The Nenequirer April

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April 2017

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Issue 001

Too big to fail?

The Waterside project will transform Northampton, we ask UoN VC Nick Petford what could possibly go wrong...

Picture by Jayne West

Meet some women who make a difference Page 16

Charlie is our darling, but what’s he pointing at?

Alan Moore reflects on the life and legacy of our rebel MP Page 36

Theatrical community mourns Tim Piggot-Smith Page 26

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In response to the fantastic reception the Errol Flynn Filmhouse has received since its opening in 2013, we have now opened a second screen. This means you can enjoy the affordable, unrivalled Errol Flynn Filmhouse experience at even more screenings of the very best in world, independent, British and mainstream films and live screenings.

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR FILM LOVERS An Errol Flynn Filmhouse membership includes three free tickets per year*, discounts on all other tickets purchased and a 10% discount at the Errol Flynn Filmhouse bar.

Single membership ÂŁ25, joint membership ÂŁ40. *Excluding Live Broadcasts and Non-Live Premium Screenings.

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06/04/2017 14:16

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ARIA ENTERTAINMENT and MUSIC & LYRICS in association with THE FESTIVAL THEATRE EDINBURGH present

STARRING

SAMANTHA WOMACK, CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER, CAMERON BLAKELY AND LES DENNIS

TUE 9 – SAT 13 MAY Box Office 01604 624811 www.royalandderngate.co.uk Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP

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FOR AGES 7+

04/04/2017 12:01

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Contents

CO TENTS

12

NEWS Surprise!

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NEWS America belongs to us

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NEWS Too big to fail?

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NEWS You didn’t hear it from us

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NEWS Pumped up

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NEWS Soul sisters

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NEWS Dogs gone

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CULTURE What’s on

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CULTURE Errol Flynn

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CULTURE Glittery

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CULTURE Alan Moore reflects on Charles Bradlaugh

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CULTURE Flapp’s back

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SPORT Season’s greetings

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NEWS Tyred and not stopping

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CULTURE Sadness

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CULTURE Hawking

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Your writers include: Steve Scoles Editor

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037

Alex Stockton Cricket writer

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037

Welcome to a magazine on a mission So here we are, it’s 2017 in Northamptonshire, we don’t want to live in London. We don’t even want to live in Milton Keynes.

Some of us have got children at school, some of us have got great jobs in world famous companies, some of us just love this anachronistic little

Chris Elmer-Gorry

Drama chameleon hello@wartsandalltheatre. co.uk

Ted Sullivan

Special correspondent nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037

James Sheppard Digital daydreamer

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037

Adam Alexander Designer

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037

Helen Blaby

Voice of reason @BBCNorthampton 01604 234455

Arte Artemiou Brainmaker

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037 Follow us on twitter @TheNeneQuirer Printed by: CKN, 2 North Portway Close Round Spinney Northampton NN3 8RQ Tel: 01604 645555 enquiries@cknprint.co.uk studio@cknprint.co.uk Published by Hester Street Media 01604 550035

The paper used within this publication has been sourced from chain of custody certified manufacturers, operating within international environmental standards, to ensure sustainable sourcing of the raw materials, sustainable production and to minimise our carbon footprint.

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‘It is our mission to bring those people together and see if we can add up to more than the sum of our parts’

county that rebelliously goes its own way despite pretty much being the crossroads of the nation.

Everywhere and nowhere. That’s where you’re at.

We are the people who are investing something in Northamptonshire and want it to be the best it can be. That may not mean the same thing to all of us, and that’s okay.

We can have wine bars and working men’s clubs, cafés and coffee houses, spires and squires, Saints and Cobblers.

The important thing is we are the people who care about Northamptonshire and it is The NeneQuirer’s mission to bring those people, businesses and organisations together, to share our stories and news and see if we can add up to more than the sum of our parts.

Edited and owned by Steve Scoles, former editor of the Herald & Post and long-time journalist and columnist for the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, The NeneQuirer is a website and magazine that will take a thoughtful look at the county but will also seek to unearth new local talent and give it a platform.

Get in touch with us at nenequirer@gmail.com to find out about advertising rates or submitting editorial material.

Our main landline is 01604 550035. Our editorial office is in The Innovation Centre opposite Northampton Station.

Steve Scoles, NQ Editor

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CRANES dot the skyline along the Nene at Bedford Road where the buildings on the Waterside campus site are taking shape. It will be around a year before the site is ready to open to students

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Your starter for £230 million: why move a university?

by Steve Scoles Editor

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01605 550037 It’s one of the most dramatic changes to Northampton in the town’s history: two university campuses are closing and being rebuilt on a swathe of brownfield land along the River Nene and Bedford Road.

The Waterside project will see over 13,000 students relocating to the largest enterprise zone in the UK, where a university of the future will sit alongside new office and housing developments.

The development connects to the town centre through the Cultural Quarter and in the other direction to Delapre Abbey.

The impact on Northamptonshire’s county town will be enormous, bringing alive a neglected sector of the borough and potentially reviving the fortunes of the town centre.

The man charged with navigating the project into place has been University of Northampton Vice Chancellor Nick Petford.

NQ Editor Steve Scoles spoke to him about conceiving and delivering Waterside, and asked him what could possibly go wrong...

NQ: Where did the idea for Waterside come from?

By Jayne West

I came here in 2010 on the back of Anne Tate the previous Vice Chancellor and there was already something called an Estates Masterplan where the board of governors had set out what the university might look like in the future.

It was quite ambitious, they had some ideas to either close Avenue and rebuild it at Park or expand Avenue in a massive way including covering it with a giant glass dome... so there were lots of exciting projects.

That was put on hold when I came in and round about 2011 just after the local enterprise partnerships were set up. The brownfield site where Waterside will be was designated an Enterprise Zone, one of 15 across Britain and it’s the biggest one actually, that all of a sudden opened up a new possibility that we could relocate the university into a zone specifically designed for redevelopment with some serious backing from the local enterprise partnership and possibly the Government because it was on message.

So that’s where that idea came from. We went down and we looked at it slowly from about 20112013 built up a series of plans and slowly got a project team together.

All the time, I can’t make this decision on my own, it has to be a decision for the university board of governors. They were encouraging and the chair at the time Milan Shah was very supportive of the overall direction of the project.

We finally put a bid together and pitched to the board with the architects and the planners in 2013 and the board approved the relocation project and that is when the real work started from that point on.

Others have done it. We have been looking around the world and how university relocations over five to ten years can really regenerate an urban environment , bringing in art, creativity and money bluntly because you have got people there who weren’t there before buying stuff, and all of that helps an urban economy.

We looked at Portland in Oregon where a university had moved, there is a classic case study of the university of Sandiego which moved into a dockside area and not a million miles away from us Lincoln and also Salford in Manchester, Salford Docks. There are examples from around the world where universities have been bold enough and ambitious enough to take on a redevelopment challenge and the outcome always appears to be really positive for both parties.

NQ: What have been the big challenges?

Everything should be on schedule, we have got a topping out ceremony for the Senate building later in April. Providing there is no disastrous

VICE Chancellor Nick Petford says everything is on schedule

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weather coming up in the next few months we should be in a position to take the site over in spring next year, so it’s looking good. It’s on budget.

In terms of the challenges, the sheer scale of it, dealing with up to 30 agencies simultaneously; highways, council, water companies, British Gas, British Telecom, all wanting their slice of flesh and all the rest of it, introducing complexities and conflicting demand. We are through that period now but you can see why these projects tip over, just the sheer weight of demand from all the third parties involved is tremendous and it is a very complicated transaction.

We got through all that, keeping all the people on board is a challenge, there are the staff at the university, the students, but also local stakeholders, local people and individuals who have been with the university a long time and have seen it grow and flourish in its present estates, making sure that those individuals are happy with the direction of travel, so it is a constant challenge.

The Environment Agency were part of the discussion early on. They wanted us to work to a one in 200 year flood risk and we thought that wasn’t enough so we have raised the whole site a meter above the present level and that has given us a flood risk of one in a thousand years, so hopefully it won’t flood, we have mitigated the risk substantially.

NQ: What got left out?

It is such a big project and the complexities of dealing with all the financial agencies things have come in, then gone, then come back in again. One big issue for me was making sure that we had decent sports provision. There was a time in the project when we thought that might not be as good as we wanted it but we have won that back now, there is also scope to develop that subsequently.

There is a gym, we are going to build a

By Jayne West

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NICK PETFORD

n He loves his bass guitar n His academic specialism is vulcanology and has provided expertise on the subject of volcanoes for all the main British broadcasters n He could lay claim to being the nation’s most famous university vice chancellor after a night out at a student event ended with him ‘crowd-surfing’ and making tabloid headlines as The Wolf of Northampton n He was born in Hoxton, London, in 1961 n He originally trained as a refrigeration engineer and has worked for BP in the past n He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, American Geophysical Union and Associate, Chartered Institute of Marketing, and was Vice President of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland n He is married with three children sports dome now. What else would we have wanted? Perhaps more Halls of Residence, we would have wanted two or three hundred more student homes. We have had to cut back on that. It’s not the end of the world at all, we have still got over 1000 beds there but we could have done with a few more on site in the initial phase, but I am sure it will happen in the future.

NQ: We have heard that the new campus will promote something called a Blended Learning Environment, what does that mean?

We thought about what a future university could look like in terms of transforming our lives, if you look at your own industry (media) think about how digital has kind of ripped through local press, it just changed the game. The same thing could happen in higher education, the old model where you have a lecture theatre full of 300 students and talk at them for 50 minutes and then that’s it. Is that really worth a £9000 experience?

I would argue that it isn’t. What is the alternative? How do you build a teaching and learning environment that is fit for the 21st century but balance that with a personalised approach?

We decided against the lecture hall model, we are going to have a couple of fairly large lecture theatres but we are not going to have extensively this kind of structure. We are going to go for small class teaching, groups up to 30 to 50 in size. The blended aspect - what we call the flip classroom we already do it it’s just not in a purpose designed building. We went to Singapore where they are quite advanced in this area.

What it is, is that you consume the materials

beforehand and the lecture isn’t a broadcast, it is a discussion around what you have learned. It places more onus on the student as a learner which I think will help them because it helps employability if you are self directed. It is slightly different for the lecturing staff because they wont be able, as I have done for years and got away with, to stand up in front of the students talking at them perhaps seeing them for a bit, the staff will have to change their mode of delivery as well, but using technology to break the back of the heavy lifting.

It all goes online as much as possible, students download that on their mobile phone wherever they are any time of night or day.

The idea that you have to turn up for a lecture at 9 o’Clock on a Monday morning … why? It doesn’t make sense. Television doesn’t work like that any more so why should higher education?

You still have to teach the students of course, but in a more face to face way, be more creative.

There is no template for it Steve, it is up to Northampton University to invent its own reality for higher education in the 21st century and that is a tremendously exciting opportunity for the staff and the students.

NQ: How will Waterside benefit the wider community of Northampton?

We want to build a community university, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a good example one of the top five in the world by any measure and yet it is totally accessible to the public, they walk there, they have a picnic, they play with their children in the campus, it is open to the community in a way that Park Campus, although

its been very good to us, and Avenue Campus simply aren’t.

Being in this new location in the Enterprise Zone, being in a thoroughfare from the train station, through the culture quarter, down on to the campus, there will be cafés open and art installations going on and then to Delapre Abbey which opens up a whole facet of the town that currently isn’t being utilised.

NQ: Is Waterside too big to fail?

I guess it has happened now. The crash would have happened around the tendering and the land transactions and the affordability. Now the money is being spent, the buildings are coming out of the ground and you can see for yourself that it will be completed. What goes on inside is really important but we have a fantastic story to tell about a new teaching and learning model. That bit I cant see that not working. There will be teething problems and hiccups and all the rest of it, you can imagine what the snagging issues will be like next year. They will be there for sure but we have put something in place that will be sustainable 50years in the future, plus we have land there that we are not using all in one hit. What I mentioned earlier about it being an ongoing project is that whoever comes into this role in the future will actually have land to build on to grow and develop the university. That is putting us in a very strong position. It is something we can’t do on this campus because we are physically constrained by space.

There is a great quote by Buckmeister Fuller the architect: ‘You never change things by fighting the

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existing reality. To change something build a new model that makes the existing one obsolete.’

I don’t mean to be critical of the existing model because this is a fantastic university, we have got brilliant staff and students and as I say, Park Campus and Avenue Campus have been absolutely superb. It is time to move on. We need to remain competitive. We need to be fit for the 21st century.

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NQ: What difference will Brexit make?

Like most universities we were keen to remain part of the European Union partly for vested interests because of students and access to markets.

Our university wont be hit too badly because our numbers of EU students is about five to six percent, it is not a huge number and we can easily make up numbers from overseas full feeing paying students. We don’t get a huge amount of research income like more elite universities from things like the Horizon 20/20 programme so we wont miss that money. Where there might be an issue is if other universities come in for our market share, so they will be more focussed on UK students, down the line.

The great comfort to all of us was the timing issue. I don’t know if it would have happened post Brexit but we managed to get the lion’s share of the funding from the bonds that the university issued, they are protected by a £231.5 million UK guarantee. The treasury was interested in our project so they have underwritten it.

That makes it very secure for the next 40 years... unless an asteroid hits us. n The Topping Out ceremony for the new Senate building is due to take place on April 25.

Picture by Jayne West

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ELEVENTEEN

(If they ask where you heard it, this page doesn’t exist) The University of Northampton has opened its new Competence Testing Centre for international nurses in Northampton.

Wannabe medics from Abroad can spend a day at the CTC in The Innovation Centre and prove their skills in various practical nursing situations.

The CTC is a faithful recreation of a modern hospital ward, complete with mannequin patients in various states of mannequin ill health awaiting the healing hands of the examinees.

One of the very first angels of mercy to visit their bedsides was none other than the mighty Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the university, who was among the great and good at the opening ceremony.

Seeing the sorry state of the mannequin patients Nick was only too happy to have his competence tested and see if he could administer some basic care without incurring the wrath of the nurse examiners.

Unfortunately he fell at the first hurdle when

he picked up his patient’s drugs with his bare hands.

Blushes for the senior management but at least we can sleep safely in the knowledge that our medical staff are rigorously tested and there is no immediate danger of Nick donning a nurse’s uniform...

We live in the age of austerity and when every spare penny we can muster for public services is at a premium, we like to see evidence that our money is being used well. Imagine the horror on the face of one of our eagle-eyed readers when he came across this over enthusiastic signing outside Delapre Abbey (above), he had barely got over the shock of that when he was found himself slack-jawed with dismay over what is going on at Abbey House (right). He thought he was seeing double, but he wasn’t. It’s a sign of the times.

The appalling editor of this unfortunate publication, was at the launch of the 2017 Carlsberg Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards held at Dawn Farms or as we know it, TMI Foods. Guests were shown round the deliciously aromatic bacon factory, given a butchery demonstration and at the end of the day our editor was stupidly pleased to receive a certificate telling him he was a graduate at last - of the Meat University.

Northampton has its critics but the implications of this weather update captured on an i-Phone recently are a little spine tingling when you think about it. Yes Noho can pull off a fair representation of post-industrial grim on an overcast day but smoke?

There’s only one place that has smoke for weather...

The Northampton Arts Lab is spreading its influence across the country, most recently at a mandrill-themed gathering in Liverpool.

The rag tag band of have a go arts heroes have opened a bank account, requiring details of the organisations officers which were duly supplied.

There was The Imperial Cyclops, The Eternal Butterfly, Random High Pitched Things Hearer, The Left Legged Trouser Curtain...

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Sssshh, Northamptonshire is Steve Scoles Editor

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037

NORTHAMPTON’S Lift Tower was the backdrop for projections on the night of the launch (above), Rockingham Castle (right) is one of the county’s many stately homes which have inspired the campaign to claim we have Britain’s best statelys.

Northamptonshire is Britain’s Best Surprise - it’s official - the tourism campaign declaring it to be so has been launched with some fizz and a bang.

The fizz was Sparkling Blush from New Lodge Vineyard at a Boughton House reception and the bang was a firework display and marketing messages beamed up onto the National Lift Tower in Northampton, writes Steve Scoles.

We were expecting the fireworks at 7.30pm, but perhaps it had been overlooked that the clocks had gone forward and it was still daylight. About an hour later they started going off. Surprise! The projections were repeated every night that week.

The reception at Boughton House was less of a surprise but remember, this campaign is not for us, it is for the people who don’t know us, the people who drive past Northamptonshire on the M1 or streak past on a fast Virgin train to Birmingham.

Front and centre of the effort are the county’s stately homes which are declared to be Britain’s best statelys. There is a surprising number of them when they are lined up in front of you and there is plenty of history to go with them, whether it is the recent history of Althorp or the more distant heritage of Fotheringay, Holdenby or Ashby St Legers.

James Lowther, the former creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi and the Chairman of M&C Saatchi, is the mastermind. He was tasked with coming up with something for Northamptonshire by the Lord Lieutenant David Laing. The county council, Royal & Derngate, Corby Cube, Northampton Borough Council, the University of Northamp

THE campaign iconography is at key sites around the county

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Britain’s Best Surpr!se -ton, the food and drink sector and the county’s churches and gardens are all on board.

The official press release states: So why is Northamptonshire Britain’s Best Surprise? Of course, there’s the stunning countryside, with its country parks, world class gardens, the Nene and Welland rivers and Grand Union canal. In this countryside sit the most magnificent historic houses in the country as well as some of the best Anglo Saxon, Norman & Gothic churches anywhere.

It contains the birth place of Richard III, was the scene of Mary Queen of Scot’s execution, the cradle of The Gunpowder Plot, the place of Charles I’s imprisonment, as well as the Civil war battle that put him there, Naseby… arguably Britain’s most important battle.

But most surprising is that amongst all this beauty and history sits a very 21st century county.

The place where 80% of the world’s F1 cars are built and the Grand Prix is held, where some of the country’s best artisan food and drink is made, and where the award winning Royal & Derngate produces some of the country’s best theatre. The place that makes the most prestigious shoes is also

BOUGHTON House was the setting for the launch of the Britain’s Best Surpr!se tourism campaign devised by James Lowther

the inspiration for the international hit film and musical, Kinky Boots.

To enjoy all this you can stay in luxurious 16th century hotels or enchanting B&Bs and also enjoy a series of established food and literary festivals at Althorp, The Nene Valley Festival and Oundle Music Festival as well enjoy great sport at Silverstone, The Saints and The Cobblers.

There are campaign posters at Euston and St Pancras and the pink exclamation mark campaign logo will adorn displays at gateway points around the county such as stations and attractions.

An extensive campaign website, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, also contains details of county amenities at: www.northamptonshiresurprise.com.

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CYCLE4CYNTHIA launches its 14th run in the Heroes Bar at Franklin’s Gardens, celebrating last year’s riders who raised over £76,000

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Cynthia riders are pumped up and ready to go again

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Public Speaking, Speaking with Confidence 26th April 9:30 - 13:00

Cycle4Cynthia has raised a record-breaking total of more than £76,000 for Cynthia Spencer Hospice, writes Anna Murby.

The amazing sum, contributed by the 1100 riders who took part in Cycle4Cynthia last September at Holdenby House, was revealed at the launch of the 2017 ride at Franklin’s Gardens while it was also announced that this year’s event would take place at Lamport Hall on Sunday 24th September.

In addition, the launch saw the presentation of the 2016 trophies, including for most money raised by an individual, which went to Rob Howard for collecting over £1600, to the biggest team, won for the second year by the Melbourne Arms in Duston, and to the best fancy dress, which, following a vote on Facebook, saw Darcey Collett and Verity Linnell pick up the trophy after pedalling on a tandem dressed as daffodils!

Meanwhile the Chairman’s Cup, awarded in recognition of a special effort representing the ‘spirit of the ride’, went to Paul Lambert, Jack Fleckney and Ed Robinson from Crossfit East Northants who not only cycled the 50 miles on their mini BMXs but also performed ‘burpees’ at the end of every mile!

The trophies were presented by Saints coach Jim Mallinder and player Christian Day while they were joined by George North and his partner, double Olympic silver-medal cyclist Becky James, the Mayor of Northampton, Christopher Malpas, and the Hospice’s mascot, Spencer, for the celebratory photos!

Among those at the event was David Solomon from Northampton who is receiving treatment for Motor Neurone Disease at the Hospice. Speaking to the audience on his behalf, his wife Paula talked

The Networking Masterclass 12th May 9:30 - 13:00

of the amazing support that they and the family are given and urged everyone to sign up for this year’s ride: “The whole team at Cynthia Spencer are just incredible and I don’t know where we would be without them” explained Paula.

“We only have to ask for something, perhaps for a new piece of equipment to help David maintain his independence, and it gets sorted straightaway.

Becky David and Spencer“The ride itself is such great day and you get to meet some wonderful people, as well as knowing that you’re supporting such a great cause, so I’d encourage everyone to dig out their bikes and join the fun!” she enthused.

Cycle4Cynthia 2017 will take place on Sunday 24th September at Lamport Hall with 5, 25 and 50 mile routes on offer. For more information, including registering for the ride, or for details of corporate sponsorship opportunities, please visit www. cycle4cynthia.co.UK or call the Hospice on 01604 678082 or email info@cycle4cynthia.co.UK. Meanwhile, to keep up to date with the latest news on the event, or to tag photos from last night’s event, please visit and ‘like’ the ride’s and Hospice’s page on Facebook.

To book your place, email ashley@ashleyrileycommunications.co.uk

#LifeofRiley

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Women with Soul getting together International Women’s Day celebrated the achievements of amazing women all around the world.

The ladies at Women With Soul, 106.9NNBC’s Wednesday night health and wellbeing show, decided that some of Northampton’s amazing women should get together for a networking event to mark the day.

They held a reception at the radio station’s St John’s studios and lured the guests away from the buffet to chat to them on air.

WWS presenter April Dawn said: “It has been an awesome night, we have had an eclectic mix

of awesome, wonderful, beautiful Northampton women.”

Her fellow presenter Laney Holland: “Not only has it been a wonderful evening but we have also been able to impart some really important information on our Women with Soul site.”

Women with Soul goes out on NNBC a Wednesday evening and covers a broad range of health and wellbeing topics inspired by but not exclusively about women’s lives.

Photographer Dave Ikin took pictures for The NeneQuirer magazine, and this is his Women with Soul gallery.

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PICTURED on these pages are Sue Gardner & Brenda Rainbow from Roade & District British Legion; Christine Morgan – CEO of EVE (Domestic abuse charity); Rachelle Peart, a primary school teacher and spoken word artist; nurse Eva Trkulja; Amanda Tandoh a clothing designer and volunteer for Ghana Amalgamation; Rachel Schouten, a fellow NNBC presenter and Independent Volunteer for NCC; DiepiriyebKuku-Siemons, a business lecturer at UoN; educator Heather McClue and Maria De Barros, a coach, local researcher and NLP practitioner.

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Anniversary reveals county’s

BENJAMIN Franklin, an American statesman known as The First American, was descended from the Franklins of Ecton.

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influence on American story For a good part of its history, Northamptonshire was at the centre of events that shaped our country, however in recent years, for the most part, the county has forgotten or lost its historical soul.

Whilst towns and cities like Canterbury, Lincoln or York celebrate its past, ours disappears in obscurity. True we have no huge castle or fabulous medieval building to hang our history on, but it’s still there, layer upon layer of it. And, if you look closely, much still survives.

Over the coming weeks and months we will be rediscovering our past, writes historian Mike Ingram. You will read about events big and small that helped change Britain, from Magna Carta to the last peasants revolt in England, from the 1460 Battle of Northampton to the Battle of Naseby.

We will also look at some of the local families that influenced events, such as the Catesby’s, Woodville’s, Tresham’s, Green’s, Harrington’s and the Vaux’s.

But first, news of a big anniversary. In 2020 it will be the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower to America. It was arguably one of the most influential voyages in the history of the world. The ship quite literally carried with it the seed of the American nation. As Winston Churchill said: “habeas corpus, magna carta, the bill of rights, trial by jury and English common law find their most famous expression in the American declaration of Independence.” During the recent budget, it was announced the government will appoint a Government Representative for the celebrations to assist in co-ordinating the UK wide events.

Since the time of King Richard II, Northamptonshire had been a major centre for religious dissidents, first the Lollards and then Puritans, Presbyterians, Baptists and Quakers.

It was Robert Browne’s teachings that inspired the Congregationalists and become known as “The Father of the Pilgrims” and “Grandfather of The Nation” (USA). Browne was born in Rutland during the 1550’s. His most important works were published at Middelburg in 1582: “A Treatise of Reformation without Tarying for Anie”, in which he asserted the right of the church to effect necessary reforms without the authorisation of the civil magistrate; and “A Booke which sheweth the life and manners of all True Christians”, which set out the theory of Congregational independence.

His followers became known as Brownists. Most of the Mayflower passengers in 1620 were Brownists, and for 200 years, the Pilgrims were known as the Brownist Emigration.

In 1591, Browne became rector of Achurch cum Thorpe in Northants. He lived a large part of this time with his relatives at Lilford Hall, and conducted certain duties at Lilford Church. It is also recorded that he had preached non-conformist views at The Chapel in nearby Thorpe Waterville.

In 1633, aged 83, Browne became involved in a dispute with his godson, the constable of the Lilford estate, , which ended in blows. Browne was arrested and was so insolent to the justice during his trial that he was put in gaol. He became ill soon after, and died in Northampton Jail. Browne

ROBERT Browne inspired the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed on the Mayflower. There is a memorial to him outside St Giles Church.

was buried in the graveyard of St. Giles Church in Northampton.

George Washington The connection between the beginnings of the United States of America and Northamptonshire do not end there! In 1539 or 1540 the Crown sold three manors, including Sulgrave, to Lawrence Washington, a wool merchant who in 1532 had been Mayor of Northampton. Sulgrave Manor remained in the Washington family for three generations.

But, as royalists with notable connections, they found themselves supporting the wrong side during the English Civil War and Lawrence’s great grandson, the Reverend Lawrence Washington, born at Sulgrave Manor in 1602, became destitute with no prospects for either himself or his family.

Sulgrave Manor was sold to an uncle by marriage and John Washington, eldest son of the Reverend Lawrence, became a merchant seaman and set sail for America to trade with the Virginian colony. He is notable for being the great-grandfather of George Washington. The Northamptonshire Regiment was the first British regular regiment to set foot in America. They were massacred at the battle of Monongahela River (a fictionalised account of the battle can be seen in “The Last of the Mohicans”). It was Washington who guided the survivors out. From 1775, Washington went on to command the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and in 1789 was elected first President of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin The Franklin family had lived on a freehold of about thirty acres in Ecton since at least 1555.

Thomas, a blacksmith and farmer who was born in 1598 and Mary had four sons, Thomas (16381702), John, Benjamin and the youngest, Josiah (1655-1744). Josiah Franklin, was born at Ecton,

on December 23, 1657. He married his first wife, Anne Child, in about 1677 in Ecton they had three children. Around this time he became a Puritan.

They emigrated to Boston in 1683; and had four more children after. After Anne’s death, Josiah married Abiah Folger on July 9, 1689 in Boston.

Their eighth child, was named Benjamin. He would become one of the founding fathers of the USA and given the title “The First American”. In 1758, Franklin visited Ecton to see his ancestral home and the graves of his Aunt and Uncle which are still in the village churchyard.

Of course, the big question is will Northamptonshire celebrate its American connection in 2020 along with the rest of Britain? As the county missed out on the Magna Carta (something else dear to the Americans) celebrations in 2015 despite it playing such a pivotal part, we hope not.

GEORGE Washington’s family came from Sulgrave

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The masses are still critical Steve Scoles Editor

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037 Critical Mass Northampton celebrated its fourth birthday as you would expect - with a group cycle ride around the town at a sedate pace on the last Friday of the month.

The history of the Critical Mass bike rides around the world is rooted in protests against society’s addiction to the motor car and the oil based economy.

But because the whole point is nothing more controversial than a lawful and safe bicycle ride people from all sections of the community take part. Young and old. Riders with all the kit and riders who made all their kit themselves.

The idea is that cyclists - normally so outnumbered by motor vehicles - take to the road in such numbers that they become the dominant presence on the tarmac. Motorists might think that it’s some kind of mild cyclist revenge - making cars wait for us for a change. That would be overestimating the mildness of some cyclists and underestimating the mildness of the rest. It’s really about getting noticed.

I’m a driver. I do the same mad thing every driver does every now and then, believing there is such a thing as ‘squeezing’ a hunk of unforgiving motorised metal through a gap. And sometimes that gap is between a cyclist and another thing.

I also know what it’s like to try to weave around potholes cycling along Barrack Road, hoping that the drivers alongside me realise that its like riding through a rock garden in some places and I might swerve out at any point.

Critical Mass is not anti-motorist, it is anti-forgetting other people. It is that thing that makes you sigh and take a moment. It’s thirty seconds of bell ringing, horn hooting, good-natured perspective.

‘Funny bikes’ lead the way from the fleet of the Monday Night Is Project Night crew (Fast and Furious meets Last of the Summer Wine on bicycles) and we are fortunate in this town to have such colourful champions of the cause. There is a mini-carnival feel to the ride with people stopping to wave and shout encouragement from the pavement, even along Wellingborough Road where Friday night is well under way by the time the peloton goes through.

There is usually a Pollard or two at the head of the pack. Bill, on one of the tall bikes, is at pains to be supportive of the police and council officers responsible for organising the peaceful co-existence of bikes, cars and pedestrians. He is, however, envious of the trouble West Midlands Police are going to highlight the safe passing distance for a car around a bicycle.

We chat about the leaflets going out in St James warning cyclists that riding on the pavement could earn them a £50 fine. He asks me if I have actually seen any being handed out. I haven’t.

I still feel aggrieved at having had three bikes stolen (from different family members) in the past

DOZENS of cyclists took to the streets to mark the fourth year of Northampton’s Critical Mass rides around the town

year with no real sense that the forces of law and order can do anything about it. And now the feds are chasing after us cyclists with leaflets! I feel so abandoned. I’m still waiting for the superhero movie that is savvy enough to show Batman diverting for a few seconds to take down a bicycle thief. Or Judge Dredd, even better.

Bill’s response to the theft problem does feel more like something from the Art of Protest Playbook; a T-shirt with a legend just about polite enough to print: ‘Bicycle thieves have small dicks’ “And if anyone has an issue with that they are welcome to step forward and discuss it,” I suggest.

“Yes,” he chuckles.

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News

April, 2017

Devastated by dog thieves A dog breeder who had 24 animals stolen in one raid on her Kislingbury kennels says she is “devastated” by the theft.

Mary Farren of Brookside Kennels in Banbury Road said: “It is like my children have gone. I am devastated not knowing where they have gone.

“There had been some suspicious vans parked nearby here since Christmas. People think they have seen the dogs at Billing Aquadrome and in Broughton.

“We lost 12 adults and 12 puppies in the end.

They took one mother but her litter was hiding behind her basket. I am heartbroken.”

When the news broke at the start of April, Mary had to endure the additional heartache of people accusing her of running a puppy farm on social media.

“I am a breeder but when you love them, you keep them and then they end up having pups in turn. They were so loved. People are very quick to judge.

“If you look at the quality of my dogs they are healthy. I have worked with dogs a long time.

I grew up on a farm near Cork. I know all my dogs so well.

“Anyone who knows me would tell you how well the dogs are looked after. They had everything they needed.”

The thieves broke into the premises between 10pm on Tuesday, 28 March and 9.30am on Wednesday, 29 March, taking the dogs and puppies with them.

They broke padlocks to access the kennels and are believed to have cut through fencing to get to the location.

The dogs taken included: n A female red Cocker Spaniel with six Cockerpoo puppies, aged six weeks n A female white/cream Cockerpoo, leaving behind a litter of puppies n Two pregnant female Schnauzers n A female black and tan King Charles Cavalier n A red and white King Charles Cavalier n A female Sable Cocker Spaniel with six chocolate and black Sable puppies n A female red Cocker Spaniel who was very heavily pregnant n A male black Toy Poodle Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111 555.

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I consider myself an East Midlands boy Tim Piggot-Smith’s passing leaves community in shock See page 26

EPIC

FOOD

THEATRE

CULTURE

Nominate the products and venues you like

The point where everything gets out of hand

Take part in the Carlsberg Food and Drink Awards

Alan Moore reflects on Northampton’s rebel member of parliament

See page 34

See page 36

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April, 2017

NQ

What’s On

THE TO DO LIST

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11 9:30am - 11:30am 01327 361384

Death of a Salesman Royal & Derngate 01604 624811

Dinky Discoveries - Easter Fun - Everdon Outdoor Learning Centre

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14 3pm - 5pm The Den Millwall V Northampton

16th March - 6th May (6-8pm) - No.9 Guildhall

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18 10am -3:30pm Sywell Country Park sywell@firstforwellbeing.co.UK

10:00am - 12:00pm Social media for business - Northamptonshire Central Library

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23

3pm - 4pm Gigg Lane, Bury

7:00pm - 11:45pm Bury V Northampton

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The Legendary Sunday Roasts at the Lab

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7:00pm - 9:30pm (01604) 622749

The Deco - Lit Disco - under 17 events

7:30pm - 12am (01604) 713851

Northern Soul & Mowton night - Far Cotton Club

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01

3pm-8pm Rushden’s Cavalcade of Historical Transport

NorPIP Silverstone Ride norpipbikeride.wixsite.com/2017

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06 4pm Franklin’s Gardens Saints v Harlequins - 2016/17 Aviva Premiership

Althorp Food and Drink Festival 01604 770107

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What’s On

April, 2017

APRIL 12

13

10:30am - 11:30am towlib@firstforwellbeing.co.UK

8:30pm - 11pm The Princess Alexandra

Easter Craft Activity - Towcester Library, The Forum

We are not amused - Compared by Tom Young

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17 3pm - 4:45pm Stadium MK

3pm - 5pm Sixfields Stadium

Saints v Saracens - 2016/17 Aviva Premiership

Northampton V Shrewsbury

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22 4pm - 5pm Corby Library

10:00am - 12:00pm Corby Library

Code Playground: Shakespeare Special

Lego Storybook Club: Shakespeare Special

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10am Beating the bounds at Lyveden 01832 205158

St George’s Day

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3pm - 4:45pm Sandy Park Stadium

Exeter Chiefs v Saints 2016/17 Aviva Premiership

12pm - 2pm Sixfields Stadium

Northampton V Gillingham

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7.30pm Royal & Derngate 01604 624811

The Lady Boys of Bangkok, Kettering Lighthouse 01536 414141

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8-9pm Dreaming Our Woods, Festival Finale, Corby Cube 01536 470470

Dawn Chorus Walk, Stanwick Lakes, 01933 625522

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April, 2017

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This is not the story you were supposed to read This is not the story you were supposed to read.

Just a few hours before The NeneQuirer’s print deadline this was an interview I had with Tim Piggot-Smith during the rehearsals for Death of a Salesman.

It took place in the Crown Room of The Royal Theatre and so I titled it The jewel in the Crown Room, not because of Tim’s incredible list of acting credits but simply because he was such a nice guy.

He had got to a point in his career where he was able to pursue projects he was interested in and he was particularly excited about Death of a Salesman.

The director Abigail Graham had put the show together with Tim and his wife Pamela Miles in mind. She had worked with him on Enron and was determined to do so again.

Meeting the Royal & Derngate’s artistic director James Dacre had made up his mind.

“Well my wife Pamela is playing my wife in Death of A Salesman.

I had stayed in touch with Abigail since we worked on Enron together, and she said she wanted us to do it.

“She thought Pamela and I would be ideal, so we spoke to James Dacre, who has been making such a great success of running the theatre here,” Tim explained.

Poignantly now, Tim had spoken of how pleased he was to be working with Pamela. The clashing schedules of two working actors often resulted in them missing out on each other’s performances.

She missed the opening night of his triumphant King Charles III on Broadway (soon to be a TV adaptation) but made it over for Christmas.

He said: “It’s completely natural for

Steve Scoles Editor

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037 us to work together. We have acted together, I have directed her. We go home and we can run through it. I do have to be careful about the cast reporting back to her, you know: have you seen what the leading man is doing?”

Fate had already intervened however with the announcement that Pamela had broken a bone in rehearsals and was to be replaced by Tricia Kelly.

After his death she Tweeted a picture of the door of his dressing room, dressing room three, which bore a sign: Mr Piggot-Smith.

Her Tweet referenced characters in the show: “No words. Rest in a Biff and Happy Place, Tim. Love Linda.”

There were no under studies for Death of a Salesman and the role of Tim’s on stage wife Linda had to be recast which had pushed back the first night of the production.

The news of Tim’s death was released by his agent John Grant: “It is with deep regret that I have to announce the sad news that Tim Pigott-Smith died this morning. Tim was one of the great actors of his generation. Much loved and admired by his peers, he will be remembered by many as a gentleman and a true friend. He will be much missed. We ask that you respect the privacy of his wife, the actress Pamela Miles, and his son Tom and the family.”

Tim Pigott-Smith was born on 13 May 1946 in Warwickshire. He trained at Bristol Old Vic. He became a household name after appearing in the TV series The Jewel in the Crown (1984), for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor, and went on to become a familiar face on film, TV and stage.

His performance as Charles in Mike Bartlett’s play, King Charles III, at the Almeida Theatre then in the West End and on Broadway, won him Olivier and Tony Award nominations and has been made in to a TV film which will be broadcast on BBC 2 later this year.

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Culture

REHEARSALS underway at Royal & Derngate for Death of a Salesman, first production in the new Made in Northampton season: Above: Geff Francis (Charley); opposite page: Tim (Willy), Ben Deery (Happy) and George Taylor (Biff)

Tim Piggott-Smith CREDITS Theatre includes: Death of a Salesman (Royal & Derngate), King Charles III (Almeida Theatre / West End / Broadway – Nominated for a Tony Award and Olivier Award for Best Actor); Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Theatre Royal, Bath); Stroke of Luck (Park Theatre); The Tempest (Theatre Royal, Bath); King Lear (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Educating Rita (Trafalgar Studios); Enron (Chichester Festival Theatre /Royal Court / West End – Nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor); A Delicate Balance (Almeida Theatre); The Iceman Cometh (Almeida Theatre / Old Vic / Broadway); Little Nell (Theatre Royal Bath); Pygmalion (Theatre Royal, Bath / Old Vic); See How They Run; Jane Eyre; Benefactors (West End); Hecuba (Donmar Warehouse); Antony and Cleopatra; Mourning Becomes Electra; Mary Stuart; The Tempest; Cymbeline; A Winter’s Tale; Entertaining Strangers; Coming In To Land; NT 50 (National Theatre); The Bengal Lancer; A Christmas Carol; The Picture of Dorian Grey (Lyric Hammersmith); Heritage (Hampstead Theatre); Old Times; The Alchemist (Birmingham Repertory Theatre / National Theatre); Retreat (Orange Tree Theatre); Amadeus (Compass Theatre); Julius Caesar (RSC Stratford / Barbican); Sherlock Holmes; (RSC Aldwych and Broadway); Coriolanus; Cymbeline; Titus Andronicus; Woman Before Woman (RSC); Traps (Royal Court); Hamlet (Prospect Theatre); As You Like It; Major Barbara; School for Scandal (Bristol Old Vic).

Television includes: King Charles III; Decline and Fall; Lewis; Rory Bremner’s Election Report; Houdini; 37 Days; The Bletchley Circle; The Great Train Robbery; The Suspicions of Mr Whicher; Wodehouse in Exile; Miranda; Downton Abbey; The Hour; The Little House; On Expenses; Money; Foyle’s War; Midsomer Murders; Holby Blue; Poirot; North and South; Eroica; Pompeii; The Vice; Inspector Lynley Mysteries; Bloody Sunday; The Innocents; The Glittering Prizes; The Wilderness Years; Hannah; ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore; Eustace and Hilda; The Lost Boys; Wings; Fame is the Spur; Jewel in the Crown (BAFTA, Press Guild and TV Times Best Actor Award); The Traitor; The Challenge; Life Story; The Chief; The Life and Times of Christopher Columbus; Bullion Boys; Shadowy Third.

Film includes: Victoria and Abdul; 6 Days; Whisky Galore; Jupiter Ascending; Red 2; Alice in Wonderland; Quantum of Solace; V for Vendetta; Alexander; Johnny English; Gangs of New York; Bloody Sunday; The Four Feathers; The Remains of the Day; Aces High; Joseph Andrews; Sweet William; Clash of the Titans; The Day Christ Died; Escape to Victory; The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Richard’s Things; Laisser-Passer; Dead Man’s Folly.

Directing includes: Company by Samuel Beckett (Edinburgh / Donmar Warehouse); Hamlet (Regents Park); The Real Thing (National Tour). Artistic Director of Compass 1989 – 93.

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April, 2017

He was awarded the OBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Years Honours. He wrote The Baker Street Mysteries series of children’s books.

Royal & Derngate’s Chief Executive Martin Sutherland and Artistic Director James Dacre released a joint statement: “Everyone at Royal & Derngate and all involved with the production of Death of a Salesman are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies at this time are with Tim’s wife Pamela and their family.”

At the time of going to press the sense of shock emanating from the theatre community around the Royal & Derngate was palpable.

There was no doubt that Tim had become a beloved colleague during the weeks of rehearsals.

During my encounter with him he came across as a vital and charming man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Personally he was chalk and cheese with the stiff upper lip Englishmen he often played in TV and film.

His passion for political causes seeped through despite us trying to stay on topic.

“Don’t get me started on Brexit!” he guffawed as we chatted.

He had a sore throat and was accepting an

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interruption to his working schedule so he could talk to local journalists. He was full of enthusiasm for Death of a Salesman.

“It’s quite a bold production. Willy remembers things from his life in a very vivid way and we are experimenting with how we depict that. I didn’t think it would be worth doing unless we brought something new to it. I saw a very dry and dated version a few years ago.

“It is about the danger of the capitalist dream and what happens when you can’t let go of the idea that everything is always going to get better.

This idea that anyone can be a success, even be the President – which seems to have come true in a ghastly way!”

Tim saw himself as “a Midlands boy” even though he lived in London because he was born in Rugby.

He was enjoying the temporary home he had set up in Northampton.

“It’s a lovely place, there are some amazing buildings here like the Guildhall and All Saints church.

“My mother came to stay with her uncle here early in her life. He was Charles Halliwell, I think he was a headmaster.”

Tim’s memoir Do You Know Who I Am? was due to be released as Death of a Salesman went on tour in May. There is an enormous bank of material to draw on but Tim said he never wanted to be a Hollywood Star.

“It is in a theatrical rehearsal room that you really stretch your muscles,” he told me. n The death of Christopher Morahan, 86, who produced and directed Jewel In The Crown, was also announced on Friday, April 7.

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The benefits of taking a step Filmhouse is a tribute to the local community I was invited to the pre-opening event for the second, newly built, film screen - Erroll Flynn 2 by my friend Katie, who is the biggest film buff I know.

I think she’s working her way through that book ‘The 1000 Greatest Films of All Time.’

We picked up our ticket from someone sitting outside last night - blue sky, crisp air. Immediately we were made to feel like VIP’s with a glass of prosecco and free popcorn. Katie and I sneaked in to see the plaque (on her seat- ‘It’s a Wonderful Life at Cinema Paradiso, Katie Port.’)

Once seated we were surrounded by more film buffs of the highest order. There were some in depth conversations taking place about the bath scene – so I’m not sure what film they were talking about. Hope they didn’t mean the shower scene?

I think it’s a peculiarly British thing to have such immense microscopic detail (yes, oxymoron but I like it) about popular culture.

Each time someone walked in to the venue it was ‘Oooh – red seats.’ The seats are gorgeous kind of racing car red. Plus the screen looked bigger than the other screen which is always a bonus. As we watched the first film ‘Their Finest’ there was still that moment I spoke about before, the hushed audience. The young boy next to me leaning forward on his seat riveted by the unfolding drama on screen.

The director Jean Luc Godard in his French philosophical way espoused the difference between cinema and television. To poorly paraphrase his ideas, television is projected from a large group of people (engineers, presenters, broadcasters) to one or two in home in front of the telly. Cinema is the opposite - the single steam of light from one projector broadcast to the many, the cinema audience.

It’s this sense of community that Martin Sutherland (chief exec of the Royal & Derngate) was getting at when he thanked all of the sponsors that helped to create this beautiful wood panelled building – where magic unfolds. He recognised not only Carlsberg and NBC but also people like my

mate Katie who is so passionate about film that she funded a seat.

After Their Finest, I bumped into two journalist friends (married). That end was a bit cheesy – I saw it coming a mile off, says wife. No retorts husband – I thought it was quite good. I reckon this is a very watchable film but don’t take my word for it. Go and sit yourself in a gorgeous red seat in a wonderful venue that the Royal and Derngate – and the good people of Northampton should be very proud of.

NQ Karin Johnstone (screenwriter)

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Culture

April, 2017

outside the mainstream The extended version of the Errol Flynn filmhouse opened to a screening of Their Finest starring Gemma Arterton.

It is a beautifully crafted film about making an uplifting movie in Second World War Britain, writes Steve Scoles.

At one point a girl inspires her sister to an act of bravery with the exhortation: “Imagine you’re Errol Flynn, Errol Flynn can do anything...”

Ahhh, clever. Ironies within ironies. Without doubt Errol Flynn acted as though he could do anything. His unpaid bills and rakish reputation during his time treading the boards in Northampton were the least of his sins, according to his autobiography.

But those were different times and if Errol Flynn the actor was too big to care Errol Flynn the filmhouse is a completely different proposition.

It is small enough to care.

Screen 2 extends the seating capacity by another 83 generously upholstered and tilting seats.

There is ample legroom and a place to set down your glass of Warners Gin if you want to live like a king.

The sound is superb and although the cinema is cosy the big screen is still cinematically large.

This isn’t like the ‘cinema’ your mate built in his garage. It might be what he had in his head before he did it though.

Apart from the reference to Errol in the dialogue Their Finest was the perfect movie to get things rolling on Screen Two. It is a film about film-making with a very clever script.

The casual sexism of the day is handled with subtlety. Feisty wartime women did not squander valuable energy challenging every comment and injustice. In fact, showing us what was accepted without comment or complaint (“We can’t pay you what the chaps get so how does £2 a week sound?”) makes it all the more jarring to modern ears.

Bill Nighy and Richard E Grant turn in great supporting performances, two older men both in their own ways anticipating what might be the end of their world and just about keeping a lid on it. Their Finest returns to the Errol Flynn at the end of April and gets my unreserved recommendation.

It’s a film that is brave enough to step away from mainstream conventions and compromises in the hope of getting it completely right for a smaller audience rather than nearly right for a larger one.

Cinema going is not something that happens on the spur of the moment these days and whichever way you cut it you are forking out a few quid for the experience, whether it is a boutique filmhouse or a multiplex awash with admittedly delicious junk food.

The Errol Flynn provides something that wasn’t there before: a genuinely special occasion feel to go with the special occasion investment you make at whichever cinema you choose.

And then it does some more things too.

Special screenings for older cinema goers and mother and baby screenings are on offer.

There are also screenings of theatrical shows

JAMES Dacre and Steve Scoles at the opening night (right), Gemma Arterton as Mrs Cole in Their Finest (above) and the two screens of the Errol Flynn cinema (top). The second screen adds 83 seats to the Errol Flynn’s capacity.

broadcast from other theatres.

Perhaps the most exciting option of all is the chance to hire the venue for private use.

If your mate did build his own cinema in his garage maybe don’t tell him about the last one...

Find out more about what the Errol Flynn has to offer on at: www.errolflynnfilmhouse.com

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Jane Hawking: MND and ‘Physics Goddess’ were in our marriage too The first thing you notice about Jane Hawking is that she talks dead posh, writes Ted Sullivan.

The first wife of the famous Stephen, and author of Travelling to Infinity which inspired the smash hit movie about their lives ‘The Theory of Everything‘, speaks in the rounded vowels and grammatically perfect cadences of the well educated and well connected. (She has a PhD in medieval Spanish poetry from Cambridge).

And this is the Jane Hawking (now Hellyer Jones) who came to Oundle in late January to converse about her life with the world’s most famous scientist and her new career as a novelist (her first work of fiction Silent Music was published in 2016).

“It was a long time before I could reconcile my life with Stephen Hawking,” she explained to the capacity audience at Oundle School’s Great Hall.

“Whether I wanted it or not, Stephen’s reputation had brought our life into the public arena and I had little option but to write it down.”

She feels that even Stephen Hawking himself, restricted to a wheelchair for most of his adult life because of Motor Neurone Disease, would not have known as much as she did about the situation that faced them and their three children.

She spoke in measured tones from a prepared script and was politely received, as if addressing a church congregation. The uncharitable observer might say her lecture contained minimal amounts of humour, but perhaps it would be fairer to say that such jokes as there were might have had currency at a vicarage fete, but would not have gone down well as stand up. Jo Brand she definitely ain’t.

No one who has read her book or seen the film (starring Oscar winning Eddie Redmayne as Stephen and Felicity Jones as Jane) would be in any doubt that she went through a considerable amount of shit over decades to keep their lives afloat.

Although she never says so explicitly, it’s also abundantly clear that without Jane, her severely disabled husband would probably not have survived or been able to achieve his remarkable career success. Bolstered by her Christian faith, she took on this burden willingly, knowing what to expect: acting as her husband’s sole carer, raising their three children, looking after their home and acting as chauffeur and travel organiser for their many trips around the world.

“I wanted to reveal the stark horrors of motor neurone disease, particularly for the families and carers of the victims and their exhausted families.”

Also beyond question is the fact that the film, and the subsequent ice bucket challenge, have helped raise awareness and millions in funding for MND research. (£7 million according to Jane).

Jane and Stephen divorced in 1995 but have maintained amicable relations. She recently attended his 75th birthday celebrations in Cambridge complete with fireworks. What’s her final judgement on that relationship?

“There were four partners to our marriage.

Stephen, me, motor neurone disease and the goddess of physics.”

Now that’s a dead posh way to end a literary evening.

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Bridget’s glittering kicks stigma of the Brigitte Aphrodite kicks a glittery platformed heel through the cosy convention of generic job titles by needing at least half a dozen words to describe what she does. Punk feminist showgirl poet singer comedian... maybe... ish, writes Steve Scoles.

I think I know what I’m expecting as I make my way to a seat in the cellar of Foodies.Rocks for the gig/Q&A organised by Warts and All Theatre. The unmistakeably sparkly Brigitte is moving amongst the audience members applying glitter to cheekbones and chatting casually. It seems like a good laugh is on the way with maybe some thought provoking awkward moments thrown in. But there is something about the glitter I can’t quite put my finger on...

Brigitte introduces herself and then her tall dark and handsome guitar wielding sidekick - Quiet Boy. They make quite a couple on the cosy stage.

She is a little explosion of gothy glamour: silver platforms, black sequins and a spray of raven hair. Correspondingly Quiet Boy’s grey shirt and black jeans let him fade into the shadows Brigitte is bursting from. They work beautifully well together.

Briefly we are left to ponder the nature of the relationship between Bri and Quiet Boy and in a different kind of show it might almost have been a running gag through the whole performance - a comical story within a story with repressed and overt sexual tension.

But in this show she announces reassuringly: “actually he’s my long term partner Gaz” and you get the impression that honesty is being taken seriously tonight.

Brigitte tells us she is going to ease us into her performance which contains some parts of her show My Beautiful Black Dog - a more elaborate examination of her life and mental health - which has been touring and was a success at the Edinburgh Fringe. Black Dog, we are warned, takes the audience on a journey of highs and lows that it would not be responsible to inflict on us without the main show’s support system in place (it includes a chill out space where people can reflect on their feelings). They would try to keep this taster compassionately light.

Bri is a witty and accessible poet, firing out cleverly chosen but familiar language, veering in and out of song to suit the moment. Her poems report her feelings in an unfiltered and uncontrived way and avoid the temptation to tie everything up in a neat poetic knot with a moral, solution or analysis.

It’s in this way she leads you step by step through a dismal wander in a shopping centre deep into the heart of a spectacular panic attack.

And by the time we are there with her it is spectacular: the theatricality of Brigitte Aphrodite is in full bloom with her hair thrown over her face and wide wild eyes staring beyond the audience as though the fourth wall had never been broken.

Meanwhile Quiet Boy interjects with jagged guitar chords and echoing vocals: the embodiment of rock and roll backing singer empathy.

Creshendorius is a song that deserves special mention as Bri inflates the room with full lunged joy and the awkward moment does come as the

boys are invited to stand up and shake their bits in a song about shimmying.

At the end of an emotional number Brigitte asks us if we are all right. The stage lights are catching on her glittery cheeks and for a second it looks like she has been crying. We must all look like we have been crying but we haven’t because we have got Brigitte looking after us, turning tears into glitter.

Bri and Gaz returned to the stage after the gig

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persona black dog

New Delapre dramas as Warts and All Theatre plans summer on site

for a Q&A session lead by Chris Elmer-Gorry of Warts and All Theatre, they talked about future plans for My Beautiful Black Dog including a tour.

At the Q&A it was revealed that the origin of the glitter is that Bri had been obsessed with it since childhood when she would rub Christmas cards on her face to get the glittery effect.

You can find out more about Brigitte at www.brigitteaphrodite.co.UK

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for us at Warts and All Theatre here at Delapre Abbey.

We’ve been darting around Northampton to talk about project ideas with various organisations and ways we can provide theatre and drama for schools and colleges.

There’s lots of interest, so that’s always really inspiring!

We are also looking forward to our next shindig at Foodies. rocks, where we welcome Sarah Brigham from Derby Theatre and James Dacre from Royal & Derngate. We’ll be discussing and debating all things regional, with a focus on East Midlands Theatre.

We have now began rehearsals with all of our groups for the Summer Productions at Delapre Abbey which will be announced over the next few weeks.

We’re busy putting finishing touches to all of the marketing material- which is looking great! More about this in my next post for The NeneQuirer online.

It’s crazy to think about how much we’ve grown in the last seven months. But everyone at Warts and All Theatre is feeling very excited for the future.

We now have over 60 participants, from eight years old to adult, attending our weekly workshops at Delapre Abbey and across Northampton.

There’s still some opportunities to joinespecially through our Bursary Scheme. We have free places available in our 8-11 group which runs from 5.15-6.45pm on a Thursday

Chris Elmer-Gorry hello@wartsandalltheatre. co.UK evening n Northampton. So if you think your little one might enjoy an opportunity to play, grow and learn new Drama and Theatre skills- get in touch.( hello@ wartsandalltheatre.co.UK) Our Bursary scheme is there to allow anyone to take part- regardless of your financial circumstance!

Over the next couple of weeks we will be putting the plans together for our Summer Productions, confirming the next three months of our Sunday Artist Shindigs, running our exciting Easter Holiday Project at Delapre Abbey and completing the obligatory funding applications for some of our projects over the next three years.

The Mystery at Delapre Abbey is our Easter Holiday Project for 7-13 year olds. Our holiday projects are high quality and professionally led week long projects.

They are an affordable way for children and young people to engage in drama and craft activities over the school holidays. Hopefully we will see you or one of your family members at a Warts and All Theatre event over the next few weeks. Say hello if you do!

Right! Time to get back to the ‘to do’ list!

Next up, logistics and schedules!

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MuMu satisfies even without Nutella The task is simple – find somewhere on a typical lunchtime to eat that doesn’t involve waiting for too long, a drive-thru, plastic packaging or a sandwich/crisps/drink meal deal. A change from the usual lunchtime shrink-wrapped sausage roll or packed lunch at your desk, but still taking less than an hour.

MuMu is a pizza, burger, chicken type affair whose signature dish seems to be chips coated in Marmite butter and cheese or the more unusual Nutella and popping candy.

It opened on St Giles Street a couple of years ago, expanding on the first MuMu in Kettering.

It’s on the same site as many good, but sadly short-lived Northampton restaurants, most recently The Seafood Café, Cuba Libre and Grand Central, which was one of the Buddies restaurants in town.

MuMu is young, and by that I mean it isn’t a padded dining chair and afternoon tea type-of place. It’s rough-sawn wood tables and benches, tiled walls with graffiti-painted menu items scrawled across them – in particular the delicacy that is ‘Chavvy Chips’ (fried spuds smothered with, if you so choose, Marmite butter and Cheese, Nutella and Popping Candy or Dr Pepper BBQ sauce).

Being a lunchtime, and not open to such delicacies without the aid of several gin-based beverages, orders were instead made for a Mu Mu Burger (burger, streaky bacon, cheese, lettuce, burger

sauce, pickle) with skin-on fries for The Bloke, and a Beryl Caprese pizza (cherry tomatoes, rocket, mozzarella and parmesan shavings). Since every sodding burger in the world now seems to come in a horrible, sweet brioche bun (just wrong), the pizza was for me, and the staff were happy to swap the mozzarella for goats’ cheese, even specifically coming ask if I preferred it melted on or added before serving.

MuMu is reasonably big and there were about three or four other tables when we were in so the service was fast but not intrusive. The food was good – the pizza was huge but on a thin base with fresh toppings. The burger was judged a success but the chips, while a generous portion, were a

bit soggy.

The bill came to £27.45 with a couple of bottled soft drinks – £2 for the streaky bacon on the burger seems a bit much, but they do have a £7.95 pizza/burger and soft drink deal between 12-2pm on weekdays. Specialities, other than the bizarre chip toppings, seem to be elaborate milkshakes and a decent children’s menu. There’s gluten free and vegetarian options a’ plenty too.

Overall, we were seated, served, fed and billed within 50 minutes, allowing a ten-minute rush back to work. We’d go again with the kids – at least they’d probably try the weird toppings.

NQ Penda

Nothing retro about Dapper sandwiches We used to be pretty bad at sandwiches in this country. A sliver of pink processed meat between curling white slices of dough foam was considered a saleable ham butty. That was the bad old days.

Sandwiches, like sausages, have experienced something of a renaissance in recent years and now right at the top of the food chain we have places like the Dapper Sandwich Company.

The little eaterie is on Wellingborough Road in Northampton – the town’s unofficial high street and home to many independent shops and cafés. The location is a statement in itself.

This is not the kind of place you find on retail parks or in shopping malls. It is out in the real world and it comes from the real world.

The décor is what I would call shabby chic.

The tables look like they were sourced at a house clearance but in a good way: there’s an oval one, a round one, a card table...

You don’t spend too long taking it all in because one look at the menu and you’re hooked.

There is a deceptively broad choice and the variety and care taken describing each item makes it feel like the meal has started before you’ve ordered.

It’s an offer that is full of comfort but executed in the Dapper style. Yes there are fries but they are skin on and come in a tin cup. The streaky bacon butty is ‘stacked’ with rashers.

I went for a Porketta: slow roast belly pork, rocket salad and green salsa. It arrived with a

tin cup of dipping gravy on the side.

Apparently the owner is from Wigan and dunking your sarnies in gravy is all the rage up there.

I liked it. The sandwich was delicious enough not to need it but I still liked it.

I washed it all down with a decent coffee served in a mug.

The service was quick and friendly.

It’s a pricey option compared to a supermarket meal deal. You’ll use up the best part of a tenner on food and a drink.

This is not the place to go if you want to be impressed by how much food you can pile on your plate for your hard earned cash, but there

are carveries and buffets out there to scratch that itch.

The Dapper Sandwich Company is where you go on those days when you feel like you deserve a not too extravagant treat, or you want reassuring that in an age of homogeneous food outlets there is still somewhere that can do the human touch.

It’s really good food done with a unfussy flourish. Don’t deny yourself if you haven’t given it a try, it’s well worth a visit.

NQ Steve Scoles

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Tell awards judges about your county favourites Anna Murby The team behind the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards is delighted to announce that the competition has been launched for 2017 for what is expected to be its best year yet.

The Awards are aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

Thanks to ongoing support from its existing sponsors, including headline sponsor Carlsberg UK, Booker, British Pepper & Spice, Cordant People, Heygates Flour and Animal Feed, Moulton College, Northamptonshire County Council, Pidy UK, Weetabix, Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment, Whitworth Bros Ltd Flour Millers, and the addition of two new sponsors, Howes Percival LLP and Northampton College, as well as support from SEMLEP, the Awards line-up has a new look (media partners in brackets): ‘Artisan Local Savoury Product of the Year’ – sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed (BBC Radio Northampton) ‘Artisan Local Sweet Product of the Year’ – sponsored by Moulton College (BBC Radio Northampton) ‘Artisan Local Drink of the Year’ – (BBC Radio Northampton) ‘New Local Drink of the Year’ – (BBC Radio Northampton) ‘One to Watch’ – sponsored by Whitworth Bros.

Ltd Flour Millers ‘Booker Food Pub of the Year’ – sponsored by Booker (Great Food Club) ‘Restaurant of the Year’ – sponsored by Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment (Business Times) ‘Spice Restaurant of the Year’ – sponsored by British Pepper & Spice ‘Independent Café / Tea Room of the Year’ – sponsored by Pidy UK (Northampton Life) ‘Chef of the Year’ – co-sponsored by Dawn Farms and Cordant People (NeneQuirer) ‘Booker Young Chef of the Year’ – sponsored by Booker (NeneQuirer) ‘Community Pub of the Year’ – sponsored by Carlsberg UK (Chronicle & Echo and Northants Telegraph) ‘Weetabix Local Food Hero of the Year’ – sponsored by Weetabix with Northamptonshire CPRE (Aspire Magazine) ‘Healthy Eating Workplace of the Year’ – sponsored by Northamptonshire County Council ‘F&B Achiever of the Year’ – sponsored by Howes Percival LLP ‘Farming Innovation Award’ – sponsored by the Weetabix Growers Group with the NFU ‘Great Service Award’ – sponsored by Northampton College

In addition, the Awards Dinner in November will again provide a platform to highlight successes in the county’s ‘Eat Out Eat Well’ scheme – the project managed by Environmental Health Northamptonshire which celebrates those eateries and catering companies that offer healthy and nutritious options on their menus – as well as the presentation of the ‘Chairman’s Award’, which is given in recognition of a particularly special contribution to the county’s food and drink sector.

The details of the 2017/18 competition were unveiled at the launch at Dawn Farms in Northampton – co-sponsor of the ‘Chef of the Year’ category – by the Awards’ Director, Rachel Mallows of The Mallows Company.

Among the changes she announced to the audience made up of reigning champions, sponsors, judges and competition partners was the introduction of the new category for 2017, the ‘One To Watch’, which will recognize the passion and commitment of businesses less than five years old which look set to have a major impact on the national and international markets, thereby raising the profile of Northamptonshire’s food and drink sector.

Meanwhile Rachel also underlined the competition’s continuing commitment to growth with the news that the winners of the all the categories will go on to receive tailored mentoring from experts on the Awards Mentoring Board, while the winners of the product and drink categories will be submitted as entries into the Great Taste Awards 2018 at the Northamptonshire Awards’ cost.

The competition also sees the return of the ‘Community Pub of the Year’ category, sponsored

by Carlsberg UK, which replaces the Best Bar None categories of 2016/17 and celebrate those pubs which stand at the heart of their communities.

In addition, guests learned of the considerable business benefit that success in the competition can bring from Jim Kay, co-owner of the current ‘Booker Food Pub of the Year’, the Plough @ Shutlanger: “Aside from having such a great night at the awards dinner itself back in November, the

resulting publicity has meant the ‘phones have not stopped ringing off the hook for the last few months” explained Jim. “We’re taking bookings weeks in advance now and there doesn’t seem to be any end to it, so it’s going to be a busy summer ahead!” he enthused.

To set taste buds watering, guests were treated on arrival to a selection of mouthwatering biscuits from award-winner Most Marvellous Baking in Northampton and a glass of Ashmead’s Kernel Apple Juice from New Creation Farm in Nether Heyford.

After the formal proceedings they then enjoyed a tour of the Dawn Farms factory and a butchery masterclass before tucking into a lunch provided by the hosts which used not only a range of their own meat products but also a number of Northamptonshire treats from award winners and finalists, including cheese from The Little Smokehouse in Wellingborough and Neneview Dairy at Stanwick, Honeyed Real Ale Chutney from Thrapston’s Nature’s Fayre, a selection of salad dressings from Farrington Oils in Hargrave and Strawberries Ice Cream generously provided by I’m Real in Northampton.

For more details on all of the categories in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2017/18, including to request entry forms, to make a nomination in the ‘Independent Café / Tea Room’, ‘Weetabix Local Food Hero’, ‘Healthy Eating Workplace’ and ‘F&B Achiever of the Year’ categories, or to recommend your favourite pub, restaurant or spice restaurant, please contact Rachel Mallows on 01933 664437 or email rachel@ themallowscompany.com Alternatively entry, nomination and register of interest forms as well as the terms and conditions are available on the ‘Entry Forms’ page of the Awards’ website – www. northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.UK You can also follow the Awards on twitter at @ foodawardsHQ or on Facebook at facebook.com/ foodawards

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Anna Murby

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Charlie is our darling but who

CHARLES Bradlaugh was an independent thinker and a man of principle. The Northampton electorate backed him even though he incurred the wrath of parliament for his ideas.

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knows what he’s pointing at?

Alan Moore But what’s he pointing at? Stood at the juncture of the Kettering and Wellingborough Roads more than a century, you never catch him blinking, writes Alan Moore. Overlooking Abington Square, staring out the sunset, clearly still adjusting to his new tan since they took the white veneer off, he’s Charles Bradlaugh. He’s one of Northampton’s fiery beasts.

In 1833 he came out fighting, hatched in Hoxton, the grey cyclops giants of a nascent industrial era rising to their feet around him: locomotives, steam-ships crossing the Atlantic, Faraday poised on the crackling brink of electricity, Charles Babbage warming up his Difference Engine, and angelhead William Blake already napping in his unmarked Bunhill Fields bed just a short way up the road, brown bread for some six years by then. The son of a solicitor’s clerk, Bradlaugh quit school at eleven, working menial jobs, avoiding Hoxton’s violent, wealthy and entitled proto-Boris Johnson ‘High Rips’ and becoming the world’s worst Sunday School teacher in the process, rapidly suspended from his calling amidst accusations of a glaringly apparent atheism. Rather taking this to heart, Bradlaugh had published his A Few Words on the Christian Creed – a kind of uncorrected proof edition of The God Delusion – by the time that he was seventeen. Atheism with attitude, evidently.

After a disastrous what-was-he-thinking period of three years enlisted with the Seventh Dragoon Guards in Dublin, Bradlaugh bought his discharge with a legacy left by a great-aunt and returned to London, a convinced freethinker and a sadder, wiser man of twenty, during 1853. Good-looking in the early photographs; a teen Houdini, interrogatory eyebrows, wings of hair tucked back behind his ears. It was around this period that Bradlaugh started hanging with a bad crowd of reformers, radicals and secularists, cranking up his godless pamphleteering under the concealing nom de guerre of ‘The Iconoclast’, and gradually ascending to the forefront of contemporary London indie politics. In 1854, Bradlaugh was married to the daughter of a Mr. Hooper who’d enjoyed his future son-in-law’s oration at a Freethinkers and Chartists meeting held in Bonner Fields. The union produced a daughter, named Hypatia after the beautiful Ancient Greek philosopher, astronomer and mathematician who was skinned alive with clam-shells by a Christian mob, but Bradlaugh’s marriage receives little mention in the few surviving biographical accounts, and it may be that it was over relatively quickly. By the age of twenty-five in 1858, the year in which his daughter was born, he was president of London’s Secular Society and two years later became editor of secularist newspaper The National Reformer. An emerging 19th century underground celebrity, Bradlaugh rubbed stony shoulders with freethinking luminaries such as the notoriously keen-on-the-cane poetic decadent Algernon Swinburne (who my late mate Steve Moore memorably described once as

ABINGTON Square in Northampton is now dominated by traffic but crowds were once able to gather around the statue

a “ginger flagellant midget toff”), and at the age of thirty-three was the co-founder of the National Secular Society. It was in this capacity that he encountered and commenced a long and passionate relationship – maybe his marriage was over by this point or maybe not – with the extraordinary Annie Besant.

Annie Besant, Bradlaugh’s junior by some fourteen years but every bit his equal, was a distillation of Victorian counter culture into an exotic brandy of a woman, heady and inflammable. Later, she’d go on to organise the glowing and phosphorous-disfigured Bryant & May match-girls into their historical industrial action, do the same for London’s dockers, address the unemployed in Trafalgar Square at 1887’s viciously-quashed ‘Bloody Sunday’ protests, campaign for the rights of women and, after becoming a devotee of the charismatic shaman/charlatan Madam Blavatsky’s Theosophy movement, would announce bemused teenage messiah Krishnamurti to the world and pretty much singlehandedly midwife the birth of abstract art in her 1901 book Thought Forms, its ideas assiduously lapped up by such fashionable Theosophists as Kandinsky and Mondrian.

But back in 1866 this hadn’t happened yet, and Besant was commencing her incendiary career in partnership with the most famous atheist-insurrectionist and troublemaker of his day, Charles Bradlaugh. A bohemian Bonny and Clyde, Besant stood beside her secularist sweetheart when the British government, in 1868, made an attempt to prosecute The National Reformer on grounds of blasphemy and sedition, charges of which Bradlaugh would eventually be acquitted. Then, a decade later, the pair were in court together faced with fines and six months jail-time for the publishing and distribution of obscene material, this being a reprinted pamphlet of advice on birth control entitled The Fruits of Philosophy, or the Private Companion of Young Married People. One Charles Darwin, asked to speak in their defence, pleaded ill-health but privately confessed that he was personally opposed to contraception, a variety of natural selection which he did not feel he could endorse. Both of them were sentenced to do bird, but got off on a technicality. Their sex life was most probably fantastic.

Two years later Bradlaugh was elected M.P.

for Northampton during 1880, the point in his narrative where everything gets out of hand. Politically, he was an independent liberal teetotaller supporting women’s suffrage, the trade union movement, Irish home rule, republicanism and the rights of Queen Victoria’s subjects on an Indian subcontinent then labouring beneath the yoke of empire, while being opposed to socialism. All of the above were, at the time, broadly acceptable positions that could at least be discussed in public without heralding the imminent collapse of orderly civilisation. Not so with the atheism, though.

On May 3rd, Bradlaugh turned up at the House of Commons so that he might claim the seat to which he’d been elected, perhaps with a sick note from his mum asking he be excused from taking the religious Oath of Allegiance and be allowed instead to simply make secular affirmation of his loyalty.

Studies suggest that the professed morality of the religiously inclined is largely based on the belief that they and their most private thoughts are under round-the-clock surveillance by some form of spectral and omniscient GCHQ who’ll see them flambéed for eternity if they transgress. Yeah, it’s not really ethics if it’s something you’ve been forced to do at gunpoint, is it? And conversely, since such people perceive atheists as being in some way unsupervised by this invisible imaginary cop, their seemingly unshakeable assumption is that godless individuals must constantly be getting up to murder, rape, armed robbery and arson behind everybody’s backs because, essentially, why wouldn’t they? With this in mind, you can imagine how Bradlaugh’s request to duck out on the Oath went down.

Nobody, God presumably included, seemed to like the idea much. Select Committees were convened in May and June and, unsurprisingly, concluded that Bradlaugh was not allowed to take his seat without effectively renouncing atheism.

Bradlaugh, just as unsurprisingly, was having none of it.

“Respectfully refusing” to withdraw from Commons, he was hauled away by a Sergeant-at-Arms and relocated to a small cell in the clock-tower of Big Ben, directly underneath the deafening bell itself. While this, of course, was only temporary, it commenced a long war of attrition between Bradlaugh and the status quo which

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took almost a decade to resolve. On one side was the hell-bound Hoxton heavyweight along with his supporters like George Bernard Shaw and the frustrated voters of Northampton, while on the other side were the Conservative Party (worked up to an anti-Bradlaugh fever pitch by Winston’s dad Lord Randolph Churchill), the Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Canterbury. During this lengthy period, when Bradlaugh lost his seat four times for refusing to take the Oath and was four times voted back in by a determined and angry Northampton electorate, when there were furious pro-Bradlaugh protests in the 800 yearold Market Square that were only suppressed by armed riot police, we get a glimpse of the radical spirit in this town as it once was, not so long ago: a glorious, uncompromising thing which, once its teeth were into an idea, would lock its jaws and never let it go. Escorted from the House by the constabulary at least once, Bradlaugh’s response was to inaugurate Northampton’s first alternative or underground newspaper, The Radical, a kind of great-grandparent to this current publication.

Like a fin du siècle Jeremy Corbyn, Bradlaugh was pressed into service as a bogey-man epitomising right-wing dread and loathing. This is nowhere made more evident than in a Punch cartoon from 1881 depicting our man as “The Cherub of Northampton”, a vampiric monster with Charles Bradlaugh’s plainly evil and demonic head, sporting a top hat made from pamphlets that seems to be infested by spiders and supported by enormous bat-wings (this was some sixteen years before Stoker published Dracula, remember), flapping mournfully above the huddled and benighted rooftops of Northampton, shown as filthy with a visible shoe-maker’s. The next time Punch deployed this kind of imagery would be in 1888, for Jack the Ripper.

Then, miraculously in a cosmos without God, in

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1886 Bradlaugh was finally permitted to assume his seat as an M.P. By 1888 he’d managed to successfully propose that Members be allowed to make an affirmation rather than to swear an Oath, and started his postponed career in Parliament by supporting Annie Besant’s then-ongoing Match Girl’s Strike. His championing of Britain’s Indian subjects earned him the contemptuous nickname “the Member for India” from Conservative M.P.s, and he ferociously campaigned for all of his enduring ethical preoccupations – women’s suffrage, the trade union movement, secularism – until death removed him from the field of play in 1891, aged fifty-seven. Yes, he died young by our standards, and no doubt if he’d had access to the wisdom of our current century he would have lived a great deal longer, and, almost as certainly, would have accomplished a lot less. For Bradlaugh’s funeral, his body would have been transported by underground coffin-train to the London Necropolis, apparently more recently renamed as Brookwood Cemetery, where the event attracted some three thousand mourners.

Many of those come to pay their last respects were Indian, including 21year-old Charles Bradlaugh fan Mohandas Ghandi. The Abington Square statue, both insisted on and paid for by Northampton’s people rather than its less-than-keen civic authorities, was raised up soon thereafter, outside the old slipper factory that was there before the war memorial, currently fenced off to deter the homeless. Man, you should have seen the crowds for the unveiling, heads and hats and bonnets in their thousands, barely contained in the frame of the daguerreotype. Simply, they loved him. In 1898 his daughter, the peace activist, freethinker, atheist and author Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner published a pamphlet to address the no doubt faith-based rumours that her father had accepted Christianity before he died, concluding that there

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was no indication of his atheistic principles having been altered in even the smallest detail; godless to the last.

As for posterity, well, that’s a matter of opinion.

The statue’s still there, still pressing the button for an invisible elevator to Elysium that will never come, frozen between the Jaguar showrooms and the closed-down public toilets, although what vanishingly small percentage of the people passing under his admonishing gaze every day have any idea who he is or why he matters is impossible to judge. The rag-week students of the 1930s would dependably paint footprints leading from his plinth to the then-functional urinals just across the Wellingborough Road, and one Saturday night during the early 1970s I glimpsed a drunken and, it might be thought, extremely lonely individual attempting sodomy with the once-feared Northampton Cherub, who remained throughout stoic and focussed, sticking resolutely to the point. As for his other lasting claim to fame, it’s doubtful that the vehement teetotaller would be any more enthused to have a pub haphazardly named after him than Emily Pankhurst would be keen to lend her name to a lap-dance establishment.

But what’s he pointing at? St. James’s End? Wales? Warwickshire? The soaring, sexless über-

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menschen of the Francis Crick memorial down from the library? He indicates the western lands, the day’s end, and therefore the future, unencumbered by religious certainties or the oppression of minorities; a future safe for women, working people, match-girls and Mahatmas. Sometimes, in the last rush of low golden light up Abington Street late upon a winter’s afternoon, it’s almost possible to see, beyond the Holy Ghost Zone and the Jesus movie-house, the country that he’s gesturing towards.

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Alan Moore

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Don’t ask the students . . .

Arte Artemiou

In December, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) released a document aimed at students to explain what the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is, writes PHD student Arte Artemiou. In it we see statements claiming that the TEF will “give students clear information about what teaching quality is” and to “encourage a stronger focus on the quality of teaching in higher education”.

These statements seem to be misleading and considering this is a document for students, that’s worrying. Dr. Andrew Gunn, a researcher in higher education policy, has said that the TEF “is assessing everything that goes on before admission – from outreach, choosing candidates and interviews – to the actual teaching environment and then everything that students do after graduation.”

So not simply teaching excellence but the “entire teaching function of a university”.

Are these aims possible using the metrics that the TEF has set out? These metrics are: the National Student Survey (NSS), retention rates, graduate employability, and a 15-page narrative statement on the institutional context of the university. The 15-page narrative statement will be used as the deciding factor of whether a university can be upgraded or not after a provisional rating is given according to the other three metrics. All of this is being measured so that a university can charge future students more money depending on whether they achieve bronze, silver, or gold (although this is thought to be in line with inflation).

The NSS Research into the 2014 results of the NSS found that “students are happiest on degree programmes where high proportions of staff have the following characteristics: white, full professors, holding doctorates, and on fixed-term contracts” at universities that either rated research highly or had a high proportion of professionally qualified faculty found that which has very little to do with teaching excellence. As a result, the researchers questioned whether students, when completing

the NSS, failed to see the impact that research may have on their studies and the potential that going to a more ‘elite’ university may instil expectations which are not found at non-elite universities, thus increasing the dissatisfaction scores of the NSS. These findings and musings call into question the validity of the NSS as a metric for teaching excellence, let alone for the teaching function of a university. Even the Chair of the TEF’s assessment panel has admitted to the inadequacy of the NSS stating that, “I do not think student satisfaction is an accurate proxy for teaching quality”, yet in the same breath claims that this doesn’t mean we mustn’t use the NSS. He argues that we must discover how the data it provides could be used “effectively”. Surely claiming that the NSS can’t be used as a useful metric but also claiming we should still give the results validity in some way is contradictory?

Retention rates Research into retention rates at universities found that those from disadvantaged backgrounds were more likely to leave before completion of their studies and those who went to universities with lower UCAS requirements were more likely to withdraw from their courses. According to the research, there were universities effectively challenging these trends, with those achieving low UCAS entry points and coming from disadvantaged backgrounds remaining at university at various interventions but low UCAS points and socioeconomic status isn’t the fault of universities so why is it a metric of teaching excellence?

Other research indicates that the problem is not with universities but with secondary schools.

If students were better prepared for the pressures and expectations of university they would either: a) not attend because it was not something they wanted to do, or b) already be developing the skills required to engage with undergraduate studies.

The very nature of ‘paying’ for an education (which is, in fact, borrowing money from taxpayers) has had a negative impact on poorer students’ choice of university which could be also affecting retention rates as it isn’t their first choice.

Also, research[8] has shown that some courses are not worth the cost when compared to graduate earnings. Inevitably, students may not feel their ‘education’ is worth the amount of money they are borrowing to pay for and stop attending these courses. This is not solely the fault of universities but of the policymakers (like those who created the TEF) who are pushing an ideological vision of what education must be in the U.K. Graduate employability Research into whether there are too many graduates in the UK found that graduates are filling jobs that were originally filled by school leavers; whether their degree is relevant to the position or not. This inevitably creates a false hierarchy of ‘educated’ vs the uneducated amongst employers, considering both will need to be trained in a graduate-irrelevant job. I am a firm

believer that education – knowledge – must not be commodified or turned into a means to an end (i.e. a job). Knowledge and education must be made available to all. The argument that there are too many graduates for graduate related jobs is true, hence the mismatch of skills required and degree obtained – but this doesn’t mean the answer is to limit the people going to university or to funnel more people into university. It means we need to address the role of the university. It must be a centre of knowledge and learning, not an attempt to mark a step on career progression. There is a pressure on the education sector that need not be there: a notion that university will better the lives of those who attend and that we must fit as many students as possible into university for them to ‘better themselves’ (i.e. graduate relevant jobs). It isn’t working.

15-page contextual narrative This doesn’t need much attention. One simple point: giving universities the ability to colour their function in a way that will inevitably paint them in a positive light, even if that isn’t the reality, is like giving someone a test and then asking them why they believe they should pass.

What’s your point?

Most of the issues with satisfaction scores, retention rates, and graduate employability come down to the idea that education is a commodity to be bought and sold to further careers rather than having a right to exist on its own merit.

These metrics of ‘teaching excellence’ are heavily influenced by factors that the metrics don’t account for. If a university doesn’t meet a student’s lived experience of education, for example, then they may be dissatisfied and/or drop-out.

Therefore, the metrics for the TEF make no sense in regards to teaching excellence no matter how you spin it (even by changing the definition of ‘teaching excellence’). We shouldn’t be making the best of the metrics, as the Chair of the TEF assessment panel said regarding the NSS, but we should be trying to figure out what higher education needs to be and how to measure teaching excellence.

In conclusion The NSS is subjective and insufficient, dropout rates are affected by background and scores in secondary school, and employability can be factored down to whether an employer believes a degree is a good thing (regardless of job relevance).

And this information is being used to charge more money to ‘learn’?

Think about that.

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Arte Artemiou

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Culture

April, 2017

41

Looking into the future James Sheppard

Computer Aficionado James Sheppard explores the world of virtual reality via an Occulus Rift headset...

A wondrous new computer technology that will open your mind to the digital advances of our age, generating images, sounds and other sensations that duplicate a real environment around you.

And enable your friends to jump scare you to an ignoble death.

My first time with VR was full of all the normal excitement, trepidation and wonder: I was like a dog learning how to open a cupboard door to the doggy treats slyly hidden away. A puppy in Narnia you might say. But in place of Mr. Tumnus, was a grouchy old fellow who had only just got over dial-up not being a thing anymore, and he was angry about it. How dare technology advance without warning! Back in his day you could hear the internet working, like giant cogs in a Victorian machine. Where’s the steam, eh? Where’s the hard work and elbow grease?

Well as I found out, VR is hard work in lots of different ways. Navigating an imaginary world that no one else can see, but is as real to you as the pint of coffee you need to function in the morning, is hilarious, mind-boggling and frightening all at the same time. Add a space that needs to be explored to be understood, and you can cancel those Wednesday spin classes you love and hate in equal measure.

Walking around a giant green room, a Occulus Rift Headset trailing wires behind me like a wedding train, I felt quite comfortable wandering around an illusory lab. I thought of myself as a mad scientist, a bit like Emmett Brown, shouting at Marty for messing up the space-time continuum again. I could pick up objects in this world, mix concoctions able to create giant firebreathing mutant space hamsters, and then with the fickleness of a feline with a ball of twine, drop them ignorantly on the floor and generally cause havoc.

Then I found the robot dog.

Not realising that I squeaked in excitement, I threw myself at this pretend pixel effect, giddy with delight. My friends watching thought I had finally gone mad whilst I squealed: “It’s a Puppy!!”

I could pet it, rub its belly, and even scratch it behind the ear to make its back leg reverberate like a speaker at a drum and bass night. Any dog lover and technophile would be speechless in gushing pleasure; It’s cute and the pinnacle of modern science? I want seven!

Whilst rolling around on the floor with my new friend, my old friends decided it was time I experienced something else. Something light hearted, whimsical and showcasing the best and brightest of this flagship technology. Something I would enjoy being completely immersed in.

Now I’m sure we all know, you should never trust your closest friends. They’re cantankerous, conniving, scheming conspirators of the worst degree. And they had just plotted a surprise for me.

With one button press, the environment around changed into a dank dungeon interior, flickering torches aligning the walls. What light was dimly playing around my view presented me with a single door. Apparently, I had been stranded in a labyrinth and had to get out. Easy I said; it’s just a game. I’ve got a lantern and a map, I’ll be fine. And off I blundered into the horrifying depths of some computer coders idea of a nightmare. If I ever find out who they were, they’re off my Christmas card list for life.

A few meandering corridors later, I’m thinking a lot of myself; I had found a room with a chair in it, a few interesting barrels contained some oil to keep my light going, and despite the ambient sound effects having me turn around every two seconds, I hadn’t jumped out of my skin yet.

Then I found the statue.

It was your standard gothic gargoyle. It took up all my vision rearing out of its alcove, not quite intimidating but still suspect nonetheless.

It wasn’t moving, it didn’t appear to be alive, so I decided to investigate a chest on the other side of the room. Maybe it held the key out of this oubliette of oddities? So, off I went, sparing a cursory glance behind me.

The statue had moved.

When I say moved, it was stationary and unmoving, but no longer in its tucked away nook.

I wish it had stayed there. I wish the shiver up my spine had stayed comfortably away. I wish my friends sniggers at my incoherent blabbering had stayed silent in their throats. It’s not easy trying to explain a fantasy figment of your imagination trying to scare the spots off you to people that can’t see it; just ask the kids from Elm Street.

Believing that chest may be my saviour, I scamper towards it the gargoyle leaving my vision for no more than half a second.

That half a second is enough.

In a horror version of Benny Hill, this statue chases me around the room but never moves.

I’m screaming my lungs out asking for help, my friends are laughing so hard they sound like hyenas, and the wires are tangled around me like some deadly snake. I tear off the headset gasping for reality, cold sweat drenching me like a flood.

And the despondent Mr. Tumnus? He just winks at me and says: “New technology, old tricks.”

He’s off my Christmas list too.

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James Sheppard

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April, 2017

Culture

NQ

She’s fit to face the public Helen Blaby

It’s been pointed out that I’m not exactly the best face to front a health campaign. I’m obese and have type 2 diabetes, I’ve also had my issues with anxiety in the past.

I would argue that I was entirely the right person to be on the poster for Helen’s Big Health Check. Let me explain!

My producer, Sarah-Jane, is well used to getting emails from me now when I’m straight out of the bath. It’s the time I have my best ideas, and if I don’t let them know about them immediately then by the time I see her the next day I’ve probably forgotten all about it!

Anyway, about 18 months ago I was pondering how on earth I was going to make the lifestyle changes to get my blood sugar under control, and I knew that I needed a push to get a bit fitter. I play lawn bowls during the summer, and routinely lose a dress size by the end of the season, but then when the autumn and winter come along, I tend to hibernate on my settee with a glass or two of red, and a bag of crisps. I was determined not to do that again a year or so ago.

However, past experience told me that it was something I really couldn’t do on my own. I lack the willpower (does willpower even exist? if so, I don’t think I’ve ever owned any!) to do these things on my own.

I’ve tried, and failed, on a number of occasions. I’ve been a member of pretty much every gym in our fair town. I’ve actually been a few times to some of them as well!

So, what better way of getting some support, than involving the people I speak to on a daily basis? Could we do this together?

Was there a way for us all to make small changes to our lifestyle and help each other along the way? I thought there was, and so Helen’s Big Healthcheck was born.

The idea is to get as many health and wellbeing professionals in to a room as possible, and give you the opportunity to try new forms of activity. We held three events last year, in Towcester, Northampton and Corby and my goodness did people embrace the idea.

We had hundreds of visitors to the various events, six of whom were referred to the hospital for investigations into possible skin cancer. …and for me, it worked. I kept that dress size off, and I’ve lost another since then too. I’ve spoken to other people who came along as well, and they say they either got information about giving up smoking, tried out an activity they loved and have kept it up or just thought a bit more about what they were eating.

So this year, we decided to go bigger and better. Five events, 5 towns and one of those in the evening so that people who work can rock up too. They are a lot of fun to take part in. Last year I tried walking football, went back to my netball roots, played table tennis against a machine, had a go at boccia and new age curling. I even played badminton live on air!

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The nordic walking sessions have proved particularly popular, and you can really feel it working as you stride out with your poles!

So you know, I am the face of these events.

They really did give me the kick up the posterior I needed to do something about how I live my life.

They give me new ideas, and the chance to have a go at some new exercises and sports.

I look forward to meeting lots of like-minded people too! I hope to see you at one in the future...

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Helen Blaby

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Culture

April 2017

43

When fresh air calls . . .

Two Point Four

“Not now, Daddy’s busy!” billows from the dark depths under the home desk, while battling with the spaghetti like cables.

“Which one of these is the blasted printer?”

Why do children decide the best time to crave your attention when you’re at your most indisposed?

I’ve lost count of the times while talking to a customer care line, getting to the all-important crux of my complaint (which god only knows is worthy of an OBE or at least a Crystal Maze Crystal – however that’s another discussion), only to be monumentally interrupted by the cacophony of quarrelling children.

More specifically, asking contradicting questions which lead to gritted teeth explanations of “no I was telling the nice Mr Insurance man about the other broken TV”.

Better still this can be coupled with a double act of our two hounds barking, who have heard some phantom intruder and now are launching themselves at the net curtains.

All concentrated within a square metre of the phone. It’s organised stealth and military precision the like of which would make Field Marshal Montgomery proud.

I do strongly believe the telephone holds some special Holy Grail status. Try calling all to help

for dinner or empty the dishwasher and you may have well as declared the kitchen a ground zero for the Black Death.

My better half and I do know have a ‘tag team’ approach to phone calls made or received. There is some preparation first: “You making this one?”

“Write down everything you need to say and ask, you know our time will be limited” “How long do you think we’ve got?”

“Ok cover me...”

The last one perhaps not quite but it does feel like we are on the brink of a drug bust. So my wife starts the call.

This is usually the way and certainly my preference, because despite the meticulous planning of questions, the moment the call is finished there’s “but you didn’t ask about this” and I blindly reply “but we didn’t talk about that” Then we have to start again. I admit it I’m useless when it comes to these critical calls so I bow out gracefully (that’s what I’m dressing this up as) and let the boss conduct the call. My role is a very important one, using the American vernacular: I’m the blocker.

I stand at the base of the stairs feet placed at shoulders width, knees bent, slighting bent forwards with hands held high, poised waiting.

Occasionally tilting my head, funnelling the eerie silence of the upstairs dwellers to my radar like ears.

Is there movement, I can’t hear them, but I have signal in front and behind?

I now have an overwhelming urge to pop on khakis, strip down to my white dirt vest and strap ridiculously oversized blasters by my side with all my attention honed on this clicking box.

Click Click Click, then the beeps start.

Faint at first beep……….beep…… then more frequent, I start to sweat.

Flicking my head between the impending maelstrom of interruption and the muted conversation in the kitchen, I lose all rational sense. They know.

Their own internal sensors have switched on, an important call is in progress and their little red light labelled ‘ill timing’ is flashing. They come crashing down the stairs.

“Daddy why’s mummy on the phone?”

“Who’s she speaking to?”

This is met with panicked hush on my part.

Panicked because this was my only job, a simple job: stop the little darlings from entering the kitchen.

By now the hounds have surfaced too, gingerly at first, they’d sensed there’s an issue. Circling at the top of the stairs readying for a round of lets bark here, it’s really echoey and it confuses us even more so we will keep barking.

I listen back to the kitchen, she’s hurrying up the call and she’s heard the pending failure of her husband’s efforts, putting plan B into action.

So it’s good to get outside, fresh air and walking is very much under rated.

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Adam Alexander

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April, 2017

Sport

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Sport

April, 2017

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SPORT

Mouthwatering cricket season ahead

On the 20th August, 2016, the Northants Steelbacks won their second domestic T20 title in four years, writes Alex Stockton.

After a superb campaign, the men from Wantage Road ran out deserved winners in a tense final. Throughout the tournament, Alex Wakely’s men once again proved that their “underdog” tag was not only misguided, but irrelevant. While their T20 triumph undoubtedly topped the bill, the Steelbacks also experienced some success in 50-over cricket, reaching the quarter-finals of the Royal London Cup. It took the brilliance of Kumar Sangakkara to halt their charge in that competition. Northants also enjoyed a reasonable season in red ball cricket, despite promotion never looking likely. All things considered, 2016 was a successful year for Northants, and if nothing else the county’s claim for a little more TV coverage has been staked.

Fast forward to now, and the county are preparing for another season. It should go without saying that there will be expectation on them to perform in the game’s shortest form, but the club will hope to make some progress in four day cricket, too.

The last time Northants were promoted ended in disaster, after they were relegated back to Division Two without winning a single game. This time, if the county can secure another promotion, they will be hoping to make it count.

They could well do that, too. Northants have not one, but two players in the England Lions squad in Ben Duckett and Graeme White. If those two can stay fit, and provided they don’t play too many games for the national side, then Northants can expect to reap the rewards, with both playing all three formats. With Wakely back in form last

season, and with Rory Kleienveldt as consistent as ever, the nucleus of the squad is very solid. A welcome addition would be a top-class overseas player.

Whether or not the county can afford a very top-end player is a matter for another debate, but should they be able to secure the services of an international star, that would certainly help the cause. For example, Kent’s acquisition of Kagiso Rabada last summer was a fine piece of business.

That said, whether or not the club’s finances are capable of maintaining a Division One spot is uncertain. It could be argued that, given the recent financial instability of the club, Division Two is a better place for Northants. The upkeep of a Division One side is generally higher than that of one in the second tier.

While higher attendances might generate some revenue, they can’t be relied upon, and players often require higher wages. Thankfully, however, the club was stabilised last season, and all seems to be in order for now. Perhaps more so than last season, therefore, the club can commit to trying to finish in the county championship’s top two. It won’t be easy, with Durham and Nottinghamshire hot favourites to bounce straight back to the top flight, but the underdog tag has suited Ripley’s men before.

Moving away from the professional game, the 2017 Northants Cricket League looks set to be an interesting one. Old Northamptonians won their first title for some time last season, breaking up the dominance of Peterborough and Finedon.

Bearing in mind that Rushden won the title in 2015, there are now five or six teams who should be able to compete for the ultimate prize each

year. That can only be healthy. For a number of years, the two aforementioned powerhouses entered what many felt was a two-horse race at the start of every season. A bit of increased competition from the likes of ONs, Rushden and Rushton can only be a positive thing.

Throughout the leagues, though, there will be a sense of optimism for many. I played a lot of cricket in Division Five last year and I can honestly say that the competitive nature of the game is still there. I’ve played in the prem, Division One, and Division Five and everyone always wants to win, which is hardly surprising.

Throughout the leagues there are a large number of sides who, on their day, are probably capable of beating a team three tiers above them.

Availability and what’s on offer at tea perhaps become more pertinent the further down the leagues one gets, but the game is generally played in the same spirit across the county.

Some of the most interesting cricket to be involved in is also on offer at the bottom end of the league system. Many clubs who field fourth or fifth teams give their youth an excellent chance to experience adult cricket, and that can make for some really exciting contests.

Twelve year old opening bowlers coming up against 6’4 opening batsmen is a fascinating spectacle, and one that is readily available in the lower leagues.

All in all, cricket in the county seems to be in good shape following last season. Winter nets across the county will have started up by now and, before too long, the ritualistic first cutting of outfields will be upon us.

My nose is twitching just thinking about it.

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April 2017

The toughest test of all Alex Stockton Cricket writer

nenequirer@gmail.com @thenenequirer 01604 550037 As winter nets at clubs around the county continue to progress, some of the pre-season cobwebs should be starting to shift themselves, writes Alex Stockton. For some, though, February marks not the start of indoor nets, but simply another month closer to the start of the season. Young cricketers up and down the country who train with their county or district sides will already be well into the swing of things. In fact, some of them have probably been netting since October.

Whether or not such lack of respite has a positive effect is a matter for some debate. Certainly, it is good to encourage young players to play a lot of cricket. As long as they’re enjoying it, they’ll continue to improve, after all. That said, young fast bowlers can often do more harm than good by netting too much. Stress fractures and muscle strains are all too common for young quicks, and these issues could come as a result of year-round training. An injury can really take it out of you at such a tender age, and I speak from personal experience.

In terms of my cricketing background, I have been luckier than most. At fifteen, I broke into the Northants age group side as a handy opening bowler, and played a number of matches alongside the county’s recent breakthrough act, Ben Duckett. Phil Rowe, the current 1st XI bowling coach at Northants, was our head coach, with Steven Crook also working with us. “Crooky” was an outstanding guy to have around, and Phil is the best coach to have ever worked with me. That season was the real deal for me, as an aspiring professional cricketer. I played competitive games against Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire to name but three, and there was a real sense of professionalism in the group. I also got my first taste of two-day cricket, which remains the closest I have come to playing in a test match. Strapping on my bowling boots and hearing “we’re going to declare soon, lads, get yourselves warm” was so satisfying that I couldn’t help but crack a smile.

Call me Jimmy Anderson and give me the new ball.

I had a great season for my local club, too. Towcestrians’ first XI were in Division 3 of the county league, and I helped them to win the division and secure promotion. I was very much the youngest of a young bunch who, to all intents and purposes, had a seriously bright future ahead of them. My debut, against our promotion rivals Peterborough, saw me take two wickets and hit around 30 runs in a convincing win, and I never looked back from that point. I stayed fit and I bowled well throughout the season. Without really having to think about it, I was able to run in and hit my areas, and everything was pointing towards a very bright future in cricket.

At the start of the 2011 season, though, something went wrong. In an attempt to show one of my friends what I’d done to tweak my bowling ac-

tion, I damaged the oblique muscles down my left side, and wasn’t able to bowl again for some time.

This wasn’t a minor injury. Even bending down to pick up a plate from the drawer was excruciatingly painful, and I had to rest up for a while. There were around four weeks until the start of the season, and everyone at Towcester was telling me that I should sit out for the first couple of games, or play them as a batsman. Despite this, I played in the first game of the season. I bowled two overs for around 16. There were a couple of wides, and I sprayed the ball. My left side wasn’t strong enough to stop me pulling the ball, and it didn’t come out right at all. After that, I told myself I had to change something in the next game I played, and I pushed everything down the legside. Already I was starting to panic a little. My action had gone, and so had my head.

In hindsight, though, this was not an injury that occurred at the start of the season. That year, I’d begun netting in October. That meant I’d basically spent seven months running in on a hard, indoor surface and hurling down cricket balls. That’s longer than a cricket season. By the time early May came around, therefore, it was not only unsurprising that I picked up a niggle, but I feel that it might have been inevitable. To be clear, this isn’t me blaming Northants cricket for my injury. It is quite likely that, had I not spent so long in front of coaches’ eyes, I would not have been picked for the side, nor would I have been half the bowler I turned out to be.

There is undoubtedly a risk, however, that young fast bowlers could do themselves a lot of damage over strenuous winter training programmes. I wasn’t even the worst case. One of my team mates was widely regarded as the quickest bowler in the county. The season before my injury, though, he slipped a disc in his back. After that, he was nowhere near the same bowler. Luckily for him, he was a seriously good batsman, meaning he could still play high-level cricket after his injury.

As far as I’m aware though, he hasn’t bowled too many balls in anger since we last bowled in unison.

Since, my action has never once snapped through like it did in that breakthrough season for me, and now I find myself infuriated every time I bowl. I should be bowling quicker, I tell myself, but it just won’t happen. Now, I can run in and hit an area, and I swing the ball well, but it’s more as a tidy line and length bowler than as someone who has genuine pace. Whether or not there is still some psychological baggage from hurting myself, I don’t know, but I can’t quite generate the same whip I used to be able to with my body. Perhaps it’s a case of too much time spent not trusting my body and not letting loose.

Granted, there were other plenty more factors at play that stopped me making it as a cricketer.

I still stand at 5’10, after I stopped growing at 15.

That said, players like Dale Steyn and Malcolm Marshall have never had an issue being under six feet tall. I wasn’t the most competent batsman back then, either, meaning there was lot riding on my ability to stay fit as a bowler. All in all, it would still have been very difficult for me had I not picked up an injury. When something like that happens, though, it’s difficult to not wonder what might have been.

It’s hardly the end of the world that some 16/17 year old kid didn’t quite make it as a professional sportsman. It happens all the time, all over the world, anyway. At its worst, though, this sudden loss of confidence really took it out of me. At the tender age of 17, I had to go from knocking on the door of a professional cricket academy to not quite knowing where I was, to being dropped completely. That wasn’t easy. I had put a lot of pressure on my performances and built myself up over a long period of time. It didn’t take half as long to be knocked off that lofty position of self-confidence and self-belief.

While now, at the age of 22, I can appreciate the ability I had and the chances I had to play in some great games, it seemed quite tough on me as it was all happening. My advice to anyone going through anything similar is just to let loose. Have a real go, and if you fall short, you mustn’t linger. Enjoy the game, because the longer you spend fretting and getting worked up about it, the less time you’ve got to take a step back and just appreciate what you’re doing. These days, I relish fielding and waiting to bat just as much as I do knocking someone’s middle stump over, and that’s not a bad place to be.

I should also acknowledge that I still absolutely love the game, and that my experiences with Northants only helped that. Yes, it’s frustrating when I bowl and, yes, I’d love to have continued to press on from where I was, but it has not put me off. I play for Stony Stratford now, and enjoy every match I play in. It’s certainly better when I can get wickets or runs, but I’d be as happy now to play a game in Division 12 as I would to play one in the premier league. This article is just a warning note to any prospective young fast bowlers out there.

If you feel a niggle, don’t ignore it, and if you feel over-worked, give your body a chance.

Disclaimer: should you come calling, Northants, I’ll still bite your hand off.

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April 2017

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