Street Cred Magazine - October 2019

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The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 13

Music fashion Film Gadgets holiday education health and fitness

OCTOBER 2019

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melody thornton and Rachel stevens are back on stage at symphony hall

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ENTERTAINMENT

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THE HOTTEST ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLEMENT

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The Oscar-nominated My Beautiful Laundrette Comes To Birmingham Rep

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brilliant new staging of Hanif Kureishi‘s ground-breaking 1985 Oscar-nominated film My Beautiful Laundrette comes to Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 5 – 9 November.

Presented against a funky backdrop of 80s music and culture, this drama will explore cultural conflict, gender equality, class and generational strife.

Set in London during the Thatcher years, My Beautiful Laundrette tells the story of young British Pakistani, Omar, who transforms his Uncle’s run-down laundrette into a thriving business.

After being confronted by a fascist gang, Omar recognises school-friend Johnny and uses their history to diffuse the situation.

As they renovate the laundrette together, love blossoms between them. This culture clash comedy is also a subversive work of social realism, sprinkled with magic and joy running through the rich veins of

Kureishi’s writing.

Speaking about the show director Nikolai Foster said “We are thrilled to be bringing Hanif Kureshi’s astonishing adaptation of his Oscar-nominated film My Beautiful Laundrette to Birmingham Rep. “Hanif surfs a multitude of strikingly relevant issues in his 1985 masterpiece - from the journey of the immigrant, English working class society, women’s roles in the family and the results of Thatcher’s policies. Kureishi does all of this with bucketloads of wit, openness, compassion and a sense of mischief at the absurdity of it all.”

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of iconic British pop duo Pet Shop Boys also join the production team for the upcoming stage adaptation at Birmingham Rep, creating music to bring the 80s-set drama to life.

Speaking about composing music for My Beautiful Laundrette, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said:

“It’s wonderful to be part of the team bringing My Beautiful Laundrette from the screen to the stage and we’ve enjoyed writing mainly instrumental music to be presented within a British Asian context.”

In this new staging, playing the role of Omar, a young British Pakistani who transforms his Uncle’s run-down laundrette into a thriving business in this new play is Omar Malik and Jonny Fines will play rebellious punk Johnny, the role which launched the career of Daniel Day-Lewis.

Gordon Warnecke, who originally played Omar in Stephen Frears’ 1985 film, joins this new cast as Papa, Omar’s Father. The cast also features Cathy Tyson.

My Beautiful Laundrette is at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 5 – 9 November. Tickets costing from £15 are available from birminghamrep.co.uk / 0121 236 4455.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 15

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ENTERTAINMENT

COMPETITION For your chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to The Festive Gift Fair at the NEC Birmingham, just answer this very simple question!

Traditionally, if you’re on Santa’s naughty list at Christmas, what will he bring you? a) Gold b) Coal c) Sticks

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his ever popular 4-day November Fair is a cracking start to the Christmas season for those in the know!

From the moment you arrive, you’ll be caught up in the fabulous atmosphere, anticipation rising as you browse 300+ stalls overflowing with thousands upon thousands of unusual gifts, stocking fillers, decorations and artisan food & drink at prices worth celebrating!

It’s an Aladdin’s cave of sparkling stalls offering more choice, more variety and more fun than the High Street, and it’s all under one roof.

The run up to Christmas Day involves a lot of planning and most of us have so much to do and so little time to do it!

Take the pressure out of Christmas shopping and find all the presents you want at the onestop shop Festive Gift Fair.

When your bags are full, just drop them off at the Present Creche and continue to shop some more!

No other Christmas fair in the UK has as much entertainment in one hall to get you straight into the Christmas spirit… * The Grinch will be up to his usual menacing antics! * Father Christmas will be mingling. * The Stilt Jazz Band will be legging it up the aisles! * The UK’s largest snowman will be amazing the children. * The outrageous Panto Dame will be causing havoc around the hall * The fabulous Christmas Band will be performing throughout the day. * The Basetones will have you toe-tapping as you shop, with their Motown-style Christmas harmonies.

Christmas is all about family, friendships and… food! Make a beeline for the FOODIE stalls, where you will discover mouthwatering treats from cheese to chutneys, spices to spirits, puddings to preserves, chocolates to Champagne, beer to brownies, popcorn to Prosecco and hampers to hog roasts!

Back by demand are many favourite stallholders including Magical Story, The Perfume Shop, the Cheshire Cheese Company, Condessa Welsh Liqueurs and East 2 Eden.

In addition, this year’s Festive Gift Fair will be welcoming over 100 NEW stallholders!

The Festive Gift Fair have teamed up with The Phoenix Newspaper to offer 10 pairs of tickets to our readers!

Check out the competition information to the right for your chance to win one of 10 pairs!

Remember, even if you don’t win

one of our pairs of competition tickets, tickets are still available online and on the day to visit the Festive Gift Fair and get your Christmas shopping done far in advance of the big day!

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to competitions@thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject “Festive Gift Fair 2019 Competition”.

Competition closes at 23.59 on 2nd November 2019. There is no cash alternative.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Raze Hell With Doom Eternal At EGX 2019 Gamer Network, organisers of the UK’s premier games events is excited to announce that DOOM Eternal, the upcoming sequel to DOOM (2016), will be playable at EGX 2019!

The UK’s biggest games event, EGX will take place at London’s ExCeL on the 17th - 20th October, where UK fans will be some of the first to play the blistering and brutal first-person shooter.

Developed by id Software, DOOM Eternal is the direct sequel to the award-winning and bestselling DOOM (2016). Experience the ultimate combination of speed and power as you rip-and-tear your way across dimensions with the next leap in push-forward, firstperson combat.

Powered by idTech 7 and set to an all-new pulse-pounding soundtrack composed by Mick Gordon, DOOM Eternal puts you in control of the DOOM Slayer as you blow apart new and classic demons with powerful weapons in unbelievable and never-beforeseen worlds.

Fans looking for more DOOM and Bethesda action can also experience the sheer power of the DOOM Slayer at the EGX Theatre, with a DOOM Eternal panel hosted by professional wrestler and selfconfessed video games idiot, Simon Miller.

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Beverley Knight returns to symphony hall

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head of her celebration of the songs of Stevie Wonder at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on the 14th October, The Phoenix Newspaper caught up with Beverley Knight as she prepares not only for that, but for her own BK25 album release!

How did you react when you were asked to take this show on the road?

BK: I was like yeah I’m up for this! Did the show, absolutely storming, BBC came back and said do you fancy touring it and I said YES! It properly went crazy, but I cannot tell you how thrilled I am, I see myself as Stevie Wonders ambassador.

It’s an ambassadorial role, saying check out the music of this wonderful man, he’s still with us and we need to celebrate him.

What can people expect from the show?

The main event will be Stevie’s glorious songs, it’ll be funky, emotional and soulful as hell. It’s my voice so there will be a lot of vocal interpretation, but not so

different that it will be jarring.

I’ve got strong powerful memories of listening to Stevie from childhood to now. The last bit is a little of me doing some of my own songs from my 25 years in music. My plan is to send everyone home floating.

Are you excited for the tour to end in Birmingham?

It’s so perfect to have the last show home back in the West Midlands, I’ll have all the family there, my mum will bake a cake – she does, every time “I’ve just baked this cake for you, anybody want cake?” and no doubt it will have a picture of Stevie on the front of it as well, I just know what my mum is like!

I’ll have so many friends and fans and family members on that last night it’ll be amazing.

After 25 years in the industry, how has it been making this album?

I love the fact that I’m still here after 25 years, that I’ve managed to build a career, and not just me but a whole bunch of people. It’s still going, in fact the train is

speeding up!

I’m so thrilled that I have this legacy that I can celebrate. To be able to diversify and show the other things I’ve been up to like theatre , and some new studio tracks which are new and fresh.

What has been your most memorable moment?

There have been a million “OMG” moments, the Paralympics opening ceremony, the first time I went on Top of the Pops, hearing myself on the radio for the first time, receiving my MBE. The biggest moment though was being on stage in Prince’s house, in LA, with the great and good of Hollywood looking up at me with Oscars in hands as it was an Oscars party, singing and jamming with Prince, with no setlist, I just had to go with the flow.

Luckily I know his back catalogue almost as well as my own! Then who walks through the crowd and joins us, but Stevie Wonder! When I think about it now, I’m like “That actually happened, it really happened!”

James Morrison Shares The New Single ' So Beautiful' Having returned with the strongest album of his career in the shape of ‘You’re Stronger Than You Know’, the latest stage in the James Morrison success story continues.

Launched with ‘My Love Goes On’ (featuring Joss Stone) which was named Record of the Week and added to the A-list at Radio 2, and soon climbed to 13 million streams.

He then hit the summer festival circuit, completing a triumphant set at Glastonbury, joining Joss Stone at Exeter’s Powderham Castle and guesting at Quincy Jones’ all-star celebration show at The O2.

Now James Morrison shares his latest single to be taken from the album, ‘So Beautiful’.

Originally co-written a decade ago with Gary Barlow and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Steve Mac, James rediscovered the song during sessions for the album with producer Mark Taylor.

He realised it was the perfect way to express his love and appreciation for his long-term partner Gill, and re-recorded the song to capture the Motown-meets-Stax vibe that informs the rest of the album.

The single also includes a live version of the song recorded at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival for the Jo Whiley Show on BBC Radio 2.

He commented, “After everything we went through, it seemed to say everything I wanted to.”

James Morrison is poised to tour Australia, New Zealand and Europe in the coming weeks before returning to the UK

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ENTERTAINMENT

Gig Listings BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

October 01 House of Pharaohs 02 Sebadoh 03 ROMderful 05 The LaFontaines 06 CoCo and the Butterfields 06 Amber Run 12 James Arthur 16 Hootie and The Blowfish 17 Rak-Su 17 The Cult - A Sonic Temple 18 K.Flay 18 Mad Dog Mcrea 19 Killswitch Engage 19 Antarctic Monkeys 22 The Fallen State 22 A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie 23 A2 24 Lamb 26 Ashen Crown 26 Refused + Thrice 27 Royal Republic 28 Of Monsters and Men 30 Violet 31 Little Comets 31 MoStack

O2 INSTITUTE

October 01 Energy Birmingham 03 JAY1 03 Chase Atlantic 04 Static-X / SOiL / Wednesday 13 / Dope 05 Pierce Brothers 06 Black Peaks 09 Hussain Manawer 09 JP Cooper 10 Richard Hawley 10 Tion Wayne 11 Reverend And The Makers 11 The Divine Comedy 15 Old Dominion 16 Tessa Violet 16 Kate Tempest 16 Barns Courtney 17 Angie Stone 17 Kovic 18 Hot Chip 19 Gary Numan 19 Jah9 and the Dub Treatment 20 Real Friends 21 Kiefer Sutherland 22 Headie One 23 Conor Maynard 23 Michael Ray 24 Charles Esten 25 Life of Agony 25 blackbear 26 WSTRN 27 Skengdo X AM 28 Goodbye June 28 Charli XCX 29 NSG 31 Picture This 31 Keywest

RESORTS WORLD ARENA

October 02-06 Horse of the Year Show 2019 11 Alice Cooper 15 Boyzone The Final Five 17 Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly The Rock N Roll Dream Tour 19 Andrea Bocelli 26 Cage Warriors 109

100 Years of Magic!

26 Cher Featuring special guest Paul Young

NEC

October 02-06 Horse of the Year Show 04-05 The National Franchise Exhibition 05-06 Miniatura – The Dolls’ House & Miniatures Show 09-13 Grand Designs Live Birmingham 15-20 Motorhome and Caravan Show 2019 25-27 Destination Star Trek 25-27 The Vaper Expo UK: The Return 25-27 Sexpo UK 2019 26-27 DIVE 2019 26 GCCF Supreme Cat Show 31-Nov03 Bricklive – Play, Create, Discover 31-Nov01 GRADJOBS LIVE! 31-Nov03 Simply Christmas The Crafty Christmas Show 31-Nov03 The Creative Craft Show

TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL

October 01 Lulu - On Fire 02 CBSO: Alison Balsom plays Musgrave 02 Armistead Maupin 04 An Evening with Will Young plus special guests 04 James Acaster - Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 05 Jonathan Pie: The Fake News Tour 05 Kano 06 Malorie Blackman in Conversation 06 Pam Ayres Up In The Attic 06 Belinda Carlisle - Runaway Horses 30th Anniversary Tour 07 Midge Ure - Vienna & Visage - 1980 Tour 09 Walter Trout plus special guest Dan Patlansky 10 Al Stewart 10 The Greatest Love of All – Celebrating The Music of Whitney Houston 11 Bring Your Own Baby Comedy 11 Jazzlines Free Gig: Delano Mills 11-12 Henning Wehn: Getting On With It 12 Jazzlines Creative Vocal Group 12 Real Life Parenting: The Good, The Bad and The Funny 12 Jazzlines Gospel Ensemble 12 Ludovico Einaudi The 7 Days Walking Tour 13 Das Rheingold - BPO 13 Brum Craic

14 Friday Night Is Music Night Live Presents The Songs Of Stevie Wonder Starring Beverley Knight 15 Pre-concert Conversation with pianist Alexandra Dariescu 15 Nadiya Hussain: Finding My Voice 15 Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra –Shostakovich No 10 16 And In The End...A Celebration of Abbey Road and Let It Be 17 CBSO: The Thrill of The New 17 Kevin Bloody Wilson 18 Jazzlines Free Gigs: OxleyMeier Guitar Project 18 Music From The Movies 19 Jazzlines Ensemble 19 Rip it Up: The 70s 20 Live On Mars - A Tribute To David Bowie 20 Out of the Ashes: A Brand New Evening with Boycott & Aggers 21 Chris De Burgh 22 Ben Elton Live 23 Sons Of Pitches - Around The World 23 Squeeze plus special guests Heaven 17 24 CBSO: Bruch’s Violin Concerto 25 Jazz Jamaica All Stars: The Trojan Story 26 Sax In The City (October) 26 Jazzlines Gospel Ensemble 27 The Gruffalo & The Gruffalo’s Child Films With Live Orchestra 27 Rachmaninoff Vespers 27 Zog & The Gruffalo - Film With Live Orchestra 28 Margaret Atwood 29 Lisa Stansfield - Affection 30th Anniversary Tour 30 Big Big Train in concert 31 Halloween Silent Movie Special – The Hunchback of Notre Dame 31 A Celebration of the Music from Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit

SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON

October 04 Ferocious Dog 05 Fern Brady: Power and Chaos 12 Vicious Nature 18 An Evening With Don Powell 19 Slade Fans Convention 24 Darren Harriott 26 COBO: Comedy Shutdown 27 Gary Delaney: Gagster’s Paradise 31 Desiree Burch

ARENA BIRMINGHAM

October 01 Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back - Live In Concert - Film With Live Orchestra 05 BBC Radio 1Xtra Live 2019 11 The Cranjis McBasketball World Comedy Tour 11 Impractical Jokers Starring The Tenderloins 16-20 Disney On Ice celebrates

l Ludovico Einaudi will serenade the Symphony Hall on the 12th

GX AWARDS 2019

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By Joan ‘LJ’ Hunter

he Gospel Xplosion Awards took place on Saturday 21st September 2019 , at the Town Hall Birmingham. GX is a Christian Music and Media Production Company, bringing you the only Gospel Awards of its kind for the 4th year.

This Black and Gold glitzy affair was another successful event, showcasing and celebrating the vibrant, dynamic and impactful way Christian's spread the words through music, dispelling the myths that Christianity is boring and exclusive.

Head of GX Ministries Annette Taylor, a Gospel artists of 13 years, known as 'Annette Bee",

who released an album July 2019, entitled 'I'm Free'. Annette Bee is driven to show that music is one of the biggest vehicles to spread the Gospel, with one common denominator, which was is "KINGDOM BUILDING".

There were 22 Categories honoured, with International winners who flew in from Atlanta and St Vincent to be part of the awards.

International Artist of the year went to Appointed, local winners were D Shy who won Best Hip Hop Artist, Best Album went to Lytie and Best Radio Radio Presenter went to DJ Proclaima who gave his Thanks on a live feed from Time Square.

Other awards included

International Radio Station went to Life Radio, International Radio Presenter was Jay Williams, winner of the Media Publications went to Keep The Faith, The Best Choir award went to Kingdom Choir, whose award was collected by choir member Wayne Ellington.

The GX Prestigious Award went to Raj Holness, of Breaking The Silence, addressing the issues of Domestic violence. Raj shared "many said I wouldn't be here, but my faith saved me" as she humbly accepted her award.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Giant Playbill Marks Birmingham Hippodrome's 120th Celebrations

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iona Allan and Professor Carl Chinn MBE Ph.D have unveiled a special Giant Playbill installation as part of Birmingham Hippodrome’s 120th birthday celebrations.

Measuring 10 metres in length, the Giant Playbill was installed in the main foyer on September 20 and takes inspiration from the posters that hung outside the theatre a century ago announcing the acts for each week.

As well as some of the more unusual variety acts from the theatre’s history, the playbill features a selection of some of the most famous artists who have tread the Hippodrome’s boards over the last 120 years, such as The Beatles and Julie Andrews.

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome said: “This commemorative artwork is another way for the Hippodrome to mark

our 120th anniversary, and we hope it prompts visitors to recall some of the great performers they have seen here over the decades.”

The Giant Playbill is completely free to visit and is situated in the main Hippodrome foyer, near the Coffee Bar.

Allan added: “Now that we are open all day, visitors can drop by anytime to see the giant Playbill, and our autumn art exhibitions on Levels 2 and 3- and take some time out for coffee and cake whilst they are here!”

The fairest panto cast in the land.

...

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The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 19

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH SUPPLEMENT

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019 marks the 32nd year of Black History Month in the UK, where we observe those who came before us, making a difference to Empower the Youth to pick up the mantle left by previous generations as we move forward into a brighter future.

The global world is shrinking, with advances in communication and technology, as black people now the opportunities are endless and the boundaries removed.

This year The Phoenix Newspaper celebrates Black History Month: The Next Generation, as we look towards the leading lights of our communities to inspire the next generation to believe that no dream is impossible.

With this special 12 page supplement, we are highlighting the unsung heroes and role models of all ages, backgrounds

Welcome and cultures to produce an inspirational publication for our youth.

We want to thank Town Hall Symphony Hall for their unending support of both the newspaper, and the ongoing work sharing our vision of all people under one banner.

We would also like to give thanks to the Royal Air Force, who have been staunch supporters of all communities, especially the black community in the region.

Black History Month has a

special place in many peoples hearts, for a wide variety of reasons.

While we will always look back and remember the feats and sacrifices made by previous generations for the betterment of all, especially those who were ‘Called To Order’ during and after the war, we must also be looking forward to our youth as the next generation in whom we trust.

We have planted the seeds so now it is time for our children to reap the fruits of our labour.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Naomi Osaka – A True Woman of Excellence

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two-time Grand Slam winner, at 21-yearsold an extremely shy and reserved Naomi Osaka stands supreme at the top of women’s tennis with years more filled with ‘Slams and other major titles to come.

Not necessarily a household name outside the sport, within it she is one of the most respected players on the professional circuit with admirers forever growing in numbers both in and out of the game.

Now ranked No.4 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) she is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles having won four titles and reached six finals on the WTA Tour.

Equally so, she is also the first Woman of Colour to do so since Serena Williams.

Born in Japan to a Haitian father, Leonard François and Japanese mother, Tamaki Osaka, she is one of the most marketable women athletes in the world, ranking second in endorsement income in 2019 behind only Serena and is one of the most

marketable women athletes in the world, ranking second in endorsement income behind the afore mentioned Williams.

The reigning Australian Open women’s champion, her father was inspired to teach her how to play tennis, after watching the Williams sisters (Serena and Venus) competing at the 1999 French Open. Having little experience as a tennis player himself, he sought to emulate how Richard Williams trained his daughters to become two of the best players in the world, despite having never played the sport. François remarked that, "The blueprint was already there.

I just had to follow it".

When she was 15 years old, she began working with Patrick Tauma at the ISP Academy before moving to the Harold Solomon Tennis Academy, then later at the ProWorld Tennis Academy.

Described as various combinations of Japanese, Haitian, and American, although she was raised in the United States, Naomi’s parents decided that she would represent Japan.

"My dad is Haitian, so I grew up in a Haitian household in New York”, she said. “I lived with my grandma. And my mom's Japanese and I grew up with the Japanese culture too, and if you're saying American, I guess because I lived in America, I also have that too."

Her Haitian grandparents only spoke to her in Creole while her mother conversed with her in Japanese.

She recently faced a series of controversies about her mixed heritage in Japan after being the target of discriminatory incidents for not being able to speak perfect Japanese.

And a female comedy double act said in a live set that Osaka was "too sunburned" and that she "needed some bleach".

The duo, who are not hugely known in Japan, were immediately pulled up by their management company, with both the women apologising for making "inappropriate, hurtful remarks", but failing to directly apologise to Naomi.

Celebrating Their Courage

1–31 OCTOBER

By Joan ‘LJ’ Hunter

Come and help us celebrate Black History Month 2019 throughout the month of October.

There will be talks, workshops, films, discussions, book groups, community events, competitions, quizzes, music and much more. Black History Month is for not just for BAME staff and students; everyone is welcome, so please do come along.

For a full list of events visit: www.birmingham.ac.uk/bhm2019 C ELEBRATIN G | TH E PAST P RO M OTIN G | TH E PRESEN T B UILD IN G FO R | TH E FU TU RE

The annual 'ARISE' church service in Celebration and Remember of Ancestors of the African Caribbean community was held on Sunday the 22nd September 2019.

This remarkable remembrance service was the held at Holy Trinity church led by Reverend Canon Eve Pitts.

The service is in its fifth year a poignant moment to give space to the community to Arise and Honour their ancestors. The programme 'gives space for reflection and to begin a process of healing our historical pain thst goes deep' says Reverend Eve (as she's fondly know). The main speaker this year was Esther Standford Xosei, Jurisconsult Repatriationist Reparations Movement Historian. Her profound words to the over

200 strong congregation, was that repatriation is about more than just economics. It is about the acknowledgement and contribution of the generations

of a people who were stripped bare of their identity, and it's impact on today's generations.

Esther Standford Xosei, left the congregation in no doubt that to 'Honour Our Ancestors' and to ensure we preserve their history for generations to come; the time is now as a nation of people to look inwardly and be part of a forward movement for Recognition and Repatriation.

In the word of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. "The time is always right to do what's right".

On 1st August 2019 (Emancipation Day), Glasgow University has announced that they will pay £20 million in REPARATIONS after its link to the transatlantic slave trade were revealed. A GlasgowCaribbean Centre for Development Research will have a base both in Glasgow and the West Indies.

The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 21

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH SUPPLEMENT

Rotimi Flys The Flag For The RAF

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or some, the idea of joining the RAF is akin to leaving home to never come back, that you will leave your old life behind and start a new one with the RAF, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

For Flying Officer Rotimi Keshinro, an avid basketball player with strong ties to his friends, family and home, in Leicester, joining the RAF wasn’t even a consideration until he attended a career fair and was approached by an RAF Ambassador.

“I studied Physics and Maths at college, and at that point with the combination of the two I thought I wanted to go into engineering, so I continued onto Lancaster University and studied Mechanical Engineering because I wanted to make a difference, and do something where I could help people.”

Wanting to make a difference, and to help people are two of the mindsets that meld so well into the culture of the RAF, and when Rotimi spoke with the ambassador at the career fair who told him that the RAF is screaming out for engineers, he thought he should check it out.

“My first thought was “I’m not exactly like these people, I don’t talk the same way” but I wanted to stick with it because knowing what I can do in the RAF it could be on a far greater scale to help the world.

“So I went to a Station Visit, was hosted by a good squadron leader Sqd Ldr Jacqueline

Miller who told me ‘If you want to make it through the OASC, just be yourself, don’t try to be anyone else. We’re looking for different minds, different ways of thinking,’ which was exactly the approach I went with.”

Rotimi found that contrary to the beliefs he held about the RAF, it is a very open organisation with a lot of opportunities not only within the job, but of the extra-curricular variety.

“I played a lot of basketball in college, and I’ve found since joining the RAF I’ve played far more basketball, and I’ve even

joined the RAF mens basketball team.

“Before the RAF I wondered how different my life would be, would I be able to go home on the weekends, to see my friends, family and girlfriend? But you really do still keep all the ties to your life pre-RAF, and honestly my life has been better since joining. You won’t know that until you take that first step of looking into the RAF.” The culture in the RAF is one of the things that has stood out for Rotimi, with everyone working hard for themselves and for each other, to ensure that everyone succeeds, and therefore the RAF succeeds overall.

“I’ve improved my confidence, the RAF has built a lot of confidence within me, as we have to step up to certain challenges.

Take that challenge head on. We have the support and guidance, and a good team to help us.”

“My family were very reserved when I wanted to join, saying ‘are you sure that’s what you want to do?’ and it was only when they started to learn more about culture of the RAF that they began to understand. Now they couldn’t be more proud of me when I tell them what I get up to.”

This link to his hometown was the reason that Rotimi was picked to be the star of the RAF’s ‘My Two Homes’ video, which documented life both inside and outside of the RAF for Rotimi.

“We’re always looking for the best people, doesn’t need to be people from ethnic minorities, but in the RAF we are underrepresented compared to the UK as a whole, and I think there are people out there with the talent and the skill, but because they have this perception of the RAF, they hold themselves back. The force is really looking for that sort of skill and talent.”

The RAF are looking for about 2,500 people this year, and with over 60 different job types available, and some not even requiring any qualifications to apply, starting on an apprenticeship program learning while earning a starting salary of around £18,000 has never looked like such a good offer!

“In terms of commitment as

well, people think if I sign up to the RAF then I’m signing up for my whole life, and that’s not the case at all. You can leave if it’s not for you, but equally we’ll offer you a contract for 12 years and even over that, so job security wise it’s great.”

So if you’re interested in joining the RAF, or like Rotimi, you’ve never considered it, there has never been a better time to get informed about what opportunities are on offer, and take a closer look at what goes on in the RAF.

Remembering Caribbean Soldiers Legacy For Future Generations

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onald Campbell is a retired member of the RAF, who is now supporting the National Caribbean Monument Charity which aims to commission a Monument for Caribbean Military Heroes in the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire.

It will uphold and remember their contributions and sacrifices to the British Empire. To create a legacy for future generation through educational programmes in schools, churches and organisations.

“I’ve been to many many places around the world from Cyprus to Denmark, Norway, Germany, Belize, Canada, USA, the Falklands.

“I’ve very much enjoyed my time in the RAF. I still remember when the person in the careers office asked me if I was going to

join and I asked him ‘well what are my trades?’ I chose Survival Equipment Fitter as a trade, and I had no idea what it was.

“I asked him and he told me ‘well you’re working with aircraft and you’re travelling’ so I said ‘well that is for me, I love that,’ and I certainly did more than I expected.

Don was an avid football fan and player, and played for many stations that he was posted at, before realising that he was actually very quick and good and sprinting, so ended up being a sprinter for the RAF for many years.

“Later on, because I still had that speed, I transformed that into playing squash, which I played for the RAF too, travelling around the country, even playing in Cyprus and against the national side. Mixing sports with work was a blessing.”

Don completed seven years at RAF Cosford as a Training Manager at the No 1 School of Technical Training, which gave him all sorts of different skills, from listening to dealing with people, which he has managed to transfer into his chauffeuring company, which has given him a very competitive edge when it comes to service.

“I use that daily now, the RAF sets you up for life. It never leaves you, and you talk to some people or do some things and they’re amazed that you just get on with it, and I’m like ‘well you’re taught that way!’

So for me, joining the Armed Forces, the passion, the training, everything that I have got from that has set me up for life.

For more information on the monument or to donate please visit www.justgiving.com/ nationalcaribbeanmonument .

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Page 22 - The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SUPPLEMENT

Meeting the Young Curators of BASS 2019 B ASS Festival is back for October 2019 and this year, we're shining a spotlight on the future. Now in its 13th year, BASS Festival has teamed up with two of Birmingham's brightest young creatives to curate the festival and leave a new legacy.

This year's curators, Aliyah Hasinah and RTkal, will be showcasing exclusively black artists, creatives, speakers & performers from Birmingham, the UK & beyond.

Expect 6 days of live music, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions and film screenings across some of Birmingham's hidden venues, as well as an unveiling ceremony of the 'Future Faces Of Birmingham' mural.

Future Artists include

Naomi Cowan, Jevon, Randy Valentine, Sevana, Big Zeeks, Cali P, 808INK, Anaïs, Jamie Rodigan,Italo Skarcha, Layfullstop, Bake Off's Liam Charles and many more.

We caught up with Aliyah and RTkal to find out a bit more about the duo.

Introduce yourself for us.

Who are you and what do you do?

RT: My name is RTkal, I’m an artist, entertainer and creative entrepreneur from Birmingham.

I am the co-founder of beats & barriers music academy, I co-own IDST music studios and I run a business called The MBC (Music, Birmingham, Culture) all of which are based in Digbeth.

AH: My name is Aliyah Hasinah and Im a curator and aspiring historian and filmmaker.

I started my career in digital marketing then ended up as

producer by the end of an apprenticeship.

I then became freelance and worked on a variety of different project with an organisation called Apples and Snakes which was my first actual contracted job.

But, a lot of my works actually been pretty DIY, if I have an idea and its an exhibition for example can we just put it up in a cafe?

Can we speak to this artist and get work shown?

I’ve also worked with loads of artists and organisations around the theme of decoloniality and what it means to move the gaze away from the white gaze and to not be apologetic about the way we curate and take up space.

This year's theme is the future. Where do you plan to take it?

RT: I’m booking artists from different parts of the world and different parts of the country and having them perform alongside Birmingham based artists.

It's going to highlight the calibre of artists that we as a city have to offer. I also want to highlight the skills and high level of entrepreneurship we have in the city. We have so much to offer.

AH: Just BLACK! I’ve been thinking a lot about reimagination and what it means

to be black and everything that that is. Not just one idea of Blackness.

I think the future is Blickityblack-black! It’s independent and its decolonial.

What would you like the future of Birmingham's creative industry to look like?

RT: Us. It's an authentic Birmingham culture.

AH: I’d like it to look more like an industry. I’d like infrastructure. I’d like us not to have to steal resources from other places and I’d like there to be spaces for people to reap benefits from.

Whether that be artistic development programmes or places to pitch your ideas or create them.

And I’d like it to be based on the merit of the idea rather than how many followers you have and I’d like it to be a decentralisation of everything which is stuck in London.

Because a lot of the industry is there, but a lot of the talent is here. So we have to connect and build something sustainable.

All events can be seen on www.punchbass.com

“We Were Called To Order” - The Journey Of Three Women Who Answered The Call To Serve

T

By Marcia Irving

he journey of Commonwealth people of the Caribbean who answered the call from The United Kingdom for citizens of the Commonwealth needed for their skills and labour to rebuilt a devastated nation after World War 2 is well documented.

Much is known about the Windrush generations - named after the HMT Empire Windrush, originally a German passenger liner given to the UK as war reparation in 1945 and converted to a troopship renamed HMT Empire Windrush in 1947.

The British troopship HMT Empire Windrush anchored at Tilbury Docks, Essex, on 21 June 1948 carrying hundreds of passengers from the Caribbean, answering The Call to Order.

Here is the story of 3 people who answered The Call to Order - the term used by Mavis Wilson - explaining why many people came to the UK. Mavis was a qualified teacher in Jamaica.

Happy in her profession and surrounded by family, friends and living a healthy lifestyle in rural Jamaica.

In 1955, 4 years into her teaching career Mavis decided to join siblings and friends who answered the call to help rebuild services in the UK after a savage world war. “Yes, we felt it our duty to come and help. I told my parents who were not pleased” Mavis continued. “How can you go to be a nurse when you

hate the sight of blood”, Mavis laughed recalling her mother’s response.

Two months after completing Invitation Application Form which was accepted within days, Mavis bags were packed for life into the unknown.

Planes had replaced ships by 1955 and before reaching the UK Mavis encountered snow when her BOAC flight had to wait 2 days in Newfoundland, Canada due to bad weather. “We got a real shock, we were dressed in cotton clothes, freezing and given smash potatoes to eat”, Mavis recalled.

Finally arriving in the UK and linking up with her 3 family members - cousin Ivy, Sadie, they entered nurse training in Eastbourne.

We all qualified in a couple of years and were dispersed into the NHS - Mavis as a qualified midwife, Ivy into

Domciliary nursing, Sadie as an Eye Specialist and worked at Moorfield Eye Hospital.

Sixty years later as citizens of the UK much needs to be celebrated.

“We sacrificed much and most of us should be recognised for building this country after World War II and putting this country back to a high standard”.

People from Barbados came as drivers, conductors because that was The Call to Order from the UK”, Mavis continued.

Even women came as drivers, rare thing at that time. We were invited to come and rebuilt the country”, Mavis concluded.

Sadly, Ivy died in 2010, Sadie August 2019 - and Mavis, now 88 years old and wheelchair bound attended Sadie’s funeral recently made the 250 miles round trip to pay respect to her friend, who made that Call to Order over 60 years and have achieved the mission of rebuilding the United Kingdom into a place many have called home.

@PhoenixNewsUK

The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 23

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SUPPLEMENT

From Target To Protector: Big Dave Continues to Inspire

F

rom being a target of bullying at a young age, to targeting bullies and bullying through his tireless work with young people across the country, strongman ‘Big Dave’ Gauder continues to preach the power of strength of mind over physical strength.

Birmingham born and bred, in Sparkhill, ‘Big Dave’ hasn’t always been a force to be reckoned with. Starting at Dennis Road Junior School in Sparkhill before his family moved to Castle Bromwich, it was while at Alderley Boys School where Dave first encountered the bullies.

“People get picked on for whatever reason, could be because you’re black, white, Chinese, Irish, Scottish, you might limp, stutter, have ginger hair, I was very small, very quiet, very shy, and I didn’t really mix very well with the others, which is what made me a target.

“It starts with things like name calling, then progresses to being pushed around, things taken off you, up to the point of violence, kicking and hitting you. They groomed me into robbing and stealing for them, with the promise of it would stop, but it would only be for a couple of days, then they’d start again.

“There’s always a gang, in my case there were 5 of them, and I can remember their names, faces, what they did to me, what they made me do, it’s all embedded into your mind. Being frightened is the worst thing.”

Dave is now an antibullying ambassador and has created Big Dave’s Buddies and Big Dave’s Safe Station as ways to help combat the bullies.

25 years ago, Dave started training and powerlifting, and it became a way of life for him, but it left him asking ‘What do I do with this strength now I’ve got it?’. It was around that time that a client of his from the gym, a radio presenter from Worcester, approached him to pull a single decker bus for a charitable cause.

“I said ‘I can’t pull a bus!’ but I practiced and eventually did indeed pull the bus at Worcester Racecourse,” beamed Dave. “It was for a young lad that had a muscle wasting disease and wanted a keyboard that he could play with his mouth because he didn’t have the use of his arms.”

From that point on, it naturally became the case that Dave had to keep pulling bigger, heavier objects, from single to double decker buses, to a fully laden fire engine.

“I used to know someone high up in St Johns Ambulance - who arranged with British Airways for me to pull Concorde for their Anniversary. I went from pulling 10 tons to 110 tons!”

Fluctuating between only 16.5 and 17 stone, Dave is very light for a strongman, especially one pulling the weights that he does.

Following pulling a Jumbo Jet for the Red Cross, Dave started

working with West Midlands Police fronting a scheme where he stopped two 3 litre cars from breaking his grip at full throttle, which then took him all around the country working with police forces all over the UK. “At one of these events, my wife spoke to the Chief Superintendent who couldn’t believe what he’d seen, and she said ‘you wouldn’t believe he was bullied at school’, which led to them asking me to stand up and be counted as an antibullying ambassador.”

Over time the talks have evolved to include anti-social behaviour, and gun & knife crime as times have changed, and Dave has worked with 32 police forces and local authorities from the Shetland Islands to Cornwall, and has reached over 1,000,000 children and pulled over 1,000 buses over the years.

Dave has more recently moved into working with the prison service on the back of the riots at HMP Birmingham, and has developed courses that he runs with prisoners handpicked to work with him.

“It worked really well, some very positive results, was rolled

out into another prison, and now it looks like it will go into a further two prisons as well.

“I designed another course for the prisoners to work with the design and print shop in the prison to come up with an anti knife slogan – which they came up with a fridge magnet which are now produced at the prison, stamped with the prison info, and can be given out to the community.

“If you choose to carry a knife, chances are you’ll take a life” Dave wants to achieve a lot, to work with other organisations to help other people in the community. “I’ve had to take my work into Sandwell due to a lack of help from organisations in Birmingham, despite being made an ambassador for Birmingham,” explained Dave sadly, “We’d love for the kids site that we’ve been

working on, for the kids to start to take ownership and put their stories on there – Big Dave’s Safe Station – and we’ve got a couple of schools lined up to start working on it in a big way.

“I’m lucky that I have some very supportive people behind me, but I do hope that I can find the financial and technical support, to help push this forward. I’d love to give a huge thank you to Harbourne Parish Lands Trust, they’ve supported me year in year out for the last 10 years without fail.”

One of Dave’s mottos is “whatever the mind of man can conceive, they can achieve”, and with the work that he is doing to keep kids off the streets and on the right path, Dave is certainly helping to shape future generations across the country.

Doug Wright: A Stalwart Of All Communities

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oug Wright is a McDonald’s Franchisee who employs in excess of 2000 people across Greater Birmingham and who has created over 310 management positions in the last 15 years.

He has always been a strong brand ambassador and ensures that he embeds himself within the communities that he operates in.

“I was taught by my parents many years ago to always respect the local community and to be part of it from an early age.

“Again I have taken this advice and stance into running

my restaurants and my own business.”

In 2016, Doug became a recipient of the Fred L Turner Golden Arch Award which is a global award which is given every two years to recognise the best McDonald’s Franchisees in their entire system.

“Even now I am bursting with pride at receiving such a prestigious global award.”

In recognition of his tireless work supporting communities, and not least The Phoenix Newspaper, the partnership seeing The Phoenix Newspaper stocked at his McDonald’s stores across the region, with

more exciting things to come, in February 2019 Doug received two amazing external accolades.

Doug was made a Deputy Lieutenant in the West Midlands.

The prestigious appointment was confirmed by John Crabtree, Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, who is the Queen’s personal representative in the region.

During the same month, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Birmingham City University ‘in recognition of outstanding business achievements and philanthropic support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities’.

thephoenixnewspaper.com

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l News clippings of Santa World donations

l Lesa’s ‘hidden treasure’ of Jamaican memories

Lesa Is Inspir Others To Fly The Hi Of Hei B

orn in Islington, London, Lesa Crossman-Dodd had a turbulent childhood.

Losing her mother at the tender age of just 5 while in Jamaica with her, Lesa was raised by her grandmother, a strict disciplinarian, who instilled the importance of education, focus and determination.

A businesswoman herself, Lesa’s grandmother didn’t have a lot for herself, but wanted her children to achieve the very best that was available to them.

Lesa lived in St Catherine in a group of about 10-15 family members in adjoining houses with her grandmother as the matriarch.

Lesa’s siblings had returned to the UK upon her mothers death, but Lesa, due to her age, had remained behind in Jamaica.

“I enjoyed my time in Jamaica, I

knew that my mum was missing, but not knowing any different really, my nan was my mum. I knew that I was British however, and that I wanted to return to the UK to continue my education and life.”

Taking a shine to the Navy, and with a love of boats and ships, Lesa’s early dreams were to become a ship captain, however upon returning to the UK at age 15 to live with her uncle, she found that things were very different over here.

“I realised I was a bit different, I found my ambitions were far higher than that of my siblings and classmates, and I didn’t get the support to be what I wanted to be or achieve what I wanted to achieve like I did in Jamaica.”

Attending Hackney College where she achieved her GCSE’s and

l Captain Martin Sutherland

O Levels, education was different and difficult, without the discipline from her grandmother. “I had to try to discipline myself and remember and act upon what she had instilled in me,” Lesa mentioned, smiling fondly.

“Jamaica had the drive to be who you wanted to be, but that wasn’t present in the UK, at least not for me.”

Studying Travel and Tourism at college, Lesa aced through her exams before completing a counselling degree, and then applied for a job at Heathrow, but as a security agent.

“That was more to get a foot into the airport, but I worked my way up through security, until it became a wider area with more specialities, so I went back to school and took a job working with companies in high security such as aviation

l Captain Michael Scarl

@PhoenixNewsUK

The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 25

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SUPPLEMENT

ring y To ighest ights

let

defence international, dealing with immigration, passport checks and more.”

This very sensitive area of security work enabled Lesa to meet some very interesting people during her 10 years in the role. “I loved it, it was brilliant for me.

The airport and the people I was working with became my family, fuelling me with the determination and ambition to grow and continue, until I was working with Air Jamaica, where a number of the pilots became my trusted mentors and friends.”

Lesa learned a lot from them, including Captains Vivian Thomas, Michael Scarlet, Martin Sutherland and Basil Ferguson, and they exposed her to a different vision, and outlook, especially when it came to Jamaica itself.

“Grandma and Grandpa Thomas

adopted me into that family. They had so much love and care and motivation for me, on a different level to that which my grandma gave me – I was still trying to find myself while not being sure how to find myself.”

In her early 30’s, Lesa decided that she wanted to settle down with her family in Jamaica, but that just led to another opportunity for her. Having left her job at the airport, she opened her own company in Jamaica, Dodd’s Management, taking on prestige tier event management, for banquets, awards and the like.

“I realised my decorating skills came alive, and I was very close to Nestle Jamaica and so was asked to do events for them, and before long other companies saw the calibre of events that I was producing and wanted to use me

l Captain Vivian Thomas

including flying to Dubai, and all this by myself, I had to get in yourself and go out there and even circumnavigating the globe involved with the right set of get it done. If the hill was smooth in a Helicopter! people, who I’m still holding you could not climb it, there has Up to 3 times a week, Lesa onto to help me climb. It’s very to be some bumps along the way. flies as a Private Executive important to me to recognise all Thank god for everything that you Commercial Pilot, while still the people that have helped me receive.” doing her security work, event get to where I am and give respect Wise words, from a lady who planning both here and in Jamaica, where its due.” has lived what she preaches. and writing security programs for “Whatever you want, believe other companies.

“You can be whoever you want to be, irrespective of what you’re told or have seen. Patricia Griffiths and Cecile Dodd were a driving force behind me during all of this, and I have them to thank also for where I am.”

Lesa’s dream is to open her own flight school, to be able to bring more Afro-Caribbean children through the system so that they too can achieve their dreams to become pilots, to prove to them that anything is possible, so look out for “Lesa’s Flight Academy” or something similar soon!

She has also set up a number of charities in Jamaica, including Santa World which ran from 2015, which donated school supplies to children in St Catherine among other worthy causes.

“I couldn’t have done l Air Jamaica memories and messages for Lesa

as well.”

Working with the likes of Glaxo Smith Kline and Kraft among others, Lesa worked between Jamaica and the UK for 3 years before deciding to settle back in the UK in 2011, where she started working with top tier security services with a high clearance in 2012, working with the police and other high profile services.

It was during this time that she started to learn to fly, a long-time dream of hers. “I obtained my Private Pilots License and then my Commercial Pilots License, specialising in private executive helicopters.”

Flying a range of helicopters, including Airbus and Robinson, Lesa has made a large number of European trips, but as soon as the technology is available, has her sights set on some lofty feats,

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l Dr. Toni Luck Chairman of the Africa Legacy Fund with Ms. Halima Dangote, President,Board of Trustees, The Africa Center, Ms. Florie Liser, President and CEO of The Corporate Council on Africa, Rosa Whittaker, CEO of the Whitter Group in Ghana with international business women at the Future Africa Forum, standing in the room completing construction for the Aliko Dangote Hall.

THE GREAT GATHERING AT THE FUTURE AFRICA FORUM HELD AT THE AFRICA CENTER

D

r Toni Luck, Chairman of the Africa Legacy Fund was amongst the elite guests invited to the Future Africa Forum, celebrating the completion of the second phase of construction of The Africa Center, which announced a transformative $20 million donation by the Aliko Dangote Foundation to advance and accelerate the Center’s capital campaign, further activate its public spaces and programming, and support ongoing operations.

In recognition of this historic donation – one of the largest known donations of its kind by an African philanthropist to a U.S. non-profit organization — the Center renamed its venue “The Africa Center at Aliko Dangote Hall” at a ceremony during the Future Africa Forum.

A dedicated philanthropist, Mr. Dangote, founder and president/chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, the largest conglomerate in West Africa, made an initial endowment of $1.25 billion to the Aliko Dangote Foundation in March 2014, enabling it to scale up its work in health and nutrition, education, and economic empowerment.

“We need to seriously recognise the founding visionaries that came up with

this amazing contribution to our society and indeed the world, very amazing young women, Hadeel Ibrahim, Board Director of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation and Halima Dangote, Executive Director of Dangote Industries Ltd, who are the driving force behind this initiative.” explained Dr Luck.

Alongside this at the Future Africa Forum, there was a new $5 million grant announced by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Gates Foundation grant is directed to the Center’s capital campaign and for the development of its policy initiatives.

There are a number of other individuals, foundations and corporations that have provided leadership support including the Mo Ibrahim Family, who have given over $7 million to The Africa Center in recent years, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, who were also recognized at the event, which marked the conclusion of the second phase of construction.

“The Africa Center is showcasing Africa in a contemporary, multifaceted manner as a center of innovation, growth, and limitless potential, which makes this project extremely important and worthy

of support through my foundation,” said Mr. Dangote.

“There is an opportunity to establish new narratives about Africa today, with its unrivaled mix of people, ideas, and resources, which are both its greatest strength and the basis for its tremendous, untapped promise.

“The connections The Africa Center will make between Africa, the United States, and the rest of the world, including members of the Diaspora, are more critical now than ever before.”

Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl added “Congratulations to The Africa Center on the announcement of this extraordinary gift from the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the conclusion of another phase of construction, marking the latest milestones for this important addition to NYC’s cultural landscape.”

“The City is pleased to have contributed over $4 million in public capital support for the Center, which is already offering vibrant programming that solidifies NYC’s connections with contemporary Africa and provides a new anchor for Museum Mile at the northern end of Central Park.”

Halima Aliko Dangote, Group Executive Director of Dangote Industries

l Dr. Toni Luck Chairman of the Africa Legacy Fund with Actor Boris Kodjoe and president of The Africa Center, who is leading the Center’s successful capital campaign, said: “The Africa Center is an important gateway to understanding contemporary and future Africa and Africans.

“The Capital Campaign has received remarkable leadership support from institutions and individuals that recognize the role it has to play in building bridges between cultures in a globalized world village.

“That support has enabled us to complete the first two public spaces and activate them with programming that has already proven to be compelling and popular among our local community.

“We are building on this momentum by reaching out to additional business leaders and global philanthropists and asking them to invest in The Africa Center’s

mission.”

Dr. Uzodinma Iweala, Chief Executive Officer of The Africa Center continued “The Africa Center is proud to have the support of the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Dangote Family, whose vision for the future of the African continent is perfectly aligned with The Africa Center’s mission to advance African policy, business, and culture of the 21st century.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Mo Ibrahim family, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and all those whose commitment is enabling us to realize our plans to create a vibrant and essential center of ideas and action focused on the 54 nations and people of Africa and its Diaspora.”

@PhoenixNewsUK

The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 27

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Queen Diambi Kabatusuila

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iambi Kabatusuila was crowned as the ruler of the Bena Tshiyamba People of Bakwa Indu of Central Kasaï Region part of the ancient Luba Empire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 31st 2016.

She has been enthroned by all the Bakwa Luntu Chiefs on July 15 2017 and now holds the Title of Diambi Mukalenga Mukaji Wa Nkashama Wa Bakwa Luntu (Queen of the Order of the Leopard of the Bakwa Luntu People).

She was invested and enthroned in Kinshasa by the Association of Congo Traditional and Customary Authorities on August 5th 2017.

Born in Belgium to a Belgium

Mother and Congolese Father who was a Diplomat. She grew up in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Queen has an extensive experience of multiculturalism not only because of her own background but also because she has traveled and lived in many different countries.

She speaks several languages.

Queen Diambi holds a Doctorate of Laws and a Doctorate of Philosophy, a Master of Science in Applied Psychology and a Master Of Science in Mental Health Counseling.

She has worked as an infants and children Mental Health Therapist as well as a Substance Addiction Specialist. Queen Diambi has consecrated much time mastering issues relating to trauma and how it affects identity.

She is a trained EMDR therapist and holds a Degree as a Practitioner of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Queen Diambi is also a certified Math and French Teacher, she taught French in an International Bacaloreate program in Florida.

Queen Diambi also hold a Bachelor Science in Business Finance and Economics. She has worked for several years as an Economic

Consultant with the Observatoire Social Européen in Brussels for the European Commission and other governmental agencies in the EU. She has two sons and a grandson.

She is Founder and Executive Director of Elikia Hope Foundation, New York USA, the Vice President of FONKABE non-profit in Kinshasa, D.R. Congo, she is the Minister of Health of the 6th Region of Africa-Diaspora that is recognized by the African Union, she is the Director of Public Relations of the PanAfrican Council of Traditional and Customary Authorities and she sits as the President of the board of Directors of African Views, New York, USA. From a young age Queen Diambi has always been very interested in all matters concerning the restoration of the African Identity through the study of African history and of the cultural traditional Heritage of the continent and beyond.

One of her main projects, besides the enterprise of rural development of Central Kasaï is to seek alliances to change the narrative about African People.

Indeed the expressions of African cultures have been so brutally repressed and demonized during

Suzanne Shank: Taking The Bull By The Horns

H

aving been mentored by Muriel ‘Mickie’ Siebert, the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, Suzanne Shank, the CEO of Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., L.L.C., is one of the top female leaders in the financial sector and, now a billionaire, is one of the richest Black woman in the world – with figures suggesting that her wealth far exceeds that of that well-known billionaire – Oprah Winfrey.

She, along with her former partners, built a firm that has managed over two trillion dollars in financings for municipal users, corporate bonds and equity transactions and now she has taken the lead in continuing to create and develop opportunities for women and young people in finance.

“When your book of business is so robust you can compete head-to-

several centuries in the sole purpose of exploiting the Africans and their land that many Africans have lost the sense of self and what it means to be African today.

Africans across the globe have come accustomed to believe that they are not worthy and that the only way to better their life is to adopt and imitate all the standards of the West to regiment all aspects of their life.

Since this is truly an unattainable, utopic and maladaptive enterprise, the Africans are destined to continue their downfall into poverty; that is material, mental, emotional and spiritual poverty.

To help remediate that situation, Queen Diambi works on promoting the restoration of the African Identity by encouraging people to learn about their true history, and by promoting the appreciation of their African Ancestral heritage in cultures, languages, folklore and traditions, all of which place the greatest value on compassion, respect, solidarity and the primordial role of the Creator in all aspects of existence.

head with your competition without a lot of explanation,” she explains.

Initially working as a structural engineer, Shank began to realize that without an advanced degree there was no career path; there was no room for growth. She enrolled in the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Her interest in finance piqued.

“I was naturally inclined to pursue a career in public finance,” she recalls, “because of my infrastructure background. I was focused on financing those projects. I was one of the few people who could understand the engineering reports.”

After making her first $Billion, Suzanne became the first woman president of the New York Stock Exchange. “I’m proud that now I can have the opportunity to hire women in our business and young people who are extremely dynamic,” she said.

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Page 28 - The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SUPPLEMENT

The Legacy Centre of Excellence Opens Its Doors To A New Era

R

ising, like a phoenix, from the ashes of the historic Drum Arts/ Theatre Centre, the dawning of a new era was heralded as the Legacy Centre of Excellence opened its doors to an eagerly awaiting community – and beyond.

Standing on the shoulders of the legacy left by the Drum – a new legacy stands ready to create tomorrow’s history…today!

Fronted by three young local entrepreneurs with a joined vision – Keith ‘Cypher’ Smith, Selina Brown and Paul Knight – a mass crowd was present to witness the ‘birth’ of what promises to be something special.

Following its transformation, by organisations including Birmingham Social Enterprise 7E Youth Academy, the venture opened its doors with a special ribbon cutting ceremony with a beaming Smith, CEO of 7E Youth Academy, saying: “This is not a short term

thing but a long term goal.

“I have been concerned about the welfare of the young people, the elders, the job opportunities, the business opportunities that are available in and around the area and the Legacy Centre will provide access for people most marginalised in communities throughout Birmingham and the wider West Midlands."

With rented offices, a co-working hub, events space, education courses and a newly refurbished live music theatre, the creation of an Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology and Engineering

Academy will train and prepare young people for careers in business, banking, finance, engineering, science and technology.

The Legacy Centre of Excellence has also established itself as a venue for local and international live music, across genres and cultural events, with a state-of-theart recording studio facility also available.

Everyone concerned is right behind this new venture. We will be doing a special feature on the main man Keith ‘Cypher’ Smith in the very near future.

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@PhoenixNewsUK

The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 29

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SUPPLEMENT

Extra Reason For Celebration For Erma

I

t was supposed to be a night to mark the 21st Anniversary of relentless fundraising, but Erma’s Jamaica Hospital Appeal Fund Gala Ball took on a very different, and somewhat surprising, night as the High Commissioner for Jamaica in the UK made an impromptu visit to the event at the H Suite in Birmingham.

Former nurse Erma Lewis has raised over £3 million for various initiatives, including support for the Port Antonio Hospital and Infirmary in her native Portland as well as focusing on distributing recycled wheelchairs to disabled persons.

But, as a hall full of noted dignitaries and business people gathered to acknowledge the achievement and raise further

funds, it was the appearance of High Commissioner, Seth George Ramocan raised much more than a sharp intake of breath, it was nowhere near any of the plans for the night’s activities.

Him being there was all the more compelling because he was due to be at another event at the other side of the city.

Erma was awarded the 2019 Governor General’s Diaspora Achievement Award (United Kingdom) for her contribution to the land of her birth.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen presented the award to her during the eighth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, held at Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

Unaware that a presentation would be made in her home time, Mr Ramocan proudly made that

extra effort to present her with the Governor General’s Diaspora Achievement Award She was recognised for her ongoing contributions to Jamaica over the past 20 years, which have seen her giving back through her ‘Erma’s Jamaica Hospital Appeal Fund’.

“When deliberating at our annual Diaspora Conference we couldn’t help but appreciate the work that you, Erma, have been doing – almost single-handed – over the past 21-years”, the High Commissioner said, “for Jamaica, the Diaspora and wider afield over the past 21-years.

“May God continue to strengthen you and respect you. Erma, we are proud of you”.

A proud and emotional

Erma said: “With the money you have donated over the years, we have seen a lot of great things happening, like the opening of a new cardiac unit at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston.

To date, Mrs Lewis has raised over £3 million for various initiatives, including support for the Port Antonio Hospital and Infirmary in her native Portland.

She has also undertaken work through her Wheels 2 You charity

that was founded in 2007. It focuses on distributing recycled wheelchairs to disabled persons in Jamaica.

Only four outstanding Jamaicans living overseas, who have volunteered their service to the Diaspora community in the United Kingdom, USA and Canada, have been presented with the 2019 Governor-General’s Diaspora Achievement Awards.

Erma’s Jamaica Hospital Appeal

Fund Gala Ball, compered by radio presenter, Nikki Tapper, saw the likes of musicians; Peter Campbell, Millicent Williams and Owen Uriah, plus comedian Ping Wing, proving, yet again, to be testament to the heart, soul and dedication Erma Lewis demonstrates year in, year out.

And, there’s no stopping her anytime soon.

Page 30 - The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019

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The fairest panto cast in the land.

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W

e had exclusive backstage access with Rachel Stevens of S Club 7 and Pussy Cat Dolls Melody Thornton.

The two popstars joined Mark Dwayne on their hectic schedule as part of their Rip it up 70s show which will take place at Symphony hall Birmingham October 18th Speaking to them they are really excited bout the high energy tour.

Everybody loves the 70s and here we get a glimpse into the type of acts on stage and costumes.

MD: What acts do you love from the 70’s era?

Rachel Stevens: I just love Michael Jackson, Abba, Queen

...

T

lots of old music Melody: the Tina Turner number is hard on your body, working in the 70s was a very hard time especially as you had to really sing from your diaphragm.

My mother plays a big part as she was really into the 70’s and she had an afro.

MD: How does it feel to be apart of that the 70s era?

Melody: 70’s was my parents they were in their prime, this show talks about what was happening in the states and over UK with soul rock and roll

MD: When doing the rehearsals do you feel like you’re in the 70’s?

Melody: For me its not like I am stepping into a different time but its high energy its a lot its

he cast of the fairest panto in the land came together for the first time in costume to officially launch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which plays at Birmingham Hippodrome from Saturday 21 December 2019 - Sunday 2 February 2020.

The spectacular production will feature Lesley Joseph as the Wicked Queen, Matt Slack as Muddles, Joe McElderry as The Spirit in the Mirror, Faye Brookes as Snow White, Flawless as The Wicked Queen’s Men, Doreen Tipton as The Lady in Waiting, Andrew Ryan as Nanny Annie Aspirin and Jac Yarrow as The Prince.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will feature stunning costumes and sets along with

hard work on your body.

I was able to choose the wigs from the production they have given me some stage creativity.

MD: You epitomise pop icon, from the 90s SCLUB 7 I think they did great choosing you for the line up.

Rachel: 70s was so exciting time I’m obsessed with the whole fashion so when I was approached to do it I jumped at the chance

MD: Don’t it feel great to work with those other pop icons?

Rachel: Lee, Giovanni its a crazy and bizarre business because it always leads to things you have never done before but I love it. I been around for 20 years

outstanding special effects direct from the sold-out London Palladium production in 2018.

Lesley Joseph’s extensive career has seen her appear on stage in dramas, musicals and reviews in the west end and across the UK and on every major television channel and on film working with major directors including Franco Zeffirelli. Most recently Lesley starred as Miss Hannigan in Annie, Mrs Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie as well as appearing in Home directed by Peter Hall. Last year she starred in the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein in London’s west end starring as Frau Blücher, a role for which she was nominated for the 2018 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

Lesley most recently appeared at Birmingham Hippodrome as Jessie in Calendar Girls The Musical.

Birmingham’s much-loved panto favourite, Matt Slack will return for the seventh consecutive year, bringing his trademark comedy and chaos.

Making Midlands panto-goers laugh every year, The Great British Pantomime Award winner has also recently been seen on Casualty and EastEnders, both for the BBC. The production will once again be directed by Michael Harrison who has been at the helm of the Hippodrome pantomime for the last nine years. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is produced by Qdos Entertainment, the world’s biggest pantomime producer.

ENTERTAINMENT

BGT 2019 Winner Colin Thackery to perform at Town Hall Birmingham Colin Thackery, the winner who stole everyone’s hearts on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year, has announced a major tour for 2020, including a show at Town Hall Birmingham on Wednesday, 25 March 2020.

From the Royal Hospital Chelsea, to the Britain's Got Talent Final, Colin Thackery made quite an impression from start to finish.

When the 89-year-old Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery started to sing, there was barely a dry eye in the house.

Performing on Britain’s Got Talent in his iconic scarlet jacket, with a row of medals across his chest, he mesmerised the audience as he lifted his voice in memory of his beloved wife Joan. When he left the stage, he was told that even the technicians were crying. Colin is an incredibly worthy winner.

Since the show, Colin has become the oldest person to ever sign a record deal at the age of 89.

His debut album Love Changes Everything is out 6 December on

Decca Records, in partnership with Syco.

The show will see Colin perform his favourite songs from the album as well as his much-loved tracks from Britain’s Got Talent. Colin will also be joined by acclaimed

musical director, supervisor and conductor Jae Alexander.

Speaking about the show Colin says, “I am so excited to continue this journey and meet lots of new people”.

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Page 32 - The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019

Red Carpet Glitz & Glamour

9th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Awards

MASQUERADE BALL

AFTER PARTY Saturday 16th November 2019 call

0121 339 5885

10pm prompt Tickets £40

+Booking fee

or book online @

Broad Street, B1 2EA

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“The OFFICIAL AND Exclusive Black Tie awards after party”

Elite entertainers include

WASSIFA SHOWCASE DADDY ERNIE WAYNE IRIE hosted by the award-winning

MARK DWAYNE Saturday 16th november 2019 A Legendary Party Experience ● Grand VIP Setting ● Award Winners Fabulous Cocktail Reception ● High Profile Celebrities ● Red Carpet SPONSORED BY

www.thephoenixnewspaper.com call

10pm prompt Tickets £40

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0121 339 5885 or book online @

Broad Street, B1 2EA

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Page 34 - The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

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LITTLE BUT LARGE

S

ituated just east of the Peak District lies the dynamic and vibrant city of Sheffield.

Widely considered to be the birthplace of Bassline in the early 2000s, Sheffield’s underground music scene bubbled for years embracing many different genres, one in particular it took into its arms was grime.

Keiren Adshead, otherwise known as ‘AK’ is largely known and accepted to be a main front man in the ‘up north’ grime movement very much embracing his accent as well as his surroundings.

As a young lad, he grew up in the suburban area of Wybourn, AK had a passion for football as a young lad early on. This later got pushed aside as he started MCing at a youth project linked with his school on Friday nights with fellow MCs KDot, Milks, and Tempo.

Originally spitting to other MCs tunes, he then went on to writing his own material as the group rapidly discovered that they had a natural flair for catchy hooks and skippy flows.

Growing up, music was always present in AKs household, anything from Oasis to Reggee, his biggest influence growing up was garage.

With the arrival of So Solid Crew, AK appreciated the MCing on tracks from the collective,

this naturally gave way to grime with which he wholeheartedly fell in love with.

What started out as a escape from problems at home, exploded into something that he enjoyed and was very good at.

At school, AK recalls how it changed his image. “It was exciting, we were the cool kids at school because we could MC and we could DJ”.

After a while, the group quickly started turning heads with some of the older MCs locally. One in particular was the infamous Tez Kidd.

After completing his Lord of the Mics 3 clash against Hypez in 2012 Tez, later came back to Sheffield to form the 2nd generation ‘Scumfam’, the name of which was originally attached to a previous crew that Tez was a part of.

Outside of London, Scumfam was revered to be one of the strongest grime movements in the country.

Originally Scumfam was a means to showcase Sheffield talent, not necessarily a grime crew but blossomed into one of the hardest hitting collectives in the scene.

Being a part of this movement, the group didn’t realise at the time just how influential Scumfam would be “people say we were one of the more talented crews outside of London. It’s humbling, once you’re in the bubble

you don’t realise what you did was working”.

AKs ‘tag’ name was not as straight forward as being named after a gun, he acquired the name because of his vocal ferocity and skippy delivery just like the firing of a AK rifle. Visceral, harsh and piercing, traits any MC would appreciate for a reputation.

This translated to his MC clashes, ‘sending’ for MCs and never shying away from a challenge which is evident for his rap-battle legacy. he went onto clash on ‘Lord of the Mics’, a highly regarded high intensity rap battle platform that has seen the likes of Wiley, Kano, Skepta and many more bless it’s manifesto.

This, further propelled AKs career to new highs within the battle scene becoming one of the most respected lyricists in grime.

Never really having a low point in his career, AK still has had his doubts about his musical direction but always pushing through the doubt persevering his vocation in music, “I could never imagine not doing music in some shape or form whether it be MCing or DJing, it’s the drive to make me want to do better, coupled with my passion for music that keeps me pushing”.

AK has just dropped his new single ‘Next In Line’ (produced by Alien Muzik) which is available on digital platforms worldwide with the video filmed by JDZ Media, with exciting upcoming projects in the pipeline, it’s a given that AK is in it for the long haul.

Twitter : @Akscumfam Instagram: akscumfam Spotify: AK Facebook: Ak - Scumfam

Interviews

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The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019 - Page 35

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International Drag Superstar Bianca Del Rio Wows Audiences Across the UK

By Mandip Singh Taunque

W

hat do you get when you cross a drag queen superstar with a clown that’s more likely to haunt you in your dreams rather than entertain your children?

The answer is arguably the funniest insult-comic drag queen in the world, Bianca Del Rio. Miss Del Rio brought some muchneeded comic relief to Birmingham when she visited the city as part of her ‘It’s Jester Joke’ tour.

The record breaking drag queen is no ordinary drag queen. Winner of season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bianca Del Rio, the alter ego of 44year old Roy Haylock, has worked as an award winning costume designer, wowed critics and fans in the films – Hurricane Bianca and Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate, has released a book ‘Blame It On Bianca Del Rio’ and starred in many theatre productions over the past 20 years.

Part way through her current tour she paused to take on the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle in one of London’s most successful theatre shows ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’.

Supported by comic Wendy Ho, the pair ripped off the roof of Birmingham Arena and brought the house down with their hilarious jokes, anecdotes and of course the reasons why everyone came to the show – innuendos and insults.

While Wendy Ho managed to turn well loved songs from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Oletta Adams into innuendo fuelled and crazily obscene songs of her own, Bianca did what she did well – insult practically every group of people imaginable and the crowd went wild for it.

No one escaped – it didn’t matter if you were a man or a woman, gay or straight, young or old – everyone regardless of race was targeted.

The show was not for the fainthearted but that’s what the fans demanded and that’s what they got.

There was even time to poke fun of Brexit with Del Rio declaring that if you can’t handle her show then ‘the nearest Brexit is here, here and here’, whilst pointing at various exits.

Even UK cities got a mention with insults hurled against Manchester – only God knows what she said about Birmingham on the next show of the tour.

One thing fans love about Bianca is she not only finds ways of insulting everyone on the

l Mandip with international drag queen superstar Bianca Del Rio

l In a class of her own – Wendy Ho

Billie Eilish Announces World Tour Global, chart-topping artist Billie Eilish has announced her 2020 arena WHERE DO WE GO? WORLD TOUR. Starting on March 8 in Miami, FL, WHERE DO WE GO? tour will take her live show to some of the world’s most famous arena’s including New York City’s Madison Square Garden on March 15.

Following the release of her official music video for ‘all the good girls go to hell’ – accompanied with the important call to action on climate change

– Billie Eilish continues to set an example by partnering with nonprofit organization REVERB for her upcoming tour.

To help create and encourage an eco-conscious environment both backstage and for her fans, Billie Eilish will be allowing fans to bring their re-fillable water bottles to the shows, waterstations will be available at every venue for both attendees and crew backstage, plastic straws will not be permitted and a Billie Eilish Eco-Village will be stationed at every show, providing attendees

planet but is equally able to make fun of herself.

She is a self-confessed clown and she is not afraid to admit it, this only makes us love her even more.

The highlight of the show came from the audience Q & A. There were some rude and tasteless questions, but Bianca was able to turn that around by putting on the arena lights and making the members of the audience asking the questions stand up in front of thousands whilst their faces were projected on two massive arena screens.

They of course both squirmed and delighted in Bianca’s replies and of course the insults that followed.

Behind the scenes this Bianca Del Rio is an intelligent, wellarticulated and a quietly caring drag queen having spoken to a fan who brought his pensioner mother ‘listen you know how rude my show is right? Have you warned your mother?’ and then speaking to the mother ‘it’s quite a rude show but I think you will love it’ all said with a twinkle in her eye.

By the end of her UK tour Bianca Del Rio will go down in drag ‘herstory’ as the only drag queen in the history of drag to headline an arena tour.

Bianca, you might be the jester on this tour, but we all bow down to you.

5/5

information and resources on ways to help combat climate change and preserve the Earth.

Billie Eilish is officially the first artist born this millennium to achieve both a No. 1 album and single, and is now the third female solo artist in the 31-year history with multiple songs topping the Billboard Alternative Songs airplay chart (alongside Alanis Morrissett and Sinead O’Connor). “bad guy” also hit #1 in the Pop Songs airplay chart after leading the Alternative Songs airplay.

ENTERTAINMENT

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Page 36 - The Phoenix Newspaper - October 2019

ENTERTAINMENT MOTORS

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94 Blue Badge holders battle for one parking space - study reveals New data shows there are 94 Blue Badge holders in the West Midlands battling for one dedicated council-owned parking space, on average.

Warwickshire faces the biggest battle, as data shows there are 286 Blue Badge holders to one council-owned parking space, on average.

And with more people eligible for Blue Badges under the new criteria, this shortage is only likely to worsen.

Under the scheme, drivers with hidden disabilities in England will be eligible for a Blue Badge.

Councils in Wales and Scotland have been working to this criterion for a number of years.

Dedicated Blue Badge parking spaces are available for badge holders, as they’re often located closer to entrances or offer more room to get in and out of the car.

However, new data obtained by Confused.com found that many drivers are abusing this luxury.

Last year, more than 11000 parking charge notices (PCN) were issued to drivers in the West Midlands for wrongly parking in a Blue Badge parking space – with drivers in Staffordshire receiving almost 4000 of those issued.

A battle for Blue badge parking spaces is widespread across the

UK, as on average there are 30 blue badge holders to once council-owned parking space.

This shortage is made even worse by non-blue badge drivers abusing the use of these spaces. In fact, 156,000 fines were issues to drivers for misusing spaces in just one year.

Amanda Stretton, motoring editor at Confused.com, says: “Clearly more parking for Blue Badge holders is needed – 94 Blue Badge holders to one dedicated parking space in the West Midlands is quite a challenge. It’s no wonder some of these drivers have had to park elsewhere.

“Drivers who misuse these spaces are making the problem even worse. They should be more respectful and leave them free for those who need them.

100,000th Maserati Ghibli

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n the morning of the 24th September, at the Avv. Giovanni Agnelli Plant (AGAP) where the Ghibli sports sedan and the Quattroporte flagship are built, celebrations were held to mark the production of Ghibli number 100,000.

The car in question is a Ghibli S Q4 in the GranSport trim with Blu Emozione exterior colour and interior in black natural full-grain Pieno Fiore leather.

Externally, the Ghibli GranSport features Adaptive Full LED Matrix headlights and is also recognisable for the Black Piano inserts on the front bumper, the “GranSport” badge on the front wing, body-colour side skirts,

red brake callipers and 20-inch polished alloy wheels.

The car is destined for the Italian market, where the Maserati sports sedan has been a great success since its launch in 2013, due to its comfortable ride, exquisite finishes, sporty character and enjoyable driving experience.

Thanks to the powerful 430 HP 3.0 litre V6 Twin Turbo engine, the Ghibli S Q4 with Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive delivers impressive performance: a top speed of 286 km/h and acceleration 0-100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.

The Ghibli is available with V6 Twin Turbo 3.0 litre petrol engines with power outputs of both 350 and 430 HP. The

range also includes the mighty V6 turbodiesel with the same displacement, producing 275 HP. The sports sedan can be customised with a choice of 10 different bodywork colours, including Blu Nobile, a tri-coat colour with sparkling glass flakes in the paint which shimmer in the sun, and five interior colours.

There are no fewer than 150,000 possible combinations.

The alloy wheels are available in six designs with various finishes, in sizes ranging from 18 to 21inch.

Ghibli number 100,000 is a major milestone for Maserati and for the people who work at the Grugliasco plant. Since its launch at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2013, Ghibli has garnered

positive reviews in the world’s top motoring journals, and has also found favour with many customers around the globe. The Maserati sports sedan’s main markets are the USA, China, Italy, Japan and Germany Since its debut, the Ghibli, the first Maserati car to be fitted with a Diesel engine, has benefited over the years from a large number of continual updates covering every aspect of its design and engineering, to constantly increase its market competitiveness.

What’s more, every car is road-tested for approximately 40km by a professional testdriver, after which it leaves the production plant for shipment to the customer.