Rhythm & Booze - Issue 09

rhythm and booze Food, Booze, Bands & News - Issue 9 - September/October 2011

The Indestructibles

Reunited - Allen Adams and Neil Singleton, and (inset) as they were in 1983 (second left, second right) Almost 30 years since he left The Destructors, former lead singer Neil Singleton met up with the then bassist Allen Adams at their early-80s haunt, The Bull in Market Deeping. Catching up on old times in the successful Peterborough punk band, the pair reminisced on live gigs, which included a support slot on GBH’s Attacked by rats tour in 1982.

“In the early-80s, Peterborough’s pubs would close at 9pm on Sundays,” remembers Allen, “wanting a later drink we would cross into Lincolnshire and spend our evenings in The Bull instead.

“A crowd of us would sit on the left-hand side, which is now the restaurant, drink beer and generally

make a lot of noise.

“We were so badly behaved that Aubrey, the landlord, installed a supermarket mirror so he could keep an eye on us.”

Older, but not necessarily wiser, Neil lives in Nelson, New Zealand and fronts the band Gripper, while Allen took over on vocals after reforming The Destructors in 2005.

Last year, both bands featured on Les Fleurs Du Mal a seven-track split EP released by Allen’s label Rowdy Farrago Records and there are plans for Neil to work with his old band when he’s next in the UK. “I recently discovered demo recordings and rough sketches for our ‘lost’ second album,” explains Allen, “which we would have

recorded in 1984 had we not split up the previous September.

“The plan is for Neil to record one version using the technology that was available at the time and then we’ll re-record it, using a digital recording system with me on vocals before releasing both versions of the album on a double CD. “Then hopefully, we’ll be able to go on tour with Neil fronting a version of The Destructors, playing the older songs, before I take to the stage to perform a modern set.

“I’m sure with both the album and gigs, people will have a favourite but then they’ll be getting two Destructors for the price of one.” nVisit www.destructors.co.uk for further information

Man Alive The Destructors/Don't Look Down Je Suis Radio Don’t Look Down provide three tracks on this seven track split EP, the 30th release from the city’s most productive label, Rowdy Farrago Records.

The Destructors – the band that the label was built around – end their ‘man’ trilogy, which started with Flying Saucer Man and Rock’n’Roll man, with Trashman.

Out 30 September 2011

“Don’t Look Down play original, thoughtprovoking melodic punk, reggae and ska.”

- Stamford Mercury “Proper punk for proper punks is the best way to describe what The Destructors are all about!”

- Mass Movement Magazine

BUY ONLINE or as a DOWNLOAD

BY MAIL ORDER FROM METALONROCK.TV OR AS A DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES/7DIGITAL

by Cardinal Cox

Pub Scrawl John Cooper Clarke, appearing at The Key Theatre on 29 September.

This year’s Kings Lynn Festival, which takes place over the weekend of 23-25 September, features twelve poets including Matthew Sweeney, Wendy Cope, DM Black and Kit Wright. Held at the Town Hall, not Thoresby College as previously announced, tickets are available from Tony Ellis who can be contacted on 01553 691661 during office hours and 01553 761919 at other times. For further details on the event, go to www.lynnlitfests.com Peterborough’s longest running literary group, Writers in Peterborough, is back on 12 October at the Great Northern Hotel with medieval novelist Elizabeth Chadwick. The evening starts at 7.30pm, admission £7, concessions £5.

Founded in the late 1990s, Poets United continue to meet on the first Tuesday of the month (6 September, 4 October, 1 November and so on) with a mix of writing to a pre-set theme and general readings. For full details, ring Viv on 01733 340560.

Back from performing at the Edinburgh Festival, Pint of Poetry, Dash of Drama will be having its regular nights at Charters Bar on

Wednesday 14 September and then on 12 October. It starts around 8.30pm and if you want to read, it is best to get there at about 8pm as it can get quite busy.

Poetry Factory continues to offer constructive criticism to writers and performers on the third Tuesday of the month (20 September and 18 October) so ring Pete Irving on 01733 890537 for full details.

Speakeasy is back on Wednesday 28 September at the Brewery Tap with a performance of Cross Keys by the Eastern Angles theatre group – the team who brought us Our Nobby.

Nicci Pugh will talk about life on a floating hospital working in the South Atlantic in 1982 during the Falklands War on Wednesday 14 September at the John Clare Cottage in Helpston (next to the Blue Bell pub) at 7pm. Then top storyteller Polly Howat will be there on Friday 30 September, also at 7pm. Tickets for these are only £5 (includes a small glass of wine).

To book a ticket either ring 01733 253330 or email events@clarecottage.org The legend that is John Cooper Clarke will be at the Key Theatre on Thursday September 29 at

7.30pm. Tickets for this are only £15 but you’ll have to be quick to book so either ring 01733 207239, pop into the box office on The Embankment or go to their web-site at www.vivacity-peterborough.com The Great Fen Project at the Wildlife Trust Centre in Ramsey Heights will be hosting an evening of storytelling on Friday 7 October at 7.30pm called Human Nature stories of our relationship with the wild with Anne French and Rachel O’Leary. Cost is a suggested donation for £5 per person or £3.50 concessions. Booking is essential and can be made by calling 01487 815524 or emailing info@greatfen.org.uk This year’s competition to find the Fourteenth Poet Laureate of Peterborough is usually announced in October. Ever since Toby Wood won the first competition in 1998 this has had the potential to really raise the profile of the winning poet, if they put the effort in. Some of the previous winners who are still active on the local scene include Joy Harris (3rd), myself (5th), Chris Todd (7th), Mark Grist (10th), Keely Mills (11th) and MC Mixy (12th).

So keep your eyes open and ask for and application form in your local library.

For our Local Hero this issue I’d like to celebrate Paul Green who produced Spectacular Diseases, a magazine from 1976 through to 1988 and also an imprint of a series of collections, from around 1980 to about 1993, of such poets as Rosemary Waldrop, David Miller and Guillermo Nunez, Emmanuel Hocquard, and Joseph Guglielmi among others; all of which earned Paul an international reputation.

These paved the way for other local ventures such as The Third Half and Cork Lined Room.

Cardinal Cox is an enthusiastic amateur drinker. He’d like to say hello to those folks who saw him at various venues over the Peterborough Festival.

The future’s bright, the future’s Posh - says Standing on the Glebe’s Jamie Jones.

‘George Boyd will be player of the season,’ Photo © www.thposhpics.com As the new Championship season gets under way, I feel like a pregnant woman (i.e. a tough nine months lay ahead).

This season is going to present probably PUFC’s greatest ever challenge; to survive in a league awash with money, while having a three-sided ground.

It is going to take everyone involved – players, fans and the chairman – to pull together and do everything we can to keep The Posh in this league. We can afford to sit and chuckle about West Ham and Leicester shelling out millions as they are, in effect, in a different league to us. However, we need to make a good start and try and get on a roll of results and ride that

wave to the end of the season. We have to all stick together, get behind the team, try not to moan, and believe that Fergie will keep us up.

It is bloody exciting being back in this league though. There is so much to look forward to in terms of away days, huge home games and hopefully some more hard fought victories like the opening day win over Palace.

I was lucky enough to interview Darragh, prior to the new season starting and after sitting in his company for an hour I am convinced we will stay up. To be honest, after an hour in his company, I would have given him the deeds to our house, if he had asked for them. The man has an

intoxicating, unbridled passion for PUFC that is enthralling.

I guess it’s time for my predictions for the season: 1. Posh will stay up (I reckon a 16th place finish) 2. George Boyd will be player of the season 3. David Ball will be our top scorer Jamie is the co-host of Standing On The Glebe, the unofficial Posh fans podcast which is recorded and released after every home game.

Along with Jamie’s full, un-edited interview with Darragh McAnthony, the latest programme can be found on www.standingontheglebe.co.uk or via iTunes.

OPENED UP Some of the area’s finest landmarks, many of which are usually closed to the public, will be open for this year’s Heritage Open Days. Taking place on 8-11 September, the long weekend is co-ordinated by English Heritage as the country’s contribution to the wider European Heritage Days.

Admission is free to all participating attractions and for those that are usually open to the public, visitors are offered a little bit extra in the form of guided tours or a look behind the scenes.

The whole thing kicks off on Thursday 8 September with a look at chattels ‘of historic and artistic interest’ at a ‘secret location’.

Taking place at 10.30am and 2.30pm, a booking form can be requested by calling 01733 267740 and directions will be provided to successful applicants.

Monks, masons and the secret spaces of

Peterborough Cathedral, including a trip up the tower, are revealed at 12pm on Friday 9 September and 10am on Saturday 11 September.

Booking is essential and can be made by calling (01733) 352676.

Over at Northborough on Saturday, St Andrew’s parish church will be open between 11am and 5pm for visitors to marvel at its early English Perpendicular architecture.

Booking isn’t necessary, although appointments can be arranged for Thursday and Friday by calling 01778 346297.

Interestingly, the church’s graveyard is the final resting place of Martha Clare, wife of ‘peasant poet’ John, whose birthplace in

nearby Helpston will be open on Saturday and Sunday. To book your place on a tour of Clare Cottage, call 01733 253330.

Another St Andrew’s church, this time in Alwalton, is open on Saturday and Sunday. Booking isn’t required, refreshments are available on Saturday and the weekend coincides with the church’s flower festival.

The final two attractions open on Saturday and Sunday are Longthorpe Tower and The Customs House, Rivergate – better known as the Sea Cadets’ Training Ship Gildenburgh. There is no need to book for either venue with visitors welcome between 10am and 4pm on both days.

A Sunday constitutional There are three walks to choose from on Sunday 11 September and booking isn’t required for any of them. On a conducted tour of Broadway Cemetery, which starts at 2.30pm from the central grassed area, guides from The Friends of Broadway Cemetery will be focusing on the railway-related deaths recorded at the site.

A walk around Thorney starts at 2pm from outside the Abbey and ends an hour later at Thorney Heritage Museum, which covers the village’s history from Saxon times to its place as a Victorian ‘model village’.

The final walk, through Milton Park, is the longest of all, taking an hour and a half to two hours.

Starting at 2.30pm from the Estate Office off Bretton Way, sensible shoes and a packed lunch are advisable.

Further afield A 40-minute trip from

There’s plenty to see at the Cathedral. Photo © Creative Commons, Martin Pettitt Bay 4 of Queensgate Bus Station takes you to the Lincolnshire village of Bourne, a town once famed for its spring water, railway junction and the motor racing champion Raymond Mays. You can discover these and many other aspects of the town’s development at Baldock’s Mill, a former water mill that contains three floors of exhibits. Open from 2pm to 4pm on all four Heritage Open Days, booking isn’t necessary.

Approximately three miles south west of Bourne is Toft, home to the Toft Tunnel which served the long gone Bourne to Saxby railway line.

On Saturday 10, the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology will be leading a two and a half mile walk that looks at the history of the line and the methods employed to build the tunnel and Lound Viaduct. Starting at 1.30pm, directions will be provided after calling the booking hotline on 01529 461499.

Forward (to) March One place that is still an important station on the rail network is March, which offers regular connections

with Peterborough on the Birmingham to Stansted Airport service, a fact that will be celebrated between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 10 September with a guided tour around its railway station. Organised by The Friends of March Station, you will have a chance to look at the disused side of the station where plans are afoot to rejuvenate it to provide a small meeting room, railway museum, and art gallery. As before, booking isn’t required.

Around the time that the line opened in 1846, a Typhoid epidemic hit the town, killing hundreds. Local historian Trevor Bevis believes that the victims were buried in a mass grave on the High Street; a site that is now a memorial garden located behind Trinity Church. You be able to see this and the rest of the church on Friday and Saturday – between 10am to 4pm and from 10am to 2pm respectively.

Another ecclesiastical site taking part in Heritage Open Days is St Wendreda’s Church, the only Grade I listed building in the town.

Tours are available on Thursday and Friday at 11am and 2pm.

Tours of the new Waste Transfer Station – where the town’s rubbish is separated into recyclable and non-recyclable material, before it is sent for further processing – take place on Friday at 10.30am and 12.30pm; unlike other events in March, booking is required and can be done by visiting www.themarchsociety.org.uk Two guided walks, led by Andrew Clarke of the March Society, entitled ‘A Look at West End March, Past & Present’ take place on Saturday. Starting from the rear of Barclays Bank on the High Street, the gentle 40-minute stroll starts at 10am and 2pm.

An even gentler range of activities can be found at March Library on Saturday between 10am and 3pm.

There will be displays by the Cambridgeshire Community Archives Network, U3a and The March Society, plus an introduction by the Cambridge Family History Society into the genealogy resources on offer.

For further information on Heritage Open Days and maps to the properties listed above, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk

The Surrealist Sportsman’s Club

A typical Bar Billiards table, photo © Creative Commons/Matt Wright, and (inset) Reginald Bosanquet.

While its ancestor-game – the Billard Russe of France and Belgium – dates back to the early 18th century, Bar Billiards was invented in the 1930s by David Gill.

With its narrow table that is only played from one end, it became an ideal sport to play in pubs and taverns.

The aim is to pot the eight balls (seven white and one red that scores double) in any of the nine holes in the table, different holes having different point value. To increase the need for skill, three pegs are also placed on the table and must not be knocked over. The last ball has to be potted into either the 100 or 200-point hole, after

being bounced from a side cushion.

There is also a variant of the game that uses four mushroom-like pegs on the table.

I remember seeing tables in pubs in Hampshire and Jersey on holidays in my distant youth and was curious about the figure-like skittles standing guard over the holes.

There are currently several local leagues in the south east of the country, belonging to the All England Association – an group that had ITN newsreader Reginald Bosanquet as its patron in the 1970s– plus leagues in Guernsey and Jersey (where the World Championships – previously the British Isles Open – have been held

since 1999). Until recently, a Bar Billiards table was in operation at The Ostrich Inn – with proceeds for its use going to Sue Ryder at Thorpe Hall – and while there are leagues in Northamptonshire and Cambridge & District, the closest member to us is the Nelsons Head at Merryland, St. Ives.

We at Rhythm and Booze would like to hear from any local pubs where you can play Bar Billiards, so drop me a line, care of simonstabler@aol.com Dave “Dai” Roll is life president of the Surrealist Sportsman’s Club and hopes to cover many rare and unusual pub games in forthcoming issues. Next time Tip, Piggy, Tip.

REVIEWS

The Waterton Arms, 68 Church Street, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8HD 01778 342219 As a regular visitor to The Rose in Frognall, I was disappointed at how quickly it went downhill after Brian and Kate Shinkins went their separate ways. Knowing how well Kate is doing at The Golden Pheasant in Etton, it was a pleasant surprise to see Brian behind the counter of The Waterton Arms when I popped in for Sunday lunch.

Having built up a reputation of late for its high quality food, it was reassuring to see that while the restaurant had the look of an elegant country dining room, the bar area hadn’t been gentrified and was serving a selection of real ales in proper glasses.

As ever, I ordered roast beef, which was brought over after a short wait.

Looking like a work of art, the beef was laid on top of a bed of vegetables including English watercress and accompanied by a large Yorkshire pudding and a bowl of roast potatoes. Although the beef wasn’t as pink as the waitress had promised, it was tender and juicy, everything a good roast dinner should be.

The Banyan Tree, 53 Westgate, Peterborough PE1 1QA 01733 342800 A sign outside, offering a lunchtime special for £5.99, was enough to tempt me into The Banyan Tree’s recently opened city centre branch; sadly, I should have carried on walking. Being shown to our seats was the highlight of the meal; the waiter leaving us with a menu, not asking if we wanted any poppadoms, and disappearing for some time, before finally coming back to take the drinks order.

We were made to feel second best to the drinkers at the bar – who clearly hadn’t realised that this is no longer a pub – and when the drinks eventually arrived, we were able to order our food. As the advertised

deal turned out to be bog standard chicken curry and rice, we went a la carte; forgoing starters, I ordered Saag Ghost, my companion went for Mysore Chilli Chicken – strips of chicken, cooked in a chilli and coconut sauce – and we split a plain naan and portion of pilau rice between us. Our food arrived promptly and while it tasted nice, it was drenched in garlic; a fact that everyone I came into contact with over the following week reminded me of.

speculation that he may have killed one, if not both, of his wives, ensures that the book is a page turner.

Beer Festival & Family Fun Day Nene Valley Railway – 11 June

Pub Walks in Underhill Country Nat Segnit Penguin/Fig Tree - £12.99 ISBN 978-1-905-49057-8

An interesting take on the guides so loved by us here at Rhythm & Booze, Nat Segnit’s debut novel is set around the travails of its narrator, Graham Underhill. “A much loved local watercolourist” and real ale enthusiast, Underhill is a man with problems; there are plans to build a bypass through his home and wife Sunita is having an affair, although he is too stubbornly optimistic to realise.

Although Underhill is a difficult character to like, through his walks and pub visits he provides plenty of fascinating facts on a diverse range of subjects, which along with the

While last year’s NVR beer festival was nothing to write home about, it did show promise and I expected great things for 2011. Unfortunately this year’s event is going to be joked about for years to come.

Although the day started nicely enough, with a free vintage bus ride from The Brewery Tap, things took a turn for the worse upon arrival at Wansford station where a sign stated that there was no real ale available. Now it doesn’t take a genius to realise that this defeats the object of a beer festival and as the beer had arrived on site too late to allow it to settle, the only thing approaching ale on sale was bottled Henry’s IPA. After a bit of a moan and a decision to go as soon as the next bus arrived, I went for a bottle and had a sit down in the bare marquee – devoid of the pub games and other attractions found in there last year. By the time the bus had arrived a shout went up to say that real ale was now available.

Deciding to stay on, I found the ales on offer were Digfield’s March Hare and Barnwell Bitter; two ales so local, I could have enjoyed the brewery’s entire range if I had stayed in town.

LISTINGS

Queensgate, Peterborough 26 September - 2nd October Chris Porsz, the Paramedic Paparazzo, presents a selection of his photographs.

14 - Twenty4 15 - 60s Disco with DJ Swifty 28 - Karaoke with Rose/Mighty Mouth 29 - Frankly my dear

Cock Inn 1305 Lincoln Road, Werrington Peterborough PE4 6LW 01733 322006

The Golden Pheasant 1 Main Road, Etton, Peterborough PE6 7DA 01733 252387

September

October

10 - Chuck Norris Experience 16 - Hooker 17 - The Influence 24 - 80s Disco 30 - The Returns

08 - One Eyed Cats 22 - Pennyless 29 - Country Knights

September

The Ostrich Inn 17 North Street, Peterborough PE1 2RA 01733 746370

October

The Cherry Tree 9-11 Oundle Road Peterborough PE2 9PB 01733 703495 September 03 - Sweet Revenge 17 - Sellout 24 - Burlesque October 14 - Out of order 29 - Kickback Dragon Hodgson Centre, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 5EG 01733 578088 September 03 - The Returns 10 - Porky Pig 16 - DBS 23 - On the ceiling 24 - Karaoke with Rose/Mighty Mouth 30 - Twenty4

September 02 - East Coast 03 - The Dead Rabbits 09 - Porky Pig 10 - Monkey Boy 16 - Ian Graham and Kath Moore 17 - Beats Working 23 - Eden Burning 30 - The Pulse October 1st Retrolux 7th Electric Ballroom 14th Gin House 15th Undercover 22nd Glass Heart The Ploughman Werrington Centre, Staniland Way, Werrington PE4 6NA 01733 327696 Sundays – Karaoke with Trevor/Mighty Mouth Thursdays – Cash Poker September

October 01 - Electric Warriors 08 - Under_covers

02 - Easiersaid 10 - Rocket 16 - One Eyed Cats

30 - Hooker October

01 - Monkey Boy 07 - Daffy & the Alien 15 - East Coast 29 - Citizen Smiffy The Prince of Wales Feathers 38 Peterborough Road, Castor, Peterborough PE5 7AL 01733 380222

17 - Porky Pig

01 - Emerald 08 - Crayfish Rocket 15 - Identity Crisis 29 - Les Woods Three Horseshoes Church Street, Werrington, Peterborough. PE4 6QE 01733 571768 September 03 - Dr A’s Rhythm & Groove 10 - The Stereos 17 - Bondi 24 - Karaoke October 08 - The Returns 15 - Kickback 22 - Monkey Boy 29 - Karaoken dg * All listings given in good faith, Rhythm & Booze cannot be held responsible for any discrepancy.

For details on how to advertise in the November/December issue of Rhythm & Booze, or to submit your free listings, send an email to simonstabler@aol.com Deadline for all copy/advertising is 8 November 2011.

Rhythm & Booze, Issue 9 - Sept/Oct 2011. All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler

Hodgson Centre Werrington Peterborough PE4 5EG 01733 578088 nLeague poker - Tuesdays nCash Quiz/Meat Raffle - Sundays nDarts/Pool nLive Music (see the listings page) nSix real ales, three changing guests nAll ales ÂŁ2.80 a pint nLive sports shown on TV

The Crown Inn 749 Lincoln Road Peterborough PE1 3HD 07516395905 Open: 11:30 - 00:00 Sunday - Wednesday 11:30 - 01:00 Thursday - Saturday

www.crowntotown.co.uk

A Pub At The Heart Of Its Community! nServing quality real ales nA new lunchtime menu nDedicated Smoking Patio nWheelchair access at the front nFree pool every Thursday from 6pm nLive Poker League Monday & Thursday from 7:30pm nFriday Night Karaoke nFunction room available for hire