stretchISSUE 2, SUMMER 2005
THE INTERVIEW
KT TUNSTALLBABLAKE DRAMA
BEYOND THEBARRICADEREAL-LIFE STORY
BOSCASTLESURVIVORYOU CAN HELP TO
MAKE TRADE FAIR
just a little something we cooked up
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STRETCHINGIT
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STRETCH TEAM 2005
EDITORSMARK WOODWARD NADIA GARRETT
REPORTERSRACHAEL CHAMBERSADAM FRAYNADIA GARRETTJENNA HASTINGSTARA KATTICHARLI SEARCHWELL-GUESTCLAIRE TAGGART
CONTRIBUTIONSSTEPHANIE WEBB
DESIGNPAUL DIBBENS(www.mustardhot.com) ADAM FRAY
BACKGROUND
COPY WAS PLANNED ANDPRODUCED IN THE L6TH WORKEXPERIENCE WEEK. A PRESSROOMWAS SET UP IN THE 6TH FORMLIBRARY AND ALONG THE WAY,STRETCH MET THE EDITORIAL,DESIGN AND SALES TEAMS AT ETCMAGAZINE AS WELL AS JOHN WESTFROM THE COVENTRY TELEGRAPH.FIONA SIBLEY, AN ONLINEJOURNALIST, ACTED ASCONSULTANT AND THERE WERE AFEW PRACTICAL EXERCISES TOHONE THE TEAM’S REPORTINGSKILLS. THERE WAS EVEN TIME TOFIT IN A PHOTO SHOOT FOR SOMENEW 6TH FORM LITERATURE. WEFINISHED WITH A MOCK-UP OF THEISSUE AND THOUGHTS OF A NEWWEBSITE TO DISPLAY THE WORK. ITWAS A BRILLIANT WEEK AND APLEASURE TO WORK WITH SUCHTREMENDOUSLY TALENTED ANDPHOTOGENIC STUDENTS!
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY STRETCH 2!
EDITORIAL
A DRAMATIC, UNFORGETTABLEWEEK IN THE NATIONALS:
EARLY FRONT PAGES WEREDOMINATED BY THE EUPHORIA OFLIVE 8, A TABLOID PRICE WAR ANDANTICIPATION OF THE G8 SUMMIT.‘LICE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS’,OBVIOUSLY A SLOW NEWS DAY, GAVEWAY TO EUPHORIA AT LONDON’SSUCCESSFUL OLYMPICS BID ANDLAMENTABLE GLOATING OVER THEDEFEATED FRENCH. 7/7 SHATTEREDALL CELEBRATIONS. THE CHILLINGIRONY OF LONDON IN TERRORNEEDED NO TEXT. FIRST CAMESTAGGERING IMAGES OF THEMANGLED NO 30 BUS, THEN THEWALKING INJURED. SOON HUMANTRAGEDIES WERE TOLD ANDOFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS BEGAN.TRADITIONAL REPORTERS AND THEPUBLIC TOGETHER HAD CAPTUREDAN INTERNATIONAL TRAGEDY IN ADIFFERENT WAY AND THE PUBLICWHO STARTED THE WEEK DEFIANTAGAINST WORLD POVERTY ENDED ITDEFIANT AGAINST ANOTHERSCOURGE... TERRORISM.
www.stretch-mag.co.ukwww.2morrow-2day.comBablake Careers Departmentwww.bablake.com
Bablake School 03:
onTOUR
A DAYAT ETCMAGAZINE
NADIA GARRETT
www.etcmag.co.uk
IT WOULDN’T BE UNFAIRTO SAY THAT THESTRETCH TEAM WERELESS THAN ENTHUSED ATTHE PROSPECT OFTURNING UP AT SCHOOLAT THE UNGODLY HOUR OF6AM AND ENDURING A 31/2
HOUR MINIBUS JOURNEYTO HARROGATE.HOWEVER, WHEN WEFINALLY ARRIVED AT ETC,WE WERE WON OVERWITH CUPS OF TEA, TWOFUNCTIONING (AND MIGHTI MENTION, VERY CLEAN)TOILETS AND A GROUP OFFRIENDLY FACES.
FIRST WE SQUEEZED INTOA ROOM IN WHICH ETCEMPLOYEES WITH RATHERINTIMIDATING TITLES LIKEDESIGNER/VISIONARYAND TECHNICAL WIZARDSURROUNDED US, BUT WEWERE INSTANTLY PUT ATEASE BY THEREMARKABLY LAID BACKATTITUDES OF BOTH EVANJEFFRIES AND RUSSTHORNE, EDITOR ANDDEPUTY EDITOR. WEASKED QUESTIONS,QUESTIONS WEREANSWERED ANDEVERYONE ACQUIRED AVALUABLE INSIGHT INTOTHE WORLD OF MAGAZINEJOURNALISM.
EVEN NATURALLYNEGATIVE CHARLI WASNOTHING BUT POSITIVE:‘THIS HAS DEFINED MYDIRECTION FOR FUTURE.I’VE REALISED THAT THISKIND OF JOURNALISM ISSOMETHING I REALLYWOULD ENJOY.’
THE MAJORITY OF OURVISIT WAS SPENT LOOKINGAT HOW THE MAGAZINEWAS PLANNED, HOW THEJOBS INTERWOVE WITHONE ANOTHER, THEDIFFERENT ROLES ONOFFER AND ATTEMPTS TOCONCEAL OUR ENVYWHEN RUSS REGALED USWITH MEMORIES OFFAMOUS INTERVIEWEES.
RETIRING TO A BISTRO TOTALK ABOUT ETC, IT WASEASY TO REFLECT ON AVERY BENEFICIAL VISIT.ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THATSUCH AN OUTING WILL BEPOSSIBLE FOR OTHERPROSPECTIVEJOURNALISTS IN THEFUTURE.
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MAKETRADEFAIR
www.bignoisemusic.comwww.makepovertyhistory.orgwww.coldplay.comwww.maketradefair.com
COLDPLAY CAMPAIGN TO ‘MAKE TRADE FAIR’
THANKS TO PUBLICITY AT G8 AND LIVE 8, THE MAKE POVERTY HISTORYCAMPAIGN WAS RECOGNISED AND SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.YET ONE COMPONENT THAT COULD HELP TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY ISFAR LESS RECOGNISED THAN IT SHOULD BE.
I first became aware of Fair Trade at a Coldplaygig. After an approach by Oxfam in 2002 to backthe Make Trade Fair campaign, Coldplay, and inparticular Chris Martin, have worked hard topromote it. Chris, for example, travelled toGhana and Haiti to become more aware of theproblems behind trade in developing countries.
Oxfam says: ‘The problem is not thatinternational trade is opposed to the needs andinterests of the poor, but that the rules thatgovern it are rigged in favour of the rich’.
Developing countries are exploited bywealthier countries in terms of trade. This isclearly seen through the use of subsidies in theWestern world. The West heavily subsidises itsfarmers- rates can be as high as $1 billion aday. This encourages farmers to grow muchmore food than is necessary. The surplusproduce is then ‘dumped’ upon developingcountries at ridiculously cheap prices whichmake it hard for local farmers to compete withthe markets. Similarly, each European cowcosts taxpayers $2.20 a day, while half theworld’s population lives on less than $2 per day.
In Ghana, a predominately agriculturalcountry where over 60% of the population relieson farming to live, subsidies for farmers are non-existent. In return for a loan, the InternationalMonetary Fund and the World Bank insisted thatthe Ghanaian Government stop supporting theirown farmers in favour of importation.
Imported products now flood the country,undercutting the value of local produce. Poorcountries are also faced with exportation tariffbarriers that are four times higher than thoseencountered by rich countries.
Fair Trade is a clear problem and publicpressure is a vital weapon. Whilst aid helps inthe short term, long term plans are needed todeal with corruption in countries.
Chris Martin says: ‘’Travelling with OxfamI’ve seen a lot of unnecessary poverty. But theproblems are solvable: a few changes to thetrade rules would make a huge difference, andwe all need to pressure our politicians to act.’
We could all contribute to a fairer world, bybuying Fair Trade products, or adding our voiceto Oxfam’s ‘Big Noise’ campaign.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
‘WE ALL NEED TOPRESSURE OUR POLITICIANS TO ACT’CHRIS MARTIN
CREDITS: THANKS TO MATT VINES, A FORMER BABLAKE STUDENT WHO WORKSFOR COLDPLAY’S MANAGEMENT, AND CHRIS LATHAM AT EMI
oPInion TARA KATTI
Bablake School 05:
TARA KATTI
YOURSHOUTBEFORE ‘LIVE 8’ THECOVENTRY EVENINGTELEGRAPH INTERVIEWED A FEW BABLAKE PUPILSSEEKING TEENAGE VIEWS ON WHETHER BOB GELDOF’SPLANS WOULD MAKE ADIFFERENCE TO LONGSTANDING THIRD WORLDPOVERTY
the clipswere effective put pressure onleaderssend worldleadersLive 8 raisedawareness
After the concert Stretch interviewed thesepupils again, to find out if they thought ‘Live 8’had made a difference and what they thoughtworld leaders could do to help make povertyhistory...
FAITH HANNONI didn’t think Live 8 would make a difference,but now I think it has. There were so manypeople involved in it and it wasn’t just all aboutthe music: I think the clips of film they playedwere effective. Cancelling debt will help, butthe world leaders need to be more constructive.It’s not just charity the poor countries need.
IRA KLEINEMost people just went to the concert for themusic, so I’m not sure if it made a difference.I’ve heard that some debt but not all gotcancelled. I think it would be more useful forthe world leaders to make arrangements withleaders to look after their countries. They couldput pressure on the African leaders to usemore money for housing, water andimmunisations rather than big palaces.
NISHA PANCHALPeople went to Live 8 to see the artists, likeMadonna and U2, but there were minutes ofsilence when people thought about what washappening in Africa. I think it would be better tosend world leaders to Africa to experience it forthemselves, instead of wasting money on thingsthey don’t really need.
TOM BROWNI think Live 8 raised awareness of the povertysituation. It showed what people from all overthe world can do when they come together too.The G8 leaders should cut debt and fundhelp/relief for the poorer countries.
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KTTUNSTALLEXPOSED
intERviewRACHAEL CHAMBERS/STEPH WEBB
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WE WERE EAGER TO MEET THE UNIQUE ONE-WOMAN BAND, KT TUNSTALL, WHO WAS TOPERFORM HERE, IN OUR VERY OWN BABLAKETHEATRE.
HELLO, KT! THE SOUND CHECK SOUNDS GOODALREADY!
YEAH! THAT’S A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM YOUHAVE THERE. PROBABLY THE BEST I’VEPLAYED ON ALL TOUR ACTUALLY... REALLYGOOD SOUND.
SO HOW’S YOUR TOUR GOING?
WELL I FELT REALLY BAD COS I HAD TOCANCEL THE GIG IN OXFORD BUT I REALLYCOULDN’T HAVE PERFORMED. I WOKE UPLITERALLY UNABLE TO SPEAK. THE REST OFIT HAS BEEN GREAT- MOST OF THE VENUESHAVE SOLD OUT WHICH IS REALLY GOOD FORA FIRST HEADLINE TOUR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC VIEWS ON THEWORK DONE BY AMNESTY?
I’M A HUGE SUPPORTER- THESE EVENTS ARESO ENCOURAGING AS THEY REALLY RAISEAWARENESS ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON INTHE WORLD. IT’S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TOME AS A FEMALE. I’M NOT SUFFERINGANYTHING LIKE THESE WOMEN BUT BEING AFEMALE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY ISDEFINITELY A STRUGGLE SOMETIMES!
WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
WELL MY PARENTS DIDN’T OWN A STEREO SOI NEVER GOT TO LISTEN TO AS MUCH MUSICAS I’D LIKE. I ENDED UP LISTENING TO THISOLD CASSETTE MY DAD HAD BY TOM LEHRER.HE WAS THIS AMERICAN HARVARDMATHEMATICIAN WHO TURNED INTO APOLITICALLY SATIRICAL MUSICIAN. ANYWAY,APART FROM THAT I RELATE TO PEOPLE LIKEELLA FITZGERALD, JAMES BROWN AND JONIMITCHELL.
Bablake School 07:
SHORTLY AFTER HER FAMOUSPERFORMANCE ON ‘LATERWITH... JOOLS’, KT TUNSTALLAGREED TO HEADLINE A GIGAT BABLAKE TO SUPPORTAMNESTY’S ‘STOP VIOLENCEAGAINST WOMEN’ CAMPAIGN
ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR VENUES YOU’DLIKE TO PLAY?
I’D LOVE TO GO HOME AND DO A REALLYINTRICATE TOUR OF SCOTLAND. I’D LOVE TOGO TO THE STATES AND DO GIGS IN NEWYORK, L.A. AND ALL ALONG THE WEST COAST.
SO ARE YOU WILLING TO GO REALLY FARWITH YOUR MUSIC?
I’M QUITE WILLING TO PUSH IT AS FAR AS ITWILL GO. I HAVE THE DESIRE TO SHARE MYMUSIC WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLESO OBVIOUSLY GOING TO THE US WILL BE AGOOD WAY TO DO THAT!
WHAT CDS ARE YOU LISTENING TO AT THEMINUTE?
TOM WAITS’ LATEST ALBUM- HE REALLY ISONE OF THE LAST GREAT INDIVIDUALMUSICIANS. ALSO MY FRIENDS’ BAND, HALFCOUSIN FROM ORKNEY. I ALSO LOVE NINASIMONE, KINGS OF LEON AND ELBOW’S ‘CASTOF THOUSANDS’.
WHO’D YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH IN THEFUTURE?
OHHH, BECK, THE FLAMING LIPS, BOWIE...
YOU PERFORMED AT THE GLASTONBURYFESTIVAL THIS SUMMER... HOW WAS IT?
IT WAS THE BEST GIG OF MY LIFE SO FAR. I’DALWAYS HAD A PACT WITH MYSELF NOT TO GOUNLESS I WAS PLAYING COS I JUST KNEW I’DBE SCREAMING TO GET ON THE STAGE. ITHOUGHT I WAS NEVER GOING TO GO BUTTHEN I GOT INVITED ALONG WITH OI VA VOIAND IT WAS FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU
www.kttunstall.com
‘PERFORMINGMY OWNMATERIALWITH MYBAND WASANOTHERSTEP UP. IALWAYS FEELA NEED FORPROGRESSWITH MYMUSIC ANDTHIS WASDEFINITELYTHAT. IT WASAN AMAZINGCROWD TOPLAY FOR.THE MUSICHAS GROWNUP THROUGHTOURINGWITH THEGUYS AND IHAD A TOPDRAWERSPARKLY PINKFROCK! ITWAS BLISS!’
IMMENSE THANKS TO SIMON BANKS, KT’S MANAGER, WHO HAS BEEN BRILLIANTTHROUGHOUT
FOOTNOTE:
SINCE THIS INTERVIEW AND OUR GIG, KT’S CAREER HAS ROCKETED WITH APLATINUM ALBUM, 2 HEADLINE TOURS ANDNUMEROUS FESTIVAL APPEARANCES. INFACT WE ASKED HER FOR AN UPDATE ON HER 2ND GLASTONBURY:
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LESMISERABLES
drAMA
AS THE CURTAINS CLOSED, THE STAGE PAINTFADED AND THE COSTUMES RETURNED, THELIGHTS DIMMED ON ANOTHER FANTASTICPERFORMANCE FROM THE BABLAKE DRAMAGROUP – ONE OF THE BEST IN FACT.
JENNA HASTINGS
THE DREAMA group of miscreants was gathered by‘Ayatollah’ Appleby and Mr Prescott toundertake a formidable task, the production of‘Les Miserables’. However, with wonderfulmusical help from the ‘inimitable’ Mr Suttonand Mrs Tatum, it was a complete success,despite just about everyone falling ill in thefinal week of crucial rehearsals. Hurriedadjustments were made to ensure people didnot trip over their finery and the backstagecrew triumphed, grasping where each piece ofset went at which point.
THE PLOT ‘Les Miserables’ has many plot lines thatinterweave with each other. Valjean escapesparole and makes a new life for himself,masquerading as a factory owner and mayor,but is constantly chased by the policemanJavert. Fantine is a worker in his factory but isdismissed by a foreman when she is found tohave an illegitimate child who is in the care ofthe Thénardiers who are evil, thievinginnkeepers. Enjolras is the leader of a band ofstudents who embark on Revolution to end thehardship they and the fellow common peopleare suffering. The barricade is set up and therevolutionaries fight hard, joined by Valjean.Javert pretends to join the revolutionaries butis found out to be a spy by Gavroche and is tiedup. Valjean spares his life, but in sparingJavert’s life, Javert then commits suicide. Therevolutionaries all die on the barricade.Meanwhile, Marius (Enjolras’ best friend) hasfallen in love with Cosette (Fantine’s daughterwhom Valjean is caring for) and marries herafter surviving the barricade. Eponine, thedaughter of the Thenardiers, is in love withMarius but he never sees her in this light. Thestory ends with Valjean dying and joiningFantine and the others who died on thebarricade. Breathe out?!
THE CASTThe cast was amazing – especially since mostof the chorus had a solo part as well as nearly25 songs to learn. As for individuals, Arthur
Keegan-Bole impressed learning practically allof his lines only a couple of weeks intorehearsals and filling in for absentees. Heplayed Valjean, ‘the righteous, sincere, kindhearted hero unjustly imprisoned for 19 years’and kept things light hearted with his randomimpressions, jokes and dances! StacieMcDermott blew me away as Fantine. She saysshe enjoys singing and performing and thought‘Les Miserables’ would be ‘good fun’ but boydid she have a hard time of it when sportscommitments clashed with rehearsal time.Adam Jackson, as Javert, was vocally the veryessence of a domineering policeman and EddWhitney believes he has no resemblance to hischaracter Marius. One of the funniestinterchanges I saw during rehearsals was Eddand Arthur’s song called ‘The Sewers’ whereArthur always managed to nearly knock Eddout for real on the set. One time you could hearthe crack of Edd’s head loud and clear hittingthe wall by the bandstand! Alex Kantor playedthe ‘leader of the Revolutionaries’ Enjolras. Hestruggled to hit his high notes until the decisionto take it down an octave made it easier forhim. By the end of rehearsals, he really was themost improved performer, more than able tosing out confidently. Rachel Fitzgerald and RuthHerbert shared the part of Cosette and bothwere more than competent in acting andsinging, working well alongside Arthur andEdd. Ruth’s main challenge was getting torehearsals: ‘I’ve had a lot of dentalappointments to go to!’ Rachel merely lookedforward to seeing ‘the outcome of everybody’sefforts.’ Sarah Corrigan played Eponine, caughtin a love triangle: ‘Eponine loves Marius,Marius loves Cosette, Cosette loves Marius,Eponine is sad’ as Sarah so deftly put it! Shehas a fantastic voice but is to be immortalisedfor her classic scream! She’s an emotional anddynamic actress and was well cast in her role.Adam Fray and Elisse Power played the comiccharacters, Monsieur and Madame Thénardier.These two are the worst of the worst – Elissedescribed her character as ‘vile, pure andsimple’ while Adam interpreted Thénardier as‘the lowest form of life imaginable’. Elisse
found it hard to sing in ‘such a harsh andrevolting way’ and felt her throat was ‘about tocollapse and die after a long rehearsal’! Bothare great actors, able to pull off the sliminessof their characters and offer comic relief.Finally we had the little ones in the cast: KateByrne as Little Cosette and Andrew Monaghanplaying Gavroche. Both have excellent voices –with Kate you can feel Little Cosette’s fearwhile Andrew is really cheeky and fits Gavrocheperfectly with a brilliant, catchy song to diewith! He tells me ‘performing is the best part ofdoing any show’.
Thanks to the chorus, we had fantasticnumbers like ‘At the End of the Day’, ‘LovelyLadies’ and ‘One Day More’. Just abouteveryone had a small solo part. The favouritesong among the cast (and myself!) seems to be‘One Day More’ with everyone (except poorStacie!) involved- it was a magnificent feat tobehold. I have to say I was reduced to tears bythe final song. Giggles were heard at Adam andElisse’s antics as the Thénardiers, gasps fromthe fallers at the barricade and not just mecrying as Fantine and Eponine died! Watching afaultless performance and fantastic singingfrom all, I was incredibly proud of everyone andthey fully deserved the standing ovation theyreceived. Everything just seemed to cometogether – from the fantastic fight betweenStacie and Hannah Godfrey, to the two Richardsegging each other on at the barricades that ledto an amazing leap off the barricade to hisdeath by Richard Lowe. The girls looked greatin their ‘lovely ladies’ costumes and one of thebest scenes has to be ‘Master of the House’which was performed particularly well. Anotherfavourite was ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’,certainly a hanky moment.
Why did you choose to tryout forLes Misérables?
Arthur: After enjoying theEdinburgh Fringe Festival play‘How to Succeed...’, it was amatter of course to audition...however I was even moreenthusiastic once I heard ‘Les Mis’was the play.
AJ: I thought it would attractmembers of the opposite sex.
Stacie: I chose to audition for themusical because I enjoy singingand performing and thought itwould be good fun.
Fray: I had to prove to a certain‘person’ that my singing is notterrible. But then again it isn’tanything to get too excited abouteither...
Explain your character and theircontribution to the plot.
Edd: Marius is the love interest inthe musical. Two people fall inlove with him, but I can’t see why.Childish and weak, he’s not thesort of man that would attract me!
Rachel: I play Cosette, thedaughter of Fantine. When Fantinedies, her ex-employer (prisoner24601) Jean Valjean takes Cosettein his care and brings her up.Cosette then meets Marius andthey fall in love, to the sadness ofEponine, who is also in love withMarius. Cosette and Marius getmarried and are seen as thepositive future of the story.
Andrew: Gavroche’s main story isunveiling Javert as a spy at thebarricade and he is just really alittle beggar who sees overeverything in the slums.
Elisse: I am vile, pure and simple.I am the Innkeeper’s wife whoFantine gave her daughter Cosetteto. I am also a crook, thief andliar...so all round a lovely lady! Ican promise you I’m not typecastand in fact am delightful! Myhusband and I provide some lightcomedy amidst all the doom andgloom!
What are you finding easy aboutrehearsals?
Arthur: When we rehearse songsI’m not in!
Sarah: Looking horrible and sad.
Fray: Moaning at sailors andwhores who aren’t rowdy enoughfor my liking. Moaning at thebarricade which looks like fourgiant Lego blocks. Moaning at thechorus because they keep singingover me in ‘Master of the House’with the wrong words.
Ruth: Easy?!
....and the hard parts?
Fray: Trying to think of new insultsfor people who get on my wick. Ohand that stupid attack song... Thetiming is just evil! We all miss ourcues on that song. Of course I’mfinding it very hard to becomeThenardier because I don’t agreewith picking pockets and pinchingthe derrieres of young women...Ha!
Alex: Singing high notes!
Edd: Acting is a completely newthing to me; I have left it late tolearn how to plaster on a happyface with the click of a finger or torun across a stage to greetsomeone I have no wish to speakto. Acting is something acquirablewith time and patience - twothings that I have in rather shortsupply. I’m sure I have beenterribly ‘wooden’ in my role.
AJ: Just the parts where you haveto sing!
Bablake School 09:
BACKSTAGEADAM FRAY
BEHIND THE BARRICADE – INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST.
Are you looking forward to theperformances?
Kate: Yeah! It’s all starting tocome together now, and I’m reallyexcited. I get such a buzz from anaudience. I doubt anybody’s goingto understand it though! Oh well!
Rachel: Yes, it should be good tosee the outcome of everybody’sefforts.
Elisse: Of course! I can’t wait tosee the end product with all thecostumes and set.
Alex: Damn straight! Theadrenaline you get on stage isfantastic.
Finally, What is your favouritesong and why?
Ruth: ‘The Docks’ - it provides agood opportunity for us girls tomake absolute idiots of ourselves.
Stacie: It would probably be‘Master of the House’ with theThénardiers. Adam and Elisse aresuperb at what they do and thechorus is really uplifting, it gives areal buzz. I guarantee everybodywill be thrilled with thisperformance.
Andrew: Definitely ‘One Day More’because I like the way all thedifferent parts interlink with eachother. Also the end is reallypowerful and exciting.
Sarah: ‘One Day More’; it’semotional in sooo many ways! I sonearly cried at the theatre theother day in that song!
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PHOTOS/STORY/MODELLING: ADAM FRAY
Bablake School 11:
mUsIC12: stretch
CHARLI SEARCHWELL GUEST
we predicta riot
www.kaiserchiefs.co.ukwww.theordinaryboys.co.uk
When asked if they were at all surprised theyreplied: “No, I think we have some goodsongs”. The boys were conscious not just to beknown for the one single though and felt thatthe album was received well, getting to top 3 inthe album charts. Next on the band’s plan is tostorm America and this has started with theirperformance at Live8 and various showsaround the US.
The Chiefs prefer to describe their music as“upbeat” as opposed to “fun” but the band’smain aim is to entertain. Ricky Wilson said: “Iwant to see people sweating and I want to seethem enjoying themselves and if I don’t spendhalf the gig in the audience, then it’s not been agood gig really.”
The Kaiser Chiefs have been around for a longtime. Previously known as “Parva”, the bandwas signed and then later dropped. This fuelledtheir determination and many of the Kaiserssongs are inspired by this event: “At the timeParva was dropped the music industry’s eyesactually started to turn towards Leeds moreand we noticed a lot of our friends gettingrecord deals”. The band planned to learn fromtheir previous mistakes and now “try to getbetter with each record”.
HOT LEEDS 5-PIECE, THEKAISERS CHIEFS HAVE SHOT TOSTARDOM OVER THE PAST YEAR.SINCE THE BAND’S FIRSTRELEASE, THE CATCHY I PREDICTA RIOT, CAME OUT LASTAUTUMN, THERE HAS BEEN ACONSTANT DEMAND. STRETCHCORNERED THE BAND TO FINDOUT ITS OPINION ON THENEWFOUND FAME.
WE ALSO CAUGHT UP WITHTHEIR FRIENDS AND FORMERSUPPORT BAND THE ORDINARY BOYS.
The Kaiser Chiefs also run an indie club nightin Leeds called Pigs. “It's really good, we set itup because there were no club nights in Leedsthat we wanted to go to anymore”.
If you like catchy indie-pop tunes, then this isdefinitely a band for you. The band also has aUK tour planned for October.
BOYS WILL BE BOYSThe Ordinary Boys have come a long way overthe past year. They have seen the rise and chartstatus of friends and former support band, theKaiser Chiefs, but now they are finallybeginning to be recognised for their ownsuccess. The Ordinary Boys’ large following offans, named “the ordinary army”, pridethemselves, like the band, on theirunoriginality. Lyrics like “Let’s see... what canwe be now? That hasn't been done before?”mock today’s music scene.
Not trying to be anything but itself, this is aband that knows it’s good, but doesn’t like to bearrogant about it. “‘Over the Counter Culture’[the first album] was the best album we couldhave made but I think it annoyed a lot of people.The lyrics were quite scathing-especially aboutthe press”.
The band named itself after a song by heroMorrissey. (You can find it on the album ‘VivaHate’ if you who haven’t been introduced to thewonders of Morrissey.) “We also chose itbecause the words looks nice, very nice. Justlook at the sign! They look good, don’t they?”Stretch was inclined to agree.
Over the past year there has been a lot ofchange in the ordinary world. Since our lastinterview, the boys have written and released anew album/single, recorded various videos,been to Japan and America, featured on ‘BigBrother’s Little Brother’, ditched one drummer,and found a new one. Sam Preston says “I’mvery happy with where we are at the moment. Ilove the new album!” Despite their success thesinger still claims they are as poor as mice:“My card got refused the other day. Everyoneseems to think we are rich but we’re not. Thefirst album creates the debt, the second albumpays the debt and the third is the one thatstarts making the money. So we’re all still a bitskint at the moment!”
The Ordinary Boys go on tour again in theautumn and will be playing BirminghamAcademy on 29th October. It’s their favouriteplace to play:“The crowd just goes wild for usthere, especially when we play week in week out”.
ORDINARY INFORMATIONPreston once went to a party dressed as akissing booth.
The band generally cut their own hair – “lack ofmoney you see”.
The band like pink but agree that mengenerally have to be fairly popular to get awaywith it.
They hate long hair on men. Preston spentmonths trying to convince Will to cut his hair-“he caved in eventually”.
Preston says: “Buy the singles! I want to be onCD:UK.”
THE POLYPHONIC SPREE
Love, hope and sunshine are what ThePolyphonic Spree, a 22-piece Dallas band, areall about. The band is an eclectic mix of piano,guitars, horns, violins, woodwind andpercussion. The easiest way to describe themwould be a cross between The Flaming Lips,The Beatles and a rock gospel choir. You arehard pushed to find a Spree song that does notinvolve sunshine, hope or reassurance of theireverlasting love for us all.
So what makes you all so happy and hopefulall the time?
Rick Nelson (strings): “I think it is just theenergy of the show and the fun of the musicthat makes us all happy.”
Brian Teasley (percussion): “Someone has tocarry a huge sign that says "Hope" on it acrossthe globe, don't you think?”
How does the band work together with somany members?
James Reimer (trombonist): “We all makesignificant contributions to the music. It's a bitlike a colouring book and each person isresponsible for his/her crayon.”
Are the Spree religious?
Rick: “Some people have their own religiousbeliefs, but that is kept to themselves and is nota group thing.”
Are there deep meanings in your lyrics or arethey just about love and sunshine?
Brian: “The lyrics are mostly concerned withmelody and nice simple words that are almostlike children's songs. You never needed adictionary to figure out what the Beatles weresinging about. I think it's similar with Tim'slyrics. It's best to think of the basic connotationof their colour and not some deep secretmeaning.”
OLIVIA
We invited local artist, Olivia, hailed as “one ofWarwickshire’s best kept secrets”, to talk toStretch about supporting KT Tunstall. Olivia,singer songwriter and former student atBablake is someone to watch out for in thefuture.
Did you enjoy the gig? How did it compare toprevious gigs?
Yeah, it was so much fun. I was pretty scaredbeforehand cos this was one of the biggest gigsI’ve done. Godiva Festival was probably thebiggest before though I did Peace Fire and thatseemed more ‘giggy’ as Godiva was morecasual with people sitting around.
Did you like performing at Bablake?
Definitely! I was cool with a sit-down audience,especially as my music isn’t really the sort todance to!
What do you think of the other performers?
KT Tunstall is fabulous, she’s very original andobviously clever in her writing. I really like theloop effect she uses.
What do you eventually want to get out of yourmusic? Fame, money, fortune?!
I’d really just like to have my album out and nothave to perform all the time cos I don’tparticularly enjoy that side of it. I guess somekind of fame would be nice!
Bablake School 13:
www.thepolyphonicspree.comwww.oliviamusic.co.ukwww.remhq.com
INTERVIEWSAre there any particular artists that inspireyou to write your music?
I really like Gwen Stefani, she’s so original butthat’s nothing like the music I write. I likequalities in other artists that I’d never have.Y’know some people are saying, ‘You remindme of Beth Orton’ and I think, ‘Really?’ Thenothers say, ‘You’re like Dido’ and I think ‘Ohgod! No!’ I guess music in general inspires me.
What music are you listening to at themoment?
Kings of Convenience and Gwen Stefani. PollyPaulusma is really good.
Finally, my friend Kris would like to know whyyou didn’t let his band enter your Battle of theBands 2 years ago… he’s still bitter about it.
Ooooo, were they the bare-chested ones? It wasfor my degree and I needed to look prettyprofessional. They might have been taken as ajoke, also Sarah Corrigan was just a whole lotbetter than them. Ha Ha!
Olivia can often be found on Thursday nights atthe Hope and Anchor on Whitefriars Street (abargain at £1 on the door). Also check outwww.oliviamusic.co.uk
R.E.M LIVE
Nottingham Forest Football Ground 6th July 2005
R.E.M opened with ‘Bad Day’ on a wet stagefrom the rain which had persisted throughoutthe support acts of Idlewild and The Zutons.They continued to play a set of their hits suchas ‘Leaving New York’ and ‘The One I Love’interspersed with a few songs from their newalbum, ‘Around The Sun’.
Not playing too many songs from their newalbum was probably in their favour. Thoughthey have produced many good songs over theyears, fans have spent the past 13 years or sowaiting for another ‘Everybody Hurts’ or ‘Losingmy Religion’ which unfortunately their newalbum has not produced.
As it rained, the stage began to fill up withwater. As Stipe sang, a dozen roadies crawledaround his feet with a seemingly infinite supplyof towels to mop up. Stipe then proceeded to sitdown on one of the amps to take off his bootsand put on a pair of ‘training shoes’ so as not to‘fall on his ass in front of a bunch of people’whilst recounting a story about performing withCher in the rain.
Stipe was now able to dance in his usualtheatrical style, fearless of slipping over. As theband worked though their classics the towelskept coming. The set finished inevitably with‘Everybody Hurts’ before an encore of six songsincluding ‘Night Swimming’ in which Stipe andMills did a mellow piano/vocals duet. They thenfinished with a crowd-pleasing recital of ‘TheGreat Beyond’.
CLAIRE TAGGART/STEPH WEBB
14: stretch
WEEKS BEFORE THE OBSERVER PUBLISHED A SUPPLEMENTON THE NATION’S MUSIC TASTES, WE ASKED STAFF ANDSTUDENTS AT BABLAKE ABOUT THE MUSIC THEY HAD MOSTRECENTLY BOUGHT OR DOWNLOADED AND WHAT WAS ONTHEIR MUSICAL WISH LISTS.
mUsICNADIA GARRETT/CLAIRE TAGGART
SURVEYOur Shells gave RnB and Rap a high rating.2Pac and 50 Cent were great favourites withlyrics like the rebellious ‘cuz I choose to puff ablunt and drink a beer with my homies’ or themorally alternative ‘it ain’t about black orwhite, cuz we’re human’ flagged up for Mumsto give approval to and buy for Christmas andbirthdays. Green Day and Good Charlotte alsohad high popularity scores. Clearly repetitiveguitar riffs and na na na na nas are still able toimpress at this age.
Indie music such as the Killers, Kasabian andthe Kaiser Chiefs constituted the overallmajority for the 3rds. Pleasingly this gaveevidence they were beginning to appreciatebands playing instruments rather than pressingbuttons on a deck. However, Stretch wasshocked to see a certain slimy amphibianappear more than once in the survey.
Our L6th has developed much moreindependent tastes. Though indie and rockscored highly, there was greater diversity withbands like Linear and The Decemberists beingnominated.
The taste of our notable staff was morepredictable with Coldplay, KT Tunstall and PinkFloyd being nominated by most. Pleasingly theyounger teachers enjoyed a more raucous fare,rockin’ in the free world to legends like the Jamor current rockers like the Kaisers andRazorlight. As ever the Careers Departmentwas gorging itself on a catholic diet, with JackJohnson its latest find.
STAFF (20 something, middle aged and fossil-like)Indie and Rock 73%Pop 9%World 6%Folk 6%R n B/ Rap 6%
L6TH (16-17 year olds)Indie and Rock 83%Techno 11%Folk Rock 6%
3RD YEAR (13-14 year olds)Indie and Rock 65%R n B/ Rap 18%Pop 12%Ringtones 5%
SHELLS (11-12 year olds)Indie and Rock 40%R n B/ Rap 48%Pop 12%
STAFF (20 something, middle aged and fossil-like)Indie and Rock 73%Pop 9%World 6%Folk 6%R n B/ Rap 6%
L6TH (16-17 year olds)Indie and Rock 83%Techno 11%Folk Rock 6%
3RD YEAR (13-14 year olds)Indie and Rock 65%R n B/ Rap 18%Pop 12%Ringtones 5%
SHELLS (11-12 year olds)Indie and Rock 40%R n B/ Rap 48%Pop 12%
STAFF (20 something, middle aged and fossil-like)Indie and Rock 73%Pop 9%World 6%Folk 6%R n B/ Rap 6%
L6TH (16-17 year olds)Indie and Rock 83%Techno 11%Folk Rock 6%
3RD YEAR (13-14 year olds)Indie and Rock 65%R n B/ Rap 18%Pop 12%Ringtones 5%
SHELLS (11-12 year olds)Indie and Rock 40%R n B/ Rap 48%Pop 12%
STAFF (20 something, middle aged and fossil-like)Indie and Rock 73%Pop 9%World 6%Folk 6%R n B/ Rap 6%
L6TH (16-17 year olds)Indie and Rock 83%Techno 11%Folk Rock 6%
3RD YEAR (13-14 year olds)Indie and Rock 65%R n B/ Rap 18%Pop 12%Ringtones 5%
SHELLS (11-12 year olds)Indie and Rock 40%R n B/ Rap 48%Pop 12%
STAFF (20-somethings, middle-aged and fossils)
L6TH (16-17 year olds)
3RD YEAR (13-14 year olds)
SHELLS (11-12 year olds)
INDIE & ROCK 73% INDIE & ROCK 65%
INDIE & ROCK 40%
INDIE & ROCK 83%
TECHNO 11%
POP 9%
POP 12%
POP 12%WORLD 6%
FOLK 6%
FOLKROCK
6%
FROGS 5%RnB/
RAP 6%
RnB/RAP 18%
RnB/RAP 48%
Bablake School 15:
WE TELL IT LIKE IT IS IN 20 WORDS OR LESS
EDITOR’S CHOICE – ALBUM OF THE SUMMER
Jack Johnson ‘In Between Dreams’Awesome sun-soaked, strumming from surfingJack. Beg Santa for his wonderfully infectiousback catalogue and dream of seagulls andsands!
THE REST OF THE SQUAD
Jamiroquai ‘Dynamite’Customary Cat in the Hat – laidback, electricjazz/funk with ‘Seven Days in Sunny June’ and‘Black Devil Car’ standing out.
KT Tunstall ‘Eye to the Telescope’Pedal bashing, guitar plucking, one-womanrhythm and soulster. Bablake’s favourite,surrogate Old Wheatleyan! Plus we predictedthe Mercury award nomination!
Nine Black Alps ‘Everything is’Regarded as the debut of 2005: Manchester’sbest export since Oasis. Energy abounds,superb live and deserving of wider acclaim.
Hard Fi ‘Stars of CCTV’Sounds from Staines’ suburbs representing adisaffected, disturbed generation. A little bitClash, a little bit Specials. Hard to beat?
James Blunt ‘Back to Bedlam’Disregard over-exposure from chartdomination. Ex military man swaps bullets for aguitar and tenders poignant tales of humanheartache.
The Magic Numbers ‘The Magic Numbers’The new Mamas and Papas? They’re big,they’re around, you’ll be struck by theircharming multi-part harmonies and summersound.
McFly ‘Wonderland’McFly strode in gallantly, healing teenage/tweenage hearts rent by Busted’s demise.‘Wonderland’ offers maturity amid theguaranteed fun pop.
John Legend ‘Get Lifted’ Surely R&B’s most soulful, best connected newsoloist? Offering vocally versatile tales of angst,including the stunning ‘Ordinary People’.
ALBUM REVIEWS
Gorillaz ‘Demon Days’Celebrity laden, second offering of catchy riffsand cool capers from Damon Albarn’s crazycartoon crew. Dangermouse on production.
Antony and the Johnsons ‘I Am a Bird Now’Intimate, haunting, enchanting 2005 MercuryAward winning album. Boy George, RufusWainright, Lou Reed and Devendra Banhart join in too!
The Departure ‘Dirty Words’Heartfelt, happy pop driven with the missionto make people dance. If you are lovin’ 80selectro-pop, you’ll dig this.
Royksopp ‘The Understanding’‘Melody AM’ it ain’t but how do you follow thedance album everybody loved? Heavier andmore female vocals. Still contagious.
Sigur Ros ‘Takk’Their first album to feature songs mainly sungin their native Icelandic. Fantastic, melodicmood music.
Franz Ferdinand ‘You Could Have it So Much Better’Assured, bouncy follow-up to iconic debut. Similarbaseline and tested formula will triumph at Indie discos.
TWO FOR 2006?
RadioheadSpring release for eagerly awaited material.Bound to be different. More synthesised stylethis time? Tour to accompany?
LinearPromising Coventry band and if you like BlocParty, Franz Ferdinand or the Arcade Firedefinitely one to watch.
FOPP’SGOING ON?
CHARLI SEARCHWELL-GUEST/NADIA GARRETT
16: stretch
BUS/ TRAIN FARES?By rights, you should be entitled to a child’s ticket, if you are still in full-timeeducation. So put on a pitiable, somewhat high-pitched voice and look at yourinspector as if he’s depriving you of your dinner money. I realise that it’s a hardlook to conjure up out of nowhere, so just imagine your favourite possessionbeing cut up into tiny little pieces, being melted down and then recycled tomake a set of nauseating floral curtains.
CVS?There’s so much I could put in here that I’ve decided to keep it simple. We allknow CVs are a collection of nicely worded untruths, so when it comes todescribing previous work experience, it’s imperative that you go to great lengthsto use formless, futile terms that either blanket or exaggerate the importanceof a particular job. For example that time as ‘trolley collector bloke’ becomes‘director of resource transport’ or ‘bin man’ becomes ‘detritus harvester’.
TICKETLESS FOR A GIG?This one’s admittedly a bit controversial, but we all know how desperate onegets when Glastonbury/ Reading/ what-have-you rolls around and all thetickets are sold out. One option is to bring an intricate array of unearthing toolsin an attempt to tunnel under the entrance; another is to mooch around as ifyou’re part of the band though that’s easier said than done. My personalfavourite is to dress up as a giant ladybird and jump the fence, because who intheir right mind can say no to nature or a fine bit of craftsmanship? If that fails,you could look back in time and emulate our forebears by creating a largeWooden Trojan Ladybird and pass it off as a gift for the band. Also it’s prettyeasy to get your hands on press passes – Charli made that clear when shemanaged to acquire some for the Godiva Festival by simply phoning variousorganisers of the event.
DISCLAIMER
Of course you should never attempt anything illegal… we are simply reflecting what the lessprincipled may be tempted into.
BLAGGIN’IT...
NADIA GARRETT
Bablake School 17:
SEPARATEDATBIRTH?
MRS HARRIS WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING AND SEEMED RATHER AKIN TO THE WELSHNATIONAL TREASURE THAT IS CATHERINE ZETA-JONES…
ARE YOU IN TOUCH WITH YOUR WELSH HERITAGE (IF YOU HAVE ANY)?
I’M AFRAID NOT. THERE’S A BIT OF SCOTTISH AND IRISH AROUND SOMEWHERE BUTDEFINITELY NO WELSH.
… AND WHAT’S YOUR STANCE ON OLDER MEN?
I’M ALL FOR IT. A FEW MONTHS OR A FEW YEARS- AS LONG AS THEY LOOK AFTER YOU!
LASTLY, HAVE YOU EVER USED THE PHRASE AND ALL THAT JAZZ?
I VERY MUCH DOUBT IT. I CERTAINLY HAVE NEVER SUNG IT OR DONE A DANCE ROUTINE TO IT!
MR CLEAVER CERTAINLY GOT INTO CHARACTER WHEN ASKED QUESTIONS THAT EQUATE HIMWITH THE SELF-CONFESSED MINIMALIST, MOBY…
HAVE YOU EVER USED THE EXPRESSION ‘WHY DOES MY HEART FEEL SO BAD’?
YES.
OH REALLY, WHEN?
2000, IN STANFORD.
AFTER HIS 1996-THRASH ROCK SINGLE, ‘ANIMAL RIGHTS’, MOBY WAS HAILED AS THE NEXT JOHNNY ROTTEN. HAS ANYBODY EVER MADE A SIMILAR COMPARISON WITH YOU?
YES, I’VE BEEN CALLED ROTTEN MANY TIMES.
STRETCH WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH MR GRANTHAM AND HIS UNCANNYRESEMBLANCE TO ONE OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS MEN IN HISTORY…
WHAT SORT OF REFORMS HAVE YOU INTRODUCED DURING YOUR TIME AT BABLAKE?
I HIDE BEHIND THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM AND SCHOOL PROCEDURE, CHOOSING TOCONFORM RATHER THAN INNOVATE.
HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY ‘BATTLES’ AT ANY POINT IN YOUR PROFESSION?
EVERY LESSON IS A BATTLE. EVERY STUDENT IS A MIND TO BE CONQUERED.
FINALLY, IF YOU HAD A HORSE, WHICH ONE OF YOUR VICTORIOUS CONQUESTS WOULD YOUNAME IT AFTER?
LIKE LISA SIMPSON, LIFE HAS BEEN HARD ON ME. I STILL LACK AN EQUINE FRIEND. AS FORCONQUESTS, I AM TOO MODEST TO MENTION ANY.
Mrs Harris Catherine Zeta-Jones
Mr Cleaver Moby
Mr Grantham Napoleon
18: stretch
inSIGHT
LIFE ON THE COVENTRY
EVENINGTELEGRAPH
JENNA HASTINGS
REPORTERS TEND TO BE THEYOUNGSTERS, THE 20 AND EARLY30 SOMETHINGS. THEY SPEND ALLDAY FLITTING IN AND OUT OF THEOFFICE GOING ON EMERGENCYCALLS, HEADING FOR INTERVIEWSAND REPORTING BACK. LIFE ISPRETTY DIVERSE FOR THESE GUYS– IN THE MORNING THEY COULD BEREPORTING ON A MURDER INBIRMINGHAM, IN THE AFTERNOONTHEY COULD BE AT A CHARITYEVENT IN WYKEN.
THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE.FOUR EDITIONS OF THETELEGRAPH ARE RELEASED EACHDAY SO REPORTERS NEED TO BEABLE TO COME UP WITH STORIESIF NOTHING MAJOR IS HAPPENING.SPECIALIST REPORTERS ONBUSINESS, EDUCATION ETC MUSTKEEP UP TO DATE WITH RECENTEVENTS AND EVERYTHING HAS TOBE LOCALISED.
BIG NATIONAL ANDINTERNATIONAL STORIES AREFEATURED BUT FOLLOWINGEDITIONS WILL CONCENTRATE ONLOCAL INTERESTS AND REACTIONS.
JOURNALISM IS HARD TO BREAKINTO BUT ONCE YOU’RE IN IT’SRELATIVELY EASY TO MOVE ABOUTAND WORK YOUR WAY UP. A NCTJQUALIFICATION IS REQUIRED.SHORTHAND, SADLY, IS ALSO ANECESSITY AS NEWSPAPERJOURNALISTS ARE EXPECTED TOBE ABLE TO WRITE 100 WORDS PERMINUTE! NEWSPAPERS HAVEDIFFERENT CRITERIA FROMMAGAZINES AND SHORTHAND ISESSENTIAL TO GET ALL THE FACTSRIGHT. PEOPLE SUING FORNEGLIGENCE MUST BE AVOIDED.
THERE’S NO ESCAPE FROM EXAMSIN THIS BUSINESS EITHER – AN 18-MONTH APPRENTICESHIP ISUNDERTAKEN AND EXAMSINCLUDE A MOCK INTERVIEW ANDSPEECH TO TEST SHORTHANDSKILLS. IF YOU PASS, YOU BECOMEA SENIOR AND THE PAY GOES UP,YAY!
JOHN WEST, THE TITLE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OFCOVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH, VISITED STRETCH.HIS JOB NOW IS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE READERSBUT HE WAS HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT LIFE AS AJOURNALIST ON A NEWSPAPER.
IT’S NOT REALLY A JOB FOR MONEY– GENERALLY A JUNIOR WILLSTART AT £14,500 MOVINGUPWARDS THROUGH TO A ROLE ASA SPECIALIST AT £21,000 BUTPERKS INCLUDE FREEBIES,VARIETY, ACCESS TO ALL AREASAND THE FUN OF THE JOB! JOHNSAID IT WAS A “FLUID JOB, NOTNECESSARILY A JOB FOR LIFE”. HEREFERRED TO THE BUZZ IN THENEWSROOM AROUND NEWSSTORIES LIKE 9/11 AND IRONICALLYTHE DAY AFTER HIS VISITLONDON’S BOMB TERROREMERGED.
WITH THANKS TO JULIECHAMBERLAIN, SUBEDITOR AT THE COVENTRYEVENING TELEGRAPH FORARRANGING THIS VISIT.
Bablake School 19:
JENNA HASTINGS
BOSCASTLESTORMY Miss James tells of how she and her boyfriend, Lee Wakefield, faced near death on an innocentstop off visit. They had stopped in Boscastle to take in a last glimpse of the sea before returning to Coventry.
TORRENTSThe couple had just entered the Witches Museum when they were told to flee as the museum wasflooding. On exiting, Miss James told how she saw cars floating away, trees being uprooted andtarmac peeling up under the strain of severe flooding. Boscastle, which sits in a steep valley, hadcome under huge torrents of water from recent storms.
HERO“We said to each other ‘it’s now or never’ as we saw cars floating away” she said. “Everyone toldLee to get back as he waded out for the car so he came back to me. However, we knew we weren’tgoing to get out without the car so he went back for it. He was a real hero. We managed to drive upthe hill just as the River Camel burst its banks and the car park we were in was completely flooded.The car stopped on a bend, another frightening moment, but eventually we were able to continueour journey. On the news later that night we saw cars from the car park being swept out to sea andrecognised tourists, we had been chatting to, stranded in the emergency rescue centres.”
TERRIFIEDMiss James was terrified: “Not so much for our lives but the car belonged to my parents!” Shecould not believe how fast everything had happened and the extent of the damage until she saw thenews at home. Miss James had spoken to her mother on the phone who told her to “call the AAassist team” obviously unaware of the seriousness of the events unfolding.
RESPONSEMiss James told me that she was surprised at the international media coverage of such a smalltown – she never expected it to be lead item on the national news that evening. She also said thatshe was very impressed with the emergency response – there was a constant supply of air rescuehelicopters, ambulances and fire engines.
IRONYMiss James also said that she will return to Boscastle one day but that it shouldn’t become atourist attraction. “It was like something out of Hollywood, we only went to see some water!”
DEATHDEFYINGESCAPE‘IT’S NOWOR NEVER’MISSJAMESThis article was produced from a PressConference staged with Miss James.Interestingly Bablake’s flirtation with nature isconstant- our Weather Station is recognisednationally and just before the end of theacademic year separate lightning strikesdeprived the school of the internet for a day anddestroyed our Sports pavilion roof.
NEARING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLOODING OF BOSCASTLE, I SPOKE TOONE OF THE ESCAPEES, BABLAKE CLASSICS TEACHER MISS JAMES, WHONARROWLY ESCAPED WITH HER LIFE.
IMAG
E: M
ISS
JAM
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stretchISSUE 2, SUMMER 2005
KT TUNSTALL
just a little something we cooked up
REM Kaiser Chiefs Ordinary Boys
BEYOND THEBARRICADE
BOSCASTLESURVIVOR
MAKE TRADE FAIR
Bablake drama
Real-life story of a
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