and everything.
Plans so far include a film on a missing Rosetti painting found
on the Isle of Wight, a series of shorts on employment possibilities
for youth and a pop video for a local dance music outfit. “As
you can see, we are fairly eclectic, and at the moment we are trying
to get as much on paper as possible. If any readers have any ideas
that they think would look good on television then they are more
than welcome to send them to us. Obviously we will pay for anything
that then goes on to be screened,” said Max.
All of the three have creative backgrounds. Max is a journalist,
Henry runs a company finding locations for films and Giles specialises
in placing plasma screens. “All of us are in the very fortunate
position of loving our current jobs,” says Henry, “so
we can do this concurrently, and if it works out, then great.”
Although our heroes are relatively young, they have an array of
experience behind them. Giles has been working in television documentary
making since he was 12 years old. “My father always made programmes,
and I have been helping him out since I was a child,” he says,
“I went to Bournemouth film school and have always loved television
making.” Henry has been involved in film and documentary making
through his company for ages. In fact, the only one of the trio
with no relevant background is your erstwhile correspondent!
The last word must go to Giles, who says “we love what we’re
doing, we’re enthusiastic, so next year you will either see
us in the dole queue or the Groucho club!”
Top
of page
Festival Place opens!
(30th October 2002)
The doors to Festival Place were opened to the public for the very
first time at 10am on Tuesday (22/10/02), six lucky members of the
public burst through paper covering the door openings, signalling
not only the official opening of Festival Place, but also the beginning
of a new era for Basingstoke.
At over a million sq ft, Festival Place boasts 165 shops, 18 restaurants,
a 10-screen cinema, a nightclub, a sports centre and a library,
and is the largest shopping and leisure development to open in the
UK this year.
Speaking just prior to the opening, Katrine Sporle, chief executive
of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, enthused: "The new
town centre is stunning…this is a day to be proud of and a
day to celebrate the past, present and future success of Basingstoke
and Deane."
Councillor Brian Gurden, Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough
Council, added:
"Basingstoke and Deane is a Borough with a great future…..Festival
Place is the jewel in the crown"
Stephen Musgrave, chief executive of Grosvenor, dedicated his speech
to the people of Basingstoke: "You have shown patience and
support throughout the hugely complex and difficult demolition,
the refurbishment of The Walks and the creation of the new Festival
Place. And without your support we could never have achieved what
stands before us today."
Following the initial excitement of opening day, wacky performers
and unconventional artists wowed the crowds with their amazing feats
around the centre. Circo Rum Ba Ba dazzled shoppers with acrobatics
and intricate balance shows, stilt walkers, Incandescence, mingled
with shoppers from above and the musical comic capers of the Brothers
Kalamari had both the young and old in stitches. Hungry visitors
headed to Festival Square to check out Basingstoke's new eateries
and were treated to performances from a string quartet, jazz and
blues bands and a traditional barbershop quartet.
Top
of page
Meet the Archaeologist
(30th October 2002)
Dr Julian Richards, archaeologist, and presenter of a number of
BBC programmes, will be visiting Winchester on November 14 to talk
about working as an archaeologist alongside the TV cameras.
A professional archaeologist for more than 30 years and an expert
on prehistoric Wessex, Julian has more recently combined his passion
for the past with a new venture - presenting to a nation-wide audience
in his BBC TV programmes ‘Meet the Ancestors’ and ‘Blood
of the Vikings’. Julian is no stranger to Winchester as a few
years ago he highlighted the excavation of an unusual burial in
Winchester’s northern Roman cemetery in ‘Meet the Ancestors’,
the reconstructed head from which is currently on display in the
City Museum. From TV to radio, Julian has also presented a programme
about Winchester for his Radio 4 series ‘Mapping the Town’.
Back in the City once again on 14 November, Julian will be giving
a talk at the Guildhall at 7.30pm about ‘Mapping our Viking
Ancestors - reflection on five years of media archaeology’.
He will also be signing copies of his recent books. Tickets, priced
£5.00 (£4.00 concessions) are available by post only
from Winchester Museums Service, Historic Resources Centre, 75 Hyde
Street, Winchester SO23 7DW. Please enclose SAE and make cheques
payable to ‘Winchester City Council’. |
