The Courier 1210

Volcanic ash cloud causes University travel chaos

Students stranded

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Issue 1210 Monday 26 April 2010 www.thecourieronline.co.uk

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University debate will swing Newcastle vote must make ‘Wait for university ‡‘Poorest students ‡ ‡ ‘MPs their position clear’ must have a chance’ funding review’

Inside today >>> Kyle comes to town Controversial British talk show host Jeremy Kyle appears in front of students at University News, page 3

University in major DNA discovery Scientists at Newcastle develop pioneering technique to prevent transmission of genetic diseases News, page 4

The ‘Freewomen’ of Newcastle?

Should women be allowed to take on the traditional role?

Comment, page 10

Student’s stabbing Richard Hirson tells The Courier of his harrowing experience on holiday in Singapore Life & Style, page 14-15

Boat Race heroes target Olympics Newcastle graduates Fred Gill and Henry Pelly have set their sights on London 2012 after helping Cambridge to victory in the University Boat Race Sport, page 44-45

Aaron Porter NUS President-elect

David Lammy +LJKHU (GXFation Minister

Nick Brown 1HZFDVWOH (ast MP

NUS dubs Newcastle the number one student battleground as general election looms Simon Murphy News Editor The newly elected President of the NUS has backed the student vote to make the difference in Newcastle.

Aaron Porter was elected at the annual NUS Conference, which took place in Gateshead this month, and KDV YRZHG WR À JKW IRU D IDLUHU IXQG LQJ V\VWHP 7KH \HDU ROG LV HQFRXUDJLQJ Newcastle students to pressure candidates to make their position clear E\ VLJQLQJ D SOHGJH QRW WR YRWH IRU an increase in top-up-fees.

7KLV ZHHN WKH +LJKHU (GXFDWLRQ

Minister David Lammy and local Labour MP Nick Brown have also DFNQRZOHGJHG WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI the student vote.

In an exclusive interview with The Courier, Porter said: “Neither the students from Northumbria or Newcastle University will want to see their fees rise and it’s quite important that students choose a canGLGDWH WKDW KDV SOHGJHG QRW WR YRWH for an increase in fees. “The proportion of students in Newcastle is hefty and that’s why students do have the ability to shape the outcome of the election there.�

Nick Brown, who has served as 03 IRU 1HZFDVWOH (DVW IRU WKH SDVW 27 years and currently holds a majority of 5,565, has decided not to VLJQ WKH 186¡V SOHGJH EHFDXVH KH ZLOO QRW UXOH RXW DQ LQà DWLRQDU\ ULVH in top-up-fees.

He said: “The key objective for me is to make sure that people of ordiQDU\ PHDQV FDQ DIIRUG KLJKHU HGX FDWLRQ VR WKH WRWDOLW\ RI WKH DUUDQJH ments have to meet that test – and that’s my position. ´/DERXU KDV VLJQLĂ€ FDQWO\ LQFUHDVHG WKH IXQGLQJ IRU KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ ² DQG ,¡YH JRW WR VD\ IRU 1HZFDVWOH

WR YHU\ JRRG HIIHFW 7KHUH DUH VRPH JUHDW WKLQJV KDSSHQLQJ KHUH WKDW WKH ZKROH UHJLRQ FDQ WDNH SULGH LQ Âľ Later this year, an independent review, headed by Lord Browne, will LVVXH D KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ IXQGLQJ UH port to Parliament.

Porter – who will succeed Wes 6WUHHWLQJ DV 186 3UHVLGHQW ² KDV FULWLFLVHG WKH WLPLQJ RI WKH UHYLHZ VD\LQJ LW KDV EHHQ ´GHOLEHUDWHO\ WLPHG WR VWUDGGOH WKH JHQHUDO HOHF tion� to allow the major parties to hide their true position.

Continued on page 5 Nick Brown interview page 6-7

Boy George is back The former Culture Club frontman chats to Alice Vincent as he makes his return to music Culture, page 32

2

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Student faces the Countdown clock

The Union Society, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB. Tel: 0191 239 3940

Comment

> Page 9

St who?

Football always stirs national pride but who cares about the man who started it all?

Page 11

/LIH 6W\OH )OLUWLQJ DPRQJVW À FWLRQ Helen Atkinson describes the sexual tension in the Robinson Library Page 14-15

&XOWXUH Pete Tong David Coverdale speaks to the legendary Radio 1 DJ on a landmark weekend for the Essential Mix Page 20-21

Sport Henderson and Hurricanes SURJUHVV LQ FXS VHPL À QDOV Intra Mural Wednesday Cup reaches its latter stage in a busy week of action at the Longbenton 3G Page 50-51

Meetings Timetable: Monday Sport - 11am, Committee Room A News - 12pm, Committee Room C Comment - 12pm, Committee Room C Photos - 2pm, Committee Room B Tuesday Life & Style - 12pm, Committee Room A Wednesday Film - 12pm, Committee Room A Music - 1pm, Committee Room B Thursday Arts - 12pm, Committee Room A Editorial Team: ‡ (GLWRU 'DYLG &RYHUGDOH ‡ 'HSXW\ (GLWRU )UDQ ,QIDQWH ‡ 1HZV (GLWRUV -HVVLFD 7XOO\ DQG 6LPRQ Murphy ‡ &RPPHQW (GLWRUV &DUROLQH $UJ\URSXOR Palmer and Nicholas Fidler ‡ /LIH 6W\OH (GLWRUV /DULVD %URZQ $OH[ Felton and Ashley Fryer ‡ &XOWXUH (GLWRU $OLFH 9LQFHQW ‡ $UWV (GLWRU 6WHSKDQLH )HUUDR ‡ )LOP (GLWRU )UDQFHV .URRQ ‡ 0XVLF (GLWRUV 0DUN &RUFRUDQ /HWWLFH DQG Chris Mandle ‡ 79 5DGLR (GLWRU $LPHH 3KLOLSVRQ ‡ 3X]]OHV (GLWRUV 6X]L 0RRUH DQG 1HG Walker ‡ 6SRUWV (GLWRUV 3DXO &KULVWLDQ -DPLH *DYLQ DQG 7RP -DPHV ‡ 'HVLJQ (GLWRU 9LFWRULD %HOO ‡ 2QOLQH (GLWRUV *RUGRQ %UXFH DQG -HVVLFD Monson ‡ 3URRI (GLWRUV 5XWK $OVDQFDN &ODLUH Childs, Kath Harmer, Lucy Houlden, Anna Kenolty, Charlotte Loftus, Emma Peasgood and Claire Russell

News Editors: Simon Murphy and Jessica Tully - courier.news@ncl.ac.uk

‘Meow-meow’ illegal under new Act -HVVLFD 7XOO\ News Editor The legal high drug mephedrone was made an illegal drug in the UK WKLV PRQWK DV RIĂ€ FLDOV FODVVLĂ€ HG LW DV a Class B drug from April 16.

The ban follows a recent report in The Courier where Newcastle pharmacologist Dr Mohammed Shoaib claimed mephedrone could kill.

Anyone found in possession of WKH VXEVWDQFH FRXOG IDFH À YH \HDUV in prison and the maximum sentence for dealing the drug will be 14 years.

The Association of Chief Police 2IĂ€ FHUV XUJHG IRUFHV WR WDUJHW GHDO ers, saying that it had no intention of criminalising young people who had been using it.

The drug, popular with students, is sold on the internet labelled as plant food.

There has been controversy surrounding the illegality of the drug,

Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent Student Newspaper of the Union Society at the University of Newcastle-UponTyne. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge.

The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Union Society or the University of Newcastleupon-Tyne.

WRWDO IDEULFDWLRQ 2QFH WKLV NLQG RI PHGLD IUHQ]\ NLFNV RII LW LV OLWHUDOO\ unstoppable. “During the week prior to the ban, it seemed parents who had tragically lost children were queuing up to get in the news, one distraught mother claiming her son (recently returned from Afghanistan) would never have committed suicide were it not for the fact he’d taken mephedrone. “So, now the highly emotional and ZKROO\ XQTXDOLĂ€ HG YLHZV RI D JULHY ing mother, desperate for someone or something to blame for her son’s death, are elevated to ‘TRUTH’. “You can almost see the hacks punching the air as they discover some poor victim of something or other once took mephedrone. This cocktail of distortion, exaggeration and downright lies has been the driver behind policy rather than considered advice and informed de-

University helps in passing of landmark Bill to protect world’s poorest countries Larisa Brown Newcastle University played a key role in getting a third world debt bill passed through Parliament earlier this month. %\ DSSURYLQJ WKH VR FDOOHG œ9XO tures Law’, a landmark bill which will protect the poorest countries in the world, the UK has become the À UVW FRXQWU\ WR EDQ œ7KLUG :RUOG 'HEW¡ SURÀ WHHULQJ The University was the only university in the country to back the campaign, persuading several key ZRUOG À JXUHV VXFK DV $UFKELVKRS Desmond Tutu to add to their support. Both staff and students exerted SUHVVXUH RQ WKH *RYHUQPHQW WR JHW the bill through the Houses of Parliament.

The Debt Relief (Developing CounWULHV %LOO OHG E\ WKH -XELOHH 'HEW

&DPSDLJQ LV WKH ZRUOG¡V À UVW ODZ WR UHVWULFW WKH DELOLW\ RI œ9XOWXUH IXQGV¡ to sue some of the world’s poorest countries for full repayment of debts that they have bought up cheaply. /DVW 1RYHPEHU WZR 9XOWXUH Funds were given $20 million in the High Court from Liberia, the second poorest country in the world, for a debt dating back to the 1970s.

The law is expected to make that verdict unenforceable and will prevent future private investment comSDQLHV IURP PDNLQJ VXFK SURĂ€ WV 'U 'DYLG *ROGLQJ 3URIHVVRU RI Marine Science and Technology, who led the campaign on behalf of the University told The Courier ´, ZDV IXULRXV ZKHQ , OHDUQW XQVFUXSX ORXV FRUSRUDWH SUHGDWRUV Âś9XOWXUH Funds’) were hijacking the relief process. “Buying up poor country debts at

knock-down prices, these Funds sue for full repayment when debt relief is granted, siphoning off resources earmarked for health care and education and making astronomical SURĂ€ WV LQ WKH SURFHVV “With the passing of the new Bill, we have started to curb this outraJHRXV EHKDYLRXU , DP LPPHQVHO\ JUDWLĂ€ HG WKDW %ULWDLQ KDV RQFH DJDLQ taken a lead on this issue - gratiĂ€ HG WRR WKDW P\ XQLYHUVLW\ DQG UH gion have taken such an active and prominent role, a role which is undoubtedly globally unique.â€? ,QWHUQDWLRQDO VXSSRUW IRU WKH ELOO also came from President Ellen -RKQVRQ 6LUOHDI RI /LEHULD DQG 3UHVL GHQW %KDUUDW -DJGHR RI *X\DQD $QGUHZ *Z\QQH 03 DQG VSRQ VRU RI WKH %LOO VDLG ´, DP DEVR lutely thrilled that my bill has been SDVVHG LQWR ODZ ,W ZDV FRPSOHWHO\

unacceptable that a small number of companies were ever allowed in the 8. FRXUWV WR SURĂ€ WHHU RII WKH WKLUG world debt market. “These “vulture fundsâ€? were completely unjust and it is to the credit of this parliament, and the efforts of WKH -XELOHH 'HEW &DPSDLJQ WKDW ZH KDYH Ă€ QDOO\ PDQDJHG WR SDVV WKLV law.â€?

'LUHFWRU RI WKH -XELOHH 'HEW &DP paign, Nick Dearden said: “We hugely appreciate the contribution that the staff and students of Newcastle University have made towards this bill becoming law, IURP WKH 3UR 9LFH &KDQFHOORU 3DXO Younger, to the staff and students.�

Dearden thanked the University for its huge support over many years, claiming it has made a big difference towards debt relief in the third world.

Researchers make breakthrough in arthritis treatment &DUROLQH $UJ\URSXOR 3DOPHU

The Courier is printed by: Harmsworth Printing Limited, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby, DE1 2DW. Tel: 01332 253013.

Mephedrone was made illegal in the UK, led by Home Secretary Alan Johnson

with some claiming it was a “rushed decision� following pressure from the media and government.

Critics claim that banning each new substance that comes along is counterproductive.

Patrick Hargreaves, Drug and Alcohol Advisor for Durham County Council told The Courier ´2QFH WKH trickle of stories of meph-deaths started, there followed an undigniĂ€ HG UDFH WR EULQJ QHZV RI IXUWKHU casualties and horror stories. 27 dead, we are told (in fact, one so far). “A young man tried to rip his scrotum off (no he didn’t-a prankster posted a message on a site which was apparently swallowed hook line and sinker by the police without DQ\ YHULĂ€ FDWLRQ WKHQ UHJXUJLWDWHG by the media). “180 pupils off sick from one school in Leicestershire after taking LW WKH &R &RXQFLO FRQĂ€ UPV WKLV WR EH

Newcastle University scientists have made a breakthrough in the way rheumatoid arthritis sufferers are treated, developing a tailored therapy which is hoped will be much more effective.

A blood test can show if patients have one of two immune system antibodies which makes them more likely to respond to an advanced form of treatment. This is believed to include 80% of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

Research presented last week reveals that this group have a good chance of responding to the drug rituximab, also known as MebThera,

which targets the immune system.

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the immune system unnecessarily LQà DPLQJ MRLQWV ZLWK DQ HVWLPDWHG 690,000 people currently suffering from it, and 26,000 new cases identiÀ HG HYHU\ \HDU This blood test will allow doctors to identify who will respond to rituximab, allowing it to be administered early enough to prevent irreversible joint damage and consequential disability. However, it may not be worth giving the drug to the 20% of sufferers without either of the antibodies.

Previously, the patient body has been treated as a whole, leaving some patients on ineffective drugs

for some time before the best soluWLRQ LV IRXQG 2I WKH SDWLHQWV LQ this new study, all responded poorly to standard treatments with drugs such as methotrexate, a Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug.

The group contained patients with and without the antibodies, and results showed that after 48 weeks, 13.2% of patients treated with rituximab who had the antibody were in remission and no longer showing symptoms, compared with 5.9% of the patients without the antibody.

Patients who had tested positively for the antibody were also three times more likely to experience an improvement of their symptoms on rituximab than those without either

antibody.

Newcastle University Professor of &OLQLFDO 5KHXPDWRORJ\ -RKQ ,VDDFV led the research team. He told The ,QGHSHQGHQW ´7KLV LV DQ LPSRUWDQW breakthrough in the treatment of this chronic and debilitating condition, heralding the beginning of an exciting new era for patients, physicians and indeed the entire RA community.� ,VDDFV FRQWLQXHG ´$GGLWLRQDOO\ this will reduce treatment costs by avoiding the use of ineffective drugs.� Rheumatoid arthritis is believed to cost the country almost £8bn per year in care and treatment, as well as due to lost employment caused by the disease.

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

3

News

Roles reversed as Kyle gets grilled by students Joshua Shrimpton Dean Controversial talk show host Jeremy Kyle appeared in front of a live audience at Newcastle University before Easter to face an unforgiving interview.

Dianne Nelmes, who was responsible for launching Kyle’s career, pressed the daytime TV favourite on the ethics of his confrontational style in front of a packed King’s Hall.

Introducing Kyle, Nelmes, a visiting professor in media and journalism, said: “I’m personally and professionally thrilled and delighted to be here to share some thoughts and views with you with the somewhat infamous, controversial and certainly charismatic Jeremy Kyle.”

The 44-year-old then took centre stage for what should have been a gruelling two hours. But Kyle, no stranger to heated discussion, appeared sharp-witted and proceeded to make light work of his supposed interrogation.

Nelmes, a former Editor of The Courier, began: “Your own life is not totally blemish-free. What gives you the authority, the right sometimes, to really have a go at some of these people, as you do very effectively?”

Kyle, who is known to have battled an alcohol and gambling addiction in his early years, ignored the ÀUVW SDUW RI WKH TXHVWLRQ He responded: “I’ve had that question more than any other question.

They come on the show, they know ZKDW LW·V DERXW LW·V DERXW FRQÁLFW resolution.

“But unlike any other show, the after-care and procedures that are in place mean that, in a way, it’s morDOO\ ÀQH %XW LW·V DFWXDOO\ TXLHW VDG , suspect that for 90 percent of people who come on my show, it’s a last resort.

“People appreciate honesty, certainly in this society nowadays where people fanny around all the time. I think people need it.”

Kyle went on to give a rare insight into the selection process of his show, which has aired over one thousand times on ITV, before taking questions from an eager audience.

But it quickly became clear to the amassed media and journalism students that putting a question to Jeremy Kyle himself is no straightforward task.

In a discussion about the likely low turnout in the forthcoming general election, in which Kyle revealed a desire to go into politics, one student asked what he would change if he were Prime Minister. Kyle’s familiar condescending tone quickly belittled his inquisitor.

He responded: “Do you vote for a

Jeremy Kyle with former Editor of The Courier, Dianne Nelmes, in Newcastle University last month. Kyle was invited by Nelmes to speak in front of an open audience in King’s Hall

party or do you vote for a person?”

The student replied: “I don’t do either; I don’t vote.”

“Will you ever vote?” Kyle retorted.

Afterwards, Kyle succumbed to a crowd of female students to patiently pose for photos outside King’s Hall before sitting down to speak exclusively to The Courier about a range of issues facing students.

The University of Surrey graduate began by addressing the ongoing squeeze on university places and current funding crisis: “I’m all for

further education more than you would know; I went to university myself and got a 2:2; which meant I drank too much in three years - but it was great.

“I’m not elitist at all, but one of the reasons there’s become this huge debate about money is because over the last 10 or 15 years there’s been so many courses at so many places.

“I think it’s tragic that students fall out after three years with a twentythousand-pound overdraft and spend ten years paying it back.

“When I went to university, it was

DERXW WKH TXDOLÀFDWLRQ EXW LW ZDV DV much about three years of a different life and becoming more rounded as a person.

“But I’m all for the student life, because they watch my programmes.

I’m always surprised that they’re up at 9.25 in the morning. Actually, I think that they record it.”

Amidst the ongoing mephedrone crisis, Kyle reiterated his tough antidrugs stance to address students’ use of cannabis, a prominent part of the university experience for many.

He said: “There are phases in all

of our lives where we’ll do things, like the gambling that got me when I was in my twenties. If you’re an adult and you want to smoke cannabis, am I right to say you shouldn’t do it? Do I think it should it be legalised? Well, I’m not getting into that debate.”

The Courier asked Kyle if, during his time at university in the 1980s, he had ever taken cannabis: “I’ve never, ever, ever taken drugs” he responded frankly.

Full interview with Jeremy Kyle in next week’s The Courier.

Newcastle students cover 6,209 miles for SKIP charity Charlie Oven A group of Newcastle students are planning to collectively cover 6,209 miles in a series of events running over the summer term.

The volunteers are representing SKIP, a national registered charity with branches at Universities all over the UK. SKIP’s aim is to develop and maintain sustainable community-based projects aimed at improving the

health, education and welfare of vulnerable children.

The big challenge is aptly named ‘Mission 6209’ as it is 6,209 miles from Newcastle to the Kampong Thom province in Cambodia, where Newcastle students aim to promote SKIP’s mission.

Volunteers have started clocking up the miles with a fun run already completed and a public walk and fancy dress cycle to be done in the near future.

Students of the Newcastle branch of SKIP focused their attention on Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge genocide in the seventies.

Talking to The Courier, publicity coordinator of SKIP Newcastle, Sophia Pownall, said: “A major effect of the genocide has been a lot of poverty, which has had profound consequences for the children of Cambodia.”

5HÁHFWLQJ RQ WKH SRYHUW\ RI WKH region Pownall stressed how “chil-

GUHQ KDYH WR ZRUN LQ SDGG\ ÀHOGV rather than go to school, and healthcare is unavailable to the majority of the population.”

This summer 42 people from SKIP Newcastle will be going to the Kampong Thom province where they will teach in several schools, an opportunity Pownall believes “will give children the chance to be children.”

The voluntary work will also involve working with adults in the

community teaching English and Healthcare, to ensure messages can still be passed on when volunteers are not there.

In terms of promoting SKIP’s aims Pownall claims “as a student-led charity, funding is always a problem, so anything you give will make a huge difference to a child’s life.”

You can donate to the SKIP charity online by going to www.bmycharity. com/skipnewcastle.

4

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

News

Major University breakthrough offers hope of preventing life-threatening disease Elliot Bentley A team of Newcastle University researchers have developed a new technique for curing life-threatening genetic diseases.

The team, led by Professor Doug Turnbull and Dr Mary Herbert, proved it possible to replace faulty mitochondria in fertilised human eggs, potentially allowing permanent curing of serious genetic conditions.

However, the treatment is yet to be made available on the NHS, and some groups have expressed fears that this may be a step too far in terms of humans “playing god�.

Serious mitochondrial diseases affect only one in every 6,500 people, but can leave sufferers both mentally and physically disabled. In many cases these symptoms can be fatal.

Sharon Bernardi is one such sufferer of mitochondrial disease. Although her symptoms are relatively absent, of her seven pregnancies six died within hours of being born, and her only surviving son, Edward, requires constant care. He suffers from

chronic pain in his muscles that “makes him scream throughout the night�, Ms Bernardi told BBC News.

She said of the research: “It will be too late for me but it would be an amazing thing if scientists and doctors can prevent this in the future.�

The mitochondria themselves are “power packs� found in every cell that act as the source of energy for every organism bigger than a bacteria. They are peculiar in the way that they have their own DNA, separate to the rest of the cell.

Due to the mitochondria’s important role in the body, if its DNA mutates by even a small amount, it may prevent the body’s organs from functioning correctly, and can lead to genetic mitochondrial diseases.

The researchers from Newcastle University’s biomedicine department used an interesting quirk of mitochondrial DNA - that it is inherited entirely from the mother - in its treatment.

The procedure consists of taking the DNA of a fertilised human egg with diseased mitochondria, and inserting it into an egg with healthy

mitochondria. The resulting child will therefore not be affected, and neither will any of its offspring.

Since the egg with healthy mitochondria must come from a donor separate of the couple, some have labelled the process as “three-way IVF�. Professor Turnbull himself has described it as “changing the battery on a laptop�.

Speaking to The Courier, he highlighted interactions between departments in Newcastle University’s medical department as key to the team’s success.

Professor Turnbull and his team have discovered treatment that could potentially cure genetic diseases

He said: “One of the things to appreciate in research now is how many advances are possible because people work together. “It was a combination between

Mary Herbert’s lab, which is an embryology lab, and our lab, which is a mitochondrial genetic lab. “Although the process is theoretically simple,â€? said Professor Turnbull, “it is far easier said than done, and has never been attempted with human eggs before.“ His team were also refused a license to culture embryos from the Human Fertilisation and EmbryolRJ\ WZLFH EHIRUH Ă€ QDOO\ VXFFHHGLQJ in 2005. “It’s not going to be the cure for all inherited diseases - that’s been taken out of context. But as the chief execute of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign said, if we can cut the disease out at the knees it would be fantastic,â€? he said.

However, some have voiced ethical concerns over the procedure.

Josephine Quintavalle, of campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, told The Daily Mail: “We know very little about the beginning of life and it is extraordinary how willing we are to break down one of the most obvious barriers, which is that it takes a sperm and an egg to

create an embryo. ´:H KDYH JRW WR À QG EHWWHU ZD\V to cure these diseases.�

Professor Turnbull stressed that the research was in “an ethically challenging areaâ€?, but rebutted such criticism. “What we want to do is offer women choice, and I think it’s very important that we accept that this would not be important for some women who don’t want IVF - and I absolutely accept that some in society might have ethical or moral objections,â€? he told The Courier. ´7KH GLIĂ€ FXOW\ , KDYH LV WKDW LI they are in a minority, should their ethical problems with this stop a woman from having the potential of having a normal baby?â€?

The next step for the team is to prove the technique safe and reliable, in order for it to become available to patients. “I think this will be particularly valuable to those families who have severely affected children,â€? said Professor Turnbull. “I would like to hope that, for these VSHFLĂ€ F IDPLOLHV ZH ZRXOG EH DEOH to offer this treatment.â€?

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

5

News

Grounded: volcanic ash saga sees hundreds of students and staff trapped abroad as term begins J. WHITTAKER

Hundreds of Newcastle University students and staff were stranded abroad last week following the massive disruption to transport services caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

0DQ\ PLVVHG WKH ÀUVW ZHHN RI teaching after the Easter break as à LJKWV DFURVV (XURSH ZHUH JURXQGed amid fears that an ash cloud lingering over much of the continent could have caused serious damage to aircraft engines.

Some staff reported the cancellation of all lectures last week in what is a critical time in the run-up to the main exam period, just three weeks away.

Despite the eventual reopening of European airspace, many students will still remain stranded abroad EHFDXVH Ă LJKWV RQ VRPH URXWHV UHmain fully booked until backlogs are cleared.

In two separate incidents, groups RI VWXGHQWV DQG VWDII RQ ÀHOG WULSV were stranded in Athens and New York.

Speaking to The Courier from Athens at the height of last week’s chaos, second year geography student Emily Walker told how some members of her party of thirty had braved the clogged arteries of Europe’s transport network to get back

to Newcastle via a ferry to Venice.

6KH VDLG ´,W KDV GHĂ€QLWHO\ EHHQ DQ H[WHQGHG Ă€HOGWULS 7KHUH LV D PL[ture of emotions here with different people relaying different messages to us. ´6RPHWLPHV ZH DUH FRQĂ€GHQW WKDW we will get home and it is when we are feeling like this we can get on with enjoying the sun. But other times we are quite unsure. “Andy Gillespie, the head of Geography, Politics and Sociology, has been extremely helpful. “He has been calling everyone almost every day, checking our whereabouts and plans, and has even been booking people into hotels to make sure we all have a bed for the night.â€?

A second year Geography student LQ 1HZ <RUN VDLG ´2XU Ă LJKW ZDV RQH RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DIIHFWHG :H ZHUH PHDQW WR Ă \ RQ 7KXUVGD\ DQG LW got cancelled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve now managed to get on WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW Ă LJKW RXW EHFDXVH WKHUH¡V D plane at JFK which just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our lecturers who were on the Ă&#x20AC;HOG WULS LQ 1HZ <RUN DOVR WUDYHOOHG to Washington so theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stuck as well. We can get an extension and most lectures have been cancelled anyway.â&#x20AC;?

Newcastle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s examinations department told The Courier that the travel disruption was not

expected to have an impact on the forthcoming exam timetable, despite many students concerns that their revision schedules have been ruined.

Examinations coordinator Kate Walton said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some exams which are taking place at the moment had a teaching week last week so their students should have been back on campus in time before the travel disruptions began. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No exams staff have been stranded abroad, but I am presuming that it will have affected some support staff areas.â&#x20AC;?

Second year marketing student Damyan Georgiev, who last week FRQWHPSODWHG D KRXU FRDFK WULS from Bulgaria, told The Courier of his concern: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have access to my textbooks at the moment as none of my core texts are currently available through the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e-books service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not having access to my textbooks will also affect my revision schedule as I have only taken two of them with me.â&#x20AC;?

Stranded students who are not sitting exams in May are worried about looming deadlines for assessments, although the University appears to have been sympathetic to those who are unable to complete work on time.

7KLUG \HDU DQFLHQW KLVWRU\ VWXGHQW

Niall Sandwith, stranded in Dubai on a trip back from New Zealand, VDLG ´7KH PDLQ SUREOHP LV WKDW P\ GLVVHUWDWLRQ ZDV GXH LQ RQ 7XHVGD\ $SULO VR , KDYH PLVVHG WKH deadline due to the eruptions and I have also lost about half a week to WRXFK LW XS DQG DSSO\ WKH Ă&#x20AC;QLVKLQJ touches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My tutor and programme director have been very understanding and I think they will be giving me some kind of extension when I return.â&#x20AC;?

Second year media, communication & cultural studies student Jenni Sadler, currently stranded in Qatar, has been told by her airline that she will not be back in the UK until May KDYLQJ PLVVHG DOO UHPDLQLQJ OHFtures for the year.

She told The Courier: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I emailed all of the lecturers explaining where I ZDV 7KH\ UHSOLHG VD\LQJ LW¡V QRW D problem as it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be helped. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pain because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have proper access to the library and all the books, so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only so much I can do out here from Blackboard. ´, KDYH ZRUGV GXH LQ WKUHH weeks, so if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m stuck out here for another two Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a bit stuffed.â&#x20AC;?

All students and staff received an email from the University giving advice on what to do if stranded abroad on University business.

Student Registration also took the unprecedented step of sending an

urgent email announcing that the deadline for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s module choice had been put back by a week due to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;severeâ&#x20AC;? travel disruption.

Initial hopes of an end to the chaos ZHUH GDVKHG ODVW 7XHVGD\ DV LW EHcame clear the volcano had erupted again overnight, hurling another ash cloud towards UK airspace.

But that evening, aviation authoriWLHV Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ DQQRXQFHG WKH UHRSHQing of all UK airports after tests on aircraft engines indicated the ash cloud posed little threat.

Dr Beate Muller of the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Modern Languages was optimistic about returning to Newcastle after being stranded in Israel on a research trip.

Speaking to The Courier from Erez, Dr Muller said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If all things go to plan, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll step off the plane at NewFDVWOH DW DP RQ 0RQGD\ PRUQLQJ which should just about give me enough time to rush home, grab a shower, and then set out to teach my %HUOLQ PRGXOH DW SP â&#x20AC;&#x153;I might be a bit bleary-eyed on that occasion, but at least things will be back to normal.â&#x20AC;?

Richard Dale, Newcastle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Executive Director told The Courier ´:H DUH DZDUH RI VWUDQGHG VWXGHQWV VWXFN DEURDG PRVWO\ EXW QRW DOO LQ *UHHFH DQG XQDEOH to travel abroad.â&#x20AC;?

Continued from front page â&#x20AC;&#x153;Candidates, irrespective of the fact that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a review going on, can still be expected to give their personal opinions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If a candidate doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give their personal opinion on the review, they should not expect a single student vote,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Higher Education Minister Lammy said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a thorough review set up looking at all the options â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the impact on students over the last few years, looking at access to higher ed-

ucation and employer contribution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not pre-empting the review, I want to see what the review comes up with, but I think Parliament has to decide how we move forward.â&#x20AC;?

Lammy attacked both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties for their stance in the higher education debate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be like turkeys voting for Christmas for students to vote Conservative or indeed Liberal Democrats in this coming election,â&#x20AC;? he said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that students in Newcastle should vote Labour because they need to ensure that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end up with a Conservative government that I think would do great damage to higher education. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And clearly, would cause students a whole heap of problems that they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even predicted. ´7KH /LEHUDO 'HPRFUDWV DUH FRPmitted to cutting student numbers, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking about abolishing fees. ´7KH\ ZDQW WR FXW VWXGHQW QXP-

bers so there will be far less students at university, which will be disastrous for any young people who are in sixth form at the moment and any young people from a working class background. ´7KH /DERXU JRYHUQPHQW LV FRPmitted to access - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Labour government that capped fees in the Ă&#x20AC;UVW SODFH Âľ KH DGGHG David Willetts, the Conservativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shadow Higher Education Minister, does not think the current fees system will survive the Browne re-

view. +H VDLG ´7KLV LV QRW JRLQJ WR EH D kind of quick, dirty exercise to keep the Blair structure and charge higher fees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it would have been better if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have done the review sooner and we had something in front of us before the general election. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to get some quite radical proposals on different ZD\V RI Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLQJ KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ which are going to tackle some of the problems.â&#x20AC;?

Joshua Shrimpton Dean

6

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

News Election 2010

Brown looking to whip the region into shape after the economic downturn As the nation braces itself for the general election, News Editor Simon Murphy talks to Newcastle East Labour MP Nick Brown about his three decades in Parliament

N

ick Brown said he wished heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d taken a gap year before he went to university.

Perhaps heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starting to feel like he needs a break after serving as Labour MP for Newcastle East for the last 27 years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yet, for now at least, it appears thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still D ULFK YHLQ RI SROLWLFDO EORRG Ă RZLQJ through this politician.

In his job as Chief Whip, Brown is in charge of party discipline for Labour MPs, but he has strong views of his own, not all of them completely in line with government policy.

While a backbencher he led a revolt against tuition fees and thinks there is some merit to the NUS graduate tax scheme.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear that Brown â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a staunch supporter of his namesake, the Prime Minister â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is a man of strong values. He talks fondly of his grandfather, who was a member of the Communist party, and attributes his early interest in politics to the conversations he had with him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Granny found out that he was a communist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they were both strict Methodists â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so she made him leave and he was forced to join the Labour party,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was forced to because my grandmother took the view that the Communist party were atheist.â&#x20AC;?

Nick Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clearly â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;old Labourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a broad man who wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look out of place on the old Tyneside dockyards. He certainly wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forced into the Labour party when he became a Newcastle councillor in 1980. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe in the Labour party, I believe in democratic socialism, the interventionist state without the state being in charge,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Brown â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who is currently in his second stint as Chief Whip â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cites getting the country through the foot and mouth crisis as Agricultural Minister and rolling out Job Centre Plus as the Minister for Work as his biggest achievements in politics.

Though, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most proud of helping getting the country through ZKDW KH GHVFULEHV DV ´WKH PRVW GLIĂ&#x20AC;cult timesâ&#x20AC;?. Are these now the most GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW RI WLPHV" â&#x20AC;&#x153;The situation facing the country at the moment is very serious,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The strength of the Labour market at the minute is underpinned by government intervention â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that is because of the recessionary forces

that have been at work in the economy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The future of young people and the working population more generally depends on us making a success of the recovery and it is our partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy that is geared at doing that DQG SXWWLQJ WKH UHFRYHU\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW UDWKHU the public expenditure cuts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a price to pay for that. It means weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be spending more on servicing debt and that is not something I would normally agree with but it is in my view the correct response to the banking crisis.â&#x20AC;?

Being Chief Whip, Brown argues, can be quite a demanding role. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve asked colleagues to do things that even myself Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had doubts about but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do it because the alternative is far worse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you fracture the Labour party, let it quarrel amongst itself, or worse still, let it split, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do something pretty terrible.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My fear is that people from all families of ordinary means are discouraged from going into higher education because of the costâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;My view is that you should always reconcile your own views with the views of your colleagues â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the people youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supposed to be working with. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We used to get one or two really GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW SRVLWLRQV RQFH RU WZLFH LQ a parliamentary term and it seems like for the last two years that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting two of them in a week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It happens a lot in politics; the list of Labour MPs that have rebelled against the party is well over 200 so the idea that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a pretty supine lot who do as theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re told is hopelessly wrong. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are people with individual views and beliefs.â&#x20AC;?

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striking about Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rhetoric is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not loaded with VSLQ RU FDPRXĂ DJHG ² KH FRPHV across as rather genuine.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I take the view that politics is a team game, not for gifted individuals to do what they think is

right regardless of everybody elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s views. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s particularly true of Labour politics: politics that arise from ordinary peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political mechanisms rather than from the wealthy and the powerful and the people that have access to the decision making almost as a matter of right. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have those things, therefore itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even more essential that we preserve that unity of purpose and I believe in that, but do we PDNH FRPSURPLVHV EHFDXVH RI LW" 2I course you do.â&#x20AC;?

Interestingly, though his position as Chief Whip often requires him to toe the party line and make sure Labour MPs back the government when they vote in Parliament, Brown himself has been known to rebel.

While serving as a backbencher in 2004, Brown was a main player in the rebellion over the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan to introduce top-up-fees, but he eventually backed down and sided with the government.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We negotiated a whole raft of concessions and the reason I gave in at the last minute was because the alternative would have been all the concessions would have gone and I think the cap is quite a valuable concession. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reason of my disquiet over student fees is not the issue of over principle about whether students should make any contribution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right that if you benHĂ&#x20AC;W IURP WKH HGXFDWLRQ \RX VKRXOG put something back in when you can afford to and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the underpinning principle of where we are at the minute. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But if you just increase it to a higher proportion of the total cost of the fees then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to price some youngsters out of the market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My fear is that people from all families of ordinary means are discouraged from going into higher education because of the cost, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the very opposite of what I want to achieve.â&#x20AC;?

It might also surprise students to learn that Brown believes â&#x20AC;&#x153;there is some meritâ&#x20AC;? to the NUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; graduate tax scheme and had private discussions with the then Education Minister Charles Clarke when the idea ZDV Ă&#x20AC;UVW VXJJHVWHG Brown also supports lowering the age of the vote to 16-year-olds and advocates electoral reform, suggesting the alternative vote system as

Still smiling: Nick Brown is looking to win for the seventh time in Newcastle East

the fairest.

After the MPsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expenses scandal broke, Brown was put in charge of investigating questionable expenses claims by Labour MPs. He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are people whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done things I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think any MP would do. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d asked me to name individuals I would expect of being caught up in it right across the Parliament, some I would have got right and some I would have got completely wrong. It is a fascinating thing that you never really know with people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is quite a strong feeling amongst the population that they are against politics and the politicians. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can see why they think that but I can also see that people are working really hard and really genuine right across the political spectrum â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just a party political point here â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fair on them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could take from our region a number of colleagues who are putting their heart and soul into it.â&#x20AC;?

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the worst thing about modHUQ GD\ SROLWLFV" ´6HOI LQGXOJHQFH frankly,â&#x20AC;? Brown thinks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not everybody takes my view on this but I think there are some very strong willed people who are almost looking to adopt a separate position for the purpose of political posturing.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are very few people I would accuse of that but there are a few.â&#x20AC;?

T

he Newcastle East candidates will not be following in the footsteps of the party leaders and sharing a platform for an open election debate.

1LFN %URZQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW HYHU 5HJLRQal Minister for the North East, was honest in his reasons for not doing so, suggesting that there was no need for him to give a platform for his opponents while he was still in charge.

Does Brown feel like the Liberal Democrats have made a hash of their time in charge of Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FRXQFLO" â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think John Shipley is quite impressive as a council leader,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a case for Shipley, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much of case for the pretty incoherent gang that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got behind him and I think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some pretty dreadful people elected in the Liberal [Democrat] party on the city council.â&#x20AC;?

2QH QDPH VSULQJV WR PLQG &RXQcillor Greg Stone was forced to resign as the Liberal Democratâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original candidate for Newcastle East after it was revealed he was using a pseudonym to post offensive remarks about MPs on a political blog.

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

7

Election 2010 News Brown has led calls for Stone to resign from his post as North Heaton councillor, and said Nick Clegg “had not had the guts” to make him stand down.

He said: “I don’t like him at all. I think it’s cowardly to attack your opponents anonymously on a blog, I think it’s childish as well.

“I strongly deplore the way that he has particularly gone for women in the Conservative and Labour parties – there’s something rather immature in it and he drags down the public life of the city.”

“I say to staff that if lose we’ll have to get a window cleaning round, maybe delivering the free newspapers and that sort of thing”

during the general election. Brown says Labour are the party to lead the country through the economic recovery and that young people and the working population are counting on it

Nick Brown on: 7KH ÀUVW 79 GHEDWH

“David Cameron didn’t PDNH D YHU\ JRRG ÀVW RI putting his points over.

What Nick Clegg did was to say ‘see, they’re both the same, I’m against them’ and he spoke for this disappointment, this disenchantment with mainstream party politics and presented well. I think that is all he did but it was enough for people to say ‘yes I agree with that and that young man put it very well’ and he did – but that’s all.”

David Cameron

“I think he sees what’s wrong with the traditional Conservative old guard – and it’s not dif-

ÀFXOW WR GR ² EXW ZKHWKHU education you ought to he actually stands for see through that.” something that is right for the modern world, The Iraq war I’m not sure.”

“In retrospect, would The Conservatives you do the same thing again? I don’t know, it “Social mobility counts was a pretty close call less with the Conservafor me. You know when tives than it does with people say to you if you us.” knew then what you knew now would you do it again? The truth is The Liberal Democrats you can’t do that in life, “The Liberal Democrats you never do, you just are saying they’d abolish make the best decision the fees but they’ve actu- you can at the time and I ally also said that they thought the Prime Miniswon’t do it now. They’re ter – I was serving in his just trying to bribe peogovernment, I’d known ple with no intention of him since 1982 – was actually paying the bribe. convinced and he was Frankly, if you’re underentitled to ask for our going a course of higher support.”

Bankers’ bonuses

“Instinctively you know the difference between right and wrong and I think, frankly, helping yourself to a huge bonus from the very sector that has precipitated this economic situation cannot be right.”

The foot and mouth crisis

“At the height of it I stood up to Tony Blair over the issue of whether we should, or should not vaccinate the animals. I felt very strongly that we should not and that the culling strategy should be pursued until conclusion.”

The council’s housing strategy had courted a lot of controversy this year. The plan calls for an increase of between 5,000 and 6,000 purposebuilt bed spaces, citing that growth in student numbers over the last ten years has not been met by an increase in the availability of purposebuilt student accommodation.

Brown said: “I’m strongly opposed to the council’s housing strategy.

This idea that you should create student ghettos and that students shouldn’t be part of the community is fundamentally wrong and I’ve thought hard about all of the issues raised.

“I favour a more integrated model - live and let live - and I think the key issues are that you can’t be sold by housing policy but should be sold with how people live alongside each other, with a bit of consideration for neighbours.

“The charge against students is not that they bring crime and disorder to an area but that they’re noisy, rowdy, boisterous - that there’s too many of them and these sort of arguments. I think they bring a lot of character to the area.

“Good citizenship is the answer here. Older people say they don’t tolerate young people as a generality but they’re all really fond of their own children and grandchildren and incidentally – if you ask them – want them to go to university.”

N

ick Brown turns 60 this June and it’s fair to say he’s been around the block. He’s been elected as MP six times in Newcastle, held numerous positions in the cabinet and been at the heart of some of the most important debates in the last decade.

“Like in all jobs, there is a possibility of, through experience or through having worked at it for a long time, JHWWLQJ WLUHG RU F\QLFDO DQG WR ÀQG that you’re going through the motions,” he said.

“My promise to myself is that if I felt that I would quit, stand down and do something else – but I don’t feel like that.”

Brown holds a majority of 7,565 in Newcastle East as he looks to win his seventh election yet he still jokes about making provisions for the future.

“I say to staff that if we lose we’ll have to get a window cleaning round, maybe delivering the free newspapers and that sort of thing.

“But until that happens I think I’ll carry on trying to cling on to the job I’ve got.”

8

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

News

Newcastle student tests his wit on Countdown Bethany Sissons Third year Newcastle student Ned Walker appeared on Channel 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary game show, Countdown, during the Easter holiday.

After applying 16 months ago, Walker, who is also Puzzles Editor of The Courier ZDV Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ JLYHQ WKH opportunity to showcase his probOHP VROYLQJ VNLOOV LQ D VKRZ DLUHG on April 12.

From watching Countdown with his housemates during his third year, Nedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friends realised that he had the brainpower to appear on the show.

After watching and beating a weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of Countdown contestDQWV LQ KLV OLYLQJ URRP 1HG ZDV WROG by his friends that he should apply.

Ned, who is now studying for a Masters in Computing Science, told The Courier ´, Ă&#x20AC;OOHG LQ DQ DSSOLFDWLRQ form online around Christmas 2008, a few weeks later they got back to me and I had to attend an audition in Newcastle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I competed in a practice game there against a couple of older women and beat them. In the end it was about a year before I got in front of the cameras.â&#x20AC;?

Ned took a relaxed approach to preparing for his appearance on the show, explaining how a charity shop board game edition of Countdown formed his training programme. ´, XVHG WKH ERDUG JDPH WR KDYH D few practice games before the real thing. My only other training was

watching the show and getting tips that way. ´%HLQJ 3X]]OHV (GLWRU PXVW KDYH KHOSHG PH WRR DV KDYLQJ WR WKLQN of puzzles each week got me in the right frame of mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole thing was a really JRRG H[SHULHQFH 7KH VKRZ LV Ă&#x20AC;OPHG in Manchester and it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really hit PH WKDW , ZDV JRLQJ WR EH RQ WHOHYLVLRQ XQWLO , DUULYHG WKHUH â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was so scary at the time but apSHDULQJ RQ WKH VKRZ ZDV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ an unforgettable experience; I had so much fun. ´, FDQ¡W HYHQ UHPHPEHU WKH EHVW word I came up with now, although LW ZDV D VHYHQ OHWWHU RQH ´7KH Ă&#x20AC;OPLQJ VHHPHG WR JR VR TXLFNO\ XQGHU SUHVVXUH HYHU\WKLQJ became a blur.â&#x20AC;?

Ned said that being in front of the FDPHUDV ZDV QHUYH ZUDFNLQJ ´<RX suddenly become self conscious; I was afraid of looking stupid and making mistakes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the same as sitting in front of the TV at home where you can shout out the answers. The ticking clock was especially off-putting.â&#x20AC;?

Ned met the Countdown presenter, Jeff Stelling, who he described as a legend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jeff Stelling said hello and DVNHG LI , ZDV 2. +H ZDV YHU\ friendly.â&#x20AC;?

1HG HYHQ ZLWQHVVHG &DURO 9RUdermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s replacement, Rachel Riley, make a mistake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one could JHW WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO PDWKV SUREOHP 5DFKHO thought she had the answer and started explaining it before realising

Tick tock: Ned Walker described his appearance on Channel 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Countdown as â&#x20AC;&#x153;scaryâ&#x20AC;? but an â&#x20AC;&#x153;unbelievable experienceâ&#x20AC;?

WKDW VKH ZDV ZURQJ ,W PXVW KDYH been embarrassing for her.â&#x20AC;?

When asked about the airing of his Countdown episode, he said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was actually working when it was on, but loads of my friends watched it.

I was inundated with text messages

and wall posts while it was airing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was my birthday on the Wednesday and my friends got me one of those photo cakes with a screenshot of me on the show on top.â&#x20AC;?

Unfortunately, Ned was beaten by Ă&#x20AC;YH SRLQWV E\ WKH FXUUHQW QXPEHU

Students given voice on city council as community motion gets passed Jacob Cunliffe A motion for the creation of a student community forum has been SDVVHG E\ FRXQFLOORUV DW WKH &LYLF Centre.

The motion, carried without any opposition from within the city FRXQFLO ZLOO JLYH VWXGHQWV D YRLFH to debate with residents, landlords, and councillors on a broad range of issues, from housing and parking to noise control and student welfare.

1HZFDVWOH 8QLYHUVLW\ 6WXGHQWV¡ 8QLRQ &RPPXQLW\ 2IĂ&#x20AC;FHU 'DYLG Hickling, the force behind the motion, spoke to the full council at the beginning of the meeting +H VDLG ´7KH IRUXP ZRXOG VHUYH a dual purpose. Firstly, it would help to facilitate dialogue and understanding between these groups, ZKR WUDGLWLRQDOO\ KDYH KDG QR Ă&#x20AC;[HG channels of communication. ´6HFRQGO\ LW FDQ VHUYH DV D ERG\ of consultation for the council, who can keep the forum up to date with SROLF\ GHYHORSPHQWV Âľ +LFNOLQJ¡V DUJXPHQW ZDV JLYHQ YRLFH LQ WKH FRXQFLO E\ &RXQFLOORU Joyce McCarty, Labourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deputy council leader When asked for her response to the passing of the motion, Councillor McCarty said that she was delighted that an important issue for Labour councillors was now being seriously considered.

6KH VDLG ´7KLV IRUXP LV ORQJ RYHUGXH )RU WRR ORQJ VWXGHQWV KDYH been seen as a problem and this will

The new council motion will give students more of a say in areas such as Heaton

challenge that perception.â&#x20AC;?

McCarty also pointed to the good work already being done in her own ward. ´,Q :LQJURYH ZDUG ZH KDYH UHally good working relationships between residents in Spital Tongues, students and staff on the Castle /HD]HV FDPSXV DQG KDYH D FKDQFH to share our concerns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This model can work elsewhere WRR LI HYHU\RQH FR RSHUDWHV WR PDNH it happen and the citywide forum will be a further opportunity for open discussions.â&#x20AC;?

It was not known beforehand whether the ruling Liberal Democrat faction would lend their weight to the motion, although an article in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle the day before the meeting suggested that their support would be likely.

Representing the Liberal Demo-

crats, the leader of the council, John 6KLSOH\ H[SODLQHG WKDW ´, DP YHU\ keen to see closer working between students, local residents and the city council. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would increase mutual understanding. Listening to others is always helpful in creating policy so I ZHOFRPH WKLV DGYLVRU\ IRUXP ZKLFK KDV QRZ EHHQ DSSURYHG E\ WKH FLW\ council. ´7KH FLW\ FRXQFLO YDOXHV VWXGHQWV enormously in the life of the city and this forum can only help to build on existing strong relationVKLSV EHWZHHQ WKH XQLYHUVLWLHV DQG the council.â&#x20AC;?

The forum will hope to represent both Newcastle and Northumbria VWXGHQWV WKH PRWLRQ KDYLQJ EHHQ submitted in the name of both uniYHUVLWLHV Until now, there has not been a for-

mal forum for dialogue between residents and the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expanding student population. At present, there DUH RYHU IXOO WLPH VWXGHQWV LQ 1HZFDVWOH UHSUHVHQWLQJ URXJKO\ and a half percent of the city.

The structure and organisation of the forum has yet to be agreed on, with much work needed to be done by the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Unions to ensure WKDW WKH IRUXP LV HIIHFWLYH DQG VXFcessful.

7KH 8QLRQ¡V &RPPXQLW\ 2IĂ&#x20AC;FHU 'DYLG +LFNOLQJ VDLG ´, DP YHU\ pleased that this motion has been passed. We will hopefully begin to see a new era of dialogue between students and the rest of the city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The motion has the support of the Jesmond Residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a promising start but we need to put the hard work in to see the forum come to fruition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pressure will now be on the FLW\ FRXQFLO WR GHOLYHU WKH UHVXOWV LW has promised.â&#x20AC;?

It is hoped that the creation of the forum will also be useful in allowLQJ D FRQVWUXFWLYH DQG IRUPDO PHdium for dialogue between students DQG ODQGORUGV ,Q WKLV HQYLURQPHQW it should be possible to ensure the quality and desirability of student housing.

In 2009, there were almost 6,000 SULYDWHO\ UHQWHG VWXGHQW RQO\ KRXVHKROGV LQ 1HZFDVWOH 3ULYDWH VHFWRU KRXVLQJ ZDV WKHUHIRUH LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;HG LQ the motion as a priority of student community welfare.

two contestant for the 2010 series. +H ZRXOG KDYH ZRQ KLV JDPH KDG KH VROYHG WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO FRQXQGUXP Ned is also hoping to enter a team of The Courier section editors on to Eggheads. It seems that there are no limits to his puzzle skills.

Recycling scheme shortlisted for national award Freya Leete 1HZFDVWOH 8QLYHUVLW\ LV LQ WKH UXQning to win the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Commercial Recycling Champion Awardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for 2010.

The award recognises a group or LQGLYLGXDO ZKR KDV HQGRUVHG UHF\cling within their institution, and WKH 8QLYHUVLW\¡V :DVWH 0DQDJHU Daniel Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor is one of a shortlist of three to scoop the prize.

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor has been behind all the recycling and sustainability projects at Newcastle and has managed to create a recycling-friendly campus ZKHUH ´DW DQ\ JLYHQ WLPH \RX DUH QHYHU PRUH WKDQ PHWUHV DZD\ from a recycling binâ&#x20AC;?.

Due to this, the recycling rate on the Newcastle campus has risen from a mere 20 percent to an incredible 60 percent.

The recycling schemes are all part RI WKH 8QLYHUVLW\¡V VXVWDLQDELOity strategy and commitment to decreasing the amount of waste that is FXUUHQWO\ UHDFKLQJ ODQGĂ&#x20AC;OOV Daniel Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor is gradually imSURYLQJ VWXGHQW DZDUHQHVV DQG DLPV to make recycling more appealing XVLQJ WKH PRQH\ VDYHG E\ WKHLU FXUrent schemes. +H VDLG ´:H VDYH DURXQG Â&#x2026; each year as a result of recycling.

7KLV VDYLQJ LV UHLQYHVWHG VWUDLJKW back into the waste management structure. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For example, last year we spent Â&#x2026; RQ D FRPSRVWLQJ PDFKLQH DQG WKLV \HDU ZH ZLOO LQYHVW LQ EHWWHU containers and signage.â&#x20AC;?

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor is working with Richardson Road and Castle Leazes to LPSURYH WKHLU UHF\FOLQJ IDFLOLWLHV

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

9

News

Union scoops hat-trick of awards

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10

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

The Catholic Church: Africa, the Pope and Richard Dawkins Comment Editors: Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer and Nicholas Fidler - courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk

> Comment page 12

Decision time James Stubbs Columnist

One of South Park’s many merits is you can often apply its episodes’ various happenings to what’s happening in current affairs or just in life generally. Recently I watched one where the school’s mascot is required to change from a PETA offending cow to a new one of the children’s choice.

The main two contenders for the position of new mascot end up being a giant douche and a turd sandwich, with everyone in town hitting the campaign trails eager to use their valuable vote to secure their favourite candidate the place.

Everyone is excited, except Stan, who is unhappy with having to choose between a giant douche and a poo. I’m fairly sympathetic to his plight, and I’m still deciding which way my vote will go in May. )RU WKH À UVW WLPH ,·P JHWWLQJ interested in the elections, when previously I had let them fairly wash over me, deciding who to vote for just on opinions formed from a few snippets of manifestos.

Reading about each party and their campaigns more and more I should be getting closer to an informed decision, but as I read on I get less and less sure of who I might vote for; I don’t really want to vote for any of them.

Watching the TV debate the other night I looked on in horror as echoes of mindless programmes like X Factor bled into British politics. The set reeked of low budget cheesy game shows from the early nineties, with Alastair Stewart bouncing off the walls with all the excitement of a child on Christmas Day. Each candidate gave us their two pennies’ worth, Brown: ‘I have memorised some facts.’ Cameron: ‘Waste.’ Clegg: ‘Lib Dems – why not?’ It was shiny-faced brown nosery at its highest, and the overt drama of it is still stuck in my mind. In the end Nick Clegg won a washing machine and a weekend break to Blackpool.

As entertaining as it was I am no closer to deciding, in fact I am now even less sure. So who do I vote for? The minute I start seeing sense in one party’s economy or educaWLRQ SODQV , EHJLQ WR VHH Á DZV LQ their others, and I’m back to square one.

None of them have a set of policies that I would be happy to watch being put completely into action.

I suppose the question should be who do I believe the most and who do I dislike the least?

In the South Park episode Stan gets banished from the town for refusing to vote. I don’t think the same thing would happen to me, but I don’t want to opt out simply because it’s a tough decision.

I don’t like the giant douche or the turd sandwich, so maybe I’ll vote for the massive penis. Either that or the Green Party.

Let sleeping cows lie? Freemen of Newcastle, who can graze cows on Town Moors, have traditionally only been male, but this is to change with women permitted to take the role.

Should Newcastle’s Freeman Guild be open to women?

Yes Laura Heads

It seems a little dated to me that in this day and age we can still be having an argument regarding the transfer of women into jobs traditionally regarded as male.

Women have had the vote since the early 1900s, agreeably it took a little longer for fairness in jobs and such, but in 2010 you’d think we’d be all for equality.

The Freemen of Newcastle are probably known to most students as the people who graze their cows on the town moors across the city.

The term does traditionally refer to males, indeed the clue being in the name; free-men is a big giveaway, but that being said there is no legitimate reason why women FDQQRW À OO WKLV UROH WRR There are now more women in WKH SROLFH IRUFH DQG À UH EULJDGH than ever before and they are still UHIHUUHG WR DV SROLFHPHQ DQG À UH men, the apparent bias being only in name and that is purely because of custom rather than deliberate use of the term; women don’t seem to mind and neither should we.

Indeed just because something has ‘man’ or ‘men’ in the title does QRW PHDQ LW LV VSHFLÀ FDOO\ IRU WKH male sex, take manholes for example, these weren’t built exclusively for men, and quite frankly it would

be a little odd if they were.

Disallowing women from becoming freemen also has enormous effects on families.

Many of the Freemen posts are hereditary, passed down from family to family, father to son and so on.

You hit a slight problem when you get to a Freeman whose only children are daughters, not sons, who should he pass the title on to now?

Should we allow this family tradition to die out purely because we feel like being sexist?

Many women across the city who come from a family of Freemen would be only too willing to take up this responsibility and, dare I say it, would do a very good job at it too.

Although I realise that raising cattle is not their only job, it is the one they are perhaps most well known for, and in a country that is regularly crying out for farmers and home grown British produce, the idea of restricting this based on gender becomes a little silly.

Yes, tradition should always have a place at the heart of British society, without it we would not be the nation that we are, but there is always room for traditions to change and adjust slightly as society changes and adjusts also.

If we were to still follow tradition to the letter, women would be living in the shadows.

They would not be allowed to vote or work; the fact we have progressed from this is an asset to our community, so disallowing women from becoming Freemen would be almost like a slap in the face to this social shift.

We’re a nation of equals all the time, not when we feel like it, tradition or not.

No Nick Kershaw

If we do not have traditions in our society, what is there left? Traditions form the backbone of our great nation. They provide the foundations of the culture that uniÀ HV %ULWDLQ 7KH\ HQGXUH DQG DUH not to be messed around with.

Our national traditions should not be undermined for the sake of such petty gains. 900 years is an awful long time. Why change things now?

I simply do not see the need in changing a harmless rule that has been accepted for the best part of a millennium.

The Freemen of Newcastle are made up of bricklayers, shipwrights, joiners, master mariners and other such traditionally maledominated industries.

These men came together in Anglo-Saxon times in order to defend our city. These were the strongest and bravest men, revered throughout Newcastle. I do not want to question the value of women within our society but I have my limits - I want to defend and protect my woman and not be defended by her.

Some may say this is sexist, however it is our natural instinct; we as men have an inherent need to be the hunter. Chivalry lives on in the 21st century. Why should we

be ashamed to say so? I refuse to be VWRSSHG IURP IXOÀ OOLQJ WKH UROH P\ father brought me up to play.

Aside from the clear issues with traditions, we must also fear for the plight of the cows. If these new women Freemen (what do we call them anyway? I propose ‘Fremales’?) bring yet more cows to our town moors we will be forced to consider the serious repercussions of the natural scarcity of food.

What is the point in feminism winning this battle? Is this the glass ceiling the Suffragettes fought so hard to smash through? It hardly ranks in the great successes that women have achieved.

Surely it undermines the overall goals that feminist theory puts forth. It’s not about empty victories over long-standing traditions of little consequence. It is about being recognised as equally valuable to society as men.

Having equality does not mean having the same roles. I would love to breastfeed my own child, that would be the most astonishing experience imaginable, but I have had to come to accept that this is simply not feasible.

Men are being pressured to accept women into every part of their lives, is there nowhere safe any longer? The traditional places of male escapism such as golf clubs, pubs, and now the Freemen’s Guild, are being captured by the unrelenting march of the female inferiority complex.

For these reasons, I put it to the readers, that this archaic rule should remain sacrosanct. Such ideals are an integral part of our makeup as a society and, as a nation, we should not yield them under any circumstances.

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

11

Comment

We need St. George to slay dragon of racist patriotism James Brown

The feast of Saint George has been a festival of national pride and gluttony - two of the worst of the seven deadly sins - since 1222 when the Synod of Oxford promptly declared the Day of Saint George a national holiday. Somehow we lost this tradition along the way: last Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events passed relatively unnoticed.

Some blame the Protestant work ethic for our lack of national holidays. But wait, the Scots have Saint Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day off; the Irish literally go mad for Saint Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. Why not celebrate the English saintâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day more?

Perhaps Gordon Brown should have done the same as those Oxford Synod chaps: he could have simultaneously done away with any qualms all those little Englanders have about him ruling the whole island and wooed swathes of those Holy Grail â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;middle Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; votes in marginal constituencies all with one red and white hued press conference.

Imagine the reception at the port RI 'RYHU UHSOHWH ZLWK Ă DJV RI Saint George, for all those Gordo

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rescuedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;horrorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of having to stay one extra week in an airport hotel because of the volcano WKDW ZDV GHĂ&#x20AC; QLWHO\ KLV IDXOW WRR You may have detected a tone, dear reader, but I only take my cue from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Best Newspaper In The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one that has the Patron Saint George himself on their front page every day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that bastion of insightful journalism and patriotism â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Daily Express.

I digress: back to the celebrations.

Just imagine it! We could all, for one glorious three-day weekend, have lived in the shires of yesteryear: supping Real English ales and ciders, erecting marquees and engaging in the utmost reserved English frivolity the likes of which have not been seen since the Long $ZDLWHG 3DUW\ LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW /RUG 2I 7KH 5LQJV Ă&#x20AC; OP 7KLV VRXQGV OLNH D winning formula for all England â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just what we as a nation needed after the tiresome recession, the bizarre volcano episode and the incessant election coverage.

Alas, that image is of an England that has long since passed into the history books for most of us. It just GRHVQ¡W UHà HFW WKH PXOWLFXOWXUDOLVP of the England which we all inhabit nowadays.

Instead Saint Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day celebrations became, as they often have in recent years, a target of celebration for the BNP and other fascist, racist organisations. They

6W *HRUJHÂśV 'D\ WHQGV WR EULQJ WKH GHEDWH VXUURXQGLQJ (QJOLVK QDWLRQDOLVP WR WKH IRUH DV JURXSV OLNH WKH %13 KDYH DGRSWHG WKH Ă&#x20AC; DJ

chose to hijack the patron saintâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day last Friday to launch their manifesto: as ever, woefully behind reality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all the other parties did it the week before.

By wrapping themselves in the Ă DJ DQG KLMDFNLQJ WKH FHOHEUDWLRQV the BNP spoil the fun for the rest of us. The sensible majority fear using WKH Ă DJ WR GHPRQVWUDWH SULGH ² ZH may have to take comfort in the fact that the English way is surely to be quietly patriotic without the need to resort to overt symbolism and FUXGH Ă DJ ZDYLQJ &KHHU IRU WHDPV Ă \ WKH Ă DJ RQO\ RQ VSHFLDO RFFD sions: just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overdo it.

Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own small celebra-

The curious case of the modern â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;true ladâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Danny Kielty

When we look back through the not-so-recent history of British society and culture, we tend to be greeted by a confusing mixture of war, class tensions and empire building; all set amongst rather liberal amounts of gushing poetry, triple-decker novels and, of course, DQ XQTXDQWLĂ&#x20AC; DEOH QXPEHU RI SDLQW ings in which rather large naked women are the primary subject.

Considering the fact that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been DEOH WR EULHĂ \ VXP XS RXU QDWLRQ¡V cultural past in four sentences, I often wonder how amateur anthropologists such as myself will sum up todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s British culture when Ă RDWLQJ FDUV DQG OLYLQJ RQ 0DUV DUH all the rage.

Leaving aside famous Prime 0LQLVWHUV LQIDPRXV OHDG VLQJHUV and formaldehyde shark stiffeners, surely their most valuable point of reference will be: www.truelad. com. No dusty textbook can ever claim to identify with one such aspect, a true British phenomenon; the beer chugging, banter loving, footy watching, womanizing man the LAD. Of the plethora of evidence at hand (and trust me there is plenty), only a fractional amount can be FRQVLGHUHG Ă&#x20AC; W IRU KXPDQ H\HV 2QH charming story from Stowmarket, UK, reads: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Quite into my big girls, managed to get one home, she heads to the bathroom to freshen

up while I turn on the box. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Ashes. She returns, ready to do the business, and says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not really going to watch that while Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here are you?â&#x20AC;? Response: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Ashes is only every two years love, I have fatties round every weekend.â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

She heads to the bathroom to freshen up while I turn on the box. She returns, ready to do the business, and says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not really going to watch that while Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here are you?â&#x20AC;?

Response: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Ashes is only every two years love, I have fatties round every weekendâ&#x20AC;?

Gone, it seems, are the articulate laudanum-fuelled poetic laments of a Shelley or Byron observing the condition of the world in days gone by; replaced instead by the brutally honest LAD, armed to the teeth with a six-pack of Stella, tracksuit bottoms worn at least halfway down their backside and of course an unshakeable determination to have sex with anything that is over the age of 16; preferably without a condom.

Shelley and Byron did the same WKLQJ DOEHLW JDUEHG LQ UXIĂ HV DQG hose, yet I doubt they made love to their women whilst watching Freddie Flintoff bowl another blinder.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear to see that the female sex

get a pretty raw deal in all of this.

However, it seems the LADETTE has risen and is biting back, as one traumatized young man recalls: Âś0HW D EORQGH RQ D QLJKW RXW decided I was going to try and use the weirdest chat up line my mate could think ofâ&#x20AC;Ś Asked her if sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to â&#x20AC;&#x153;stroke my lucky scrotumâ&#x20AC;?, unknowing of what was to come she said yes and smacked me in the nuts.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 6RPHKRZ , Ă&#x20AC; QG LW KDUG WR EH lieve that our cultured friends in Continental Europe take the same pleasure in mutual humiliation H[FOXGLQJ RI FRXUVH 0D[ 0RVHO\ and Silvio Berlusconi).

0D\EH , KDYH P\ KHDG LQ WKH clouds, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to think that the anthropologists of the future will look back to our time and not be greeted by a mass of stories involving bruised testicles and the most unbecoming of toilet cubicle photographs.

But on the other hand, maybe we should be grateful that we live in a time when the biggest danger to our dignity is a drunken mistake or a well placed comeback, instead of having to face the prospect of being baited to lions for public entertainment or being one of one of Genghis Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concubines - which was a real risk in the olden days, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m told.

If any of you guys and gals out there are unlucky enough to form the subject of a truelad tale, you have my sympathy, but in the meantime we can all only enjoy scrolling through what is surely the anecdote capital of the world and pray none of us get soaked, stripped or slapped by anything humiliating anytime soon.

WLRQV HQFRPSDVVHG 0RUULV GDQFHUV and a market with local goods at the Civic Centre and were focussed on the Newcastle: City for Peace initiative and also included a service of remembrance at St Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church for all those soldiers lost in the cause of peace and a night of English music (akin to a mini Last Night of the Proms) at City Hall.

The website for the daytime events encouraged members of what it delicately termed â&#x20AC;&#x153;other communitiesâ&#x20AC;? to join in the fun, later explaining that Saint George is patron saint of many other countries including Georgia, Greece, Palestine, Lithuania, Portugal, Ethiopia

and Russia.

He was born in Palestine (it may interest the BNP to note) and was made a saint for converting pagans to Christianity through his suffering under torture, not quite for slaying a dragon.

The lessons of the legend of Saint George are ones we can draw from even today. Now the dragon blighting our country is the danger that racism and fascism pose. Slaying that dragon must start by embracing a moderate patriotism like that experienced at Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festivities last week, not draping RXUVHOYHV LQ WKH Ă DJ DQG XJO\ VOR gans of the BNP.

Frobbed: Facebook robbery Tarren Smarr

Facebook status: fancy dress-check, taxi booked for home-check, night out with the girls-on my way!

Facebook has been all the rave in the news during this past year. In some instances, it has been a positive social website.

For example, it was used as an alibi to help keep an American teenager from facing prosecution after being accused of armed robbery.

And letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not forget the obvious, a great way to keep in touch with our friends and family members who now span vast countries, oceans, and even continents.

However, Facebook has also recently been spotted as an easy device for thieves.

Think about how many times a day you post in your status your location. In doing so, you are also posting one place you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be: your own house. So what is to stop a thief from going to the one place where no one will be: home?

Thieves are becoming more clever and creative with their means of obtaining your property. If you KDYHQ¡W EHHQ LQ D Ă&#x20AC; WWLQJ URRP ODWHO\ \RX PD\ EH VXUSULVHG WR Ă&#x20AC; QG that the purse hooks are now a little lower than they used to be. Why, you might ask?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the response of department stores around the country to do what they can to stop thieves from

stealing your purse.

Though a purse is easily replaceable, think of how much of your life is kept in a purse or carrier bag of some kind. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too long ago when a woman, shopping in a well known British department store, had her purse nabbed when a thief reached over the door and snatched it off the hook.

Only a few hours later she received a call from someone claiming to work at the store. The caller claimed to have found her purse and asked her to pick it up.

But while she went to the store, the thief, who now had her house keys and address (which was in her purse, obviously), robbed her home. Poor girl lost her bag, everything of her life inside, as well as her home possessions.

We feel bad when we hear stories of people being completely had.

Especially when it is a double hit like the poor girl above, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the one to tempt a thief by giving them a very easy target. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about using your common sense.

They say donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t post anything you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want your Gran to read.

Well, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t post anything you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want a thief to know.

Yeah, we all know you will be moving into the library for the duration of the term and until the end of exams.

There is no need to paste it on your Facebook page. Plus, how many of your Facebook friends do you actually know?

Though it may seem awesome to have hit that 1,000 friends mark, \RX PD\ EH VXUSULVHG WR Ă&#x20AC; QG KRZ many of them might think of taking a shopping trip in your home while you are away.

12

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Comment A. SUTHERLAND

Only the tip of the iceberg of abuse by priests Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer Comment Editor

The mounting allegations of child abuse by Catholic priests are rightly receiving considerable coverage and investigation. However, while the West focuses its eyes on the Vatican, the same situations are likely to be going unnoticed in places where sexual abuse is still a taboo, the church still has considerable power compared with the wane of religion in Europe, and victims are even more vulnerable.

Like many other gap year students I spent six months living in Tanzania working at a primary school. Religion was a central part of the lives of all the children and teachers; it took a while to regain face after starting to drink your tea in the staff room before grace, and invitations to church turned down with an attempt to explain atheism were met with more confusion than animist might have done.

Tanzania was placed 164th out of 177 countries in the 2005 Human Development Index. It has an estimated population of over 38 million, a 5.4% adult AIDS rate, and 1.2 million orphans due to AIDS. Nearly 27% of the population are Catholic and there are over two thousand priests. In 1991 the Catholic Church ran 413 nursery schools, 6 schools for the handicapped and 36 hospitals.

Corporal punishment is legal in Tanzania, and was certainly not spared in the school I worked in.

Walking into my classroom one day I found every single one of my 90 pupils being caned on their hands.

My class were not perfect by any extent, but I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand what they all could have done.

Racheli was one of the most FRQĂ&#x20AC; GHQW JLUOV LQ P\ FODVV DQG KDG the best English. It was towards the end of my time there, and being closer in age to my pupils and more involved with them outside of school, I think they felt comfortable with me, certainly more so than with their other teachers. But when I asked her why she had EHHQ KLW KHU Ă&#x20AC; UVW UHSO\ ZDV ´,¡G

Nearly 50% of Congolese are Catholic, as are 79% of Brazilians, but less than a quarter of North Americans are been naughtyâ&#x20AC;?, and when pushed further she just looked confused.

If one of the pupils in my class was experiencing sexual abuse, at home or in an institution, I strongly doubt they would have told me.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure they would have told anyone. And teachers certainly arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t trained to look for signs, or how to deal with accusations. Sex isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a comfortable topic, and sexual abuse is not fully recognised.

At church with one of my teachers it was preached that everything that happens comes from God, the bad and the good. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a Catholic church, but this is a common developmental concern with regards to religious teachings across denominations, and it also poses a problem in this case. When

:H¡UH VWLOO QRW UHDG\ WR à \ OHVV Fran Infante

With transport in chaos last week, European society got a real taste of what luck, timing and dogged determination may be required, just to make it back home from a family holiday abroad. We also learned what a bloody long time it took to get anywhere before we had the ease and convenience of hopping onto the nearest Ryanair special.

In short we learnt we have been spoiled.

On a more serious note the total air ban gave a chilling demonstration of how dependent we are on jet travel and by default jet fuel.

Despite, it seems widespread awareness of its soaring price and limited future as a resource, conventional transports systems remain unequipped to deal with the excess of passengers that a reducWLRQ LQ Ă LJKWV ZRXOG FUHDWH D ZDUQ ing that Britain along with Europe needs to take serious action.

The irony of course is that given the enormous press coverage Icelandic Eyjafjallajoekul has had, instead of this warning, what we have heard is a series of anecdotes and railings about how jolly tiresome the whole thing was and a VHULHV RI DWWHPSWV WR Ă&#x20AC; QG VRPHRQH to blame.

Frustration is predictable and

completely understandable when RQH Ă&#x20AC; QGV WKDW D WKUHH KRXU Ă LJKW from Alicante has been unceremoniously replaced by a three-day trek via every train and bus station across the Iberian Peninsula.

But doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all the anger and recrimination seem just a tiny bit ULGLFXORXV D Ă RRG YLFWLP SDXVLQJ amidst the wreckage to shake his Ă&#x20AC; VW DW WKH UDLQ FORXGV IRU WKHLU IDLO ure to stop the rain strikes a similar level of futility.

How can you play the blame game when there truly is no one to blame â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the fundamental and most irritating part of natural disasters, is that they occur - naturally.

The European Commission who implemented the ban has taken the brunt of the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rage.

I wonder though, watching the testimonies of the stranded travellers whether they realise that if WKH\ KDG Ă RZQ RQ WKHLU VFKHGXOHG Ă LJKWV WKHUH LV D YHU\ UHDO SRVVLELO ity that they could have died?

These authorities are not deliberately scuppering your holiday plans; they are saving your life. The ban is inconvenient of course it is, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot less convenient to be dead. Yes there could have been WHVW Ă LJKWV HDUOLHU LW GRHVQ¡W PDWWHU where I was stranded, I would not be queuing up to be on one of them Who has pondered the chaos and thought it presents a perfect opportunity to spark the revival of the boat? The rescue effort by Eclipse &HOHEULW\ ZDV WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW VWHS )RUJHW EXGJHW Ă LJKWV DQG WKHLU VXUFKDUJHV bring back the boat. We are an island, we are good at boats.

a priestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words are taken to be Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, will a community recognise they have done something wrong?

There is no doubt that it is happening to some children; child abuse is a prevalent problem in Africa. Three young men in neighbouring Kenya have come forward and said they were abused by an Italian priest over years at a shelter for the poor. Although the church has said they will investigate, the police have said they believe the men are innocent.

The persecution of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;witch childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Nigeria was led in places

by Evangelical preachers, showing the power and corruptibility of religious leaders. One article investigating child abuse in Kenya and Tanzania suggests that it is used as a way for AIDS sufferers to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cleanseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; themselves.

There are countries both poorer and more Catholic than Tanzania.

Nearly 50% of Congolese are Catholic, as are 79% of Brazilians. Less than a quarter of North Americans are Catholic, and even Ireland has fewer than Brazil with 76%.

Not everyone who enters the Catholic ministry is a paedophile.

However, it is inevitable that a career that grants access to vulnerable people will attract abusers. Combined with the evidenced inability of the Catholic Church to regulate themselves, outside attention and regulation is needed.

But focussing this on people with more chances to speak out in countries more likely to listen wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t solve the problems, it will just allow the cycle to continue, causing more damage to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives and communities in countries where picking up the pieces could EH PXFK PRUH GLIĂ&#x20AC; FXOW

The pope-mobile: in impoverished Tanzania, one third of the population are Catholic

Papal revamp: papa needs a brand-new hat Daniel Rawcliffe

Hats are important; not quite as important as shoes, but they rank highly in terms of sartorial impact.

This fact is most vividly realized at events like Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day at Aintree and religious ceremonial rites of passage: christenings, weddings and funerals. What can we deduce from this? God adores head gear.

Thus it follows that Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s man on Earth simply must have an interest in hats too; Pope Benedict XVI not only loves a fetching hat but a whole cascade of fabulous attire.

But whilst clothes certainly make the man do they make the Pope?

Who is the man behind the mitre?

Joseph Alois Ratzinger shares his birthday (April 16) with super-cool ODG\ VLQJHU 'XVW\ 6SULQJĂ&#x20AC; HOG EXW he was the son of a policeman, not a preacher. After an encounter with D Ă DVK DWWLUHG FDUGLQDO DW WKH DJH RI Ă&#x20AC; YH \RXQJ -RVHSK ZDV FDSWLYDWHG by the holy manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinctive garb and decided that the priesthood was where heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d wear his many, many fabulous hats.

Flash forward 73 years of gaybashing, woman-bashing, Jewbashing and any other bashing you can conceive of and Joseph gets his ZLVK DQG LV SRQWLĂ&#x20AC; FDWHG DV %HQHGLFW XVI. The Catholic Church gains a QHZ 3RSH DQG ROH¡ -RH Ă&#x20AC; QDOO\ JHWV

that killer wardrobe heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been after for such a long time.

But like any decent celebrity worth their column inches learns, image isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t everything; you may have the clobber but are you worth the bother? Joseph needed to start speaking up and live up to his old nick-name of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rottweilerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

You see, the Pope is more than a man, more than a priest, more than a super-mega-ultra cardinal: heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an icon. And whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an icon coupled with an extensive collection of fabuORXV RXWĂ&#x20AC; WV DQG WHDFKLQJV" 7KDW¡V right, a diva.

The Pope is essentially Madonna; except sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a much better dancer ,QĂ DWHG VHQVH RI VHOI LPSRUWDQFH" Diva. Devoted band of ardent followers? Diva. Contingent of potentially violent stalkers necessitating a large security detail?

Diva. Pretentious album of prayers recited over classical music which none of the fans like but will buy anyway? DIVA. The Pope is essentially Madonna; except he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had the misfortune of making an album like Hard Candy and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a much better dancer than he is (maybe). Like Joseph, Madonna did her best material when she was younger and now risks cultural redundancy unless she gets it together and stops child-snatching.

Madonna is at her best when working with a decent producer

and this is just what Joe needs: D FROODERUDWRU ZKR ZLOO UHGHĂ&#x20AC; QH his image as Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instrument (tool?) on Earth. Ideally he should renounce Catholicism as the camp bitch-fest it is and go ask Apple if they have any positions availDEOH KH LV DIWHU DOO WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW 3RSH WR have an iPod. Failing that he needs to call up the one man who will understand his need for cultural relevance: Richard Dawkins.

Despite Dicky clamouring for Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrest on his impending visit to the UK, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a match made in ideological heaven. Only Dick doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe in heaven so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to call it Devon. Both share a vested interest in dictating what people should and should not believe; they both adore hearing themselves speak and both possess a large and frequently terrifying fan-base.

Dick has also been called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Darwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rottweilerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the past. Looks like these two could learn a lot from one another. Dick could tell Joe to stop gay-bashing and covering up child-abuse; Joe could lend Dick his tiara. Because if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one problem that people have with Dicky itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how bloody boring he sounds.

His valiant efforts to destroy peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s belief in God/The Devil/ fairies/Pokèmon would sound a lot more fun if he was tarted up a bit.

Joe could also advise Dick on his abysmal attempt to create a fashion line (http://store.richarddawkins. net/collections/apparel); Joe would have a lot to say about the inclusion of a baseball hat. Whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Papal tiara when you need one?

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

13

Comment

9RWLQJ XQGHU WKUHDW ZH QHHG WR Ă&#x20AC;JKW IRU %XUPHVH SROLWLFDO SULVRQHUV¡ ULJKWV arrests for many things we take for granted in the UK, and with the prisons at double their capacity and medical care being withheld from many prisoners, the situation is desperate.

Jeremy Mason

But the Junta responded to the demonstrators with ferocity. Security forces killed around 3,000 civilians and thousands more people were imprisoned â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or simply disappeared

Burma, also known as Myanmar, is one of the poorest countries in Asia with a population of 50 million, and is ruled by a military government: the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Juntaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The Junta has absolute power and controls everything that the Burmese people watch, read and hear.

They brutally repress even peaceful protests. The generals and the army are responsible for widespread human rights abuses which include holding 2,200 political prisoners behind bars, often after unfair trials and interrogations commonly involving torture.

Citizens are frequently arrested without a warrant and held â&#x20AC;&#x153;incommunicadoâ&#x20AC;? in prison, which means they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to communicate with anyone else, not even to let their families know where they are. There are laws that limit freedom of expression and criminalise even peaceful campaigning.

Curfews after dark are imposed, freedom of speech and media is forbidden, discussion of politics, economics, religion, social and foreign affairs is banned In March 1988 a courageous group of Burmese students began to call for democracy. They were dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;the 88 Generation Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Groupâ&#x20AC;? and they rapidly gained broad support across the country, leading many peaceful demonstrations for change.

But the Junta responded to the demonstrators with ferocity. Security forces killed around 3,000 civilians and thousands more people were imprisoned â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or simply disappeared. The surviving leaders of the student movement were given long jail terms, some spending up to 15 \HDUV LQ VROLWDU\ FRQĂ&#x20AC;QHPHQW Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of

Protest against Burmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military Junta at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago in 2007: anti-government protests in the same year in the country were violently put-down. A national election is due to happen this year, but many of the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s critics are still imprisoned

the National League for Democracy, was put under house arrest in 1989. Her party won a landslide victory in the general election in 1990, but the Junta ignored the election result, and refused to allow Parliament to meet.

In 2007, mass anti-government protests swept through Burma once again. The uprising was brought to an end in a violent crackdown by the military Junta, which is the IRFXV RI WKH 2VFDU QRPLQDWHG Ă&#x20AC;OP Burma VJ. Members of the 88 Generation Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Group who had been released took part in the mass

anti-government protests. The Junta arrested 300 people, including leading activists from the 88 Generation Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Group. Some of them received 65-year jail terms after grossly unfair trials.

I went down to Amnesty Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Human Rights Action Centre in London and met Waihnin, a campaigner here in the UK from Burma whose father is a member of the 88 group and is currently one of those imprisoned for 65 years for standing up for democracy in the 2007 protests. &KDWWLQJ WR KHU DQG Ă&#x20AC;QGLQJ RXW her experiences before she was

IRUFHG WR Ă HH %XUPD WR SXUVXH KHU education revealed to me the extent to which Burmese peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives are controlled by the ruling military dictators.

For example, curfews after dark are imposed, freedom of speech and media is forbidden, discussion of politics, economics, religion, social and foreign affairs is banned and foreign journalists are not allowed to enter the country. To PHHW XS LQ JURXSV RI PRUH WKDQ Ă&#x20AC;YH requires a permit from the police and even then people are frequently arrested for grouping together.

Waihnin said there were frequent

The next year, in May 2008 Cyclone Nargis swept across the Irrawaddy delta in southern Burma, killing more than 100,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

The Burmese Junta had planned to hold a â&#x20AC;&#x153;referendumâ&#x20AC;? that month on the new Burmese constitution proposed by the Junta. Ignoring the humanitarian crisis caused by the cyclone, the Junta went ahead with its planned â&#x20AC;&#x153;referendumâ&#x20AC;?.

They claimed, absurdly, that 99 per cent of people had voted in the referendum, with 92 per cent in favour of a constitution which reserved 25 per cent of the seats in Parliament for the military, outlawed freedom of speech and assembly, allowed a military veto on all legislation and granted the military immunity for previous crimes.

This year, in October, Burma SODQV WR KROG LWV Ă&#x20AC;UVW QDWLRQDO HOHFtions since 1990. The Junta intend to use this election to put a rubber stamp on the new constitution, ZKLFK KDV EHHQ GHVLJQHG VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;FDOly to ensure the next generation of military leaders remain in control.

Amnesty International is lobbying for the release of all 2,200 political prisoners, so that everyone in Burma can be part of its future.

Burma VJ is being screened on Tuesday at 7pm in the Union Lounge, on the WRS à RRU RI WKH 6WXGHQWV¡ 8QLRQ. Visit ZZZ EXUPDFDPSDLJQ RUJ XN IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW IUHHLQJ WKH *HQHUDWLRQ 6WXGHQWV¡ *URXS

Rehabilitation is needed not just for the addicts, but their supporters Nick Kershaw

There is a great deal of publicity about the plight of drug addicts: the terrible testimonies that explain how they ended up turning to drugs; the painful experiences ZKLOVW VHHNLQJ WKHLU QH[W Ă&#x20AC;[ WKH awful spiral towards â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rock bottomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and the shocking things they got up to during that spiral. But there are many other victims, many innocent people drawn into this demise.

What are their stories? Who is there to help them?

I am not talking about the victims of muggings, burglary or violent crime. I am talking about those

whose lives are burdened and potentially crushed by the addictsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; self-involved behaviour: the friends; the family; and the partners.

I am talking about the parents who stand by their son as he battles the illness of addiction. He lies to them about where he is going, who he is seeing, what he is doing. They know he is lying, they know they are seeing their little boy staggering down the path to self-destruction.

Maybe they question where it went wrong and how to keep showing him that there is a way out and that they love him unconditionally. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hurt and at a loss as to what they can possibly do.

I am talking about the boyfriend crippled by self-doubt as he blames himself every time the girl he loves relapses, or lies to him again. He turns in on himself, struggles to get up each day and face the next

disappointment, the next let down.

His friends are then punished

Our politicians tell us that supporting drug addicts will reduce the victims of crime, but they never speak up for the real victims, who are just as blameless and yet forever tormented; consistently ignored as he pushes everyone and every distraction aside so he can focus solely on saving his partner from her turmoil. He knows her troubles are damaging to him, but the distant hope of a better future drives him on.

I am talking about the best friend, confused as to why they have been cast aside, desperate to help but without a clue of how to go about it. Nothing they say seems to get through and they cannot come to terms with who their friend has become in their pursuit of happiness.

These are the people whose stories are not heard, whose pain is not known. There is nothing out there for them. Who do they turn to? The few books there are seem only to contradict each other in the advice they proffer.

The idea of going to a group therapy meeting is intimidating, not to mention the fact that they are probably telling themselves to stay strong and not get beaten down.

But they will get beaten down, some may get physically beaten up, others may be totally drained by the emotional toll. There has to be better education about how to help

an addict; clear advice on what to do.

When the addict enters a treatment centre there must be immediate and obligatory classes for those friends and family caught in the maelstrom of an addictâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions to attend.

These classes would tackle what it means to be an addict, the process of how they will combat the addictions and the role that loved ones should play in aiding this.

Our politicians tell us that supporting drug addicts will reduce victims of crime, but they never speak up for the real victims, who are just as blameless and yet forever tormented; consistently ignored.

This shocking oversight does litWOH WR HQFRXUDJH FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH LQ WKH rehabilitation process. It must be addressed if addicts are to receive the support from their friends and family that they so badly need.

14

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

In the trenches this season > Fashion, page 21 Life & Style Editors: Larisa Brown, Alex Felton and Ashley Fryer - courier.life@ncl.ac.uk

life

6WXGHQW¡V WHUURU ZLWK WKH 7ULDGV 5LFKDUG +LUVRQ UHFRXQWV KLV EUXVK ZLWK GHDWK DIWHU EHLQJ VWDEEHG LQ 6LQJDSRUH

S

ingapore is a place which is renowned for its clean streets, welcoming locals DQG HIĂ&#x20AC; FLHQW SROLFH IRUFH Unfortunately during my time there, I only saw evidence for RQH RI WKHVH VWHUHRW\SHV I can reassure you that they do KDYH YHU\ FOHDQ VWUHHWV 7KH WKUHH days which I had planned to spend there quickly turned in to a week spent in intensive care with doctors who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak my language and QR PRYHPHQW LQ P\ XSSHU ERG\ I found myself in Singapore on a three day stop off before a month in $XVWUDOLD RQ D UXJE\ WRXU $IWHU WKH KRXU Ă LJKW ZH KDG D brief tour of the city before checking in to our hotel in the centre of WRZQ

7KDW HYHQLQJ ZH ZHQW RXW IRU D few drinks and looked around the FLW\ After coming back to the hotel, we were in the lobby when a few of the boys from our team came back saying a group of locals claiming to be OLQNHG ZLWK WKH 7ULDGV KDG VWDUWHG D Ă&#x20AC; JKW ZLWK WKHP DQG , OLNH WKH rest of guys didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think much of this until the gang came in to our OREE\ At this point we all became slightly nervous as we were outnumbered, out of place and as it turned out woefully underequipped for what WKHVH JX\V KDG LQ PLQG We nervously looked towards the security guards who helpfully did nothing, which made us rethink the moment which we dismissed

the proposed links with South East Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most well known criminal RUJDQLVDWLRQ As these unknown hostiles ran towards us none of us knew how seriRXV WKLQJV ZHUH DERXW WR EHFRPH

As the blood continued to Ă RZ RXW WKH SHRSOH DURXQG PH VORZO\ VWDUWHG WR UHDFW WR ZKDW KDG KDSSHQHG For a reason that I will never know, the majority of the gang singled me out and tried their hardest WR UHDUUDQJH P\ IDFH 7KLV ZDVQ¡W LGHDO EXW LW VXGGHQO\ EHFDPH LQVLJQLĂ&#x20AC; FDQW DIWHU WKH\ Ă HG

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

15

Life Life & Style

The Penny Pincher Lesson 17: Holidays Rowan Taylor Columnist

Wounded: Richard Hirson was forced to have 46 metal staples in his stomach after being stabbed. His trip to Singapore will always have associations of violence and pain

from the lobby.

It was only when I glanced at the face of my best friend; that look of fear and worry is something I will never forget.

As I looked around at the rest of the boys, I knew that something serious had happened.

The moment that I looked down and saw my shirt in tatters and my shorts drenched with blood is something which I still think about on a daily basis.

The next 20 minutes is perhaps the weirdest of my life. After taking off my shirt I could see that there were wounds all over my chest. $V WKH EORRG FRQWLQXHG WR Ă RZ RXW the people around me slowly started to react to what had happened.

Some of them had seen the knives which my attackers had concealed from me.

I am sure that the fact that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the knives during the attack, as well as the effects of the adrenaline meant that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel anything during and immediately after the attack.

After a short time the police turned up, however they were not helpful as they were not prepared or used to these sorts of incidents.

The combination of broken CCTV, unprofessional security services and a police service who failed to take any evidence meant that a conviction was going to be almost impossible.

When the ambulances service arrived they seemed to be unprepared and uncomfortable with these sorts of injuries as well, but I was taken to hospital after being asked to walk to one of Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest streets in front of busloads of tourists.

It was as soon as I lay on the amEXODQFH EHG WKDW , Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ KDG WKH time to process what had happened to me.

After hearing about the rise in knife crime for many years, I like most people had always thought of

how people get themselves into a position to get stabbed.

It was always the sort of thing which happened to someone else in what sounded like a different world, but there I was with what turned out to be six, four inch stab wounds in my stomach, side and back.

On arrival to hospital I assumed that it would be an effective and moderately comfortable experience, unfortunately this wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the case.

I was taken into the waiting area, WKLV ZDV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WLPH WKDW , KDG EHHQ on my own, until now I had been with my closet friends, but now the only people around me didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak any English and seemed not to have much of an interest in me. ,W ZDV RQO\ ZKHQ , KDG Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ had enough of being ignored that I stood up to walk back to be with my friends and coaches, this is when the nurses saw that the bed was now GUHQFKHG LQ EORRG WKDW WKH\ Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ decided to act.

I was taken out of the waiting area and placed in a consultation room, as soon as the doctors looked at me they moved me on, this time I was taken upstairs to have a CAT scan.

This was vital as it would allow them to see if I had sustained any damage to my internal organs.

This was the point that I became really worried.

As I lay in what seemed to be a huge metal tube, all I could think DERXW ZDV ZKDW , ZDV JRLQJ WR Ă&#x20AC;QG out in ten minutes time when the doctors came with the result.

When the results came, it has decided that I need an operation but due to the fact I had alcohol in my body the operation would have to wait until the morning. , ZDV WDNHQ WR WKH WRS Ă RRU RI WKH hospital; this is where I was left on my own in the dark, until my coach was allowed to come up and see me.

It was when I got my phone back that I began to think about telling my family what had happened.

When I turned my phone on I found a voicemail from my dad which let me know that my parents had already been told.

Listening to this voicemail was the hardest part of the whole ordeal.

Even though I was in pain and alone I still knew exactly what was going on and what state I was in, whereas my family knew hardly anything.

I woke up from the operation to Ă&#x20AC;QG PHWDO VWDSOHV KROGLQJ P\ stomach together, even though this was alarming it was also a sign that the healing process had begun.

As I lay in what seemed to be a huge metal tube, all I could think about was what , ZDV JRLQJ WR Ă&#x20AC;QG RXW LQ WHQ minutes time when the doctors came with the result , ZDV QRZ Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ DEOH WR WDON WR P\ family, it was very hard for them as they still didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know what had happened and what state I was in, but I managed to convince them WKDW , ZDV RN EHIRUH WKH\ Ă HZ RXW The following weeks involved slowly building up muscles in my chest in order to regain full upper body movement.

7KLV ZDV PDGH PRUH GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW E\ the fact that I had decided to stay on tour so was now travelling around Australia.

This challenge was made a lot easier by the efforts that everyone around made to make me feel comfortable.

As the weeks went by I was slowly able to move around normally, the healing was slightly delayed after I decided to go bowling. , UHJUHWWHG WKLV DIWHU P\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW JR when blood started coming through my shirt as I had pulled out one of the stables when I threw the ball.

The staples also were tested when I decided to hold a Koala bear in an Australian zoo.

The bear managed to hook its claws under some of the staples; luckily I was able to unhook them before it decided to pull away.

When I got back home it was a feeling of relief for both me and my parents, and just a matter of time before we all got over what had happened to me.

The one thing which most people ask me is what happened to the perpetrators of the attack, as far as I know the answer is nothing.

This is partly because of the way in which the police handled it by not taking any evidence at the scene; this would make it almost impossible to secure a conviction.

I was also told that if they were caught it was very likely that they would be put to death and after little thought I knew that this is something thing that I would not like to have on my conscious.

I still stick by my decision not to pursue a conviction as this would have meant a trip back to Singapore and to have to go through the whole ordeal again, and this is something which I wanted to avoid at all costs.

I am also sure that the coaches who led the tour would have come under question if there was a full investigation.

After all the efforts that my coaches had made to accommodate me on tour, I was sure bringing their work into question would be no way to repay them, and this was the case.

With all these stories of school trips going wrong there was nothing that could have been done to prevent it happening.

Even though this whole experience could be described as traumatising and life threatening I am convinced that it was a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and something that could and does happen all over the world.

Remember the days before the awkwardly-named â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no-frillsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; airlines? Your seat used to come with a pre-packed meal of indeterminate nutritional value.

These days though, even British Airways has removed meals from LWV Ă LJKWV XQGHU WZR DQG D KDOI hours. There is little extra value in booking with a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;full serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; airline.

The orange one and the blue one battle against each other and many others on Skyscanner.net, a comparison site for airlines.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially good if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind where you go, you can search â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Newcastle to anywhereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. How you spend your reading week is up to youâ&#x20AC;Ś Holiday accommodation divides opinion, but personally I prefer to stay in hostels not hotels, to meet more people and have more fun for less money. As ever the best place to look is online - hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com cover a world of hostels.

So youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve booked your cheap Ă LJKW PDGH D UHVHUYDWLRQ DW D KRVtel, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still going to spend wads when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there. Hence, buy your foreign currency wisely.

Travelex at the airport can be simultaneously the cheapest and most expensive. Saunter care-free to the airport lacking Euros and you will be hit with the very worst exchange rate.

Order the day before on Travelex. com, and you are given a top rate to pick up at the airport. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use travelerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheques, or may as well enter yourself for a wild goose FKDVH WR Ă&#x20AC;QG D EDQN ZKLFK WDNHV them.

Most banks charge around ÂŁ1.50 every time you extract money abroad. Even Nationwide, which has always given free withdrawals abroad, have changed their terms for new customers. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re taking money out abroad, just get it over with in one big withdrawal.

Festivals: )HVWLYDOV DUH QRZ Ă&#x20AC;UPO\ LQ WKH mainstream, and many people use them as an alternative to a holiday.

With ticket prices up to ÂŁ180, prices have doubled since the millennium. If you work festivals, you may get in free AND get paid. )ODLU (YHQW 6WDIĂ&#x20AC;QJ UXQV WKH EDUV at events such as T in the Park, V Festival and Isle of Wight Festival.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got personal experience working with them over two years, and they treat their staff very well. *R WR HYHQWVWDIĂ&#x20AC;QJ FR XN DQG send them an email. The shifts can be long, but hell is it worth it.

Deals of the Week: 1. Free BEER: 2 x 330ml Sol @ Pitcher and Piano. Up to April 30, walk down to Quayside and reward yourself with two beers. For your voucher code, email rowan. taylor@ncl.ac.uk.

Free Penny Pincher updates by text at facebook.com/pennypincher

16

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Sex & Relationships

sex & relationships Two Girls & A Coffee Shop Kath Little & Fran Swan Columnists

blind date Ashley Fryer (Life & Style Editor) & Grant Guthree She said:

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sad day, perhaps the saddest. This is our last ever article for The Courier - hello The Times.

And thus, to honour this Ă&#x20AC; QDOH ZH ZDQW WR KRQRXU ZKDW this last term is all about.

No, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not exams, not that looming-ever-closer dissertation deadline, not embracing life-long friendships, nor the bubble that is Jesmond.

This is far more important.

This needs to be heralded, this needs to be championed, this needs to be grabbed with both hands, feet and breasts if the opportunity arisesâ&#x20AC;Ś(cue fanfare)â&#x20AC;ŚTHIS IS GOLD RUSH. For those of you (surely not many) unacquainted with this phenomenon, let us enlighten you.

3LFWXUH WKH VFHQH \RXU Ă&#x20AC; QDO WHUP \RXU Ă&#x20AC; QDO FKDQFH The hottie youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been lusting after for three years, telling yourself he likes you too (or at least he would if you actually plucked up the courage to talk to him) walks past you on a night out.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only one thing for it: Gold Rush.

Gold Rush allows everyone who has ever liked anyone a chance to pounce. Taunts, jeering and rejection aside, why not? This is the golden opportunity.

So, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what to do: 1. Make a list. 2. Dump your girlfriend.

3. Go to a dark club. 4. Let the orgy commence.

This is how it has to be, everyone must be involved. Everyone must lose their inhibitions.

If the person youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been mildly conscious of staring at you through the geography books is suddenly planting grateful kisses all over your face, allow it.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tit for tat (guys, you bring the tat). So, if you want the privilege to lust (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a right) you must be willing to be lusted afterâ&#x20AC;Ś.oh, the hardship.

In the doom and gloom of Ă&#x20AC; QDOV HYHU\RQH GHVHUYHV MXVW D little happiness donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t they?

The Robinson will seem so much more exciting when you can daydream about last nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fervent kissing and discuss in all-too graphic detail with your friends in the canteen the antics of the night before.

Yes, there might be the awkward meet in the stairwell, oh hi, but we think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth it and anywho, the beauty of Gold Rush is that these awkward moments will soon be no more, given that graduation is just around the corner.

So, come on fellow graduates, make a list, and do us proud as you look to bow out of university in style.

Having been talked into a blind date by my co-editor, I decided I had nothing to lose and went out for a date with a nice young man named Grant.

Armed with the sneaky information that he was Scottish, a medic and funny, I felt optimistic that if nothing else, we might have a pleasant afternoon.

His suggestion of the Baltic was quite cultural really, and it was a nice change to go out on a date in sunny daylight. Despite promising me he would turn up in a pink top hat on a unicycle, Grant met me at Central Station wearing a nice grey jumper and jeans. Not too shabby at all.

We had a nice stroll down to the quayside and enjoyed a really gorgeous afternoon in the sunshine.

The Baltic was bonkers as usual, but it was a nice change from a dingy bar and we followed it up with a coffee at Pitcher and Piano.

The afternoon was very leisurely, DQG WKH FRQYHUVDWLRQ Ă RZHG SUHWW\ well. Grant was a pretty decent guy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he was sporty, bright and quite funny, so it was a pleasant enough afternoon.

He did seem quite shocked at the revelation that my houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cocktail hour starts at 10am in summer, but other than that, we seemed to have a fair amount in common.

After a nice afternoon we headed back to Jesmond, and Grant was enough of a gentleman to walk me home.

Unfortunately I feel we are fated to be nothing more than friends, DV WKH FKHPLVWU\ ZDV GHĂ&#x20AC; QLWHO\ lacking, however he gets credit for being a nice guy, and it was a damn sight better than I thought it would be.

He said: Given that my recent experiences of blind dates have been nothing short of terrifying, I am unsure of what provoked me to ascent to another. , ZDV FRQĂ&#x20AC; GHQW , ZRXOG EH SDLUHG with a rabid leper or Ann Widdecombeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ugly sister. Astoundingly the lassie that greeted me greatly exceeded my expectations.

Ashley immediately impressed on me that she was chatty, affable and free from leprosy. As we walked towards the Baltic I discovered that

she was the editor of the section of The Courier in which my write up would eventually appear. Initially I was concerned that any cutting comments I made would be mercilessly censored.

Fortunately there is no need for censorship as I have no complaints about Ashley at all; it was a pleasure to spend an afternoon with her.

Baltic served us up its staple platter of confusing drivel. I began to regret my decision to venture EH\RQG WKH EODQG FRQĂ&#x20AC; QHV RI 2V bourne road - should have stuck to the neutral gloom of Bar Berlise for the blind date.

7KH WZLVWHG VXUUHDOLVP RI WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW exhibit was the strangest. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s femurs were lined up neatly beneath the sickly glow of seizure LQGXFLQJ Ă DVKLQJ QHRQ VLJQV Transparent plastic men hung

from the roof, inscribed with umpteen random verbs. Ashley was looking vaguely disgusted by the time we escaped into the evening sunshine.

Sitting across the water in the 3LWFKHU DQG WKH 3LDQR ZH Ă&#x20AC; QDOO\ SXW the Baltic behind us and discussed our various cycling, skiing and running injuries.

Given the number of times Ashley had face planted into lamp posts it was remarkable that she was still alive, never mind good looking.

It turned out we had a fair bit in common and we got on well. Sadly though I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we really clicked.

I learned several vital lessons from the day: blind dates are not always disastrous, head injuries are often funny and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remains can be art.

ient for you, rather than for your girlfriend. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably be better off without you anyway. If this really has to be done, then complete, gentle honesty is always going to be the best solution.

a friend of mine the other day, and I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been able to get it out of my head since. The problem is it was about my housemate, who is the same sex as me. I have had feelings for girls in the past, but I have never seen my housemate this way before.

Shall I talk to her about it, or would it just make things weird?

I would normally just pass it off as a dream, but it was a few days ago now and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really stayed with me.

Is it a sign?

ask seĂąora rosa Oooooh girl, I know exactly what you mean, I have very similar trouble with Senor Jose! I tend to just hold his nose while he snores â&#x20AC;&#x201C; why not try this?

Yes, it does hold the risk of potential suffocation, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his fault for being so damn irritating! I am a little concerned about these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;gruntingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; noises you describe howeverâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; I would make absolutely sure that your boy doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any bestial IDQWDVLHV EHIRUH \RX Ă&#x20AC; QG \RXUVHOI caught in a tricky situation.

SeĂąora Rosa is here to answer all of your problems. Email her at courier.life@ncl.ac.uk Senora, I have been having trouble sleeping lately. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sleep well as it is, but my new man snores really loudly, steals the duvet and makes peculiar grunting noises on a regular basis.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to say anything just yet as the relationship is new and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to offend him, but I am getting to the end of my tether!

Help!

Senora, I am graduating in a couple of months but my girlfriend is still in second year. I want to move away and start my career etc, but by the way she has been acting, I think she is assuming we are going to stay together. How can I break it to her that our relationship always had an expiration date without breaking her heart?

What kind of pessimistic attitude is this? If you have already decided that your relationship will bite the GXVW DV VRRQ DV D OLWWOH GLIĂ&#x20AC; FXOW\ LV introduced, then I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe that your relationship was ever worth it LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW SODFH It all sounds just a tad conven-

Senora, I have never had a girlfriend and , VRUW RI DVVXPHG , ZRXOG Ă&#x20AC; QG RQH when I got to uni. But since it is nearly the end of my second year, and I still have no one, I am starting to worry I repel the opposite sex. Can you give me any tips on Ă LUWLQJ" , MXVW GRQ¡W XQGHUVWDQG KRZ WKHVH FRXSOHV Ă&#x20AC; QG HDFK RWKHU To be honest, the majority of FRXSOHV DW XQLYHUVLW\ Ă&#x20AC; QG RQH another through a combination of alcohol and lowered standards, so I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really worry too much.

Why not take tips from a well known lothario? Austin Powers for example, seems to have ladies Ă RFNLQJ WR KLP GXH WR KLV PDW ted mane of chest hair, shocking dentistry, and frequent proposals of threesomes. Why not some of these? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure the ladies of Newcastle will love themâ&#x20AC;Ś Senora, I had a rather saucy dream about

Well, if your housemateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty Ă&#x20AC; W WKHQ , ZRXOGQ¡W EH WRR FRQ cerned, as pretty much all girls seem to enjoy nothing more than a good old perv on their more attractive friends. However, if sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had a fair thwack with the ugly stick and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still feeling all hot and sticky over her, then Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d think again, as yes, it probably is a sign.

Rather than telling her outright, which may make things a tad awkward, why not test the waters E\ VXEWO\ Ă LUWLQJ ZLWK KHU 1RWKLQJ hard-core, just a squeeze/caress of the thigh whilst snuggled up on the sofa, or an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;accidentalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pass-out in her bed after a big night. Who knows, she may well feel similarly steamy feelings for you.

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

17

Sex & Relationships Life & Style

D. RAWCLIFFE

View Askew Live and Let Die Kathy Jackman Columnist

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The Robinson Library: why DOO WKH ÁXVWHU LQ WKH FOXVWHU" Helen Atkinson on the lovin’ in the library

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18

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Health & Beauty

health & beauty

Feeling Lush Rachel Flint joins fellow cosmetic lovers to sample the new range of Lush products

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ush Cosmetics are arguably the best, most delicious hand-made beauty products available on the high street, and I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of them.

Their products are individually handmade, fair trade and against animal testing, and they even cater for vegans.

Their products look and smell good enough to eat; just one whiff of lemon soap when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m walking down Grainger Street has me reaching for my credit card and running inside the store like a child in a sweet shop.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a cosmetic addiction, and with summer coming my skin is in desperate need of a revitalizing treat, to prepare it for the months of (hopefully) warm weather and tiny outĂ&#x20AC;WV So when I heard that the Newcastle branch of Lush was reopening on Saturday, and throwing in goodies IRU WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW FXVWRPHUV , UDFHG GRZQ WKHUH LQ D Ă DVK When the Newcastle branch of Lush cosmetics reopened its doors RQ $SULO DIWHU XQGHUJRLQJ D PDjor revamp for the summer, I was DPRQJVW WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW RI WKH HDJHU VKRSpers to take a look inside.

I joined the diehard group of dedicated cosmetic lovers outside the store on Saturday and impatiently ZDLWHG ZKLOVW WKH VWDII SXW WKH Ă&#x20AC;Qishing touches to the store.

Through the windows the store looked fantastic, like a cosmetics paradise; spacious, well-lit and Ă&#x20AC;OOHG ZLWK PRXQWDLQV RI FRORXUIXO goodies, waiting for me to buy and use.

I was itching to get inside and almost burst through the doors when

they eventually opened at 11am.

Once I got inside the store it was hard to hold me back.

The store has undergone a total renovation. Gone are the cramped aisles, crowded shelves and dark lighting, now the store is spacious, airy, bright, modern and extremely comfortable.

It was like being in heaven. A dreamland of cosmetics, where everything screamed â&#x20AC;&#x153;look at meâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;buy meâ&#x20AC;?. Everything in Lush is so wonderfully weird.

I was intuitively drawn towards the middle table, piled high with colourful bath bombs of all different shapes and sizes.

The products wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have looked out of place in a fairytale or Wonkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chocolate Factory; bright purple with twigs sticking out, gold DQG JOLWWHULQJ SLQN DQG Ă RZHU\ RQ that one table there was a bath bomb of every size, shape, colour and texture imaginable.

I just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but pick them up, stare at them, and most of all smell them. I only had one product that I was really determined to buy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a tub of Dream Cream.

I swear by this product; this one tub can solve every skin problem, from spots, to dry skin, sun burn, DQG HYHQ HF]HPD $W MXVW XQGHU Â&#x2026; a tub itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of a luxury, but it lasts ages.

I like to think of it as my miracle product, a bit of a cheaper alternative to Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.

When I eventually made it to the till, an hour, two glasses of complementary Pimms, some chocolate cake and the offer of a facial later, I had rather more in my basket than just my little black tub. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t re-

An array of the new Lush Cosmetic products on offer, all individually handmade, organic, Fairtrade and against animal testing

sist the scrumptious offerings.

I bought some amazingly lemony soap, lavender jelly shower gel, scrummy yummy chocolate lip balm, and my cream, all for just over ÂŁ25. Bargain.

To my delight I was one of the OXFN\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW FXVWRPHUV ZKR JRW DQ amazing goodie bag with my purchase. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe how much I got free; 2 hair treatment pots, free soap, free natural shaving cream, and a Sparkle shower gift set, perfect as a spare present or a little treat for me on a bad day.

I was so pleased with my bargains

that I went back and bought the amazing smelling shower gel the VWRUH DVVLVWDQW KDG Ă LUWHG ZLWK PH with earlier.

These limited edition retro shower gels where only available to buy at the launch party.

They were fairly expensive at around ÂŁ12 per bottle; however the rather yummy assistant assured me WKDW , ZRXOG GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ EH JHWWLQJ my moneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth.

So, I got one of each; citrusy Slammer to wake me up in the morning, and amazingly chocolatey Butterbomb, which literally smells good

enough to eat. And guess what, I got more freebies.

I left the shop over an hour later a truly happy customer. I had really enjoyed myself, picked up some incredible products at bargain price, ZDV IDLUO\ WLSV\ DQG KDG RYHU Â&#x2026; worth of freebies.

Life couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get any better and the sun was shining! So now there reDOO\ LV QR H[FXVH , PD\ Ă&#x20AC;QG LW KDUG to leave the bathroom in the morning thanks to my Lush products, but there is no way I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be premed and polished for summer. I have Lush to thank for that.

Why tantastic is not always fantastic Sun-worshippers beware, Lauren Girling discusses skin cancer, wrinkles and reasons why fake tan is often the better option

D

ue to the tempestuous and somewhat sub-arctic climate that we often encounter in Newcastle, LW LV VRPHWLPHV GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW to imagine that the sun does actually exist and is the most powerful resource in our Solar System.

Entering British summertime marks the arrival of sunny afternoons, trips to the beach and the potential for plenty of sunburn.

Well, maybe not in April, but there is no harm in preparing for the summer ahead, especially when Cancer 5HVHDUFK 8. UHSRUWV QHZ cases of skin cancer each year.

7KHVH VWDUWOLQJ Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV FHUWDLQO\ JLYH IRRG IRU WKRXJKW DV VNLQ DIĂ LFtions such as this are most commonly caused by UV rays from the sun.

However, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a fatal health issue that is risked when going out in the sun in just your bikini; the aesthetic price of overexposure can be massive too, with harmful rays causing deep-set lines and wrinkles in later life.

Imagine having more creases in your face than your bed sheets IRU WKH QH[W \HDUV ² QRW D SUHWW\ sight.

This has come to the fore with former sun-worshippers such as Nicola Roberts using their fame wisely to jump on the sun awareness bandwagon.

It is important to remember that the amount of SPF (Sun Protection Factor) each of us need is dependent upon our skin type and complexion and you must seek professional ad-

vice on the ideal one for you.

And girls, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget your faces â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not all makeup safeguards your skin. A top beauty tip is to look for a good quality foundation with SPF in. If your student loan canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly stretch that far, just mix one part your regular foundation and one part sun cream to avoid freckle outbreaks and peeling.

A certain amount of common sense just needs to be applied as the answer isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to be covered head-toWRH LQ ERWWOHV RI 63) DQG D slight bronzing is perfectly healthy.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same with everything; as long as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re protected, you can have all the fun you want.

The sun isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all about public KHDOWK ZDUQLQJV ,W LV D VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC;cally proven fact that exposure to

sunlight makes your body produce a hormone called melatonin which is associated with abolishing the â&#x20AC;&#x153;bluesâ&#x20AC;?, and thus a good excuse to take a sick day to embrace the sun as it helps support your mental and spiritual wellbeing.

In the short term, the sun is a useful and worthwhile resource as it provides the perfect distraction from exam revision - soon weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see Jesmond Dene packed with footballers and sunbathers.

Why not, seeing as the sun is our prime source of Vitamin D, which is created in our skin when UVB rays are absorbed by the skin.

At least in the summer, students can say that they are getting at least one of their crucial vitamins.

After much consideration, it seems

that despite the very apparent and concerning risks that the sun can pose, it is all about moderation.

There is no need to be silly and go RXW LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW JOLPSVH RI VXQ DQG IU\ oneself until you resemble a lobster, but rather enjoy all the possibilities that a sunny day can possess.

Having discovered that most people consider a tan one of the great advantages of being out in the sun, remember to adequately protect your skin as it lasts with us our whole lives.

The much safer alternative is, of course, to buy your tan. As an advocate of this method of bronzing, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d personally much rather risk the tangerine effect rather than risk it all to peel and to be constantly layering the aloe vera onto rouged skin.

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

19

Travel Life & Style

travel

Unforgettable experience: photo taken whilst on safari in Serengeti, Tanzania. Tanzania is one of the oldest known continuously inhabited areas on Earth and species such as elephants are in depletion after a rise in poaching

The hidden beauties of Eastern Africa From Malawi to Tanzania, Caroline Argyropulo-Palmer samples safari and swims with dolphins on her African adventure

W

e had presumed that putting up a tent on the deck of a ferry would be easy poles in, bags in each corner instead of pegs, up in a jiffy.

Half an hour later, cowering behind the bar, tent on our laps we had encountered an unexpected hitch. A storm.

The Ilala Ferry runs around Lake Malawi, and it was the only way for us to reach Likoma Island.

Our tickets were just for the top deck, but after a brief beg to a gloomy dormitory of sailors we were allowed to sleep in the dining room. +XGGOLQJ RQ WKH Ă RRU KDOI DVOHHS and interpreting every frenzied shout and bang as a sure sign that there had been some kind of irreparable, Titanic-esqe damage, I was unconvinced that it would be worth the effort.

After a calmer day, which sigQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQWO\ LPSURYHG H[SHFWDWLRQV D rowing boat took us from the ferry to the beach, where we arrived be-

fore it was light.

Pick-up trucks were arriving to collect produce off the boat, but they were less keen to take a bedraggled group of travellers.

Eventually one agreed, and we set off along bumpy sand roads with the rising sun revealing uninterrupted stretches of bush.

The island is small, and practically uninhabited, particularly on the side which holds the only two hostels. One is an exclusive honeymoon destination, the other a small collection of huts with a strip of beach to camp on.

The latter, Mango Drift, our destination, couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be seen from where we were dropped. We were pointed in, what we dubiously took to be, the right direction through the tall grass. A fraction of the price of its luxury competitor it has the same seclusion, the same achingly clear, warm water.

The same hoards of multicoloured Ă&#x20AC;VK 7KH VDPH VRIW ZKLWH VDQG WKDW was too hot to walk on by midday, and the same hammocks in the

shade. There is very little to do on the island, but there doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be. Jack, a distinctly laidback South African, was entering his third week having missed the early morning Ilala pick-up twice. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem too concerned.

Occupied by the water and the beach, occasional trips to the only town 45 minutes walk away provided supplies of various types, with bread, oranges and monkey nuts usually t-he staple, washed down with a jar of Marmite (not bought on the island...)

Back in Nkata Bay on mainland, Malawi people gave a spectrum of excuses why they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gone out to the island: too far; not enough to do; didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to stay for the week enforced by the Ilalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s times. %XW LW LV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ ZRUWK WKH HIIRUW the route from Tanzania down to Malawi is busy, a gap year and over land truck favourite.

Likoma offers a genuine break and a refreshing lack of other people, hawkers or tick list activities.

And, our favourite guide book fact

DQG GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWH XQLTXH VHOOLQJ SRLQW there is absolutely no crime on the island. Fact.

This contrasts with an Island it takes much less persuasion to get people to, though which probably canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the same claim: Zanzibar.

Situated off the Tanzanian coast it is tropical postcard perfection, and is a lot easier to get to. It even has an international airport; though a range of daily ferries are the more common option.

I never encountered a storm on any of these trips, though apparently rats were running around our feet as we slept on the slower night boat option.

There is also no shortage of things to do. Beach resorts have established themselves all around the Island, with Nungwi in the North the best known for travellers and a South East Asia style nightlife, cocktails included.

You can learn to scuba dive. You can swim with dolphins. You can eat Dutch pancakes whilst gazing

out onto the Indian Ocean. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HYHQ D Ă&#x20AC;OP IHVWLYDO RI JURZLQJ UHpute.

Eating on Zanzibar is incredible, SDUWLFXODUO\ LI \RX¡UH D IDQ RI Ă&#x20AC;VK RU want to eat what must be the cheapHVW OREVWHU \RX¡OO HYHU Ă&#x20AC;QG DQG \RXU longest walk for food is likely to be the more holiday esq. 4.5 minutes.

Accommodation prices vary, but none are as cheap as Likoma, partly because one of the few laws Zanzibar is able to pass for themselves is banning camping.

That and, arguably more sensibly than the mainland, restricting the number of people allowed in taxis to one per seat.

And in the end it is taxis it comes down to. Because taxis mean hotels, restaurants, activities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; crime in the suggested inability to walk around at night.

Zanzibar is well worth a visit, or several, but Likoma sees its Evian clear water and raises it isolation and a minimalism that makes it really special. Even without the Marmite, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a winning hand.

20

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Life & Style Fashion

fashion

Barbie doll or porcelain doll?

Lucy Borrell discusses the versatility of pale skin and reasons why an ivory complexion is better than looking like an overgroomed satsuma

G

rowing up, whilst most girls strived to look like Californian Beach Babes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and ended up looking like over groomed satsumas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; my skin was always more porcelain doll, than Barbie doll.

Historically, having an ivory skin tone has always been deemed to be more desirable than a glowing tan.

Indeed, like many of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tanorexicsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, women have risked their

lives for china white skin, avoiding sunlight and using poisonous skin creams that would seep into the blood stream and poison the vital organs.

White skin was always deemed to be symbolic of wealth and fragility, qualities that epitomised the perfect woman.

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until 1923, when Coco Chanel turned up at Cannes with a golden glow, did women every-

where reject their bonnets and parasols, opting instead to turn their faces to the sun.

Now however, it appears that the imperative need for that golden glow, is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like a holiday tan in winter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; quickly starting to fade.

Many believe this to be as a direct result of years of investigation into the links between suntans and skin cancer.

However, the effects of UV light on

A pale complexion complements both pastel colours and gothic lace leggings

the skin have been well publicised since the early 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s; and instead of becoming less popular, the tan has become more desired, resulting in spray tans and bottled tans being sold in supermarkets across the world.

Such products give skin a golden glow, whilst eliminating almost all of the health hazards that are associate with a tan.

Yet such products are costly, and given the current economic climate, may people are starting to reject the tan in favour of their natural (and less costly) skin tone.

According to journalist Fay Schlesinger, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a deathly pale complexion, has become the new idealâ&#x20AC;? because of the revival of the Gothic genre.

Indeed, the effect vampire inVSLUHG Ă&#x20AC;OPV DQG SURJUDPPHV VXFK as Twilight, Being Human and True Blood have had upon the decline of the tan have been two fold.

Firstly, they have catapulted pale faced stars such as Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson into the media spotlight, but more importantly they have men and women everywhere wanting to look like their Twilight idols.

Most high street retailers, such as Topshop, Miss Selfridges and Oasis, have been selling clothing, inspired

by grunge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like the gothic fashion LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;OPV There is no doubt in my mind, that part of the appeal of pale skin, is that it is so versatile, something that can be seen in recent fashion trends.

Whilst most high street shops have used models with ghostly complexions to advertise their â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;gothic inspiredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; clothing, models with porcelain complexion have also been used by many big name fashion designers on the Spring/Summer 2010 catwalks.

Earlier this year, when showcasing their couture collection, Armani used pale models to compliment their lunar inspired collection whereas Dior and Givenchy used girls with porcelain complexions to contrast the bold, bright colours in their clothing.

In doing so they created, according to fashion journalist Colin McDowHOO ´7KH PRVW FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW >IDVKLRQ@ statement in recent years.â&#x20AC;?

And what else is fashion about, if not making statements?

From the likes of Katy Perry and Lady GaGa to Alexa Chung and Lily Cole, all of whom topped 2009 best dressed lists, even celebrities seem to recognise that â&#x20AC;&#x153;pale and interestingâ&#x20AC;? has become a fashion statement in its own right.

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

21

Fashion Life & Style

Get Trenched

Anna Craig explains why trench coats are a must buy this summer This month we’ve cinched in our waists with classic trench coats.

Boys too. Hurrah.

Although classic cream was looking sharp, I rather enjoyed exploring the realms of the navy trench and of course the checked. Nods to Burberry all round.

Fenwick has an excellent selection of trench coats in at the moment, the a-symmetric button up David Berry Trench is a snip at £55, style it down with a satchel during the day, and up with a clutch bag at night.

Alternatively if you’re looking for something a little more outlandish (and crueller on the wallet) go for the new Four Seasons collection; hooded trench, £179, checked trench, £249.

For the perfect trench setting, head towards Attica and RPM (Old George Yard/ High Bridge Street), it’s a beautiful old cobbled street, with some excellent shops along it, so do have a look if you haven’t already.

Photographer: Sarah Metcalfe Models: Alex, Lisa and Ste. Styling: Anna Craig, Grace Cook, Emma Starkie. http://courierfashion.blogspot.com/

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

23

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good people do bad thingsâ&#x20AC;?

- Boy George tells all Culture Editor: Alice Vincent - courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

> Music, page 32

news

preview

Music writers rocked by new contract

Film stars of CCTV Chris Scott on David Bondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new thriller coming to the Tyneside

Making a noise: Bauerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s controversial new freelance contract is to jeopardise the rights of hundreds of contributors to major British music magazines like Kerrang! and Q

Polly Randall It came to light recently on website PressGazette that German company Bauer would be enforcing new legislation on its freelance journalists which dramatically cut the ownership rights they have to their own work.

Writers and photographers for Q,

Kerrang! and Mojo have been asked to sign a contract which would allow Bauer to sell their articles withRXW QRWLĂ&#x20AC; FDWLRQ EDVLFDOO\ UHPRYLQJ FRS\ULJKW DV ZHOO DV DOO OHJDO Ă&#x20AC; QDQ cial and moral ownership of their work.

The company set an ultimatum to its writers - either sign the contract, agreeing to these measures, or they will no longer be commissioned by

any Bauer-owned publications.

The list of magazines that these new requirements will eventually affect is extensive, covering almost every top selling title in circulation in Britain including Grazia, Heat, Empire and Zoo. However, they now face the risk of losing their best and most well known journalists, the sort who have the reputation that make peo-

ple want to buy their magazines, as 200 freelancers have refused to sign the agreement and become slaves to the corporation, accusing Bauer Media of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;declaring warâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on their contributors.

This is a massive attack by Bauer on the essential principles of freelance journalism and could potenWLDOO\ PDUN D VLJQLĂ&#x20AC; FDQW FKDQJH LQ the way magazines are created.

comment

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Journalistic standards can only suffer as a resultâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor There have been better times than 2010 to be a freelance journalist.

With the push for free and online FRQWHQW HURGLQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC; QDQFHV RI many a notable publication and an ongoing recession, the already risky business of working as a hired-gun writer has become increasingly tumultuous.

To add to their woes, Bauer magazines (the publishers of titles including Q, Mojo and Kerrang!) are attempting to push through new contracts with their freelancers that, amongst other bizarre measures of unprecedented hostility, remove all claims to copyright or ownership that writers may have over their work. Who fancies freelancing now then?

This in itself is a worrying development.

Over 200 contributors are now under the threat of either signing away all rights to their own material, or of losing their livelihood, with the company having set a deadline for earlier this month for all freelancers to either accept the contract or no longer work for Bauer magazines.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to blame Bauer magazines solely, and certainly nothing quite like this has been seen before.

But as well as threatening the employment of hundreds of writers and photographers, this also sets a dangerous precedent. ,Q RWKHU DUWLVWLF Ă&#x20AC; HOGV FODLPV WR authorship and copyright have already come under attack â&#x20AC;&#x201C; part of WKH MXVWLĂ&#x20AC; FDWLRQ RI FRXUVH IRU WKH passing of the poorly drafted and

authoritarian Digital Economies Act earlier this month â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s affecting journalists as well.

Self interest? Well, maybe just a little â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardly a pleasant thought to think of one possible dream career disappear.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the effect that such contracts, should they take off, will have on journalistic integrity that we have to worry about.

Newspapers and magazines are currently trying many different measures to try and build new business models, but no other â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;solutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; seems as likely to bury the industry as this one.

By penalising the people who NHHS LW DĂ RDW ² L H WKH SHRSOH ZKR actually write them â&#x20AC;&#x201C; journalistic standards can only suffer. What kind of writers, and with what kind of ethics or integrity, are you

going to get if you treat them like servants?

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become evident is that current attempts at free journalism such as blogging can allow for fresh voices and ideas, but more often than not result in plagiarism, sloppiness and laziness. Those arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the things good journalism is made of.

Journalists have often come under threat before, often as a result of this countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notoriously strict libel laws.

Never before though have they been victimised in this way by the people who rely on their work to make their fortunes. :H KDYH WR KRSH DQG Ă&#x20AC; JKW DJDLQVW such measures as these, because otherwise journalism in this country will face an inevitable and painful decline.

How many times have you put pen to paper, when applying for a loyalty card, or signing up to newsletter and given a complete stranger all of your personal information and contact details?

Do you have any idea who else gets to have a peek at that information after that, or what else it gets used for?

We all do it, sometimes every day, and go about our daily lives oblivious to the answer to those questions and are blind to the fact that nearly every step we take outside our front door is monitored and recorded by CCTV. It gets to a point where most of our daily business is in some way tracked and analysed, and getting away from it can be quite a challenge.

7KDW¡V ZKDW WKH Ă&#x20AC; OP Erasing David is all about. In this thriller, David Bond attempts to go under the radar and avoid being â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;caughtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by two of the best private investigators who are trying to discover as much about David as they can whilst he disappears.

They track him down using only CCTV and information available to the general public, while David sees if it is possible to live a life that retains its privacy, or whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually too late, and have we all, unwittingly, let ourselves be watched and recorded day after day.

David Bond directs and stars LQ WKLV Ă&#x20AC; OP DQG FKRVH KLPVHOI to play the main role as he felt it needed a strong personality to really hit home the message he was trying to get across, and what better way to do that than use someone with Ă&#x20AC; UVWKDQG H[SHULHQFH RI GDWD mishandling.

David himself found himself under these pressures when he was told, after his daughter was born, that her data had for some reason gone missing from the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Child EHQHĂ&#x20AC; W RIĂ&#x20AC; FH Erasing David will be showing at the Tyneside Cinema on April 29. There will be a live forum after the showing discussing the effects of data protection and the use and misuse of personal data in our everyday lives with Will Self, David Davis, Michael Nyman and Shami Charabarti.

24

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Arts

arts stage

Top of the class The internationally acclaimed The History Boys returns, reports Fiona McCutcheon Alan Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cutting edge depiction of teenage pressures, desires and anxieties takes the stage once again as the Theatre Royal presents a revival of the international smash hit The History Boys.

The realistic and moving portrayal of male adolescence is directed by Christopher Luscombe and features a fresh cast of rising stars such as Kyle Redmond Jones, James Byng and Ben Lambert, promising to be the most gripping performance yet.

The play is a semi-autobiography of Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own school days, focusing on the academic pressures placed upon gifted teenagers amidst the emotional and sexual turbulence of teenage life.

Bennett, who is described in the Daily Express as â&#x20AC;&#x153;among the greatest playwrights of our timeâ&#x20AC;?, was inspired to write the play in 1951 when he and his peers experienced similar direction from ambitious teachers.

The many thoughts and ideas that have been brought together within the play have been maturing for over sixty years and Bennett describes The History Boys as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;confes-

sion and an expiation for what I feel was cheating.â&#x20AC;?

He explains that in order to satisfy his own headteacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aspirations he developed a strategy for passing exams, which he believes got him into 2[IRUG LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SODFH DQG KHOSHG KLP WR DFKLHYH D Ă&#x20AC;UVW FODVV GHJUHH 6HW LQ D Ă&#x20AC;FWLRQDO QRUWKHUQ JUDPPDU school during the 1980s, the plot is centred on a small group of teenage boys who achieve outstanding A level grades and are placed under tremendous pressure by their teachers to be accepted into Oxbridge.

The boys, who are discovering themselves sexually and socially as well as academically, are taught by characters Hector and Irwin.

7KH FRQĂ LFWLQJ WHDFKLQJ VW\OHV RI these men touches on an intense struggle that is wholly present within academics today.

The importance of knowledge for the sake of knowledge and the growing pressure of league tables and rigid curriculums.

The History Boys incorporates many engaging contemporary issues within its dynamic plot structure.

Bennett has created a remarkable play which is dense in both meaning and topic which makes it an appealing performance for a wide range of audiences.

The play opened as an in-house production at the National Theatre where it went down a treat with a sell-out run.

Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out: the full cast of Alan Bennettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award winning production The History Boys at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle

During the playâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continuously successful life span it boasts roarLQJ VXFFHVV LQ WKH :HVW (QG D Ă&#x20AC;OP adaptation and no less than 30 major awards, including the Evening Standard award for Best Play.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss this chance to experi-

dance

ence this renowned portrayal of adolescent struggles where Bennett attacks the educational system amidst a backdrop of raging hormones, naivety and passion.

The History Boys is a play that entertains its audience whilst dually

untangling underlying issues that are both moving and thought-provoking.

The History Boys is on at the Theatre Royal from May 4-8.

art

Entity: breaks, beats and ballet Victorian Phantasies Sally Priddle on the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new boundarybreaking ballet Entity is the cultural combination of exciting contemporary choreography and traditional concepts from the Royal Ballet School, choreographed by the critically acclaimed Wayne McGregor, whose work and style has been seen on The Big Chill main stage and at Glastonbury McGregor was hired by the Royal %DOOHW 6FKRRO DV WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHVLGHQW choreographer in 16 years and his experience in the world of contemporary dance makes his work new and inventive, as seen in Entity through the combination of beats and strings and the movements of the ten dancers.

Entity demonstrates the exhilarating new culture created by McGregor through a blend of athletic bodLHV OLJKWV WHFKQRORJ\ DQG Ă&#x20AC;OP VHW against the stunning soundscape created by Coldplay and Massive Attack collaborator Jon Hopkins, as well as award-winning composer Joby Talbot.

This radical and boundary-break-

ing amalgamation leads to a technically astonishing, emotionally uncompromising and hard-hitting SURGXFWLRQ WKDW GHĂ&#x20AC;HV FDWHJRULVDtion.

Since its premiere in 2008, Entity has sold out theatres in more than fourteen countries, including the Venice and Lyon Biennales.

McGregorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work has been described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;some of the most exciting work in ballet on the planetâ&#x20AC;? by the New York Times.

Wayne McGregor was born in Stockport in 1970 and after studying dance at the University College Bretton and the Jose Limon School in New York he founded his own company I Random Dance.

His company became an opportunity for McGregor to evolve and develop a drastically fast and articulated choreographic style that he would become known for.

Throughout his rapidly advancing career his company has become famed for its manipulation of incorporating new technology such DV DQLPDWLRQ GLJLWDO Ă&#x20AC;OP ' DUFKLtecture, electric sound and virtual dancers into live choreography.

His contemporary approach to movement has been transferred

IURP WKH VWDJH WR Ă&#x20AC;OP DV VHHQ LQ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and he KDV FUHDWHG VLWH VSHFLĂ&#x20AC;F LQVWDOODWLRQV for numerous projects throughout the world including the Saatchi Gallery, the Houses of Parliament and the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

McGregor has also been involved in many collaborations with various artists outside the world of dance, including composers such as Sir John Tavener, Scanner, Plaid and Joby Talbot, The White Stripes, animatronics experts, Jim Hensonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative workshop and neuroscientists and heart-imaging specialists for his past two works AtaXa (2004) and Amu (2006).

However, McGregor has also created traditional works, seen in his productions Chroma (2006) and Deloitte Ignite (2008), which were performed at the Royal Opera House.

McGregor has brought new style and cultural density to the Royal Ballet School through inventive choreography, which is demonstrated in Entity, which combines all of McGregorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience and culture and allows the development of his inspirational style, which was recognised when it received the Movimentos Dance Prize in 2009.

Rosie Tallant on a revolutionary take on Victorian culture Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be forgiven for writing off an art exhibition inspired by Victorian society as outdated and depressing, but in Nick Foxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Phantasieblume, the exploration of Victorian sexual oppression is nothing less than fascinating.

When strict morality codes made it impossible for lovers to communicate their desires publicly, they were forced into these clandestine DIIDLUV UHO\LQJ RQ Ă RZHUV DQG ODFH to express longings that they were unable to put into words.

But Fox has not simply resurrected this forgotten system, he has â&#x20AC;&#x153;found his own way of inverting the coded articulation of desire, playfully and subtly expressing a highly personal and symbolic pictorial language of concealmentâ&#x20AC;?. $W Ă&#x20AC;UVW JODQFH WKH LQWULFDWH FUHDtions appear to be only beautifully crafted gifts, noticeably precious but still nothing outrageous.

However, on closer inspection ´QXGH Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV HPHUJH IURP WKH

sensual surfaces to create tantalising, elusive narratives of desire and courtshipâ&#x20AC;?.

At the centre of the display are Foxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Phantasieblume Cabinets, which also hold unexpected details waiting to be discovered by observers.

7KH FDELQHWV FRQWDLQ ZKDW DW Ă&#x20AC;UVW sight seem to be a collection of handcrafted lace objects, industrially cut lace doilies and discarded rags, all trapped beautifully between layers of glass.

These treasures, however, have in fact been created by carefully crafting layers of acrylic paint on glass, which are then skillfully cut through to reveal these delicate designs which â&#x20AC;?resemble the preciousness of Victorian laceâ&#x20AC;?. The sheer skill, patience and care that has gone into each object reveals Foxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s devotion to both his work and the process of its creation.

Not only has he recreated each decorative piece as though it were his own love token, he has translated the beauty of Victorian craft and courtship into something that we can appreciate over 100 years later.

Phantasieblume is on at the Vane Gallery from April 22 until June 5

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

25

Arts Culture Arts Editor: Stephanie Ferrao - courier.culture-arts@ncl.ac.uk

interview

David Shrigley: making the real surreal Arts Editor Stephanie Ferrao speaks to a British artist who brings the banal to life Look at any of David Shrigleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mistake it for anyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

He uses distinctive and seemingly crude freehand drawings to satirise the modern day motives for buying art and the extent to which trends can be exploited.

His work parodies the mass consumption of art and the lack of real meaning in pieces that are created for productionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake.

Shrigley learned his craft at the Glasgow School of Art and Design in the 90s; eschewing the London arts scene, he has thrived on Glasgowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s active yet laid-back arts scene.

For an artist whose creative ubiquity has come from creating cartoons, one would expect a ferocious appetite for graphic novels or a childhood of comic book obsession; however Shrigley speaks dryly of his artistic beginnings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I looked at cartoons in the newspaper, but to be honest Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never really had any interest in cartoons per se; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not really into comic books or anything like that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really do that well at art school so doing cartoons was a bit of a rebellion because the way I was WDXJKW Ă&#x20AC;QH DUW ZDV TXLWH WHGLRXV â&#x20AC;&#x153;I liked Gary Larsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work as I felt it was a kind of work that I responded to; I felt that if thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what cartoons were, then thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I could do.â&#x20AC;?

And that he did. Rather than pursuing it as a passion, Shrigley used it as a practical starting point for his career.

As a cartoonist, he has notched up regular commissions for both the Independent and the Guardian, creating drawings that touch upon the dysfunctional yet banal aspects of life with morbid humour.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very aware of wanting to make things humorous, but I suppose itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very intuitive really. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the way I think about stuff â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a way of looking at the world, albeit on quite a surreal level. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the way I am and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my voice, as it were.â&#x20AC;?

Although he has published several books of cartoons, Shrigley is anything but a one-trick pony. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I use a lot of different mediums as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not really bound by craft skills, as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like I demonstrate great drawing skills. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The 3-dimensional work I make isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t technically fantastic, but I suppose my work is much more about narratives and a sensibility really rather than about demonstrating a craft skill - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably just because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not very talented.â&#x20AC;?

This sense of self-deprecation VHHPV ZKROO\ XQMXVWLĂ&#x20AC;HG FRQVLGering his recent public acclaim â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in 2008 a collection of his drawings and sculptures were exhibited at the BALTIC in Newcastle to a great deal of mainstream success.

In between creating animation shorts and soundscapes, Shrigley co-directed a music video for the legendary Britpop band Blur. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was for the single Good Song from their album â&#x20AC;&#x153;Think Tankâ&#x20AC;?. It was fun. I kept watching MTV to see it, but never did, though I have it on good authority that it was on TV at some point.â&#x20AC;?

So what does the rest of 2010 hold for David Shrigley?

A huge exhibition of his work in Glasgow as well as a compendium of his entire cartoon collection - both RI ZKLFK DUH VXUH WR FRQĂ&#x20AC;UP KLP as one of the most innovative and unique artists of the new decade.

Glasgow-based artist David Shrigley with his most recent collection of cartoons Red Book, which was published earlier this year

opinion

Cultural icon: the rise and rise of Anthony Gormley Gemma Farina looks at a local artist who has put Newcastle on the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural map Every time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re travelling back into Newcastle, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to miss a certain sculpture just off the A1 as you pass Gateshead.

The Angel of the North was erected to create a â&#x20AC;&#x153;symbol for Tynesideâ&#x20AC;?, and has without a doubt PDQDJHG WR IXOĂ&#x20AC;O WKLV SXUSRVH ERWK as a physical creative piece and a signpost for the presence of artistic culture in the North East.

Anthony Gormley, who won the

prestigious Turner prize four years prior to the Angelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completion, had the vision to undertake this challenge.

He wanted to produce a sculpture representing the miners of the North East in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light, all the while ensuring the piece was a collaborative effort including many ORFDO Ă&#x20AC;UPV The success of the Angel of the North has not only vastly increased the volume of cultural development in Newcastle, but has brought Gormley to the forefront of the national modern art scene.

Nine years on from the completion of the Angel, Gormley unleashed his exhibition Event Horizon in London.

&RPSULVLQJ RI Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV RI Gormley himself, the sculptures are positioned on buildings and walkways in order to recognise the vast number of people living in cities.

Over our Easter break, Gormley took this idea even further, to New York City, stunning passers-by with more life size forms of the artist himself.

Just like with the Angel, iron was WKH PDWHULDO RI FKRLFH IRU WKH Ă&#x20AC;JXUHV which were scattered around the Madison Square Park area, as well as atop some of New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skyscrapers, which was a cause for concern for some passers-by!

Fitting the trend for local arts gone large, Lee Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Pitmen Painters, previously hosted by

Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Live Theatre, has recently been given the go-ahead to transfer to Broadway.

The play depicts the tale of a group of miners from the North East who develop into renowned painters, and provides another example of the way in which Newcastle has been exporting its arts to cities such as New York, as well as other cultural centres.

Newcastle is showing a stronger and stronger ability to transfer its arts to other places, ensuring that they are recognised throughout the world.

Since the Angel of the North was erected, we have seen other cultural venues such as the Sage Gateshead and the BALTIC Centre for Con-

temporary Art become prominent features of Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape, and indeed such buildings have provided a platform for North East Arts to develop and progress.

Now, the North East provides a stage for local artists to gain the recognition that they deserve.

Over the past decade, Newcastle has managed to establish itself as a front runner in terms of art and culture, and Gormleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success has RQO\ VHUYHG WR DIĂ&#x20AC;UP LW The North East has become a FHQWUDO Ă&#x20AC;JXUH LQ WKH DUW DQG FXOWXUH scene, proving that it has something to offer not only in its own area, but elsewhere too.

my newcastle

Exams are approaching, and times are stressful. You may be pining for the good old days of the Easter break and weeks of free time.

But all is not lost; the holiday season is not quite over as good old May is gracing us with not one but two bank holiday weekends! Give yourself a break this Mayday weekend, enjoy the extra day off uni and use it wisely; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an array of great one off and special events around the Toon to ease your revision woes for the day, night, or for as long as you want them to be eased.

Why not pop over to the Star and Shadow cinema for a weekend extravaganza â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;DIY Aye!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (appropriately) radical festival.

Join them for workshops, talks, GLVFXVVLRQV Ă&#x20AC;OPV PXVLF DQG PRUH celebrating the anarchist ethos of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Do It Yourself!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Events are running from 12pm Sat- 4pm Sun. Also running over the whole weekend is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ClubBriTPOP Weekender at Hyem in Heaton, and its only ÂŁ6 for a weekend wristband- three great nights for a bargain price!

For the night owls out there, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best clubs are pulling no punches this weekend; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be a busy few nights for those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss out on some of the best one off nights this year. Its [Ctrl]â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1st birthday party at The Other Rooms on Saturday night which is not to be missed, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Byker Grooveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the Tanners will be banging out an epic eight hour stint from 4pm

Friday - Monday

Ciara Littler

that day to get you in the mood.

If clubbing isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your thing, head to the Culture Lab at 8pm for a great evening fronted by the fantastic Carla Bozulich. Sunday night should be a treat too with Deviateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bank Holiday Special making full use of that extra lie in on Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; It promises to be a goodunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

If all this sounds a bit much, or if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gone and spent that loan already, fear not, there are plenty of cheaper (and more relaxing) ways to make the most of Mayday.

If (we can pray) the weather Gods treat us kindly, the leafy wilderness of Jesmond Dene is a fantastic place to take yourself and a group of friends and escape the city for a few hours, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a few minutes out of Jesmond.

For a sea breeze, head to Tynemouth, JUDE VRPH Ă&#x20AC;VK DQG FKLSV IURP RQH RI the best places around, and enjoy the fresh air (there is indoor seating if our wishes for sunshine arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t granted!).

Closer to home is the great Cumberland Arms in Ouseburn; while away the hours indoors or out playing scrabble, enjoying a Sunday lunch and having a pint or two. If that really is too far to stretch your legs, the Hancock are still doing their Beer and Burger for ÂŁ3.95!

Take a break from revision, get in the holiday spirit and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (hopefully) get the ball rolling for the summer.

Touring their latest album â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Post Electric Bluesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the Scottish heroes of post-rock will be delving into their deceptively large back catalogue to please their long standing fans

O2 Academy, 19.00, sold out

Idlewild

music

NSR Studio, 15.30, free

NSR Presents: Kurran &The Wolfnotes acoustic set

radio

Peeling back the surface of the SHUIHFW $PHULFDQ IDPLO\ WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP LV tough but very rewarding viewing.

Catch this rare chance to see it on the big screen

Tyneside Cinema, 20.10 , NUS ÂŁ.3.50

Cult classic at the Tyneside: Happiness

Tyneside Cinema, 19.00, ÂŁ5

The Great Tyneside Film Quiz

film

monday

by Phil Booth

Jesmond Dene

The Cluny, 19.00, ÂŁ7

Loose Grip

music

Union Lounge, Newcastle Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union, 15.00, free See page 30

Burma VJ

Tyneside Cinema, 15.00, ÂŁ6-7

Language CafĂŠ: Mar Adentro

Director Lisa Gornick introduces the quirky comedy in which a 30 something Lesbian couple are in search of a sperm donor. As time goes on the decision becomes more intense and less romantic

Side Cinema, 19.00, ÂŁ4-5

Tick Tock Lullaby

film

Students for Kids International Projects host a night of Asian cuisine, games, drinks and prizes to raise money for the charity

Perdu, 19.30, ÂŁ4.50

SKIP Cambodia night

charity

tuesday

the guide: 26 April to 2 May

highlighted Bank Holiday weekened

Culture

26

&ODVVLF ¡V VFL Ă&#x20AC; KRUURU WR HQG WKH John Carpenter season at the Star and Shadow. A group of researchers DW DQ $QWDUFWLF UHVHDUFK RXWSRVW Ă&#x20AC;QG themselves confronted by an alien organism that can perfectly replicate its victims. Paranoia is high as the men attempt to work out who has been assimilated. Blood, guts and gore at its best

Star and Shadow Cinema, 19.30, See page 30

The Thing

film

Drop The Bass Soundsystem once again bringing the extra 5k of sounds! Hailing from London, Sukh Knight is bringing one of the most unique sounds in dubstep, with clear HDVWHUQ LQĂ XHQFHV :LWK KLV PDVVLYH Cheese Loueez EP, tracks like Diesel Not Petrol, Ganja and Jewel Thief in his arsenal, he is sure not to be missed

World Headquarters, 23.00, ÂŁ6-8

Rusty Bucket Bay presents Sukh Knight and Funtcase

clubbing

Listen to the manifestos of those hoping to make the editorial team of Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independent literary magazine

English Common Room, Percy Building, Newcastle University, 14.00, free

Alliterati Election Hustings

The Sage, 19:30, ÂŁ29.50

Joan Armatrading

O2 Academy 2, 19:00, ÂŁ11

The Bronx

Swedish psych rock legends Träd Gräs och Stenar bring their mindblowing records of heart pounding, rhythmic, trance inducing psych.

One of the most outstanding live acts that the genre has to offer...

The Cumberland Arms, 20:00, ÂŁ7

Träd Gräs Och Stenar!, Richard Dawson

music

Stars of CCTV: David Bond

A documentary that sees David Bond attempt to evade capture for 30 days from private investigators hired to track him down. Followed by a Q and A session with the director.

Tyneside Cinema, 8.30pm, ÂŁ6-7 See page 23

Erasing David Q&A

A Spanish comedy about an encyclopaedia salesman whose company is forced to move into the Scandinavian porn home movie market. Protagonist Alfredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife unknowingly becomes an overnight DGXOW Ă&#x20AC;OP VWDU LQ QRUWKHUQ (XURSH although the couple soon learn Alfredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sperm count is zero

Star and Shadow, 7.30pm, ÂŁtbc

In this innovative series of lectures, leading contemporary poets speak about the craft and practice of poetry. Fiona Sampson has won the Newdigate Prize, been shortlisted for the Forward Single Poem and T.S. Eliot prizes and in 2009 received a Cholmondeley Award. Subsequent lectures are on April 29 and May 5

LT1, Herschel Building, Newcastle University, 17.30, Free

Torreomolinos 73

film

Over the last four years Inertiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s End of Term Blow Outs have become the stuff of legend. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s looks to be no different, with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;house music eliteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sonny Wharton headlining the night and a 4am curfew. Really, there is no possible better way to see out the Spring term

World Headquarters, 23.00, ÂŁ4

Inertia End of Term Blow Out

thursday clubbing

27

Culture

With new album Total Life Forever out in the near future and Ă&#x20AC;UVW VLQJOHV UHFHLYHG ZLWK FULWLFDO praise, the coming year is looking like a promising one for the Oxford quintet. Always guaranteed to put on an atmospheric live show, this is one show not to be missed

Newcastle Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union, 19:30, ÂŁ13.50

Foals

In the midst of the diverse and huge Brooklyn music scene, Andrea Ambro and Sarah Register shared some of the most tense and noisy DIY pop as TALK NORMAL. Like an inverted Yeah Yeah Yeahs or early Sonic Youth cassette left in the sun, they specialized in powerful and distorted guitars with a proclivity for sudden rhythmic changes and off-kilter harmonies

Star and Shadow Cinema, 20:00, ÂŁ5

TALK NORMAL / Chippewa Falls / Foot Hair

music

WHQ, 23:40, ÂŁ8 adv

Crossfade Newcastle: Mungoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hi Fi, Dubterror 20hz soundsystem

Cesar has quickly made a name for himself with releases on Circus Company, Serialism, Safari Electronique and others. His colourful, upbeat sets have been heard in some of the hottest clubs (Fabric, the Key, Canvas), but also in Ibiza (Space), Detroit (Works) and Germany (Watergate, Week End, Bar 25, Club Der Visionaere)

Cosmic Ballroom, 23.00, ÂŁ7-10

Ape-X: Cesar Merveille (Cadenza) + Darius Syrossian & Nyra

clubbing

The International Festival of Arts and Music may only have been running for two years but it is fast becoming one of the biggest cultural events in the student calendar. This year promises to be a spectacular evening featuring a wide range of acts including Tango, Latin and Swing dances as well as music performances from some of the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most talented students

Journal Tyne Theatre, 19.00, ÂŁ5

International Festival of Arts and Music

arts

friday

The Culture Lab, 20:00 - ÂŁ6

Carla Bozulich (Evangelista) + Helictite + ~~~ + -D]]Ă&#x20AC;QJHU '- VHW

music

The Other Rooms, 22.30, ÂŁ8-10

[Ctrl] 1st Birthday Party with Deniz Kurtel LIVE & Gavin Herlihy

clubbing

A special live satellite broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Pricey maybe, but its not very often world class opera gets a show in the Toon

Tyneside Cinema, 18:00 , ÂŁ18-20

Armida by Gioachino Rossini

Lit and Phil Society, 14.00, ÂŁ2-4

The History of Spirit Photography with Gordon Rutter

arts

saturday

Star and Shadow, 20:00, ÂŁ8

Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern

The Cluny, 19:00, ÂŁ4

IIMITAK + Polar Sets

O2 Academy 2, 18.30, ÂŁ6

Attack! Attack!

music

Digital, Times Square 23.00, ÂŁ8

Gatecrasher

'9 EULQJV EDFN WKH Ă RRU ZDOO DQG bar-vibrating soundsytem to the toon for the best delivery of dubstep and drum and bass

WHQ, 23.00, ÂŁ8

DV8 presents: Iration Steppas Soundsystem

clubbing

A perfect excuse to try out the best Sunday lunch in Ouseburn with DGGHG FUHDWLYH EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WV

The Cluny, 12.00, free

Cluny Craft Market

arts

sunday

Listings by Ciara Littler, Alice Vincent, Joe Skrebels and Matthew Blackwell - send your listings to courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk

Fiona Sampson, Bloodaxe poetry lecture

With dramatised readings, David Stuart Davies traces the development of the ghost story in the 19th century through the work of two masters of the genre: Charles Dickens and M.R. James

Lit and Phil Society, 13.00, ÂŁ2-4

Boo! The Ghost Stories of the 19th Century â&#x20AC;&#x201C; David Stuart Davies

arts

wednesday

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

28

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Arts

arts art

Capturing the country through the camera lens C. STEELE-PERKINS

Ciara Littler on a range of photography that encapsulates both sides of Britain Northumbria University are currently holding a fantastic photographic exhibition that intimately chronicles England’s evolution into and ethnically and socially diverse society. <RX ZRQ·W À QG DQ\ SRPS DQG FLU cumstance here though, no changing of the guard or rose-tinted myths of the beauty of Britain. :KDW \RX·OO À QG LQVWHDG LV D UHDOLW\ of the people of England, with photographer Chris Steele-Perkins focussing on “everydayness and how that can be special.”

Steele-Perkins is an award winning Magnum Agency photographer who came to England from Rangoon in 1949 when he was two.

He is the son of a Burmese mother and English father, and his diversity and certain level of distance means his work comes across as a remarkably calm and unprejudiced depic-

tion of how he has seen England develop.

He presents to us the absurdities, pleasantries and tragedies of English life, and his subjects are far from characters we would all feel comfortable meeting in a dark ally.

From members of the National Front to angry football fans, some of the more negative issues within English life are displayed alongside the more touching. Ultimately there is a certain pathos in the image of a crowded beach, complete with donkeys, with a dog urinating on a windbreak.

He resists being called a cultural anthropologist but it does appear that all aspects of human life are observed in this exhibition, as well as the illusions that propel it.

You can move from an amazing shot of obese male strippers, to one of a Brixton Reggae Festival where inexplicably, the entire Afro-Caribbean audience looks glum; or to a group of ‘blissful’ Children of Jesus.

All of the great absurdities, quirks and fantastic parts of life in England are displayed with a certain level of humour, fun and sadness.

Importantly for us, Chris Steele-

Perkins is an alumni of Newcastle University where he studied Psychology from 1967-70, whilst working for this very student newspaper as a photographer and picture editor.

It’s great then to see where growing up and being educated in this interesting country of ours can lead us, and what opportunities and paths we will go on to once we leave university.

Steele-Perkins insists his stance is non-judgemental but what he does show us, through the good and the bad, is a truth about England that is beautifully captured and great for us all to see.

This exhibition does not set out to show us what we already know about England, but what SteelePerkins has seen of it himself, yet through his touching images of English life we are able to see a certain level of truth that is missed out by all the tourist brochures and news broadcasts.

This is England, warts and all.

England, My England is at University Gallery until June 4

Beside the seaside: Blackpool Beach in 1982, part of the England My England display

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

29

Arts Culture

debate

Live poetry readings: are we losing touch with performance poetry?

Polly Randall

Joe Barton

If we were to hark back to the days when literature was just emerging, poetry is there in all its glory long before the conception of the novel or the creation of plays.

The great stories of the olden times were acted out in spoken word, a form so diverse it was appropriate for sonnets of love or epic stories of battles and wars.

Fast forward a few thousand years, why should anything be different? I have regularly attended poetry readings, as an appreciation of literature, as a social event and to support friends.

Poetry too often has the stereotype applied to it that it is merely for moody boys with Morrissey-like haircuts and a love for unattainable girls, and whilst this is true it can also be really, really funny.

On recent nights I have heard verses on online masturbation over men pretending to be women, council estate slags and holidays to Magaluf.

These are not what many would

From the court poets of Anglo Saxon Britain, to the post-punk expletives of John Cooper Clarke, poetry readings remain a staple of public entertainment. But should they?

Yes, poetry originated as a handy way of disseminating knowledge through the generations, but most of what we now consider poetry is a strictly private affair.

Reading a poem is like pressing the pause button on the stop-watch of life, and it’s a moment best enjoyed alone. In fact, some poems, like ee cummings’ r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-ag-r, depend on their visual impact to make sense, so reading them aloud misses the point entirely.

Furthermore, most poetry fans will admit that even the vocal stylings of their favourite writer always fail to match up to the voice that they hear in their head when they read their work. On the page, The Wasteland is a masterpiece that deepens with every reading.

T.S. Eliot’s recorded performance

expect from traditional conventions of poetry, but poetry has a changing face - it is not an outdated form but a type of writing which is very alive and relevant.

For emerging poetic talent these poetry readings also form a really important space to promote their work, and give them opportunities to make a name for themselves in a vibrant local poetry scene.

And this is just what some Newcastle students are doing. Poetry nights organised by University societies are allowing them to gain regional and national recognition.

From the diverse range on offer, you’re sure to see at least one poet who you really like, who can probably make you either laugh or cry with the skill in their art.

of it, however, sounds like General Melchett from Blackadder.

TV poetry readings are even worse, with actors thinking that, in order to be arty and poetic, they need to pause.

Dramatically. After. Every. Word.

Brian Blessed’s Tourette’s syndrome version of Charge of the Light Brigade, which starts off earsplitting and then gets louder, is a terrifying example of this fallacy.

Then there are the horrors of open mic nights. Having barely survived the trauma of listening to complete strangers discuss their most intimate thoughts with essentially meaningless combinations of obscure adjectives, it’s something that cements poetry’s reputation as pretentious and self-indulgent.

That said, there’s still a great tradition of performance poetry in the UK and elsewhere, be it national treasures like Ian MacMillan, or young pretenders like Luke Wright.

But the pivotal point is knowing what works in public, and what is, as Stephen Fry described, subjecting innocent strangers to “the worst kind of arse-gravy imaginable.”

30

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Film

film feature

preview

We want you

Burma VJ

Chris Binding discusses the history of military FHQVRUVKLS LQ $PHULFDQ Ă&#x20AC;OP Although cinema as a technique GDWHV EDFN WR HDUO\ WK FHQWXU\ RSWLFDO WR\V $PHULFD ZDV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW country to develop and monopolise the medium into a global product and a powerful cultural force.

Despite breakthroughs for indeSHQGHQW Ă&#x20AC;OP WKURXJK 0LUDPD[ DQG Film 4, the Hollywood studio system still maintains majority control RYHU WKH %R[ 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH DQG DXGLHQFHV worldwide.

American cinema is symbiotically linked to the military and in this VHQVH Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNHUV UHTXLULQJ PLOLWDU\ IXQGLQJ RQ WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;OPV RIWHQ KDYH WR VDFULĂ&#x20AC;FH WKHLU DUWLVWLF IUHHGRPV WR PDNH D Ă&#x20AC;OP WKDW UHSUHVHQWV $PHULFD â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;suitablyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

7KH FHQVRUHG Ă&#x20AC;OPV RIWHQ GLVWRUW historical fact and are proâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;war, spreading incredibly biased propaganda worldwide.

Filmmakers wishing to produce a script involving the military have to request military co-operation to use these expensive sources.

0LOLWDU\ HOLWH UHYLHZLQJ WKH VFULSW can delete characters, order reâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; ZULWHV DQG HYHQ VWRS WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP EHLQJ PDGH SODFLQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNHU LQ D position of intense creative pressure.

Even if access is granted, agents obVHUYH WKH VKRRW DQG Ă&#x20AC;QDO YHUVLRQV RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;OP PXVW EH DSSURYHG E\ WKH Pentagon.

This system doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually mirURU WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DPHQGPHQW RI WKH American constitution â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;freedom of speechâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and produces incredibly biased representations of the American military.

0DQ\ VXFFHVVIXO GLUHFWRUV KDYH bowed to this pressure, such as John :RR RQ KLV SDFLĂ&#x20AC;F ZDU HSLF Wind Talkers, where he was forced to remove characters and alter historical facts, and James Bondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Goldeneye where the entire production was

jeopardised by one joke about the Vietnam war.

The directors who openly oppose WKH PLOLWDU\ KDYH WR PDNH Ă&#x20AC;OPV ZLWK little support such as Francis Ford Copollaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vietnam classic Apocalypse Now, accumulating huge budgets but having the autonomy to present more critical depictions of the scandals surrounding military and war. +RZHYHU IURP D Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLDO SHUspective it is easier to co-operate with the military, lowering budgets DQG DYRLGLQJ FRQĂ LFW ZLWK VWXGLRV Perhaps the worst offender is Jerry Bruckheimer constantly caving to 3HQWDJRQ GHPDQGV RQ Ă&#x20AC;OPV VXFK DV Pearl Harbour, Armageddon and Black Hawk Down, in which the military are overly romanticised.

0DQ\ RWKHU FRQWHPSRUDU\ Ă&#x20AC;OPV such as Independence Day and Rocky VI promote clear pro-American valXHV ZKLOH WKH ¡V Ă LFN Top Gun functioned as an effective feature length UHFUXLWPHQW Ă&#x20AC;OP IRU WKH 1DY\ The American military also negotiates its messages into childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s television, with script alterations appearing in episodes of both The Mickey Mouse Club and Lassie, immorally targeting these propaganda values at vulnerable age groups.

7KH OLVW RI Ă&#x20AC;OPV LV P\ULDG DQG WKH general viewer that does not recognise the military undertones is more susceptible to subconsciously envelop these sanitised propaganda messages.

Allowing the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most powerful military to place its messages into the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most powerful medium has undoubtedly aided recruitment and changed the militaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public image, but any country that allows its military to control the arts is incredibly unconstitutional.

7KLV PLOLWDU\ LQĂ XHQFH RQ $PHULFDQ Ă&#x20AC;OP DOWHUV KLVWRU\ FUHDWHV QHJDWLYH

US Navy stated after Top Gunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UHOHDVH QDY\ DYLDWRU UHFUXLWPHQW ÂżJXUHV URVH E\

stereotypes of others and formulates a doctored military image.

Consequently when America goes WR ZDU SXEOLF FR RSHUDWLRQ LV LQĂ XHQFHG E\ WKHVH Ă&#x20AC;OPLF UHSUHVHQWDtions.

3UHYLRXV Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNHUV ZLWK VFULSWV involving adultery, corruption, homosexuality or racism have faced severe problems and to avoid these issues, the military can withdraw their support which can trigger total collapse of a project. The practice still continues today under the cur-

UHQW 3HQWDJRQ OLDLVRQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FHU 3KLO Strub, who has made over one hundred directors and producers alter their projects in favour of military representation.

With Congress and the Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guild of America proving ineffective at protesting against these practices, expect the same tired clichĂŠs and patriotic sentiments to continue. )RU D FRXQWU\ WKDW SURFODLPV LW Ă&#x20AC;JKWV for freedom, the infrastructure of its Ă&#x20AC;OP LQGXVWU\ VHHPV WR DOORZ QRQH DW all.

Burma VJ is the Oscar nominated Ă&#x20AC;OP WHOOLQJ WKH UHDO VWRU\ RI WKH brave new breed of young video journalists who risked torture and life in jail to tell the world of the SURWHVWV DJDLQVW WKH RSSUHVsive military regime that rules their country, Burma.

'XULQJ WKH XSULVLQJ FRXrageous young citizens of Burma LQVLVWHG RQ NHHSLQJ XS WKH Ă RZ RI news from their closed country.

Armed with small video cameras the Burma VJs stopped at nothing to make their reportages from the streets of Rangoon.

7KLV IHDWXUH IROORZV -RVKXD D year old Burmese reporter, as he coordinates other young journalists VHFUHWO\ Ă&#x20AC;OPLQJ WKH SHDFHIXO SURWHVW led by monks in Rangoon. They FRQWLQXH WR Ă&#x20AC;OP WKURXJK WKH EUXWDO crackdown of the protest by the ruling military and the footage is put together to form a unique, tangible spectacle that helps us understand and feel their situation.

With foreign TV crews banned from entering Burma, Joshua is left with his team to document the events secretly and takes on the challenge of establishing a lifeline to the surrounding world. The VJs soon become the prime target of Burmese intelligence and Joshua lands himself between hope and despair as he frantically attempts to track his reporters.

0DQ\ RI WKH 9-V DQG SURWHVWRUV paid with their freedom in bringing this feature to you and face 65 years imprisonment. An important DQG SRLJQDQW Ă&#x20AC;OP IRU RXU WLPHV WKLV feature shows bravery in its truest IRUP 7KH Ă&#x20AC;OP RIIHUV DQ H[FOXVLYH insight into high risk journalism and dissidence in a controlled policed state whilst also providing scrupulous documentation of the historiFDO GD\V LQ ZKHQ WKH %XGGKLVW monks started marching.

Burma VJ is being screened on Tuesday at 7pm in the Union Lounge, on the top à RRU RI WKH 6WXGHQWV¡ 8QLRQ Jeremy Mason

preview 6WDU DQG 6KDGRZ¡V -RKQ &DUSHQWHU Ă&#x20AC;OP IHVW Whatever happened to John Carpenter? Back in the late 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and early 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s he was not only considered the greatest horror director about, but also one of the most viVLRQDU\ DQG EROG Ă&#x20AC;OPPDNHUV RI KLV time.

Then he was gifted with bigger budgets and studio backing and went on to make some of the most expensive shit committed to celOXORLG SXWWLQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO QDLO LQ KLV DUWLVWLF FRIĂ&#x20AC;Q ZLWK ¡V Ghosts of Mars.

Thankfully Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Star and Shadow have a decent appreciation RI WKH PDQ¡V HDUOLHU Ă LFNV DQG RIIHU you a chance to get a taste of the directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golden era with a selection RI IRXU RI KLV Ă&#x20AC;OPV Assault On Precinct 13, They Live, Escape From New

York and The Thing.

Even by todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards these Ă&#x20AC;OPV VWLOO SDFN WKHLU FLQHPDWLF punch. Precinct 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infamous scene in which a schoolgirl is shot in cold blood is still likely to have censors crusading for it to be banned.

However, they also capture Carpenterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark humour and satirical take on society. They Live, about a hitcher who discovers that aliens have integrated themselves into society, is packed full of cheesy but amazing one liners like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I have come to chew bubble gum and kick ass.

And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m all out of bubble gum!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Then we have Escape From New York ZKLFK JDYH FLQHPD LWV Ă&#x20AC;UVW true anti-hero in the form of Kurt Russellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s convicted criminal Snake Plisskenho is sent on a supposed

suicide mission to rescue the President from the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest prison facility that was once New York City.

And thankfully Star and Shadow have saved the best for last. While John Carpenterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remake of The Thing is renowned for its bloody horror and gore, the complexity of its narrative and unnerving direcWLRQ PDNH LW D VFL Ă&#x20AC; PDVWHUSLHFH timeless classic and out of the four Ă&#x20AC;OPV VWDQGV LQ D FODVV RI LWV RZQ If John Carpenter does decide to return to his roots and make more Ă&#x20AC;OPV OLNH WKHVH WKHQ ZH¡G KDYH D lot to look forward to and the fuWXUH FRQWUDU\ WR &DUSHQWHU¡V Ă&#x20AC;OPV would indeed be bright.

-DPHV )DLUĂ&#x20AC;HOG

)DPRXV VWLOO IURP -RKQ &DUSHQWHUÂśV DFFODLPHG ÂżOP Assault on Precinct 13

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

31

Film Culture Film Editor: Frances Kroon - courier.culture-film@ncl.ac.uk

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out, rather than the blowing its FRPHGLF ORDG LQ WKH RSHQLQJ KDOI KRXU Soon after starting his new job )UHGGLH EXPSV LQWR FKLOGKRRG VZHHWKHDUW -XOLH -RQHV VKH¡V WKH daughter of his new boss and is WUDSSHG LQ D ORYHOHVV UHODWLRQVKLS -XOLH¡V GUHDPV RI WUDYHOOLQJ WKH world and pursuing a career in SKRWRJUDSK\ PDNH )UHGGLH UHDOLVH WKHUH¡V PRUH WR OLIH WKDQ ZRUNLQJ IRU D GUHDU\ OLIH LQVXUDQFH Ă&#x20AC; UP Meanwhile his two friends have LVVXHV RI WKHLU RZQ WR RYHUFRPH %UXFH +XJKHV IDFHV WKH WUXWK about his single father while lovaEOH IRRO 6QRUN 'RRODQ IDOOV LQ ORYH ZLWK D JLUO LQ KLV ORFDO FDIH $V ZLWK their previous projects, Gervais and

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Ashley Fryer

0HUFKDQW KDYH PDQDJHG WR SOXFN VRPH JUHDW DFWRUV RXW RI QRZKHUH while also getting the best out of H[SHULHQFHG SHUIRUPHUV OLNH (PLO\ :DWVRQ DQG 5DOSK )LHQQHV :LWK WKLV Ă&#x20AC; OP WKH GLUHFWRUV KDYH proved that they can transfer their VW\OH WR WKH ELJ VFUHHQ $QG WKH Ă&#x20AC; OP LV IXOO RI DOO WKRVH KHDUW ZDUPLQJ PRPHQWV DQG OLNHDEOH FKDUDFWHUV \RX¡YH FRPH WR H[SHFW IURP WKHLU SUHYLRXV ZRUN *HUYDLV OLNHQV WKH Ă&#x20AC; OP¡V OXVFLRXV YLVXDO VW\OH WR WKH television series Mad Men, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right, Readingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never looked so JRRG Adam Williams

Thomas Ward

%URVQDQ LV KLV XVXDO FKDUPLQJ cheeky self however, but the fact WKDW KLV UROH LQ WKH PRYLH LV ODUJHO\ RII VFUHHQ PDNHV LW KDUG IRU WKH DX GLHQFH WR FRQQHFW ZLWK KLP ZKLFK ZDV SRVVLEO\ 3RODQVNL¡V LQWHQWLRQ 7KH PRPHQWV RI EULOOLDQFH DUH ODUJH O\ RYHUZKHOPHG E\ WKH FKRSS\ HGLW LQJ 7KH Ă&#x20AC; UVW WZR WKLUGV RI WKH Ă&#x20AC; OP drags, and the action of the last third picks up a little, but not enough to PDNH DQ\RQH UHDOO\ FDUH DERXW WKH JUDQG DQG VOLJKWO\ DQWL FOLPDWLF SORW WZLVW /HDYH WKLV RQH IRU WKH FRQVSLU DF\ WKHRULVWV RU '9' GHDG :KLOH 0F*UHJRU¡V DFWLQJ LV Ă&#x20AC; QH LI a little routine, his character ranges IURP ERULQJ WR GLVOLNDEOH 7KH VFULSW

FRXOG KDYH XVHG VRPH Ă&#x20AC; QH WXQLQJ if only to give the audience a protagonist that people actually cared DERXW

Camila Tessler

32

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Music

Full interview with The Indelicates and a review of the final Youthmovies gig >>>thecourieronline.co.uk/music

music interview

Do you really want WR KXUW %R\ *HRUJH" Alice Vincent talks to the Culture Club frontman about prison, DIY style and Lady Gaga %R\ *HRUJH LV RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOO\ WKH FURVV GUHVVLQJ FDPS XQFOH , QHYHU KDG Chatting to a man who epitomised a decade in style, musical ingenuity and sexuality is daunting enough, let alone when the said decade is RQH , EDUHO\ H[LVWHG LQ $GG WR WKH PL[ WKH FRQWHPSRUDU\ vision of George - a man imprisoned for assaulting young men, who paints his chin and who is currently embarking on a new stripped back tour - and fair to say anticipation was high when I picked up the SKRQH The hits of Culture Club were arJXDEO\ WKH Ă RRU Ă&#x20AC;OOHUV RI RXU SDUentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; generation rather than ours, DQG \HW %R\ *HRUJH UHPDLQV D KRXVHKROG QDPH ,W¡V EHHQ RYHU years since Karma Chameleon topped the charts but it, complete with Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infamous style, continues WR EH LFRQRJUDSKLHV RI WKH Âś V Contrary to what the media would suggest, however, George is no GLYD +LV ODWHVW WRXU LV QRW VR PXFK D comeback attempt as an indulgence in the performing he claims he has RQO\ MXVW VWDUWHG WR HQMR\ â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I never used to like doing live VWXII EXW , SUHIHU LW QRZ , UHDOO\ OLNH LW ¡ KH VD\V The change of heart has come ZLWK DJH DSSDUHQWO\ $IWHU QHDUO\ three decades George has â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;got used to performingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and no longer has WR ÂśIDNH¡ KLV FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH DQG HQMR\PHQW George admits that behind the Ă DPER\DQW IDFDGH RI KLV QHZ ZDYH hey-day he was hiding an on-stage

YXOQHUDELOLW\ â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;People werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really coming to OLVWHQ 7KHUH ZDV D ORW RI VFUHDPLQJ ¡ KH FKXFNOHV Âś<RX¡G SOD\ D JLJ DQG thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d just be people screaming, FU\LQJ ORWV RI UXQQLQJ H\HOLQHU ¡ Rather than â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;being caught up in a kind of madnessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, George returns to crowds â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;that listen more nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, both in his current tour as well as KLV ORQJVWDQGLQJ '- FDUHHU â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I think the crowds now are full of SHRSOH ZKR ORYH ZKDW , GR , PHDQ obviously, some of them love me as ZHOO EXW WKH\ ORYH WKH PXVLF WRR ¡ His latest single Amazing Grace GLVFXVVHV ÂśOLYLQJ LQ WKH PRPHQW¡ Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not keen to dwell on the past WKDW PDGH KLP IDPRXV Âś<RX FDQ miss so much by not being where \RX DUH ¡ ,W LV LQ NHHSLQJ WKHQ WKDW it also references his knowledge of up-to-the-second electro and dance PXVLF $V D IRXQGHU RI WZR VREHU FOXE nights, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highly opinionated on the issues of drink and drugs, despite having suffered with heroin DQG RWKHU GUXJ DGGLFWLRQV *RGspeed, his latest project, is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;actually OLIH DIĂ&#x20AC;UPLQJ¡ â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I do a lot of work in clubs where people are wasted and drunk and DQQR\LQJ 6R WR EH LQ D URRP ZKHUH people are just not pissed or high, but having a good time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t WHOO \RX KRZ QLFH LW LV ,I WKH ZKROH ZRUOG ZDV OLNH WKDW LW¡G EH JUHDW 6XJDU LV HYLO ¡ $V RQH ZKR KDV VHHQ FOXEELQJ IDGV FRPH DQG JR *HRUJH VKRXOG NQRZ Âś%DFN LQ WKH HLJKWLHV FOXEELQJ ZDV all about what you wore, who you knew and if you were cool enough WR JHW LQ 'LIIHUHQW YLEHV FDPH LQ with the house revolution and I preIHU WKDW &OXEELQJ LQ WKLV FRXQWU\ LV VR PL[HG QRZ <RX VHH GUDJ TXHHQV RQ HYHU\ IURQW GRRU ¡ The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mixed vibeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is something

*HRUJH KDV DOZD\V VRXJKW RXW Âś,¡YH QHYHU WULHG WR OLYH LQ D JD\ JKHWWR , try not to play gay clubs, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been lucky in getting to play PL[HG RQHV , GRQ¡W ZDQW WR EH LQ D FOXE ZLWK MXVW PHQ , ZDQW WR VHH HYHU\RQH ¡ 6R IRXU PLQXWHV LQ DQG WKUHH FOLchĂŠs have been written off: no diva, no drugs, no jewel in the queer FURZQ 1H[W ODQGV DQ HYHQ ELJJHU ERPEVKHOO â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been a follower of fashLRQ +LJK IDVKLRQ LV DERXW ZHDULQJ money,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; George explains, sounding ever like a teenage wannabe deVLJQHU â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very frugal when it comes to P\ ZDUGUREH , JR WR 2[IDP , EX\ WKLQJV IURP 0DUNV DQG 6SHQFHU¡V DQG FXVWRPLVH WKHP <RX¡OO QHYHU walk into a room and be dressed OLNH VRPHRQH HOVH ¡ +H PDNHV D YHU\ good point, but I still struggle to envisage him appliquĂŠing sequins RQWR D Â&#x2026; EOD]HU Making an effort is important to KLP DV KH DGPLWV Âś, GUHVV XS ZKHQ , JR RXW OLNH D JLUO ¡ +RZHYHU KH LV VWLOO ÂśYHU\ ',<¡ 6SHDNLQJ RI KLV make-up, he says having his friend to do it â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;is a luxury, only for really special things - usually I just do it P\VHOI¡ $Q HYHU FKDQJLQJ VW\OH UHĂ HFWV KLV insistence that he is not representaWLYH RI MXVW RQH GHFDGH Âś,¡P YHU\ proud of what I did with Culture Club, but for a long time I think I was the only person who knew that WKH HLJKWLHV ZHUH RYHU ¡ Ever looking out for the latest slice of individualism, George is a big IDQ RI /DG\ *DJD +DYLQJ VHHQ KHU DW WKH 2 KH FODLPV KH¡V ÂśQRW WKDW botheredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; about the special effects of her stage shows, preferring the reality and vulnerability of her solo piano performances; perhaps reĂ HFWLQJ KLV RZQ RQ VWDJH IHHOLQJV

Not a fan of celebrity culture - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;all WKLV WDNLQJ SKRWRV DQG Ă&#x20AC;OPLQJ SHRple all the timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; - George nevertheless claims he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really struggle with the media attention following KLV UHOHDVH IURP SULVRQ ODVW \HDU Âś<RX MXVW JHW RQ ZLWK LW ,¡YH OHDUQW in the last couple years that you MXVW JHW RYHU WKLQJV ¡ 3ULVRQ LV ÂśQRW somewhere [heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d] recommendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but simultaneously wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;an awful H[SHULHQFH HQWLUHO\¡ Needless to say, I was surprised

ZKHQ KH DQQRXQFHG KH KDG IXQ â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You make friends, you laugh, you take the piss out of the people who ZRUN WKHUH 7KHUH DUH D ORW RI JRRG people in prison, good people do EDG WKLQJV ¡ Boy Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new single â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;$PD]LQJ Graceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is out now. For more info visit www.boygeorgeuk.com, or follow The Boy on Facebook - www.facebook.com/ ER\JHRUJHRIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO

the debate The Libertines: can we stand them now?

Thomas Belcher %HIRUH 7KH /LEHUWLQHV ZHUH DQnounced to be playing Reading and Leeds this summer, I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that VPLWWHQ ZLWK %DUDW 'RKHUW\ DQG FR I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dislike the band and knew a little about them, but I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really become acquainted with their PXVLF When I (eventually) managed to get a ticket to Leeds Festival I felt REOLJHG WR FKHFN RXW WKHLU DOEXPV I soon began to realise what all the excitement had been about in the Ă&#x20AC;UVW SODFH Their songs portray an intensity and urgency that has been much replicated and envied ever since,

but the key ingredient that makes the band so explosive, if a little temperamental, is the bond between &DUO DQG 3HWH The tragedy of Pete leaving the band when he did is that fans didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to experience the chemistry of the second album in a live setting, which was largely focussed on his relationship with Carl - Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Stand Me Now LV D SULPH H[DPSOH These concerts give old fans a chance to witness the rapport these newer tunes bring out between the two front men while hopefully introducing many people (including myself) to a band which actually deserves the substantial hype given WR LW E\ WKH 10(

Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor Yes, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re back â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just as the cockroach survive the nuclear holocaust and the Tiger Woods survives scandal, the bad boys of noughties ladrock The Libertines have returned, amidst much rejoicing and waving RI Ă DJV Thing is, is there really much to celebrate here? Reforming for some enormous fee to play the main stage of the Reading & Leeds Festivals to an audience of boozedXS Ă&#x20AC;IWHHQ \HDU ROGV DQG DV RI \HW nowhere else, smacks of enormous F\QLFLVP 0D\EH WKLV LVQ¡W DOO VR VXUSULVLQJ The cocktail of warmed-up Lon-

don Calling leftovers, conveniently timed PR opportunities/guerrilla gigs (as the press releases had them) and knees-up-mother-brown mockney nothingness that spun WKHP LQWR LQIDP\ LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SODFH is one of the great pieces of twentyĂ&#x20AC;UVW FHQWXU\ QRWKLQJQHVV

The Libertines are like a Halleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comet of disaster: every time they reappear, something terrible happens Kicking out their original drummer Paul Dufour before signing for being â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;too oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, contriving a faintly

reactionary iconography out of suppressed desires for a return to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;good olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; daysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;: rock and roll rebelOLRQ WKH\ DLQ¡W $QG QR WDNLQJ KDUG GUXJV LVQ¡W HGJ\ LW¡V MXVW VWXSLG Not convinced? Look at it this ZD\ WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;UVW DOEXP FDPH RXW DW WKH HQG RI DV WKH Ă&#x20AC;DVFR RI WKH ,UDT ZDU VWDUWHG WR ORRP ,Q their second album came out, and *HRUJH : %XVK ZDV UH HOHFWHG LQ $PHULFD ,Q WKH\ UHIRUP while the ultimate enemies of rock music, the Conservatives (why else JHW *DU\ %DUORZ WR FDPSDLJQ IRU \RX" ORRN VHW WR WDNH EDFN SRZHU The Libertines are like a Halleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comet of disaster: every time they reappear, something terrible hapSHQV <RX KDYH EHHQ ZDUQHG

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

33

Music Culture Music Editors: Mark Corcoran-Lettice and Chris Mandle - courier.culture-music@ncl.ac.uk

interview

Be afraid of The Indelicates Mark Corcoran-Lettice debates feminism and the music business with the cult heroes â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know - you just write what you can stand to. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really like dancing, I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been in the early stages of a relationship for years, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got an MA in Renaissance Studies and most of the time I listen to popular science audiobooks instead of music. If I tried to write about a girl being lovely Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d just be a big fat liar.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Indelicates are not like most other bands, and thank f*** for that.

Forming in late 2005 around the central duo of performance poet Simon Indelicate and Julia Indelicate (a founding member of The Pipettes who quickly sought to take her music in a much sharper direction), The Indelicates are quite unlike any other act working in Britain today.

A mixture of stadium rock guitars, Billy Bragg emoting and the odd touch of Scott Walker dramatics, makes them, musically and lyrically, the sharpest kids in town. Angry malcontents waging war on popular culture with an infectious and often hilarious way with words.

2008â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;American Demoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ZDV RQH RI WKH GHFDGH¡V Ă&#x20AC; QHVW IURP these isles, with tracks like the self-explanatory We Hate The Kids marking them out as a unique and

remarkable voice, and their new record â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Songs For Swinging Loversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is possibly even better.

Self-released via the Corporate Records website, I thought it sensible to ask about the state of the music business and the reasons for going DIY. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simpleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, they explain, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;record companies used to have a monopoly on music sales because the key resources they controlled (recording, manufacturing, distribution and promotion) were scarce and expensive. The internet has made them abundant and pretty close to free. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Consequently, a radical shift in the business model is just necessary. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good - everyone always knew that the music industry were card stacking parasites - now we actually have alternatives.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The recently passed Digital Economies Act, for many, looked like the last gasp of a desperate industry.

The Indelicates notably campaigned against it, commenting, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a shockingly stupid and ill-thoughtthrough law made by people who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand the internet for WKH EHQHĂ&#x20AC; W RI PXVLF SULFNV ZKR donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; But kicking against the pricks is what they do best. One of the standouts on the new record, Flesh, deals with current trends of dismissing feminism in unsettling, bleakly comic detail.

On this subject Simon says, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get into trouble for this, but I think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sense in which fashionable

post-modern theories about cultural relativism have trickled down into the mainstream to the point where normal, left-leaning, well-meaning people are quite happy to forgive egregious oppression of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The song Flesh itself though â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;is more about the general dilution of feminism and also has Julia saying snatch, which people are oddly uncomfortable aboutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Well, quite.

For anyone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever felt at odds with our increasingly incredulous and apathetic society, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Songs For Swinging Loversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the record for you.

The whole album is full of anthems for the discontented, from the Patty Hearst inspired We Love You, Tania, the war against bourgeois bullshit of Be Afraid Of Your Parents and the Brave New World referencing Savages, a song about how â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;in a world like this you have to hang yourself just to stop yourself spoiling things for everyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Still, at least thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some good news. One deluxe edition of the album, set to be released in June, if purchased, will see the band travel to your house, play for you, record it and give you the rights. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expensive, but you can club together.

The second we can get booked to play, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll come.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Now thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an offerâ&#x20AC;Ś

of the Northumbria University SU decide to advertise a for-fans Renegades gig as Feeder.

The band came on stage, opening with a new song from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Renegadesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; EP, Sentimental, only to fall on the confused ears of Feeder fans expecting the Radio One favourites.

After an awkward start to the show, the band had a divided crowd of Renegades fans and casual Feeder fans, yet they rose to the occasion and won over the confused with energetic performances of both grassroots Feeder songs and new material.

The Renegades fans, initially

diffused, found their way to the front, generating such movement and energy that one could entirely forget this is the band who wrote Tumble and Fall. Classic songs such as Shade, Sweet 16 and Godzilla just DGGHG IXHO WR WKH Ă&#x20AC; UH After a decade of churning out hit after hit, Renegades is the sound of a band rediscovering their roots. The casual fans may have left rueing the lack of hits, but try as they might, surely such a powerful performance cannot be denied.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Songs For Swinging Loverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is available for download now at www.corporaterecords.co.uk, with physical releases scheduled for June.

gigs Renegades (Feeder)

Northumbria University, 16 April Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to feel sorry for Grant Nicholas.

No sooner has he shaken the monkey of commercial expectation off his back for these intimate Renegades gigs, previewing new material, than the intelligent folk

Laura Marling

Journal Tyne Theatre, 19 April With two critically acclaimed albums, a Mercury prize nomination and collaborations with various indie bands under her belt at the mere age of 20, Laura Marling has certainly done well for herself.

Her live reputation preceded her when she came to Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journal Tyne Theatre, bringing an

evening of enchanting folk music to a quaint venue.

Opening act Boy & Bear from Australia came across well, their mix of Fleet Foxes-esque vocal harmonies and Mumford & Sons-ish banjos setting the tone for proceedings with a series of impressive songs that should see them do very well in the coming months.

Next up was Alessiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ark, an endearingly timid nineteen-year-old whose dainty and delicate tunes are sure to have won over many new fans amongst the well-sold crowd.

When Marling took to the stage, VKH VWURGH RXW FRQĂ&#x20AC; GHQWO\ EHIRUH

Stuart Edwards

commencing with new single Devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spoke, backed by a talented band.

Drawing from both her debut and her recent album â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I Speak Because , &DQ¡ VKH FXW D VHOI DVVXUHG Ă&#x20AC; JXUH pleasing the crowd with both old favourites such as Ghosts and Alas I Cannot Swim, and showcasing her fantastic voice on highlights from the new album, particularly Rambling Man and Hope in the Air. All in all, it was a brilliant and atmospheric night of music from one of Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brightest talents, with melodies that belie her age.

Ben Travis

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Newcastle University, 19 April

It had been three years since Black Rebel Motorcycle Club last played in Newcastle, so unsurprisingly there was a lot of catching up to do with their North East fans.

Taking to the Basement stage, they set ahead on rewarding their patience.

After an unexpectedly compelling performance by Dark Horses, the de facto indie doom-rock support band on the night, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club took the stage by storm and launched right into some of their classics from way back when they were more likely to glean scruffy old Led Zeppelin fans than indie hipsters in skinny jeans.

The set seemed to progress and mirror the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own musical development, with the occasional noisy foray into screechy feedback-laced hard rock breaking up the poppy selection of tunes and the odd slow ballad thrown in for

good measure. Everything youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d hope for in a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club set then - and even better, none of the annoying noise of last \HDU¡V H[SHULPHQWDO Ă RS The Effects of 333.

When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got over a decade of music-making behind you, choosing what to play for a set becomes dubiously hard, but Black Rebel Motorcyle Club managed to pull it off to offer something for all their fans as well as including the well-known singles that got WKHP QRWLFHG LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW SODFH Material from their new album â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Beat The Devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tattooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was aired to a warm (for a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gig) reception, while classics like Love Burns resounded perfectly.

Even the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union managed to pull out enough stops to actually have decent sound, tweaking a bit of love into the setup and allowing the sludgy feedback that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are famous for to shine through the mix handsomely. For a band whose sound can sometimes be a mixerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nightmare, the venue coped brilliantly.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just hope then that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not another three years before they return to grace Newcastle again.

Romain Chenet

34

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Music

More record reviews and an exclusive interview with The Bluetones>>> thecourieronline.co.uk/music

music albums

singles LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening

MGMT Congratulations

Darwin Deez Darwin Deez

Ever since 2003â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debut single Losing My Edge, LCD Soundsystem have occupied a strange, fruitful position in the music world, SURYLGLQJ GDQFHĂ RRU JROG ZKLOH casting an aloof eye over it all.

As the elder statesman of dancepunk,James Murphy has been responsible for some of the last GHFDGH¡V Ă&#x20AC; QHVW VRQJV EXW LI KH¡V to be taken at his word, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This Is Happeningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the third full-length LCD Soundsystem album, is to be the last. ,I WKLV LV LW WKRXJK WKHQ LW¡V D Ă&#x20AC; W ting end to a short but illustrious career. The slow-burning Dance Yrself Clean highlights a restraint not always apparent in their work, but those of you who fell in love with LCD Soundsystem the dance band are not going to be disappointed: aside from the Velvet 8QGHUJURXQG DSLQJ Ă&#x20AC; UVW VLQJOH Drunk Girls, the infectious One Touch and the relentless Pow Pow (featuring one of Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funniest

rants to date) look set to reverberate amongst any discerning festival or GDQFHĂ RRU WKLV VXPPHU That said, it is (marginally) their weakest album. You Wanted A Hitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mock-arrogant narrator becomes quickly annoying over its nineminute runtime, while the deliberately ugly synths of Somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Calling Me are somewhat misjudged. Lyrically also, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little that matches the emotional power of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sound Of Silverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; favourite All My Friends.

There is, though, one notable exception to this, in the form of the sensational closer Home. Having toured the world with his band, James Murphy has found true happiness at last, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at his front door, making for a remarkable end to the album. While weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll doubtlessly hear more of Murphy, if this is it for this incarnation, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to think of a better note to end on.

Goldfrapp Head First

New Young Pony Club

Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor

The Optimist

Diana Vickers - Once Presuming this would be awful given her shady X Factor past, in actual fact itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a well manufactured teen pop anthem akin to Millay Cyrus. The crooning, wispy vocals are backed by polished piano arrangements and punchy drums making it all round very catchy. Expect much more of the same.

Polly Randall Florence & The Machine Dog Days Are Over So, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come to this Florence. A re-release. Undoubtedly one of her best tracks from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all conquering â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lungsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; album, however you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but feel that this smacks of management milking the poor girl for all sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth. Can you hear the cash roll in? Because here it comes.

Tom Richards (VWHOOH IW .DUGLQDO 2IĂ&#x20AC; VKDOO Freak Estelle encourages girls to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;embrace their inner freaky freakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; over a mildly hyperactive retro fusion, courtesy of a straight-outof-an-aerobics-class vocal loop, a jaunty dancehall/garage-type mix and a bouncy sung chorus.

Add bass designed for stationary cars with oversized exhausts at WUDIĂ&#x20AC; F OLJKWV DQG \RX REWDLQ D fairly catchy result.

Martin Flynn Kate Nash - Do Wah Doo

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to get one thing straight when approaching MGMTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sophomore album â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Congratulationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is sure to be a polarising listen.

The sound of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Congratulationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; may come as less of a surprise, however, to those who actually bothered to listen to the other eight tracks on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oracular Spectacularâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Kids or Time To Pretend.

It seems that the most apt word to describe â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Congratulationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is hyper. Hyper-psychedelic, hyperkinetic, hyper-atmospheric. Frantic opener Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Working immediately thrusts the listener into explosions of kaleidoscopic hues, its infectious surfer-hook of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working in your EORRG ¡ EHLQJ UHPDUNDEO\ Ă&#x20AC; WWLQJ The pace rarely lets up, from the tribute to The Television Personalities, Song For Dan Treacy and its mad organ-bashing to Brian Enoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staccato interludes providing the genius insanity in spades. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Congratulationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a piece that is sure to alienate casual listeners, but is also highly accomplished, musically complex, and extremely interesting.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to judge this one by its cover â&#x20AC;&#x201C; strange, delirious, yet undeniably brilliant.

:KHQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW OLQH RI DQ DOEXP LV â&#x20AC;&#x153;Twinkle twinkle little star/How I wonder what you areâ&#x20AC;?, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hold high hopes for the next ten tracks or so. Yet with the effortless delivery of Julian Casablancas, and the minimal beats of The xx, on paper at least Mr Deez appears to Ă&#x20AC; QG D ZLQQLQJ IRUPXOD Lead single Radar Detector is radio friendly pop and catchy as hell, whilst The City, with its infectious hand claps and DNA DOO VFLHQWLĂ&#x20AC; F play on words, offer moments of well written pop songs.

However, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the weaker songs that let the album down, such as The Suicide Song, which doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite lead you to carrying out the act itself, but it by no means sets the world alight.

Mr Deez has by no means created a monstrosity of a debut album: the man certainly has the ability to write a catchy pop song and given time will (hopefully) produce something a bit more substantial, but the album fails to gather speed and starts to falter all too often.

Still, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s give the man time WKHUH¡V GHĂ&#x20AC; QLWH SURPLVH KHUH $Q\ man with a moustache like that must be onto something good.

Surely?

Given the ethereal quality of 2008â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Seventh Treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which saw Alison Goldfrapp masquerading as a folk nymph complete with warbling mystical vocals, and the disco smash of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Supernatureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Goldfrapp are becoming quite the musical chameleons.

This record is undeniably upbeat plastic pop, and Rocket resonates with synthetic pride, a world away from their previous wholesome image.

Aside from this, the song also features some of the worst lyrics I have ever heard - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh oh oh, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a rocket/ Oh oh oh, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going on itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more synths than you can shake a Betamax at, and the vocals on Dreaming and Head First sound so Madonna it is impossible not to imagine some shoulder padded stage wear.

Then though, there are hidden gems like Hunt, creating a more atmospheric quality than other tracks; a more haunting vocal and some passable lyrics makes for the standard of song expected.

The diversity theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve show between records signals a skilled band, but the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;80s maybe isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t their decade.

New Young Pony Club havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forgotten how to produce catchy, fresh sounding electro-pop.

Their follow up to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fantastic Playroomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, their debut album, seems to take a slightly more laid back approach but it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lack that certain, unique character the NYPC inject into all their songs.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve swapped the sexually charged lyrics of singles like Ice Cream for more relaxed and chilled out tracks that provide more atmosphere.

It oozes with coolness and every single has the potential to be a hit.

During the festival season this album should go down very well and would sound amazing live.

But perhaps this album needs a little something extra: thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an underlying factor thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s missing. The DOEXP Ă RZV ZHOO EXW LW QHHGV D bit more variation in it. The tempo remains fairly slow throughout and never picks up, which could result in the album sounding a bit uneventful after a while.

But that aside the album is GHĂ&#x20AC; QLWHO\ ZRUWK D OLVWHQ ZKHWKHU youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a newcomer or a long standing fan of the band, especially for stand-outs like Chaos and We Want To.

Ben Travis

Tom Richards

Polly Randall

Chris Scott

Despite three years having passed since her debut album, Nash seems to have progressed very little as an artist, still concentrating on those old topics like fancying boys and bitchy girls.

Clocking in at just two-and-a-half minutes, the song offers a catchy chorus but very little else. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve moved on, Kate hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

Adam Williams Keane ft Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Naan Stop For A Minute Keaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to produce radiofriendly pap never ceases to amaze, and even a collaboration with Somalian/Canadian singer/ rapper Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;naan fails to provide Stop For A Minute with any edge.

Expect to hear this constantly on trailers for light-entertainment TV shows in the near future.

Elliot Bentley We Are Scientists Rules Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Stop Edging ever closer to the mainstream as each album goes by, We Are Scientists return with something a little punchier than their previous material but are careful never to stray too far from their college rock roots. Existing fans are sure to lap this up.

Adam Williams

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

35

Music Culture

line-ups

festivals

EXIT Festival: Headlining the Serbian festival this year are reformed alt-metal act Faith No More and big beat pioneers The Chemical Brothers, alongside many more dance, electronic, rock and hip-hop acts.

Festival dos and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ts Chris Mandle on getting the festival experience right As our blistering Geordie winds are brightened by a faint hint of sunshine, it seems everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keen to get on their Topshop (or Primark depending on how the loanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lasting) board shorts and show off their ghastly pale legs. But before you gear up for festival season, heed these warnings of biblical proportions: THOU SHALT shower as regularly as one can. Alternatively engulf oneself in baby wipes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I prefer the Sainsburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s variety (works wonders for the skin).

THOU SHALT NOT attempt to crowd surf. Groping will ensue.

THOU SHALT don a straw trilby and wear it religiously throughout the week. And then discard it on your return to civilisation.

7+28 6+$/7 127 ZHDU Ă LS Ă RSV Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wading through muddy Ă&#x20AC;HOGV 'RQ ZHOOLHV WKH MD]]LHU WKH better.

THOU SHALT expect the rain. God doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like festivals, but a raincoat will see you through the watery purge.

THOU SHALT NOT prattle on about â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;discoveringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the headliners before they were big. I think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Ă&#x20AC;QG LW ZDV me that had heard of

Latitude Festival: Recently announced acts for the Suffolk event include The Coral, NME Tour faves The Big Pink and the much-hyped Egyptian Hip-Hop. )HVWLYDO GRQÂśW FURZG VXUÂżQJ LWÂśOO RQO\ HQG LQ WHDUV /HDYH LW WR WKH EDQGV

Kings of Leon before anyone else.

THOU SHALT wander to the smaller stages and open thine ears to lesser-known bands.

THOU SHALT NOT waste money on stodgy festival food and watery beer. Bring as much as you can

ZLWKRXW KDYLQJ D .DWH 0RVV VL]HG entourage.

THOU SHALT try and sleep with a celebrity. A-list will score most SRLQWV EXW ' OLVW ZLOO VXIĂ&#x20AC;FH THOU SHALT NOT remember a thing. That one shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be hard.

Festival Guide 2010: Part III Glastonbury 23-27th June, Glastonbury, Somerset, SOLD OUT glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

V Festival 21-22nd August, Chelmsford/Staffordshire, SOLD OUT vfestival.com

Truck Festival: The cult Oxford festival this year features acts like Mew, Future of the Left, Los Campesinos! and 0V '\QDPLWH DQG \HV VKH LV still going. Ă&#x2DC;ya Festival: The Norwegian festival has announced Miike Snow, Pavement, Iggy and the Stooges and many other favourites.

competition Reading/Leeds Festival 27-29th August Reading/Leeds SOLD OUT leedsmusicfestival.com

&UHDPĂ&#x20AC;HOGV 28-29 August, Daresbury, Cheshire ÂŁ100, plus booking fee FUHDPĂ&#x20AC;HOGV FRP

Glastonbury is, and always will be, the festival that all others will be compared by.

Now entering its 40th iteration, Glastonbury is as big as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever been, and as ever itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full of numerous delights and sounds to appeal to almost every taste.

Many press inches have been spent on U2, Muse and Stevie Wonder, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the smaller stages that really make Glastonbury so unique, and this year theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve really excelled themselves.

For my money, the place to be this year is the newly-christened West +ROWV VWDJH IRUPHUO\ -D]] :RUOG

Headlined by hip-hop leviathan 0RV 'HI WKH 3 )XQN OHJHQG *HRUJH Clinton, with Parliament/Funkadelic and Rodrigo y Gabriela, West Holts has got it all.

With other superb acts like Afrobeat hero Femi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;son-of-Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kuti, tropicalia pioneers Os Mutantes and oneZRPHQ OR Ă&#x20AC; VHQVDWLRQ 7XQH <DUGV lower down as well, you may never need reach the Pyramid Stage for a great weekend.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too many acts to mention, but noisy, ferocious Brit-rockers Earl Brutus at The Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Head on Saturday and dubstep super group 0DJQHWLF 0DQ RQ :HVW 'DQFH RQ Sunday look set to be remarkable also.

And if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a ticket?

Well, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always the BBCâ&#x20AC;Ś

Ah, globalisation! The big trans national companies often get a bad press for their wicked ways, but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be honest, they get so large for a reason: they offer a world class service, and Virgin are no different.

Their plane food may be rather lacking (Google that one for a laugh sometime) but with the V Festival, held every August in Chelmsford and Staffordshire simultaneously, Branson and his minions have provided another one of those wonderful services.

If the mud in Glastonbury and the riots of Reading arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for you then V could be the perfect alternative.

Far more relaxed, and with a myriad of shopping stalls, phone FKDUJHUV DQG FKLOO RXW ]RQHV LW LV one of the more comfortable places to spend your weekend shacked up in a tent.

The line up has something for everyone too, from chart toppers like the Sugababes, Tinie Tempah and Kings of Leon to dance legends Faithless and The Prodigy.

Even the musos should be satisĂ&#x20AC;HG ZLWK WKH OLNHV RI $PHULFDQ DOW rock heroes Eels and the returning Brit-rockers Skunk Anansie, with plenty more still acts to be announced.

Oh, and the foodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not too shabby either, lovely.

Leeds Festival 2009. A tentative affair, the line-up being the biggest shift away from its roots as the decisive alternative rock weekend of the year since 2001. Whilst Radiohead and Placebo restored a sense of normality, a predominately â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;indieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; line up stirred controversy.

2010â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line up is setting this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s August bank holiday event to be an amalgamation of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90s Reading and the remnants of the past decade.

Nostalgic acts such as Cypress Hill, :HH]HU DQG %OLQN OLWWHU WKH PDLQ stage in an odd harmony with more recent names such as Paramore, Pendulum and Biffy Clyro.

The talking point thus far has been Arcade Fireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rise to headlining status. Facebook groups have rallied the confused/sceptical, whilst fans Ă&#x20AC;HUFHO\ GHIHQG DQ XQGRXEWHGO\ iconic act.

Festival Republic have taken a gamble here, but the clever clashing with Pendulum will restrict ill-timed protests. The other two headliners *XQV 1¡ 5RVHV DQG %OLQN ZLOO undoubtedly be memorable performances and help retain the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s status.

Such a combination of styles and audiences could either be a disaster or a perfect balance - hopefully, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be the latter. Ironically, it could be Vâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kings of Leon coup that allows Reading and Leeds to revel in itself this summer.

+DYLQJ MXVW ZRQ WKH SUL]HG FURZQ of best festival at the Music Week $ZDUGV &UHDPĂ&#x20AC;HOGV LV DUJXDEO\ one of the best weekends of dance music throughout summer.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event brings together chart topping hit makers and underground legends to create one of the strongest line-ups around.

This is big on exclusive: all the headliners are making this their premier festival appearance of the VXPPHU KHUH 'DYLG *XHWWD ZKR has produced some of THE songs of the last year plays on the SatXUGD\ QLJKW DORQJVLGH 'HDGPDX another current dance master of I Remember fame.

The Sunday headliners lose none of the prestige, featuring Calvin Harris, everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite purYH\RU RI VKLQ\ GDQFH Ă RRU KLWV whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be warming up the decks for the legendary Tiesto, who has been at the top of the game for the last decade.

Other acts playing include Erol $ONDQ 3HWH 7RQJ (ULF 3U\G] DQG Sasha, and the list is seemingly endless.

If you have ever danced the night away at Wax:On or Turbulence WKHQ WKLV LV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ WKH IHVWLYDO IRU you. Grab your wellies, glow sticks, sun cream and head on down to &UHDPĂ&#x20AC;HOGV IRU DQ XQIRUJHWWDEOH or maybe completely forgotten, weekend.

Mark Corcoran-Lettice Music Editor

David McDonald

Stuart Edwards

Polly Randall

WIN TWO TICKETS FOR BEACH BREAK LIVE!

Voted â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Small Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UK Festival Awards, Beach Break Live has quickly become one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading festivals.

Now in its fourth year, the event which came to life after a successful pitch on Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Den is still the only festival that caters solely for students.

With a line-up that so far features Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding, Plan B, Chase & Status, The Futureheads and many more, 2010â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event looks set to be the biggest yet.

7DNLQJ SODFH RQ -XQH LQ Pembrey Country Park in South :DOHV WLFNHWV XVXDOO\ FRVW Â&#x2026; plus booking fee for students, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a pair of tickets to give away for you and a friend.

For a chance to win the tickets, simply answer the following question:

Which Kate Bush classic did The Futureheads cover?

Email your answer to courier. culture-music@ncl.ac.uk no later WKDQ SP RQ )ULGD\ $SULO DQG you could be in with a chance to ZLQ WZR WLFNHWV WR WKLV DPD]LQJ festival.

So what are you waiting for?

Get your emails in, and get ready for the Beach Break!

36

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture TV & Radio

tv & radio BBC

tv highlights

soaps

Prime Ministerial Debate

Coronation Street

Mon, Thurs, Fri on ITV1 'DYLG GLVFRYHUV *DU\ WU\LQJ WR VQHDN EDFN KRPH EXW ZLOO KH WHOO DQ\RQH RU ZLOO KH WU\ DQG FRQYLQFH *DU\ WR FRPH FOHDQ WR KLV IDPLO\" 7KLQJV PLJKW FKDQJH ZKHQ WKH $UP\ DUULYH WR ORRN IRU him! Mary takes Norris away on a cottage getaway and recruits him in her competition scheme EXW LV KHU UHDO DLP WR VHGXFH KLP" (OVHZKHUH 'HY DQG 6XQLWD PRYH back onto the street.

Thursday, 8.30pm BBC1 This Thursday marks the third DQG Ã&#x20AC;QDO GHbate between the three candidates running for the Prime Ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job and the race is wide open.

7KH Ã&#x20AC;QDO LQ WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW HYHU VHULHV RI 79 HOHFWLRQ GHEDWHV ZLOO WDNH SODFH LQ WKH 0LGODQGV DQG LWV IRFXV ZLOO EH RQ WKH HFRQRP\ VR LW·V WKH FOLPD[ RI DOO WKH WKUHH GHEDWHV DQG ZKDW SHRSOH UHDOO\ ZDQW WR NQRZ DERXW 7KH GHEDWH ZLOO EH PRGHUDWHG E\ 4XHVWLRQ 7LPH·V 'DYLG 'LPEOHE\ DQG ZLOO EH EURDGFDVW RQ %%& IURP SP 7KH GHEDWHV WKDW KDYH WDNHQ SODFH LQ WKH SUHYLRXV WZR ZHHNV KDYH KDG HYHU\RQH LQ WKH FRXQWU\ WDONLQJ DQG KDYH OHIW SHRSOH IHHOLQJ XQGHFLGHG DERXW ZKR WKH\ DUH JRLQJ WR YRWH for. :LWK 1LFN &OHJJ ZLQQLQJ WKH Ã&#x20AC;UVW RQH WKH SUHVVXUH LV UHDOO\ RQ IRU DOO FDQGLGDWHV WR VWHS XS WR WKH SODWH 7KLV WKLUG DQG Ã&#x20AC;QDO GHEDWH ZLOO EH VWDUWHG E\ &RQVHUYDWLYH SDUW\ OHDGHU 'DYLG &DPHURQ DQG ZLWK VXFK

an important subject at the centre of WKH GHEDWH WKLV ZLOO QR GRXEW EH D ground breaking and historic one.

7KH HYHQLQJ ZLOO FRQVLVW RI D VHULHV of questions by the moderator, and DOVR TXHVWLRQV IURP WKH DXGLHQFH members. <RX FDQ \RXUVHOI DOVR VXEPLW D question to the candidates in adYDQFH YLD EEF FR XN HOHFWLRQ LI \RX wish to do so.

7KLV VHULHV RI GHEDWHV ZLOO EH D UHDO H\H RSHQHU IRU Ã&#x20AC;UVW WLPH YRWHUV DQG WKRVH ZKR DUHQ·W UHDOO\ VXUH RI ZKR WR YRWH IRU DW WKH PRPHQW ,W·V D QHZ DQG YLEUDQW ZD\ WR JHW WKH SHRSOH RI WKLV FRXQWU\ LQYROYHG DQG PRWLYDWHG about something so important. ,I WKLV LV \RXU Ã&#x20AC;UVW \HDU RI YRWLQJ DV LW ZLOO EH IRU PRVW XQGHUJUDGXDWH VWXGHQWV , GR UHFRPPHQG WKDW \RX IROORZ WKLV GHEDWH DV LW ZLOO JLYH \RX D UHDO LQVLJKW DV WR WKH SROLFLHV RI HDFK SDUW\ OHDGHU :LWK WKH JHQHUDO HOHFWLRQ MXVW around the corner (May 6) be sure to tune in and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out the imSRUWDQW LVVXHV ZKLFK ZLOO VKDSH WKH future of your country.

The Ricky Gervais Show

The Lady and the Revamp

Pick of the week

Friday 10pm, C4

Eastenders

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri on BBC1 'HQLVH WULHV WR JLYH &KHOVHD VRPH DGYLFH EXW ZLOO VKH OLVWHQ" %HQ LV OHIW IHHOLQJ KXUW ZKHQ -RUGDQ DQG $EL WHOO KLP WKH\ GRQ·W ZDQW WR be mates with him anymore. Zsa =VD FDQ·W VWDQG VHHLQJ %HQ VR XQhappy so she persuades Leon to make friends with him.

Hollyoaks

Weekdays at 6.30pm on C4 &DOYLQ·V SUH ZHGGLQJ ZLQH WDVWing session is ruined by Mercedes DV VKH FRQIHVVHV WKDW VKH KDV ODFHG his and Leoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drinks with drugs ² RQH ZLWK VOHHSLQJ SLOOV DQG WKH RWKHU ZLWK FDIIHLQH SLOOV ² DQG UHPLQGV &DOYLQ WKDW VKH·OO DOZD\V be around to remind him of their DIIDLU (OVHZKHUH -RVK LV WRXFKHG ZKHQ 5K\V GXPSV ,QGLD VR DV QRW to upset him any further.

Christina Renner

Hestonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gothic Horror Feast C4

Emmerdale

Wednesday 9pm, C4

Tuesday 9pm, C4

Tuesday 1.15am, C4 C4

Jamies Does...

Stockholm C4

C4

Weekdays at 7pm on ITV1 &KDV DQG 3DGG\ ZDLW WR VHH LI $DURQ ZLOO ZDNH XS EXW HYHQ LI KH GRHV ZKDW VWDWH ZLOO KH EH LQ" 3ROODUG LV LQ GHHS WURXEOH DIWHU 2OHQD LV GHSRUWHG DQG E\ WKH HQG RI WKH ZHHN KLV OLIH LV LQ GDQJHU 0HDQZKLOH +ROO\ FRQWLQXHV to go behind her parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; back DQG $VKOH\·V GLVWDQW EHKDYLRXU ZRUULHV /DXUHO

Neighbours

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Clementine Manning

Shalini Nayee

Elizabeth Davies

Helen Atkinson

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Home and Away

Weekdays, 2.15pm & 6pm on Five ;DYLHU EORZV RII VRPH VWHDP at the gym with Tony but he is preoccupied with thoughts of KLV EURWKHU +H·V GHVSHUDWH WR EHOLHYH WKDW KH LVQ·W GHDG EXW ZLOO KH VKRZ XS DW WKH EDWWHU\" 0HDQZKLOH 0DULO\Q FDWFKHV 0LOHV WDONLQJ WR D FHUWDLQ LQYLVLEOH JLUO KH·G WROG HYHU\RQH KH FRXOGQ·W VHH DQ\PRUH ² SURPSWLQJ 0DULO\Q WR UHYHDO ZK\ VKH UHDOO\ UHWXUQHG WR 6XPPHU %D\ Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

37

TV & Radio Culture TV & Radio Editor: Aimee Philipson - courier.culture-tv@ncl.ac.uk

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catch-up You Have Been Watching

Joe Mellor Columnist

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what I listen to when...

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Aimee Philipson TV & Radio Editor

There comes a time when every student knows they’re growing XS 0LQH GHÀ QLWHO\ FDPH WKLV \HDU when the preferred radio station in our student kitchen changed from *DOD[\ WR 6PRRWK )0 ,·P QRW VXUH ZKR PDGH WKH FKDQJH EXW WKH FORVHW fanatic has managed to convert me.

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Thank You For My Freedom

World Twenty20 Cricket

BBC Introducing on 6 Music

Jamie Cullum

Tuesday 8pm, BBC R4

Friday 5.45pm, BBC 5LIVE

Tuesday 7pm, BBC 6 Music

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Helen Atkinson

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38

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture TV & Radio

tv & radio BBC

interview

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all gone Pete Tong David Coverdale speaks to the dance music legend as Radio 1 celebrate an historic landmark for the Essential Mix Not many DJs can claim to have their name used in everyday cockney rhyming slang. Not many DJs FDQ ERDVW DQ DZDUG ZLQQLQJ Ă&#x20AC;OP named after them. And not many DJs can say that they have welcomed in the weekend to listeners of Radio 1 for the last two decades.

In short, there are not many DJs like Pete Tong.

Although he may not have realised, next year will be Tongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twentieth year at BBC Radio 1, having joined the station back in 1991. ´<RX¡UH WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SHUVRQ WR WHOO PH that,â&#x20AC;? he admits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to think of something to mark the occasion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 52 weeks of celebrations ZLOO EH DSSURSULDWH , WKLQN Âľ But that is for another time and 7RQJ KDV SOHQW\ RI UHDVRQ WR FHOebrate right now, having reached an historic landmark last weekend with his other world-renowned Radio 1 show, the Essential Mix. First broadcast on Radio 1 on 10 October 1993, the Essential Mix has RIIHUHG D SODWIRUP IRU WKH ZRUOG¡V EHVW '-V DUWLVWV DQG SURGXFHUV WR SOD\ D WZR KRXU PL[ XQLQWHUUXSWHG across Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s airwaves.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn water into wine - Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always believed that if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always get there Dance music greats from Oakenfold to Sasha, and from Groove Armada to Daft Punk have graced the hallowed Essential Mix turntables over the last 16 and a half years, and last Friday saw the 500th DJ, artist RU JURXS WR IHDWXUH RQ WKH ZRUOG¡V PRVW SRSXODU PL[ VKRZ The act to be given the honour was %HOJLDQ GXR $HURSODQH YRWHG IRU E\ DQ H[SHUW SDQHO RI GDQFH PXVLF gurus, and he joined Richie Hawtin, Sasha and of course, Pete Tong, for D VSHFLDO H[WHQGHG OLYH EURDGFDVW RI WKH VKRZ IURP &LUFXV LQ /LYHUSRRO It marked a major milestone for a show that as Tong says has â&#x20AC;&#x153;such D VLPSOH IRUPDW \HW LV VWLOO VXFK DQ HIIHFWLYH SODWIRUP IRU JHWWLQJ DFURVV your ideas and your talent.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most bootlegged show in the history of radio around the world,â&#x20AC;? he continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s REYLRXVO\ LOOHJDO LW¡V Ă DWWHULQJ WKDW LW¡V VHHPHG WR EH WKDW YLWDO WKDW SHRSOH ZDQW WR GR WKDW Âľ

There is no question that the Essential Mix can make a career. One of the stand-out sets for Tong was that of David Holmes, a Northern Irish '- ZKRVH PL[ ZDV VR JRRG WKDW Ă&#x20AC;OP SURGXFHU 6WHYH 6RGHUEHUJK URSHG in Holmes to do the soundtrack for Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eleven and the rest of the Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s series.

But the list doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the Essential Mix has had a KXJH LPSDFW IRU D ORW RI WKH FXUUHQW generation that have broken through LQ WKH ODVW Ă&#x20AC;YH \HDUV Âľ 7RQJ VD\V ´,W¡V EHHQ D PDMRU LPSDFW IRU WKH likes of James Zabiela, Mark Knight, Funkagenda and the Swedes. And then right back at the start - for Carl &R[ IRU 'DQQ\ 5DPSOLQJ IRU 6DVKD and for Digweed. Those slots were PRQXPHQWDOO\ LPSRUWDQW LQ WHUPV of breaking us worldwide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still one of these things that everyone looks to do. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bench PDUN LQ WHUPV RI FDUHHU GHYHORSment.â&#x20AC;?

Breaking new talent and discovering the next big thing is what Tong thrives on. His Essential Selection is notorious for its world exclusives and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Essential New Tuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

2Q WKH FXUUHQW FURS RI '-V WKDW KH¡V KHOSHG VKRRW WR IDPH RQ KLV )ULGD\ QLJKW VORW WZR QDPHV VSULQJ WR WKH 49-year-oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind immediately. ´*XHWWD DQG 'HDGPDX GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ right now - they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have an outlet anywhere else. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always said I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn water into wine. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always believed that if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always get there. ´7KH VKRZ MXVW IDQV WKH Ă DPHV RI ZKDW¡V DOUHDG\ WKHUH DQG VSHHGV XS WKH SURFHVV , WKLQN WKDW¡V GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ the case with David and Deadmau5, who are the two biggest electronic ticket sellers in the world right now DQG WKH VKRZ ZDV LPSRUWDQW IRU them.â&#x20AC;?

And Tong also credits these two QDPHV IRU KHOSLQJ WR SXW GDQFH music in 2010 in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;really healthy SODFHÂľ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always something to be found thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good about it, all the way through my career, but I think ZH¡UH KHDGLQJ LQWR D ELW RI D SXUSOH SDWFK ZKHUH WKH PXVLF LV DFWXDOO\ LPSDFWLQJ DQ HYHQ ZLGHU DXGLHQFH â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the commercial end in America, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen David Guetta VWDUW WR SURGXFH ZLWK WKH %ODFN (\HG 3HDV DQG SHRSOH JHW RQ WKHLU KLJK horse and get cynical about it but actually you can only celebrate it.

Deadmau5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success can also only be good.

Essential: Pete Tong on the decks at Digital in Newcastle in March. The DJ has been a mainstay at BBC Radio 1 for nearly 20 years

´,W¡V RSHQLQJ VR PDQ\ GRRUV DQG VXGGHQO\ WKH PRQH\ VWDUWV Ă RZLQJ through the business again, everyone wants to sign everyone again DQG UHFRUG FRPSDQLHV VWDUW ZDNLQJ XS ,W¡V MXVW JRRG QHZV Âľ As for Pete Tong and his Friday QLJKW VKRZ ² WKDW¡V HQMR\LQJ D SXUSOH SDWFK RI LWV RZQ +DYLQJ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDOO\ NLFNHG RII WKH ZHHNHQG IRU \HDUV IURP SP SP DQG PRUH UHFHQWO\ 7RQJ¡V show was moved to the later time RI SP ZLWK $QQLH 0DF WDNLQJ KLV SODFH This move was seen to be a furWKHU H[DPSOH RI DJHLVP DW WKH %%& ZLWK ORQJ VHUYLQJ SUHVHQWHU 6WHYH /DPDFT GURSSHG DQG -R :KLOH\ ORVLQJ KHU SULPH PLG PRUQLQJ VORW DV SDUW RI D FRQWURYHUVLDO RYHUKDXO RI the station.

Tong though says Radio 1 bosses KDG WR ´IUHVKHQ XS WKH VWDWLRQÂľ DQG feels the move has â&#x20AC;&#x153;reinvigoratedâ&#x20AC;? the show. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They get an awful lot of stick in WKH SUHVV DERXW WKH DYHUDJH DJH RI SUHVHQWHUV EXW WKH\¡YH HLWKHU JRW WR SURPRWH WKHLU \RXQJHU '-V RU theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to get rid of them. ´, GRQ¡W WKLQN LW¡OO HYHU KDSSHQ again in the history of Radio 1 that WKH\¡OO OHDYH RQH SHUVRQ LQ WKH VDPH time slot for 18 years - I think they

forgot about me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the reasons the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so renowned and your name reverberates around the world is because \RX DUH OHIW LQ WKH VDPH SODFH IRU so long and so that becomes quite a SRZHUIXO WKLQJ IRU 5DGLR DQG WKH\ leave you there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think they were scared to move me and I was a little bit scared to be moved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the longer it went on, it was becoming inevitable that one day someone was going to have to change things around and it was UHDOO\ DOPRVW D UHOLHI WKH GD\ LW KDSSHQHG â&#x20AC;&#x153;The time change has given everyWKLQJ D NLFN XS WKH DUVH LW¡V UHLQYLJorated everything, and being a bit PRUH VSHFLDOLVW KDV PDGH WKH ZKROH buzz about the show feel very exciting.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever happen again in the history of Radio 1 that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll leave one person in the same time slot for 18 years ´1RZ $QQLH KDV WKH UHVSRQVLELOLW\ of the daytime into the night-time.

To be honest, it feels like the show has double the length even though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same, because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m free to do whatever I want to do.â&#x20AC;?

Tong is now looking forward to the summer and the Ibiza season where he has recently made an equally successful move from his long-running night at Pacha to Wonderland at Eden, something he describes as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;massive challengeâ&#x20AC;?.

7KHUH LV FOHDUO\ QR VWRSSLQJ WKH man who will celebrate his 50th birthday this summer as he goes on to talk with excitement about 5DGLR ¡V SODQV IRU WKHLU ,EL]D ZHHNHQG SURPLVLQJ VRPHWKLQJ ´ELJ DQG largeâ&#x20AC;?.

And as for just how long Tong FDQ FRQWLQXH LQ WKH JDPH IXOĂ&#x20AC;OOLQJ his role as Godfather of House and breaking the next generation of clubĂ&#x20AC;OOLQJ '-V KLV PHVVDJH FRXOGQ¡W EH clearer. ´$V ORQJ DV ,¡P KDSS\ ZLWK ZKDW ,¡P GRLQJ DQG WKH\¡UH KDSS\ ZLWK what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m doing, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t set a date on it yet.â&#x20AC;?

Listen to Radio 1 on the BBC iplayer this week to hear Pete and friends celebrate the 500th DJ, artist or group to take part in the legendary Essential Mix. Visit the wesbite at bbc.co.uk/ radio1/essentialmix

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

39

Puzzles Culture

puzzles

Puzzles Editors: Ned Walker and Suzi Moore - courier.puzzles@ncl.ac.uk

crossword ACROSS 5. A person who suffers for their belief (6) 8. A punctuation mark indicating surprise (11) 10. To solve a mystery; to become undone (7) 12. â&#x20AC;&#x153; -------- Come Dancingâ&#x20AC;? (8) 14. Polio is this type of illness. (9) 7KH RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDO LQ FKDUJH RI D prison. (8) 20. Stay behind. (6) 22. Childish name for an avian creature that can tell you information (9) 25. Saint remembered on 14th February. (9) 27. Titaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband in â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Midsummer Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dreamâ&#x20AC;? (Shakespeare) (6) 33. Owing money to someone else.

(8) 34. West End show starring Michael Ball; Product for keeping hair tidy (9) 35. To explain the appearance of something. (8) 37. Canadian city on Lake Ontario

and home to the CN tower (7) 40. Candidates for ASBOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s? (11) 41. Spin off show of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wizard of Ozâ&#x20AC;?

(6)

DOWN 1. Way out (4) 2. Unable to read (10) 3. Several of these were used to move a house in â&#x20AC;&#x153;UPâ&#x20AC;? (2009) (7) 4. Four and twenty blackbirds met their end here! (3) 6. Suddenly (8) 7. European system for matching paint colours (3) 9. 13th letter of the Greek alphabet (2) 11. Carrier of blood to the heart (4) 12. He seeks an Apprentice (5) 13. Expression of a creative mind; found in galleries (3) 15. To travel (2) 17. Part of a female cow (5) 6XFFHVVIXO Ă&#x20AC;JKWHU SLORW 7\SH RI playing card (3) 19. Popular cookie with sweet ZKLWH Ă&#x20AC;OOLQJ

picture phrase puzzle

21. Dutch cheese with distinctive red rind (4) 23. Synonymous with â&#x20AC;&#x153;McDonaldsâ&#x20AC;?

(10) 24. An evergreen coniferous tree.

(3) 26. Genre of poems written by Edward Lear; gibberish (8) 28. Prod gently with elbow. (5) 29. New graduate doctor. (US) (7) 30. Scale of acidity and alkalinity (2) 31. Jim Carey played this untruthful W\SH RI PDQ LQ D Ă&#x20AC;OP

32. Insane (3) 36. Roman city near Bristol; place to wash (4) 37. Pull a vehicle with a rope (3) 38. Misuse of drugs can cause this (US slang) (2) 39. Be unwell (3)

7KH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SHUVRQ WR FRPH WR The Courier RIĂ&#x20AC;FH ZLWK D FRPSOHWHG Crossword wins a free beer and burger at The Hancock

sudoku - easy

From left to right, use the pictures to come up with a phrase, WKLQJ SODFH RU QDPH 7U\ WR Ă&#x20AC;QG WKH FRPPRQ WKHPH

wordsearch Find the different brands of car in this grid. They can be positioned in all direction and overlap other words

7KH REMHFWLYH LV WR Ă&#x20AC;OO WKH JULG VR WKDW HDFK column, each row and each of the nine 3Ă&#x2014;3 boxes contains the numbers 1-9 one time each.

sudoku - hard Trumpet

Flute

Piano

Trombone

Cello Clarinet

Violin Oboe

Saxophone Bagpipes

Guitar Drums

word link )LQG WKH ZRUG WKDW FDQ EH DGGHG WR WKH HQG RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW ZRUG DQG WKH beginning of the second word to make two new words

PHOTO

RIGHT

HAND

THING

PAPER

ABOUT

CART

BARROW

40

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Culture Puzzles

puzzles logistical

Keep you brain in shape by trying to complete these sums as fast as you can without using a calculator

EASY

1

Double it

+37 á3

-4

+9

x7

+5

x8

+40

Square root

x8

1/2 of this

á6 =

MEDIUM

2

Times itself

75% of Double Square root it this

=

65% of this

=

HARD

3

Cube this

-4

x10

'DYH ZDNHV XS KXQJRYHU RQH PRUQLQJ DQG GLVFRYHUV Ă&#x20AC;YH QHZ QXPEHUV LQ KLV SKRQH /DG However, he struggles to put faces to the names and to remember who the girls are. )URP WKH FOXHV JLYHQ EHORZ E\ KLV Ă DWPDWHV FDQ \RX PDWFK HDFK RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;YH JLUOV ZLWK WKHLU course, age and which halls they live at?

CLUES 1. The Geographer Amy is in her 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, though is younger than Emma, who is the girl that lives at Henderson Hall 7KH \RXQJHVW RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;YH girls lives at Windsor Terrace, accommodation that Louise does not live at 3. The Artist is older than the Maths student 4. The 19-year-old English student does not live at Marris House 5. Sarah enjoyed her birthday last week when she turned 20 6. The Castle Leazes girl DQQR\V KHU Ă DWPDWHV ZLWK KHU constant practice of her musical instruments for her course Record in this grid all the information obtained from the clues, by using a FURVV WR LQGLFDWH D GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWH ÂśQR¡ DQG D WLFN WR VKRZ D GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWH Âś\HV¡ 7UDQVIHU these to all sections of the grid thus eliminating all but one possibility, which must be the correct one

odd one out Compare the Meerkats to spot the odd one out

weird word

What is the true meaning of this unusual word?

Skoptsy 1. The act of self castration 2. A type of poetry that is read aloud in public 3. The feeling of impending doom

maze

Enter the maze through the gap at the bottom and trace your way through the maze out to the other side

wordtrail Track the Brands of Lager through the grid. You should use all of the letters in the grid but only once

answers Picture Phrase Puzzle: Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill, Jonny Wilkinson, Zara Phillips, Steve Regrave, Virgina Wade. Common Theme - Winners of BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Nedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Number Cruncher: Easy - 6, Medium - 12, Hard - 78.

Wordtrail: Budweiser, Fosters, Stella Artois, Coors, Carlsberg, Grolsch.

Logistical: Sarah, Music, 20, Castle Leazes. Amy, Geography, 21, Marris House. Louise, English, 19, Ricky Road. Holly, Maths, 18, Windsor Terrace. Emma, Art, 22, Henderson Hall.

Word Link: Copy, Some, Round, Wheel.

Weirdword: 1 Odd one out: The 2nd meerkat in 3rd row on the right has no smile.

nedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number cruncher

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

41

Newcastle graduates Hurricanes feel shine in University the Loko-motion Boat Race > Intra Mural Football, page 40-41 Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Gavin Tom James courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Sports Paul Christian, JamieJamie Gavin Tomand James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk SportsEditors: Editors: Paul Christian, Jamieand Gavin and Tom James -- courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

> Page 44-45

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42

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Sport Cricket

How do you like them Onions?

'XUKDP DQG (QJODQG ERZOHU *UDKDP 2QLRQV UHĂ HFWV on an astonishing year with David Coverdale

G

raham Onions is in dreamland.

This time last year, few outside of county cricketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long-suffering, hardened followers had even heard of the Durham fast bowler.

Roll on 12 months and the name Graham Onions resonates with rather a few more people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just ask Lily Allen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for Onions is an Ashes winner and one of Wisdenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Five Cricketers of the Year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like using clichĂŠs, but of course, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of a dream come trueâ&#x20AC;? said the humble Gateshead lad.

There is though, no other way to sum up a year that began with On-

ions not even sure if he would start WKH VHDVRQ LQ 'XUKDP¡V Ă&#x20AC; UVW WHDP DV despite an England call-up in 2006 and numerous Lions appearances that followed, Onions was dropped from his countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side at the end of 2008.

He subsequently missed Durhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrations as they recorded their Ă&#x20AC; UVW HYHU &RXQW\ &KDPSLRQVKLS win, something that clearly hurt the 27-year-old but equally spurred him RQ DV 2QLRQV FDPH EDFN LQ Ă&#x20AC; W ter, stronger and more determined than ever. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never thought that I would play for England at the start of the year,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This time last year, I was just as excited as I am this year, but

knowing what can happen in six months is just phenomenal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I did a lot of hard work, I did a lot of hard training and then lucky enough for me, the hard work did pay off. You can get a little frustrated at times but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just got to think that it will eventually pay off. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I suppose Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked hard since making my Durham debut in 2004 and last year really was when I got my rewards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You train for summers like last summer and now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got an Ashes medal at home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; nobody can take that away from me.â&#x20AC;?

2009 got off to the perfect start for Onions, with eight wickets in his Ă&#x20AC; UVW &KDPSLRQVKLS PDWFK DJDLQVW

7DVW\ 2QLRQV 'XUKDPÂśV *UDKDP 2QLRQV NLVVHV WKH $VKHV XUQ DIWHU KHOSLQJ (QJODQG WR

Yorkshire, including the scalp of a former England captain looking to push his case for a recall to his country.

Michael Vaughan, though, was LJQRUHG ZKHQ VHOHFWLRQ IRU WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW Test of the English summer against West Indies at Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was announced. Onions was not, and he FHOHEUDWHG KLV FDOO XS LQ Ă&#x20AC; QH VW\OH by taking 6-31 and skittling Somerset for 69 on a dream day for the bowler.

And â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dreamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is the only word to describe Onionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; debut as he claimed a Ă&#x20AC; YH ZLFNHW KDXO LQ KLV Ă&#x20AC; UVW HYHU 7HVW match spell, including three wickets LQ DQ RYHU WR Ă&#x20AC; QLVK ZLWK Ă&#x20AC; JXUHV RI 5-38 and get his name on the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KRQRXUV ERDUG DW WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW WLPH RI asking.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked hard since making my Durham debut in 2004 and last year was when I got my rewardsâ&#x20AC;?

Whether it was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sizzling Onionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cheers and Onionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;5 in the Onion bagâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the headlines soon followed and neither he, nor the headline writers, have looked back since. $OWKRXJK QRW VHOHFWHG IRU WKH Ă&#x20AC; UVW Test against Australia at Cardiff in favour of a second spinner, he returned to the fold for Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success at Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and also featured in the third and fourth Test matches as England went on to regain the Ashes.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;From watching the Ashes on TV in 2005, I thought then, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I want to be in an Ashes winning sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I just wanted to be part of it, and last year I was and it was absolutely brilliant,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was important that I came in and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try too hard really I suppose. I was lucky to be playing with a good set of lads and I thoroughly enjoyed it.â&#x20AC;?

Although his international commitments meant he only appeared a handful of times for his county, Onions still managed to return 45 Championship wickets at an average of 15.28 to help Durham claim their second consecutive Championship title and with it, become the Ă&#x20AC; UVW ERZOHU VLQFH WR ZLQ ERWK the Ashes and Championship in the same season.

It was then off to South Africa where the man nicknamed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bunnyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; became a hero with the bat; twice saving his country from two Tests with some battling displays at number 11 as England went on to draw the series.

Now, having returned home from Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second tour of the winter to Bangladesh with a back injury, Onions faces the challenge of getWLQJ EDFN WR IXOO Ă&#x20AC; WQHVV ZLWK WKH season already in full swing.

He recently suffered a setback in his recovery which looks set to leave him on the sidelines for longer than was initially predicted, but for the level-headed Onions, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a case of taking the rough with the smooth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went to Bangladesh and I was WRWDOO\ Ă&#x20AC; QH DQG WKHQ , KDG WR FRPH home which was bitterly disap-

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

43

Cricket Sport

Harmison and Plunkett committed to county cause Durham pair tell David Coverdale that club not country is focus this year

WKHLU PHPRUDEOH VHULHV YLFWRU\ RYHU $XVWUDOLD LQ KLV ÂżUVW \HDU LQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO FULFNHW

pointing to be honest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the last few years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never had a great deal of injuries but of course, with the amount of cricket that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been playing at the moPHQW LW¡V TXLWH WRXJK WR EH Ă&#x20AC;W IRU every single game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to listen to your body, and if your body tells you youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a little bit of pain, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to take a little time out and rest up and get yourself ready. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These little knocks along the way make you better as a cricketer mentally and physically. From making my debut, I took plenty of knocks along the way and as you get slightly older you get more experienced and you learn to take them.â&#x20AC;?

A

fter being left out of Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s squad for the World Twenty20 in the Carribbean, Onionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; next target will be the Ă&#x20AC;UVW 7HVW PDWFK DJDLQVW %DQJODGHVK on May 27.

He is only too aware that he still has a lot of work to do before becoming an established member of WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WHDP EXW LV SUHSDUHG WR SXW in the hard yards necessary to cement his name on the England team sheet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My ambition is to play as many times as I possibly can for England.

Whether or not I play another two or another 50 times, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just got to try my best and do as well as I possibly can. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m at an age now where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve still got a good few years of my best cricket and I honestly believe that its a case of hard work and desire to do

ZHOO ,¡YH GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ JRW WKDW LW¡V MXVW a case of getting over little knocks on the way.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My ambition is to play as many times as I possible can for England - whether or not I play another two or another 50 timesâ&#x20AC;? ´,¡P QRW D Ă&#x20AC;UVW WHDP UHJXODU IRU England at the moment so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to constantly take wickets for Durham and I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good position to be in because I know that I need to constantly work hard and keep improving.â&#x20AC;?

There appears to be no stopping his beloved native county, with bookmakers making Durham huge odds-on favourites for a third straight Championship title.

And for Onions, a relative veteran at the club in his seventh season, this would mean every bit as much as his other achievements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Durhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been involved, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where I love - I want to play as much cricket as I can for Durham. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A third successive trophy would be absolutely massive for the club and for me, being a local lad, that would be a dream come true.â&#x20AC;?

This time next year, Onions could EH UHĂ HFWLQJ RQ D WKLUG &RXQW\ Championship success and an England victory in the Ashes down under. Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what you really call a dream.

Steve Harmison is in all too familiar territory as the 2010 season gets underway.

Out of the England squad and with his international future under question, the Geordie paceman goes into the current campaign in the knowledge that one simple equation is becoming a recurring theme of his English summers: Harmison ZLFNHWV IRU 'XUKDP SOXV D PLVĂ&#x20AC;Uing England attack equals an international recall for the man with 63 Test caps and 226 Test wickets to his name.

In 2008, having been dropped from the England team in New Zealand and subsequently not picked for the home Test matches that followed, Harmison was later selected for the fourth Test match against South Africa.

On 7 August 2009, exactly one year after his previous return, Harmison was back in England whites for the fourth Test match of the Ashes and VWD\HG LQ WKH VLGH IRU WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO ZLQning Test at the Oval, claiming the three penultimate Australian wickets to fall as England reclaimed the urn.

And now, having yet again been overlooked for Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winter tours, the 31-year-old is back at the Riverside with plenty to prove once more.

Given the promising Test debuts of Tim Bresnan and youngster Steven Finn in Bangladesh, the task of pushing for England selection in 2010 is set to be Harmisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardest to date, but is he up for the challenge? You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even need to ask. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to ask the question â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;is the door shut?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and no I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think the door is shut, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit harder when the young lads are coming through,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big six months for English cricket to see where these young lads can take the English cricket team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think if they take them ideally where they want them to go then I think the door probably is shut, but if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take them where they want to go then the only thing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to concentrate on is taking wickets for Durham. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I take wickets for Durham then the questions will be asked then.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve proved in the last three years that England havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t found anyone to replace that big, tall, hit the deck bowler and until they do that, they might have to keep calling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the last two years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got back in, against South Africa and Australia, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve enjoyed every minute of it, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to them, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not up to me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As far as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m concerned, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still up for selection.â&#x20AC;?

For another Durham player itching to get back into the England reckoning, the equation has not always been quite as clear cut. /LDP 3OXQNHWW Ă&#x20AC;UVW VKRW WR SURPLnence aged just 20-years-old when he was picked for the England tour of Pakistan in 2005 after only two IXOO VHDVRQV RI Ă&#x20AC;UVW FODVV FULFNHW making his Test debut in the third Test of that series in Lahore.

He has only featured in eight Tests since however, the last of which came at home to West Indies in June

Local lads: Durham bowlers Harmison and Plunkett say county wickets are priority

2007, and there appeared no end in sight to his stay in the international wilderness, especially with the recent rise of Durham team mate Graham Onions.

That though was until his surprise selection for Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tours to South Africa at the end of 2009, ZKLFK FDPH RII WKH EDFN RI D Ă&#x20AC;QH season for Durham in which he claimed 49 Championship wickets and managed 400 runs.

It was a frustrating tour for Plunkett who didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mange to add to his international caps in South Africa, and bowled just two overs in a oneGD\ Ă&#x20AC;[WXUH LQ WKH %DQJODGHVK WRXU that followed.

However, the 25-year-old was just delighted to be back in the fold and is eager to take the positives away from his winter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is frustrating but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to be in the squad this winter. It was good to be back in that environment and I enjoy it,â&#x20AC;? Plunkett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play that much but at least I feel like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gained something from the experience rather than just

sitting down and watching. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve netted quite well, worked really hard with Andy Flower and worked on my batting quite a lot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just got to realise what the situation is and make the best of it.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m certainly not going to complain about being with England away on tour.â&#x20AC;?

Now back under Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radar and having last week been named in their 27-man performance squad for the summer, Plunkett is in the sort of territory Harmison knows well: concentrate on club form and let the country call-up look after itself.

And there is something very Harmison-like in Plunkettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words as he looks forward to the new season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not really thinking about England this summer, I just want to play for Durham. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If things go well then you get picked, but if not then Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just work hard at Durham. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This year Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hopefully do as well as last year, if not better, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see what the winter brings again.â&#x20AC;?

44

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Sport Rowing

Newcastle stars singing the blues As Cambridge were victorious in the University Boat Race, Newcastle were also celebrating as two of their graduates helped the light blues to glory. Fred Gill and Henry Pelly tell David Coverdale about their experience

Y

ou can take the boys out of Newcastle, but you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take Newcastle out of the boys.

That was clear to see for anyone who watched the OxfordCambridge Boat Race last month, ZKLFK IRU WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WLPH LQ LWV KLVWRU\ featured two Newcastle University alumni.

Fred Gill, an Economics and Politics graduate of 2008, and Henry Pelly who graduated from Architecture in 2007, were both part of the winning Cambridge crew who saw off Oxford by over a length and a half in the 156th University Boat Race.

However, the pair made a lasting impression in more ways than one, after appearing on national television proudly donning the blue star symbol of Newcastle University Boat Club on their wellington boots that they wore before the race and in the celebrations after. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It absolutely drove our head coach mad,â&#x20AC;? said Gill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He said it was a massive insult to him because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d put a lot of work into me, and he felt that by wearing the blue stars it was giving him the Ă&#x20AC;QJHU DV LI , ZDV VD\LQJ WKDW Âś,¡P VWLOO

part of Newcastle and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not part of Cambridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He said that we hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t moved on from Newcastle and we should have done by now. But for me all Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d done at Cambridge over the last two years was lose so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve still got Newcastle in my heart because I won so much there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gave me such a wonderful feelLQJ RI FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH VR , ZDFNHG WKRVH blue stars on. It massively offended the coach but I was glad everyone noticed from Newcastle.â&#x20AC;?

While Gill admits to being a little naive to the connotations of wearing the blue stars, Henry Pelly, the 2009 Cambridge Boat Club President was fully aware. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d thought weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d get in more trouble than we did,â&#x20AC;? Pelly said. ´, DVNHG IRU VRPH VLJQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQWO\ smaller ones, but the Newcastle boatmen decided to ignore what I had said. I only saw them the night EHIRUH WKH UDFH DQG , WKRXJKW ÂśRK Christ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to get away with thoseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just tried to hide them from my crew until it was too late and there was no way I could take them off.â&#x20AC;?

To hear the pairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take on the blue star tale tells you everything you

need to know about their respective characters.

Pelly is the experienced head. Currently in his third year at Cambridge studying a Masters in Environment Design in Architecture, the 26-yearold Eton graduate had a successful career at Newcastle University, most notably becoming World University Champion in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s double scull in 2006.

He was also the President of Newcastle Boat Club for three years, a role he took on unsuccessfully at Cambridge last year.

Pelly, however, says he was able to draw from his presidential experience in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race, where, at his WKLUG DQG Ă&#x20AC;QDO DWWHPSW WKH HOXVLYH ZLQ Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ FDPH â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would have been nice to have won as President but the work I did last year has fed in nicely to this year,â&#x20AC;? Pelly said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think two races feels like sigQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQWO\ PRUH SUHSDUDWLRQ WKDQ WR have done one before. I remember VLWWLQJ RQ WKH VWDUW OLQH WKLQNLQJ ÂśQRbody else is nearly as well prepared for this as I amâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a relief to win because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite a miserable race to lose. Unlike almost any other club, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only

Starring role: Newcastle graduates Fred Gill (far left) and Henry Pelly (far right) celebrate

thing that matters - the club only exists for the Boat Race. If you lose it, pretty much anything else youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done that season is irrelevant.â&#x20AC;?

Gill on the other hand is a relative rookie, having come to Newcastle University in 2005 as a track runner and complete newcomer to rowing.

He claims it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;the enthusiastic people in Freshersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Weekâ&#x20AC;? that persuaded him to give the sport a go, one of which was a certain Henry Pelly, Boat Club President that year,

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who proudly admits to have â&#x20AC;&#x153;seen Fredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rowing career from the very beginningâ&#x20AC;?.

From that day he signed up to the Boat Club, Gillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress has been nothing short of remarkable, making the Great Britain U23 squad WKUHH \HDUV DIWHU Ă&#x20AC;UVW VWHSSLQJ LQWR D boat and then being part of the Newcastle four who memorably won the Prince Albert Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.

Up until three weeks ago, the Henley win stood out as Gillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proudest moment to date. However, the 24-year-old from Shrewsbury admits that the Boat Race win blows all other achievements out of the water. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Newcastle thing was amazing because it was with my best mates.

I was a novice when I came to Newcastle, I learnt to row and ended up winning at Henley. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But because of the higher standard of this, beating Olympians, and being massive underdogs, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say WKLV LV GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ P\ EHVW DFKLHYHment.â&#x20AC;?

8QOLNH 3HOO\ ZDV *LOO¡V Ă&#x20AC;UVW Boat Race as part of the main Cambridge eight, having stroked the losing Goldie boat the year before, and he says the experience was something he will never forget. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a dream come true to compete in it. In the winter months you look forward to it and then you get there and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terrifying because you realise itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually going to happen now and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to race on TV in front of all your family and friends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The experience was just incredible. Walking down to the boat with my blade is probably the most amazing feeling Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had with regards to feeling alive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then to come through it successfully, to have rowed that well and to have won it in that way was just an enormous relief and just a massive feeling of ecstasy and elation. It was just a dream come true basically - an unbelievable feeling.â&#x20AC;?

Gill, in the stroke seat, was credit-

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

45

Rowing Sport ties in some different ways. They are both strong headed - when they want to do something, they are never going to quit until they reach their target. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been harder for Henry because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit smaller than Fred.

The GB coaches like bigger, taller guys, and Henry is a bit shorter so has always been put in the second line when they have to choose squads. ´%XW , NQRZ +HQU\ LV D Ă&#x20AC;JKWHU When people think less of him, he will be really willing to prove them wrong. ´,W¡V GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW WR VD\ ZKR FDQ PDNH the team and who cannot because both of them have the qualities to do it.â&#x20AC;?

It is testament to the professional set-up Savarino has instilled, that both Gill and Pelly claim their training at Cambridge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; around 36 hours D ZHHN LV QR PRUH GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW WKDQ WKH sessions they had to put in at Newcastle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say that the training was harder at Cambridge at all.

Under Angelo, the 100% weeks at Newcastle were harder than anything Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever done at Cambridge,â&#x20AC;?

Pelly says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People in the rowing world know that everyone at Newcastle probably trains harder than anyone else in Britain.â&#x20AC;?

Instead, both athletes are in agreement that the main difference between the two institutions is the standard of rower on arrival, with

with their Cambridge crew donning the Newcastle blue stars on their light blue wellies

ed by many as the main man behind the Cambridge success, who went into the race as underdogs according to bookies.

They looked to be playing up to that tag as Oxford built up a lead in the early stages but thanks to Gillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stroke-weight and rhythm, the light blues managed to stay tight to their rivals before slowly edging ahead. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sitting in the stroke seat there is added pressure because you get more glory if you win and more blame if you lose,â&#x20AC;? said Gill, who is studying an undergraduate degree in Land Economy.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walking down to the boat with my blade is probably the most amazing feeling Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had with regards to feeling aliveâ&#x20AC;? (Gill) â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win it on your own. If you try to win it on your own youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll lose, but you can lose it on your own if you have a bad rhythm or if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep the rate high enough or push at the right times.â&#x20AC;?

Pelly also praised the performance of his team mate saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He did his job really well. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think there was anyone that really stood out in our crew, but he was under the most pressure out of any of the rowers and he performed absolutely as well as he possibly could.â&#x20AC;?

There is a healthy rivalry between the two rowers, who have mirrored each others university careers and will soon be competing with each other for Great Britain honours. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because I started off as a novice, he [Pelly] treats me as a bit of kid,â&#x20AC;? joked Gill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He lectures me and tries to give me advice the whole time when most of the time I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really want it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;But heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good friend and a very JRRG URZHU VR KH¡V GHĂ&#x20AC;QLWHO\ VRPH-

one you want in your boat the whole time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always underestimated because of his size â&#x20AC;&#x201C; heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only 6ft 1inch â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constantly proved people wrong. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a performer.â&#x20AC;?

And how does Pelly rate his protĂŠgĂŠ? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not going to say heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better than me, because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite likely that he is.â&#x20AC;?

T

here is one man who knows the pair better than anyone else on the circuit.

Angelo Saverino has been Head Coach of Newcastle University Boat Club since his appointment in September 2005, an appointment helped made by Henry Pelly.

Savarino and his gruelling training methods are largely credited for Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unprecedented success in recent years as well as the unparalleled development of novices such as Gill, who credits the Italian as one RI WKH PRVW LQĂ XHQWLDO FKDUDFWHUV LQ his career to date. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Angelo is just a fantastic rowing coach - he makes you feel very special. He told me from a very early stage that I had the possibility of doing special things and he put me in boats with the senior rowers at the time that brought me on really quickly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was always telling me â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;you can do this Fred, you can be an Olympian one dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which was enorPRXV FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH EXLOGLQJ +H ZDV fantastic, an absolute inspiration.â&#x20AC;?

Savarino himself says that it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;beautiful to seeâ&#x20AC;? the two combine to achieve victory for Cambridge and believes both have the capabilities and abilities to go on and row for Great Britain.

But who is the better rower? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a question he wisely chooses not to answer. ´7KDW LV D YHU\ GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW TXHVWLRQ and will make me hated by one of them,â&#x20AC;? Savarino joked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They both have very good quali-

most of Cambridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew coming to the University as post-graduates.

This has taken some getting used to for Gill, Newcastle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top rower in his time at the club. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cambridge is completely different with regards to the people youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re working with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everyone is a massive character and has massive egos and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like being told what to do. ´,W¡V EDVLFDOO\ HLJKW YHU\ FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW guys and stroking a boat like that is a massive challenge mentally. To handle the characters in the boat LV GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW DQG WR KDYH WR OLVWHQ WR what they say and the constant advice is extremely draining.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a relief to win because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite a miserable race to lose the club only exists for the Boat Raceâ&#x20AC;? (Pelly) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot more pressure to row at Cambridge because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s higher stakes and people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe in you as much. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you are a senior international with Olympic medals you may have got the same rapport that I got at Newcastle but because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have those assets, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gain the respect from the crew that I had at Newcastle.â&#x20AC;?

It may not be long before Gill, or Pelly, have those Olympic medals,

with both currently training with the senior Great Britain squad and targeting London 2012.

Pelly missed the recent trials because of illness, while Gill and his pairs partner, fellow Cambridge student George Nash, came eleventh - a UHVSHFWDEOH SRVLWLRQ Ă&#x20AC;QLVKLQJ RQO\ behind senior internationals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The aim was to take down a senior pair, and we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t manage that in the end, we lost to them by two seconds,â&#x20AC;? Gill says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spoken to Jurgen Grobler [Great Britain coach] and he said he is interested in me and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to train full time next year and hopefully try and make it in the team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Olympics is a dream, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a long way to go. These guys are in a different league with regards to strength and power but hopefully two years will be long enough.â&#x20AC;?

Both men will graduate from Cambridge this summer and look to turn rowing, a sport that has played such an important role in their academic life, into a professional career.

The pair will be working towards securing one of the 21 places available for British male rowers at the London Games, with competition for selection likely to be tougher than its ever been.

However, if Fred Gill and Henry Pelly can continue the levels of success they have so far achieved in their careers, we could well be seeing the blue star on show again in two years - and this time on the podium at an Olympic Games.

46

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Sport Rugby League

NURL seconds crowned champions Rugby League

Newcastle 2nds Birmingham 2nds

18 10

Kev Davey at Leeds Westwood Sports Complex With a hard-fought victory over Birmingham opposition the indefatigable NURL second team completed a PDJQLĂ&#x20AC;FHQW DQG XQOLNHO\ PDUFK WR silverware glory.

The triumph concluded a tumultuous and at times bizarre cup-run that belied the secondsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; largely unsuccessful league campaign.

Indeed, the experiences shared through the tough season seemed to provide the impetus for the Death Machineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late surge in the BUCS Plate competition.

2Q WKH ORQJ URDG WR WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO WKH team overcame challenges from Bradford, Lancaster and Edinburgh with methods as diverse as coin toss victories, last minute tries and adPLQLVWUDWLYH VNXOGXJJHU\ The last victory proved to be the biggest rabbit out of the hat though with captain Tom Burnhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men RQO\ PDGH DZDUH RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO KRXUV EHIRUH NLFN RII After some clerical wrangling at WKH 6WXGHQW 5XJE\ /HDJXH RIĂ&#x20AC;FHV the NURL regime were forced to assemble a team overnight, out of term WLPH IRU WKH GR RU GLH Ă&#x20AC;[WXUH DW WKH neutral venue in Leeds Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weetwood sports complex. &DUURWV VWLFNV WKUHDWV DQG DEGXFtion were all required to re-assemble Nurlians from across the UK and a VTXDG RI ZDV Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ DJUHHG XSRQ after miserly Warrington duo Ste Moorcroft and Will Winter acquiesced in accepting extortionate travel subsidies.

Come match day the team arrived LQ <RUNVKLUH LQ GULSV DQG GUDEV ZLWK the main body of Newcastle based SOD\HUV KXVWOHG IURP D UDPVKDFNOH soviet era mini-bus.

7KLV ZDV LQ VWDUN FRQWUDVW WR WKH enormous Birmingham party of players, coaching staff and supporters who had been preparing for the Ă&#x20AC;[WXUH IRU RYHU D IRUWQLJKW %\ WKH time the full Newcastle contingent KDG Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ DPDVVHG WKH WHDP RQO\ KDG PLQXWHV WR FKDQJH DQG ZDUP up.

The non-idyllic preparation was

Champions: Tom Burnham receiving the bejewelled salver from Matt Jeffery after the Owls beat a strong Birmingham 2nds team in Leeds to claim the SRL 2010 Plate

immediately forgotten as the game NLFNHG RII ZLWK 185/ ULSSLQJ LQ WR %LUPLQJKDP IURP WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW VHW While it soon became clear that the Birmingham second team was heavily padded with players from their Âś6XSHU ¡ Ă&#x20AC;UVW VLGH WKH %UXPPLHV KDG FOHDUO\ QRW EDQNHG RQ 0HVVUV Moorcroft and Winter rampaging RYHU WKH 3HQQLQHV ZLWK Ă&#x20AC;VWIXOV RI cash.

NURL, for once, seemed to have a slight size advantage over their RSSRQHQWV DQG WKH H[WUD EXON VRRQ paid dividends as James Phillips scored within ten minutes following VRPH Ă&#x20AC;QH ZRUN IURP +RRNHU &KULV %URZQ LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKH SDUN Robert Andrew duly added the exWUDV ZLWK KLV Ă&#x20AC;UVW RI WKUHH VXFFHVVIXO conversions.

For the remainder of the half Newcastle were dominant but were una-

ble to capitalise on their greater possession and territorial advantage.

Overambitious play (normally the KDOOPDUN RI D Ă&#x20AC;QH 185/ SHUIRUPance) continually led to turnovers deep in the Birmingham half while WKH 0LGODQGV VLGH VHOGRP ORRNHG OLNH VFRULQJ WKHPVHOYHV )RU WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW SDUW RI WKH VHFRQG KDOI Birminghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s larger interchange bench and vociferous support began to swing momentum in their favour.

7KH ODFN RI 185/ PDWFK SUHSDration was beginning to become apparent as the Owls became lazy DURXQG WKH UXFN JLIWLQJ %LUPLQJham priceless metres up the middle of the pitch. From one such scooting run they pulled the score to within WZR SRLQWV IURP D VPDUW NLFN RQ WKH ULJKW Ă DQN Although Newcastle were imme-

diately placed under pressure from WKH UHVXOWLQJ NLFN RII VRPH LQGLYLGual brilliance from man of the match Joe Robinson soon put the team at ease.

After receiving an innocuous ball RQ WKH VHFRQG WDFNOH WKH 3URS surged through the Brummie line and proceeded to eat up the meWUHV OLNH D EDJ RI FKHHVH DQG RQLRQ crisps.

Seeming to get perpetually faster, Robinson charged through numerRXV FRYHU WDFNOHV VSXUQLQJ WKH DEOH VXSSRUW RI KDUGZRUNLQJ ZLQJ (GGLH 'XQFDQ WR JUDFLRXVO\ EHOO\ Ă RS over the line for an emphatic try.

The converted score proved to dampen Birminghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spirits and Robinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brutal defending in following sets, with fellow forwards -DPHV 6KHSKHUG DQG -RKQ $NWLQVRQ put a stop to any sustained resur-

JHQFH IURP WKH 0LGODQGV RXWĂ&#x20AC;W ,Q WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO PLQXWHV RI WKH FRQWHVW %LUPLQJKDP ZHUH DEOH WR PDNH WKH match seem tighter than it was with a second try awarded in somewhat dubious circumstances.

The disputed points were soon FDQFHOOHG RXW ZLWK WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO WRXFK RI the game as substitute Kevin Davey stormed over after winger Rory WilOLDPV GLIIXVHG DQ DZNZDUG VZLUOLQJ bomb on the halfway line.

Rapturous cheers greeted the full WLPH ZKLVWOH DQG LW ZDV OHIW WR VNLSper Burnham to raise the hollowed Plate presented by SRL Chairman Matt Jeffrey.

The victorious team only contained IRXU SOD\HUV LQ WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;QDO \HDUV RI VWXG\ VR WKH QGV FDQ EH VXUH WR H[pect a more rewarding league camSDLJQ LQ WKH VHDVRQ

Elated: The Owls celebrate after being crowned BUCS Plate champions after a hard fought 18-10 victory over Birmingham. The squad had to be assembled out of term time. (Left to right) Jon Aktinson, Leigh Mcmenamin, Ste Moorcroft, Andrew Urquhart, Rob Corner, Rob Andrew, Rishi Sumra, Joe Robinson, Kevin Davey, Tom Burnham, Will Winter. Eddie Duncan, Chris Brown, Rory Williams, Gareth Herbert, James Shepherd, Chris Chatterton

48

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Sport

Taekwondo club leave their mark preventing them from progressing WR WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH Ă&#x20AC; QDOV 0HDQZKLOH Craig Nilsson and Graham Mathews were both beaten in their quarWHU Ă&#x20AC; QDOV The Newcastle Uni girls made their mark on the competition with gold medals from all the remaining competitors.

Emily Hutchinson defeated a gold medallist from the previous year in a strong performance, whilst Emma 1HDO DQG 6RĂ&#x20AC; H 9DOXD ERWK DFKLHYHG well deserved gold medals with excellent performances.

The remaining boys, however, were not to be overlooked. An unlucky Josh Maqsood was narrowly EHDWHQ LQ KLV Ă&#x20AC; QDO ZKLOVW DQ LQ credible competitive performance from Alex Hawke saw him emerge bruised but victorious with a further gold medal.

The team ended the competition in sixth place out of around 20 univerVLWLHV D JRRG UHVXOW FRQVLGHULQJ WKH injuries in the club and the decline LQ VL]H WKLV VHDVRQ This strong result can be attributed to a great coaching regime IURP Ă&#x20AC; JKW FRDFKHV .\H 7RPSNLQV Ben Shaw and Scott Abley from Chi taekwondo and we look forward to another successful year ahead.

Daniel Colman Newcastle University taekwondo club made the long journey down to Aylesbury for the 24th BSTF Student nationals.

The teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competition got off to a poor start in the patterns competition as the new knockout format worked against our competitors, with many of Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team being knocked out in early rounds by the eventual winners.

After disappointment in the patterns the team was eager to make an impact on the sparring competition, an area where Newcastle is widely recognised as a strong team.

However the knockout tournament got off to a bad start as Karla Butterworth, a silver medallist last year, was beaten by a point in a close match.

Shortly afterwards Michael Gilbert was felled by a head kick from a strong opponent as he attempted WR ZLQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; JKW LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; QDO IHZ VHF RQGV +LUDP 0D ZRQ KLV Ă&#x20AC; UVW URXQG match in dramatic style before being beaten in a close encounter in WKH TXDUWHU Ă&#x20AC; QDOV EHIRUH /HZLV 5HLVV %RZ\HU JRW WKH WHDP¡V Ă&#x20AC; UVW EURQ]H PHGDO DIWHU D FORVH VHPL Ă&#x20AC; QDO Ă&#x20AC; JKW 7KLV ZDV IROORZHG E\ EURQ]H PHG als from Dan Coleman and David Kung, who were both beaten in FORVH Ă&#x20AC; JKWV LQ WKHLU FDWHJRU\¡V VHPL Ă&#x20AC; QDO ZKLOVW 'DQLHO ;X DQG :DLHO Yonos suffered unfortunate injuries

Fight for your right to party: Newcastle had reason to celebrate after a strong performance at the BSTF student nationals

For information on how to join the club in addition to photos and videos from the competition please join the Taekwando clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook group.

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

49

Intra Mural Sport

Thirds in seventh heaven after Dyslexic rout Intra Mural Football Division One (Sat)

Newcastle Uni 3rds Dyslexic

7 1

Dominic Pollard at Longbenton 3G In a one sided encounter a clinical display by Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third team saw them come out 7-1 victors over '\VOH[LF 7KH 8QLYHUVLW\¡V WKLUG string used their superior quality to brush aside their opponents in a JDPH WKDW '\VOH[LF ZLOO EH KRSLQJ WR forget quickly.

The thirds quickly capitalised on a

promising start by scoring an early goal. A perfectly timed ball over the WRS VSUDQJ WKH '\VOH[LF RIIVLGH WUDS and left Matt Gouland to delicately lob the ball over the keeper.

7KH 8QLYHUVLW\ RXWĂ&#x20AC;W ORRNHG FRPposed and comfortable on the ball and dominated both possession and territory throughout the match. $OWKRXJK '\VOH[LF¡V YHQWXUHV LQWR their opponents half became slightly more frequent they rarely looked threatening.

7KH 8QLYHUVLW\¡V VWULNHU -D\ 7D\ORU missed a chance to extend his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead as he failed to convert a oneon-one opportunity. Their second

goal came soon after, however, and Gouland was again the scorer with a well struck shot from the edge of the penalty area. '\VOH[LF GLG QRW ORRN WKUHDWHQLQJ IRU PXFK RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI EXW GLG manage to grab a goal on the halfhour mark.

A free-kick was lofted to the back SRVW ZKHUH 'DQ 6KHYLOO VNLOIXOO\ Ă LFNHG WKH EDOO EDFN DFURVV JRDO leaving Lawrence Jackson with the simplest of headers which he duly converted.

Celebrations were short lived WKRXJK DV WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ TXLFNO\ UHstored their two goal lead. Gouland

FDSSHG RII D VXSHUE Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI SHUIRUPDQFH DV KH FDUYHG RSHQ '\VOH[LF¡V GHIHQFH WR VHW 7RP 6PLWK FOHDQ WKURXJK DQG WKH ZLQJHU FDOPO\ Ă&#x20AC;Qished to make it 3-1 at the break.

6RRQ DIWHU WKH UHVWDUW 1HZFDVWOH¡V WKLUGV JUDEEHG D IRXUWK 7RP 6PLWK this time turned creator with a great UXQ GRZQ WKH ULJKW à DQN EHIRUH WKHQ sliding the ball across the six yard ER[ WR OHDYH 6LPRQ 0XUSK\ ZLWK D simple tap-in. '\VOH[LF¡V $GDP &RQFKLH QHDUO\ scored an outrageous goal out of nothing as he tried an audacious Beckham-esque shot from the halfway line with the keeper a long

way off his line. The thirds keeper denied him a spectacular goal by scrambling back in time to turn the ball round the post. '\VOH[LF¡V 6KHYLOO ZDV DZDUGHG D generous penalty decision moments later but any hopes of a comeback GLVDSSHDUHG DV 6KHYLOO URVH WR WDNH the spot-kick, only to scuff it wide.

7KH 8QLYHUVLW\ VHHPHG WR EH DEOH WR score at will in this match and in the Ă&#x20AC;QDO PLQXWHV WKH\ EDJJHG WKUHH more goals to add insult to injury.

A brace by striker Jay Taylor and a VHFRQG JRDO IRU 7RP 6PLWK IURP WKH penalty spot rounded off the scoring PDNLQJ LW DW WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO ZKLVWOH

%UHDVW LQĂ LFW WHQWK VWUDLJKW GHIHDW RQ XQ +DSS\ )HHW Intra Mural Football Division Four (Wed)

Breast Rummage Happy Feet

5 2

Graham Matthews at Longbenton 3G Happy Feet sank to a tenth consecutive defeat against Breast Rummage Albion, almost certainly condemnLQJ WKHP WR Ă&#x20AC;QLVK ERWWRP RI 'LYLsion Four.

After a narrow 3-2 victory for Albion in October it looked like this might be a close game and a chance IRU +DSS\ )HHW WR Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ JDLQ D ORQJ sought after point.

Their hopes must have been boosted when Albion turned up with

only one substitute, but in the end it made little difference.

Albion, like the weather, started brightly, hitting the post with their Ă&#x20AC;UVW HIIRUW RI WKH PDWFK 7KHLU VHFond effort, a minute later, found the target.

A great ball over the top of Happy Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defence fell perfectly for Albionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number ten striker Alex Raimo, whose soft shot slipped under the keeper, putting Albion ahead.

Five minutes later and Albion were 2-0 up and in full control, Happy Feet having not had a shot.

A long throw in into Happy Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s box made it through the mass of players and was somehow scrambled into the back of the net by 5DLPR DJDLQ WDNLQJ D GHĂ HFWLRQ RU

two along the way.

7KLV VHHPHG WR EULHĂ \ EULQJ +DSpy Feet to life, as they started to put some pressure on Albionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defence, which paid off in the 25th minute.

A brilliant low shot from Matt Hossack from inside the penalty area à HZ SDVW $OELRQ¡V NHHSHU DV +DSS\ Feet got back in the game.

These hopes didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last too long though, as Albion were awarded a penalty for a push on Raimo.

0DWWKHZ %DEEV FDOPO\ Ă&#x20AC;UHG SDVW the keeper to make it 3-1 at half time. Happy Feet started well in the second half, having a few long shots, but most were overpowered.

It was Albion who scored again, making it pretty much game over.

The ball was headed into the area

for Joe Heptinstall to power through on the half volley, described as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rocketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by the man himself after the game.

There was mild drama late on as Albion were left to play the last 15 or so minutes with an injured player in goal. Having two injured players but only one substitute, Albionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goalkeeper was forced to play on the right wing with one injured player playing in goal as the other recovered on the sidelines.

Happy Feet took this small chance to get back in the game as Hossack scored his second of the game. +LV Ă&#x20AC;UVW VKRW ZDV EORFNHG E\ D GHtermined Albion defender but he pounced on the rebound, blasting a low shot into the bottom of the net.

)RU WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW WLPH LQ WKH JDPH $OELRQ seemed to be slightly losing control.

This assumption was soon VTXDVKHG DV $OELRQ DGGHG D Ă&#x20AC;IWK with only a few minutes remaining.

From a corner the ball slipped through the scrum of players to Albion captain Chris Mableson, whose tap in was enough to secure all three points for a comfortable Albion victory.

Even though there might not seem to have been much happiness in Happy Feetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s season so far, the players all seemed in good spirits after the match.

With talk of it being a moral victory, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be hoping to turn it into a real victory in their last two games of the season.

50

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Sport Intra Mural Football

Medics close in on title as Hendo face relegation Intra Mural Division One (Sat)

Medics Henderson Hall A

4 2

Paul Christian at Longbenton 3G Newcastle Medics closed in on a second consecutive Division One title after an inspired thirty minute spell left Henderson lost in the ash at Longbenton 3G. $ JRDO DSLHFH LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO WKLUG RI the match from substitute Rob Pearson and Union Chair (ahem) David Craig gave the clarets a deserved 4-2 victory and forced Hendersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s players to pen â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;avoid relegationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to an existing list of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;revisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dissertation.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The gloss on Intra Muralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return was stained by the shocking news for any footballer that they would have to play three days in a week to atone for games lost earlier in the year. For Longbenton 3G, see European airports. Busy.

The night yearned for football; cool, dark, moist - and Catchpole as ref. It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disappoint. Both teams made use of the space, and moved WKH EDOO VOLFNO\ WKURXJKRXW WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW half. Decision-making, nevertheless, as so often is the case, was interesting to say the least.

Henderson took the lead after a ball over the top caught the Medics square. The keeper, in two minds whether to come, came, and was easily lobbed by the striker.

But the goal arrived too early for Henderson, who still werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully settled in the match. The Medics looked increasingly comfortable and the equaliser was inevitable â&#x20AC;&#x201C;the scorer too.

Dhand whipped a corner to the penalty spot and Fairmichael rose - unchallenged - to nod home his hundredth goal of the season. Unaffected and consistently exceptional, Fairmichaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the closest thing to Paul Scholes that Intra Mural offers.

7KH 0HGLFV WRRN WKH OHDG Ă&#x20AC;YH PLQutes later in almost identical fashion.

Kilvington (Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve run out of postman jokes) crossed from the left and, this time, the unchallenged header was met by Davison, who leapt above a static defence to convert. Cue incredulity from the Henderson players at their capitulation.

But, to their credit, the Hall fought back. They were impressive going forward all night, and a sweeping PRYH ZDV Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG ZKHQ D FURVV caught the Medics keeper napping at his front post. It was a goal undeserving of the move. A goal all the same.

The second half was galvanised by the Medicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breathless half-hour spell. Boosted by the introduction of Pearson, the champions moved up a gear, proving too strong for Henderson.

Craig smartly nodded into the bottom corner before Pearson turned ZHOO DQG Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG EHWWHU WR SXW WKH Medics nine points clear of the University Thirds, who have three games in hand.

With both teams due to play each other, the Saturday league looks set to go to the wire for the second year in a row.

+HQGHUVRQ DQG +XUULFDQHV Intra Mural Cup Semi-Final Round-Up Paul Christian Sports Editor The Intra Mural Wednesday Cup reaches its climax this week in what should be an intriguing tie between Henderson Hall A and the Hurricanes.

Form counts for nothing in cup Ă&#x20AC;QDOV EXW +HQGHUVRQ JR LQWR WKH match in higher spirits, chasing promotion from the Second Division, while the Hurricanes sit rock bottom of Division One. However a resounding victory in WKH VHPL Ă&#x20AC;QDO DJDLQVW &UD\ROD ZLOO surely give the Hurricanes a second wind.

Henderson will be looking to seFXUH WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;UVW RI WZR WURSKLHV WKLV season and the pitch at Cochrane Park should suit their slick passing style.

The Hurricanes will look to seek inspiration from the likes of Portsmouth. They may be destined for relegation, skinned and struggling, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot to be said for team spirit, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no better place to Ă&#x20AC;QG LW WKDQ D FXS Ă&#x20AC;QDO Both sides have overcome tough opponents on the road to Cochrane with the Hall seeing off current cup holders Castle Leazes, before comfortably beating the Tub Boys in WKHLU VHPL Ă&#x20AC;QDO Hurricanes defeated Lokomotiv and Politic Thistle before making short work of Division Two strugglers Crayola.

It should prove to be a refreshing encounter, and one neither team must have expected at the start of the campaign. *UDQWHG WKH ,QWUD 0XUDO &XS Ă&#x20AC;QDO which will take place at Cochrane Park this Wednesday, is the most PRGHVW RI RFFDVLRQV EXW LW¡V VWLOO D Ă&#x20AC;nal, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something at stake.

See below for reports on both Intra 0XUDO &XS VHPL Ă&#x20AC;QDOV

Hurricanes Crayola

,WÂśV QRW RYHU \HW /RQJEHQWRQ * ZDV LQ IXOO XVH WKLV ZHHN ZLWK D EDFNORJ RI Âż[WXUHV LQ ERWK WKH ,QWUDO 0XUDO :HGQHVGD\ DQG 6DWXUGD\ OHDJXH DQG FXSV

7 2

Jonathon Taylor at Cochrane Park The Hurricanes put aside their disappointing league form last Wednesday, easing to a comprehensive victory over Division Two strugglers Crayola to set up a Cup Final against Henderson Hall.

There was not an ash cloud in sight at a sun-baked Cochrane Park, which contributed to an incredibly open match that saw goals in abundance, and a number of comical incidents.

The opening goal came inside the Ă&#x20AC;UVW VHFRQGV DQG ZRXOG QRW EH out of place if shown on a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;David Seamanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goalkeeping gaffesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DVD. :LWK WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;UVW DWWDFN RI WKH PDWFK the Hurricanes right back hurled the ball into the crowded box from a throw-in, only for the ball to amazingly deceive the Crayola keeper, who fumbled it into his own net.

Crayolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s misfortune continued only minutes later, after a sensationDO VWULNH E\ +XUULFDQHV PLGĂ&#x20AC;HOGHU Niall Haughey doubled their lead.

The ball fell beautifully to Haughey 25 yards out, who unleashed an impressive right-foot volley that sailed into the top corner of the net.

Finding themselves a demoralising

GRZQ ZLWKLQ Ă&#x20AC;YH PLQXWHV ZDV D shock to the system for the Crayola players, and their nightmare start could have been made much worse, had their keeper Mark ThompsonRhoydes not pulled off a couple of good close-range saves shortly after.

Crayola began to improve and deFUHDVHG WKH GHĂ&#x20AC;FLW PLG ZD\ WKURXJK WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI $IWHU D JRRG PRYH GRZQ WKH ULJKW Ă DQN WKH &UD\ROD centre half took advantage of some non-existent marking from a corner, gratefully scrambling the ball over the Hurricanes line from closerange. :LWK RQO\ Ă&#x20AC;YH PLQXWHV UHPDLQLQJ RI WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI &UD\ROD VDZ D VWRQH

wall penalty controversially turned down in comical circumstances.

With the Crayola striker clean through on goal, centre back Andrew Selby performed what was later described as an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ankle-tapâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the striker by his Hurricanes teammates. Amazingly, no penalty was given.

Crayola started the second-half very much in the ascendancy, and should have drawn level only minutes after the restart. A free-kick ZDV Ă&#x20AC;]]HG DFURVV WKH ER[ DQG &UD\ola winger Chris Watts instinctively Ă DVKHG D OHIW IRRW VKRW LQFKHV ZLGH of the post.

The killer blow however which effectively ended the contest was in-

/DWH '\VOH[LF URXW GDVKHV 3ROLWLTXH¡V WLWOH GUHDPV Intra Mural Division One (Wed)

Dyslexic Real Politique

3 0

Dan Robinson at Longbenton 3G Real Politiqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title hopes suffered a major blow as Dyslexic demonstrated that possession is the key to victory on the Longbenton 3G. Dyslexic took advantage of the

quality surface and width available on the pitch to display their superior passing game, with a second half goal glut shrugging off the Politique challenge.

Patience was vital in the opening period as chances were few and far between for either side.

Ambitious long shots seemed to be the order of the day, with the Politique winger coming closest. Fending off the challenge of the defender and with the keeper off his line, he

blasted a dipping volley which cannoned off the crossbar.

Dyslexic were at their best when WKH\ NHSW WKH EDOO RQ WKH Ă RRU EXW struggled to create anything clearcut from good build-up play. Laurence Jackson went close when he forced a good save from a header.

The most memorable moment of the half came from Dyslexic goalkeeper Weston Murau - an Intra Mural veteran who never fails to light up a game. Unsurprisingly no

saves were involved.

With Politique striker Matt Marchington chasing a long ball into the corner, Murau was quick off his line to execute a superb sliding tackle.

However, with dispossession clearly not enough for the eccentric keeper, Murau performed a glorious nutmeg to beat the striker and build a new attack for his team.

The second half provided more entertainment with the game beginning to open up. Politique again

THE COURIER Monday 26 April 2010

51

Intra Mural Football Sport

VHW XS FXS Ă&#x20AC;QDO VKRZGRZQ

7KH :HGQHVGD\ OHDJXH FRXOG EH WLHG XS E\ *DUQHWW WKLV ZHHN SLFWXUHG DERYH DIWHU WLWOH ULYDOV 5HDO 3ROLWLTXH VOLSSHG WR D GHIHDW DJDLQVW '\VOH[LF

Ă LFWHG RQO\ PLQXWHV ODWHU FRXUWHV\ of a clinical example of counter-atWDFNLQJ IRRWEDOO E\ WKH +XUULFDQHV After clearing their lines, Hurricanes forward Aaron Ritchie combined with Chris Holmans, who placed a right-foot strike into the far FRUQHU RI WKH QHW The third goal of the match for the +XUULFDQHV RSHQHG WKH Ă RRG JDWHV with the remaining twenty minutes of the match seeing no fewer than Ă&#x20AC;YH JRDOV Their fourth proved almost as comical as their opener, with Hurricanesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; left back Alex Smith seeing his looping cross somehow nestle in the far corner of the Crayola net, much to the bemusement of their

KDSOHVV JRDONHHSHU $ Ă&#x20AC;IWK HQVXHG VRRQ DIWHU ZLWK Holmans once again combining with Ritchie on the counter-attack, who effortlessly side-footed the ball into the bottom left corner of the &UD\ROD QHW Crayolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s miserable afternoon was rounded off with two late Hurricane goals - winger Harry Slavin and Ritchie adding further insult to LQMXU\ A comprehensive 7-2 victory for the Hurricanes means that they will JR LQWR WKLV ZHHN¡V FXS Ă&#x20AC;QDO DJDLQVW Henderson Hall brimming with FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH

Henderson Hall A Tub Boys

3 1

Colin Henrys at Cochrane Park Fourth Division side Tub Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; extraordinary cup run came to an end at Cochrane Park, as Henderson Hall $ EHDW WKHP LQ WKH VHPL Ă&#x20AC;QDO Despite the match almost representing a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; game for the Division Two side, it was Tub Boys who EURXJKW WKH PRVW YRFDO VXSSRUW Their loyal following was given little to cheer about however, as a goal in each half from Tom Reade set The +DOO RQ WKH ZD\ WR WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO

Francois Dunesmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late freekick did give the Greens hope, but Barnaby Baxterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s header put the tie EH\RQG DOO GRXEW WR VHW XS D Ă&#x20AC;QDO VKRZGRZQ ZLWK 7KH +XUULFDQHV The match was a largely one-sided affair, and Tub Boys had goalkeeper Callum MacQueen to thank for preventing the result from reading PRUH OLNH D FULFNHW VFRUH He could do nothing to prevent the Ă&#x20AC;UVW JRDO WKRXJK DV KLV VLGH IDLOHG WR GHDO ZLWK D GHHS IUHH NLFN 7KH EDOO ZDV Ă LFNHG RQ WR 5HDGH ZKR EHDW the keeper to head powerfully past WKH GHIHQGHU RQ WKH OLQH The Hall could easily have gone into the break several goals up, but MacQueen pulled off a string RI JRRG VDYHV Ă&#x20AC;UVW GHQ\LQJ %D[WHU with his legs, despite having dived the wrong way, before charging down a shot as the offside trap was EURNHQ Nevertheless Hendoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one-goal lead looked vulnerable and on the stroke of half-time Tub Boys nearly equalised; Dunesme ran on to a long bouncing ball but couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get his header on target after beating the NHHSHU The second-half continued much DV WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDG ZLWK 7KH +DOO RQ WRS MacQueen was called into action WZLFH PRUH DV Ă&#x20AC;UVW KH VDYHG ZHOO from close range before punching clear as Reade got in behind the deIHQFH It was Tub Boys who put the ball LQ WKH QHW Ă&#x20AC;UVW WKRXJK 'XQHVPH Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG ZHOO DV WKH EDOO ZDV Ă LFNHG on by his strike-partner, only for the referee to rule it out for an infringePHQW It appeared to be a harsh decision and the Greens were still reeling from it when Chris Henderson received a short corner on the left and fed Reade for an easy tap in to make LW WR +HQGHUVRQ That should have been it as far as the contest was concerned, but Tub Boys were given renewed hope when the referee awarded a dubious free-kick on the edge of the +DOO¡V DUHD Contact had certainly been made, but it appeared to be no more than DQ DFFLGHQWDO FROOLVLRQ 'XQHVPH took full advantage, placing the IUHH NLFN LQWR WKH ERWWRP FRUQHU Any hopes of a fairytale comeback were extinguished by Baxterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KHDGHU WKRXJK +H URVH XQPDUNHG to meet a left-wing corner and wrap up a victory which was far more comfortable than the score-line may VXJJHVW After a good year in the league and cup, Chris Henderson spoke of being â&#x20AC;&#x153;very proud of the boysâ&#x20AC;? and +HQGHUVRQ +DOO ZLOO HQWHU WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW RI ZUDSSLQJ XS WKHLU VHDVRQ ZLWK D WURSK\

DV SRVVHVVLRQ SURYHV WKH NH\ RQ /RQJEHQWRQ * FDPH FORVH VRRQ DIWHU WKH ZKLVWOH 0DUFKLQJWRQ IRXQG VSDFH WR Ă&#x20AC;UH on goal, only to see Murau pull off a top-class save and push the ball RYHU It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long for Dyslexic to Ă&#x20AC;QG WKHLU IHHW DQG WDNH WKH JDPH WR WKHLU RSSRQHQWV They were rewarded for their efIRUWV ZKHQ 'DQL 6KHYLOO Ă&#x20AC;UHG DQ unstoppable 30-yard drive into the bottom corner, triggering wild celHEUDWLRQV IURP WKH '\VOH[LF SOD\HUV

Politique responded by attempting a range of through balls from Jack *UDYHVWRFN However, they found the Dyslexic defence in no mood to let the boat rock as they showed great composure to shut out the threat and hold on to only their second clean sheet WKLV VHDVRQ With 25 minutes remaining, the lead was doubled as Jackson got in front of his marker to head home Adam Conchieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pinpoint cross

IURP WKH ULJKW 7KH WKLUG DUULYHG VKRUWO\ DIWHU Conchie was again the provider as he superbly picked out Kilvington with a long ball from deep, and the winger remained steady to poke it SDVW WKH RQUXVKLQJ NHHSHU From thereafter, the game was as good as over with Dyslexic content to just retain possession and force Politique into chasing the ball for WKH Ă&#x20AC;QDO TXDUWHU RI DQ KRXU Politiqueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frustration was summed

up by several late challenges in the second half as they watched their FKDPSLRQVKLS GUHDP VOLS DZD\ This was only their second defeat of the season, the other ironically coming against the same oppoQHQWV Adam Conchie commented on his sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pleasing victory: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a patient passing team performance, which proved decisive with three ZHOO ZRUNHG VHFRQG KDOI JRDOV Âľ

=HUR WR KHUR +LOWRQ LV WKH difference for WKH <HERDK¡V Intra Mural Division Three (Sat)

Tony & The Yeboahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FC Civille

3 2

Colin Henrys at Longbenton Three second half goals were enough to earn Tony & The Yeboahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a crucial three points against FC Civille DW /RQJEHQWRQ 0HUFXULDO PLGĂ&#x20AC;HOGHU 'DQ 5REHUWson had recovered from a long, hard day, satisfying the deepest desires of the bovine race to put Civille in front at half-time, but a stunning Ă&#x20AC;JKW EDFN WKURXJK JRDOV IURP 'DQ Parnaby, Harry Dawson and Niall Bankroft kept the Tonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title hopes alive despite a late consolation goal; the Tangerines running out 3-2 winQHUV After a nervous start by both teams, Robertson pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Tonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DUHD ULĂ LQJ D OHIW IRRWHG KDOI YROOH\ past the despairing dive of the goalkeeper, to put Civille in front with WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW UHDO VKRW RI WKH JDPH Robertson was central to much RI WKH DFWLRQ LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI FRPSOHWHO\ GRPLQDWLQJ WKH PLGĂ&#x20AC;HOG Several powerful breaks down the left-wing could have resulted in his side doubling their lead, but it was his handball in the penalty area that nearly gifted the Tangerines with an XQGHVHUYHG HTXDOLVHU Fortunately for Civille, Tony striker Oliver Hilton contrived to miss WKH SHQDOW\ QRW RQFH EXW WZLFH +LV Ă&#x20AC;UVW HIIRUW ZDV EOD]HG KLJK RYHU WKH bar, but he was reprieved after the referee spotted encroachment into WKH SHQDOW\ DUHD +H IDLOHG WR WDNH advantage though, dragging his secRQG VKRW ZLGH $V WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI GUHZ WR D FORVH Civille could have been two-up, however striker Khalidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overhead kick failed to trouble the goalkeepHU As the pressure on the Civille goal PRXQWHG DQ HTXDOLVHU VRRQ DUULYHG James Chadwick played a fantastic through-ball to Hilton, who took on two defenders before drawing a IDQWDVWLF VDYH RXW RI WKH JRDONHHSHU The rebound fell straight to Parnaby who made no mistake in front of an RSHQ JRDO The Tonys were soon in front too, as they were awarded a second penDOW\ WKLV WLPH IRU D WULS RQ &KDGZLFN Hilton wisely left kicking duties to Dawson who placed it comfortably past the goalkeeper to put his side XS Civille looked a shadow of the side that had been so dominant in WKH Ă&#x20AC;UVW KDOI DQG DVLGH IURP -DPLH King drawing a great save from the opposition â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;keeper, they never really looked like getting back in the PDWFK +LOWRQ¡V VHFRQG KDOI SHUformance was wrapped up with another assist, as he ran in behind the defence before pulling the ball back for Bankroft to score his sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third JRDO Robertsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambitious long-rage effort, his second in as many minXWHV WRRN D FUXHO GHĂ HFWLRQ WR EHDW the Tony â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;keeper and make for a nervy last ten minutes, but the Tangerines deservedly held on to their OHDG +LOWRQ¡V ]HUR WR KHUR SHUIRUPDQFH HDUQLQJ WKH SODXGLWV

52

Monday 26 April 2010 THE COURIER

Graham Onions looks back on a dream 2009 > Page 42-43 Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Jamie Jamie Gavin and Tomand James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Sports Editors: Paul Christian, Gavin Tom James - courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk

Newcastle still mountains ahead after Alpe dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Huez glory University retain titles following week of domination on French slopes Simon Murphy Newcastle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skiers and snowboarders made a clean sweep at the British University Snowsports Championships in Alpe dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Huez, retaining both the BUSC and BUCS crowns for the second successive year.

Newcastle beat off bitter rivals Bristol into second place at the event, which saw over 2,500 students descend on the French resort, including 800 competitors and 330 students from Newcastle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and they were not to be disappointed.

Performance sport scholar Pete Bruton bagged gold in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slalom while race captain Benn Hall claimed the bronze medal.

In horrendous weather conditions, the top three racers were separated by mere tenths of a second after the Ă&#x20AC; UVW UXQ EXW %UXWRQ PDQDJHG WR JR D full second better than his competiWRUV LQ WKH VHFRQG UXQ WR VFRRS Ă&#x20AC; UVW The racers were greeted with clear blue skies and hard-packed snow conditions as Bruton also managed gold in the giant slalom â&#x20AC;&#x201C; overcoming his demons after falling on the Ă&#x20AC; QDO JDWH ODVW \HDU ² ZKLOH WHDP mate Hall took silver.

Hall battled his way through poor weather and an extremely long course as he secured fourth place in the super giant slalom, managing to fend off the in-form Bruton, ZKR Ă&#x20AC; QLVKHG Ă&#x20AC; IWK ZLWK IHOORZ Ă&#x20AC; UVW WHDP VNLHU -RHO %DGJHU Ă&#x20AC; QLVKLQJ LQ D respectable twelfth place.

Eliza Inglis produced a remarkable display in the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event, more than exceeding expectations to grab fourth spot.

Bruton bounced back in the skier cross event, completing an outstanding hat-trick of gold medals by winning on an internationally recognised course â&#x20AC;&#x201C; again beating off close rival Hall into fourth place.

Captain Benn Hall said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Newcas-

You Bru-ty: Performance sport scholar Pete Bruton pictured on his way to a hat-trick of medals which capped off a fantastic week of performances by Team Newcastle at BUSC

tle has had a strong race team for a couple of years now, and this year was certainly no exception. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was happy to see Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s racers stand up to challenge and take home plenty of medals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After our recent yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performances, Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ski-racers are always under increasing pressure to perform and I think we delivered this year.â&#x20AC;?

Former snowboard captain Ivy Taylor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who has represented Great Britain â&#x20AC;&#x201C; took gold in the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snowboarding giant slalom event, while team mate Rachael Turner secured fourth spot.

In the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event, fresher Hamish Livingstone claimed the silver medal just ahead of team mate Ryan Newton in third.

Snowboard captain Pete Tupper failed to build on his second place Ă&#x20AC; QLVK DW %8'6 DQG KLV VLOYHU PHGDO from last year, managing only seventh place.

However, he was delighted with the snowboard teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole team were on top form, pulling out skills across the board, with results coming from new and older riders alike and from half pipe right through to snowboard cross,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The enthusiasm and determination in these comps has been great and it was good to see so many Newcastle riders on the start lines.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve really stepped up our game this year and I feel weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a team to be proud of.â&#x20AC;?

'HVSLWH KHDY\ VQRZIDOO GXULQJ

the week disrupting many of the freestyle events, Newcastleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skiers dominated the half pipe competition.

Freestyle captain Tom Blanshard was second in the event last year and he managed to go one step better claiming the gold medal, pulling RII D /LQFROQ ORRS LQ KLV Ă&#x20AC; QDO UXQ Bart Loades secured third spot after impressing the judges with an extremely technical run.

Fellow freestylers Paul Kendall and Ben Shepherd also reached the Ă&#x20AC; QDO PHDQLQJ 1HZFDVWOH KDG DQ XQSUHFHGHQWHG IRXU VNLHUV LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; nal six â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a remarkable feat.

Pete Tupper and Hamish LivingVWRQH ERWK UHDFKHG WKH Ă&#x20AC; QDO VL[ LQ the snowboarding event but neither managed a podium. In the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

event however, Ivy Taylor wowed the judges with some impressive spins on her way to another gold medal.

1HZFDVWOH¡V PL[HG Ă&#x20AC; UVW WHDP Ă&#x20AC; Q ished a close second to LoughborRXJK Ă&#x20AC; UVWV LQ WKH WHDP GXDO VODORP event.

A highlight of the knockout competition included a thrilling quarterĂ&#x20AC; QDO DJDLQVW /RXJKERURXJK¡V VHF ond team, which saw Joel Badger and Benn Hall lead an astonishing comeback in the last two legs.

The womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team managed second place as a strong Bristol team HGJHG WKHP RXW LQ WKH Ă&#x20AC; QDO DQG there was yet more snowboarding glory for Ivy Taylor as she led the Ă&#x20AC; UVW WHDP WR JROG LQ WKH WHDP GXDO slalom.