Robert Miles has had a long career in theatre beginning as a child actor. He later moved into directing and producing, founding his own production company. This allowed him to produce shows appealing to younger audiences. He was commissioned to work at Stratford East Theatre where he helped attract diverse audiences. In 2005 he took the role of director at The Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton where he has since helped establish it as an important regional theatre.

1. Calendar of Events
Interviews Book Reviews
Robert Miles Taunton Thespians
Scarlet von Teazel Taunton Choral Society
Steve Graham Cinephilia
Andrew Davey Poetry Corner
Rachel Hartland Short Story
My Favourite
Winter 2012/13 Free
Shining a light on literature, art, music and performance in Taunton & West Somerset
Winter Issue

2. Contents
05 Introduction by Beth Webb The winter issue of LAMP
06 Robert Miles
covers the period from
10 Scarlet von Teazel: Bohemian Artist
14 Steve Graham: Classic Jazz the middle of November
18 Book Review: Somerset Cricket: The Glory Years 2012 until the end of
19 Book Review: Defence of Somerset February 2013. In this
20 Book Review: Resolution by John Cole third issue we are delight-
21 Book Review: The Quantocks
ed to say that the length
23 Book Gift Ideas
33 Calendar of Events of the magazine has once
37 The Art of Concealment: Artist, Andy Davey more been increased from 48 pages to 56
40 TauntonThespians: Still Pulling it Off pages to accommodate further editorial.
43 Accentuating the Positive: Rachel Hartland
46 Taunton Choral Society: 100 Years of Music Making
49 Cinephilia: The Rise of Film Clubs
50 Poetry Corner: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
53 Short Story: The Birdman of Farringdon Road
55 My Favourite
Editorial Advertising Lionel Ward
Copy Editor: Jo Ward
The views expressed in Lamp
Events Compiler: Julie Munckton are not necessarily those of the
All enquiries: editorial team. Copyright, unless
lampmagazine1@gmail.com otherwise stated, is that of the
01823 337742 magazine or the individual au-
thors. We do not accept liability
c/o Brendon Books, for the content or accuracy of the
Bath Place, Taunton magazine including that of the
TA1 4ER advertisers.

3. Welcome to the third edition of LAMP. I must say I was really grateful for my copy
over the last few months as I tried to keep up with everything that was going on,
especially with the brilliant Taunton Literary Festival – also organised by Brendon
Books and Somerset Arts Week, all running back to back.
There are some first rate ‘what’s on’ internet sites, but nothing really covers every-
thing – and it’s much cosier to sit down with a copy of LAMP, a coffee and my di-
ary. That way I can organise my next few months’ arts activities from my armchair.
I do have a laptop, but the cats like sitting on it and it’s not as friendly to use as a
magazine. Paper feels good and I can scribble on it and find what I’m looking for
again – unlike websites that I think I’ve ‘bookmarked’ but are lost forever in cyberspace.
That’s my Luddite rant over – now to business. In this excellent edition, you’ll read Robert Miles (of the
Brewhouse) talking about his career, there’s Scarlet von Teazel on Bohemian Art and Steve Graham dis-
cussing Classic Jazz. You’ll find some excellent book reviews with genuine local interest: amongst them
I’d like to highlight Resolution by John Cole. Those of you who know John (he’s saved more than one
life in the Wellington area) will be thrilled his book is out. Congratulations to him.
You’ll also read excellent articles on the Taunton Thespians, The Art of Concealment by Andy Davey,
film clubs, Taunton Choral society, plenty of poetry including a feature on Samuel Taylor Coleridge and
the essential calendar of winter events.
Whether you like going out or sitting in for a good read, here’s your checklist: coffee (or tea), diary, pen-
cil, comfy chair by the fire and LAMP.
Beth Webb
Author and storyteller Beth Webb writes for children and teenagers. Stone Keeper, the last in the histori-
cal fantasy Star Dancer quartet, is due out early 2013. For details of her books, storytelling and writing
workshops, go to: www.bethwebb.co.uk

4. Robert Miles he enjoyed the experience immensely - for
now instead of just concentrating on one char-
acter his focus could now become much wider.
Robert Miles looks back on Further directing opportunities followed and
he set up his own production company, Hun-
his career and tenure at the gry Horse Productions, with writer and direc-
Brewhouse and looks for- tor Will Scarnell. This meant that he could
produce the kind of shows that he was inter-
ward to the forthcoming pro- ested in. They aimed to appeal to the younger
duction of The Wind in the market and a new generation of theatre goers.
With Lounge Lizards they enticed the audience
Willows. through a 20 minute slot in a comedy club with
short pieces as a hook to bring the audience Stratford East was putting on another new mu-
along to a full length show in the theatre. sical called The Big Life and it became the first
From the age of eight Robert Miles wanted to Building on their success they began taking Black British musical to transfer to the West
be an actor and yet his family had no connec- up to three shows to the Edinburgh Festival. End with Robert producing in association with
tion with the theatre and at first did not take While there a commission to produce an edgy Philip Hedley and West End producer Bill
his ambition seriously. ‘I nagged and nagged political satire received the attention of Philip Kenwright.
about going to drama lessons ‘ he recalls,’ Hedley who had taken over the running of the At about this time, Robert’s wife was preg-
and after four years they gave in and I was Theatre Royal Stratford East from the legen- nant with their first child and they contemplat-
taken along to a local theatre school.’ It was dary Joan Littlewood. Philip, who served an ed a move from London to bring up a family.
over-subscribed and they said they would put ethnically mixed area with a large black and This was the summer of 2005 and it proved to
him on a waiting list. However, there was an Asian community was impressed by the suc- be an eventful time. The theatre at Stratford
audition the following weekend at the Wind- cess they had in attracting a young diverse au- East had been involved with the Olympic bid
sor Royal Theatre for Babes in the Wood. He dience to their play. As a consequence, Robert and on 6th July it was announced that London
went along – ‘too young to be scared’ – and was asked to work as a marketing associate had been successful. However, the following
won a lead part. He found himself in the late at the Theatre Royal and began collaborating day tragedy struck with the London bombings
70’s earning £35 a week as a boy actor. That on how to appeal to an audience comprising and Robert and his family narrowly escaped
he was a little shorter than the average boy of a number of different ethnic groups. They the carnage at Aldgate East tube station when
his age was an advantage as he was able to discovered, for example, that one of the best they were running late to visit their dentist.
inroads into the black community was to in- The following day Robert attended his inter-
vite black hairdressers to their plays, for at that view for the directorship of The Brewhouse.
time the hair fashions required spending some The trustees put their faith in him and offered
hours in a hairdresser. The hairdressers talked him the job that evening.
about their theatre experience and played a At The Brewhouse Robert found an organisa-
key role in influencing other women to come tion which had just suffered funding cuts and
to the theatre. Robert stayed at the Theatre was struggling with box office receipts. Moral
Royal for 7 years and worked his way up to was understandably low and he had to deal
associate producer. with a situation that meant every time they
When Philip Hedley retired from running hired out the theatre they made a loss. One of
the theatre after 25 years and Robert’s friend the main problems was - and still is – that the
Kerry Michael took over, he felt the time was auditorium was too small to host the kind of
right to move on. quality shows that made money, and yet the
play younger parts, yet was mature enough to However, the theatre were seeking to attract programme had to be commercial in order to
respond to directions. He went on to play the a younger audience for musicals, which in make up for the lack of funding, and the Arts
Artful Dodger in Oliver in the West End with the West End had catered for an older audi- Council had disinvested because they were
Helen Shapiro as Nancy. When he reached 15 ence typically based on the music of Abba or not happy with the programme. Robert initi-
he began to think more seriously about where Queen. At the time rap music was the larg- ated an attempt to drive up the quality of what
his future lay. Deciding to stick with his act- est selling musical form. To coincide with was on offer and make it more adventurous.
ing career he landed a job in a Tom Stoppard the centenary of Rogers and Hart the Theatre There was also an increase in the theatre hir-
play, Night and Day, at the Phoenix Theatre. Royal produced a musical based on the 1930’s ing rates. Community theatre groups could not
He played the boy role in this political drama musical The Boys From Syracuse (itself based always have the annual slots they were used
working alongside John Thaw with Maggie on the Shakespeare play A Comedy of Er- to when a more commercial company such as
Smith and then, later, Diana Rigg playing his rors), remixed with rap and urban music and Hampstead Theatre was available. He realises
mother. All this time he had no formal training renamed Da Boyz. It was a great success, with that he alienated some people including some
as an actor but was able to ‘act as a sponge’ the teachers on the one hand because it was of the amateur theatrical community – which
learning from the actors he was lucky enough using a Shakespeare storyline, and with the he particularly regrets as ‘they are usually the
to associate with. His acting career continued. students as they were receiving it in a musical ones who are the most passionate about the-
He toured throughout Europe with Hair, the form they could identify with. Unable to buy atre’ though he felt that he had no choice, if
hippy musical, and worked with various thea- the rights to film Da Boyz, Channel 4 opted the theatre was to survive. He had to - in the
tre and education companies. instead to record a film of the musical theatre jargon - achieve full cost recovery. He regrets
When in his late twenties he was offered the workshop process that had created the show, that they were not able to communicate more
chance to direct a satirical review show in the and Robert was asked to act as the producer clearly the need to make the changes as well as
London fringe at the Canal Cafe, he found that for the theatre. While this was happening he would have liked.

5. SAGT offers artists and art lovers alike an oppor-
tunity to support the arts in Somerset while pursu-
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ing our long term goal of acquiring a high quality
Permanent Somerset Art Gallery Collection. If
you are inspired by, appreciate and value the arts,
SAGT is for you – a community of like-minded art
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Centre! Our programme includes exhibitions, talks,
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For membership information check out our website or
contact Jeremy Harvey (Chairman) on 01823 276421 13+ Scholarships:
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Next Event:“Talk on His Art” by Tim Martin
Please contact: Barbara Lancey, Admissions Registrar, 01823 328204
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Thursday, November 15, 2012 7:30 p.m
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New Programme in January!

6. In trying to achieve his aim he used the ex- Christmas pantomime performed by The Way- opportunity for the local schools to get involved
perience and techniques that he developed in farers in place. The Christmas show is pro- and Robert has no praise too high for the contri-
Stratford East and Edinburgh, albeit to a very duced by The Brewhouse using professional bution of The Brewhouse staff and volunteers.
different, though still diverse, Somerset com- actors with an local community chorus, quite ‘You could not ask for anything better than the
munity – following in the footsteps of the leg- high in risk because of the long run, but satis- team that is here,’ he says. ‘ They are absolutely
endary Joan Littlewood and applying the same fying and profitable when it is got right. They passionate about what we do here, why we do it
lessons about how to make inroads into the had successes with The Snow Queen and A and how we do it. Doing it to a really high quality
local community through theatre, believing Christmas Carol. Then they delivered a Chi- and serving the community, they are aware that’s
that if you put the stories of your community nese version of Cinderella. Robert admits that what we’re here to do and they really genuinely
on stage they will come and see those stories this was a mistake. ‘We have to hold up believe in that. The amount of hours they put in
and bring more stories so a circle is formed be- our hands and say that we did not get that one above and beyond the call of duty is amazing.’
tween the community and the theatre. ‘That is
the basis of my belief in running a venue,’ says
Robert with feeling, ‘it is what we have tried
to do here with shows like Comfort me with
Apples and The Summer Set trying to replicate
what we did in the East End by doing Somer-
set stories.’ For the evidence of his success he
points to the fact that box office sales went up
by 40% between 2006 and 2009.
Though he feels that his responsibility was
to get the economics right he is also passion-
ate about giving opportunities for students to
progress drawing on the excellent local schools
and colleges in Taunton, for example, in giving
them the opportunity to perform in The Studio
which was converted from a rehearsal room to
a small auditorium. And he sees collaboration
with schools and other institutions as a key way right.’ The show felt really innovative and ex- As chief executive, director and writer he is a
forward. ‘We do not want these young people citing in rehearsal but when the audience saw very busy man and one wonders at the extent of
to disappear until they are 40 and then return to it he could see immediately that it was not the workload and the pressure of always being
settle down. We want there to be enough going what they were expecting- a good lesson to in the spotlight and inevitably not being able to
on in Taunton to attract them back while they him about what the Taunton audience would please everybody all of the time and always in
are still young and help develop and contribute like to come and see. ‘The important thing,’ the critical eye.
to a vibrant cultural community.’ He believes he says, ‘is that you learn from your mistakes.’ ‘It is one of those jobs that looks really great
that there is a critical mass at which we can Successful Christmas shows followed includ- from the outside,’ he explains, ‘but it isn’t al-
transform the culture in Taunton to a level ing the Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and ways easy - sometimes it is a bit of a slog - but it
where it becomes natural to engage with the Alice in Wonderland. is always a kind of a privilege. I get to work with
arts and, when once engaged, it is natural to Part of the concept has always been that the really nice people - not just the staff but also the
want more. Christmas show has been reflected outside the acts that come in – some of them young artists
He is also optimistic about the future, includ- auditorium and this year is no exception when who walk onto our stage for the first time. It re-
ing dealing with that old chestnut of not having the theme of the river bank will pervade the minds me of me when I was 12. It is a great job
a large enough main auditorium. A feasibility whole of the building with the production of and a great county to do that job in.’
study has been carried out where 5 options The Wind in the Willows. It also provides an
were considered for the future of The Brew-
house including a new site and a completely Rather than use the Alan Bennett version of The Wind in the Willows, pre-
new building. They have decided on a more ferred in recent years or to the A.A. Milne version, Toad of Toad Hall, Rob-
practical but less costly option to expand on ert has adapted it himself. He prefers it this way because as he is also the
the existing site. £10 million will secure an ad-
ditional 750 seat auditorium, a full size gallery,
director he can then write it in the way he wants it performed.
workshop space and a rooftop restaurant. He ‘I try and use as much dialogue from the book as possible,’ he comments.
believes there is there is the necessary support ‘I firmly believe that if you cut things out of the original you have to have a
form the Arts Council and the local authorities really good reason for doing it.’ It is a play with songs written by Wellington
for it will ‘take us to new level and make us
based Nick Brace – though of course there are one or two songs already
financially secure.’ He is confident of success
as he rationalises that ‘there are 3 large cultural included in the book including the infamous self-congratulatory songs of
hubs in the region, Bristol, Plymouth and the Toad.
Bournemouth/Poole conurbation, and that in
the middle of the triangle you have Taunton,
perfectly placed to serve a more rural audience Wind in the Willows at The Brewhouse
along the M5 corridor and to invest in on a re- Friday 7 December to Saturday 5 January
gional basis.’
When Robert came to The Brewhouse the 10.15am 2pm 7pm Check individual days for times
Christmas show was aimed at adults and was
typically a whodunit or musical. They decided
Box Office: 01823 283244 www.thebrewhouse.net
to make it a family show, but keep the after

7. ‘A Book for Those Who Keep the Spirit of Youth Alive
in Them’
(Kenneth Grahame)
The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932)
The story grew out of letters which Graham wrote to his son Alistair.
Graham had enjoyed critical success with The Golden Age (1895) and Dream Days (1899), but he had difficulty
finding a publisher for The Wind in the Willows. Methuen finally agreed to publish it on the understanding that
there would be no advance. When it was published in 1908, he received poor reviews, (with the notable excep-
tions of Arnold Bennett and Richard Middleton). Most of the reviewers could not appreciate the idea that the
principal characters were animals. However, President Roosevelt, who had enjoyed his earlier work and had
received a complimentary copy from Graham, was full of praise and more-or-less demanded that the American
publishers Scribners should publish it (after they had initially rejected it). Sales began to rise, it reprinted many
times and it remains a popular title to this day.
Counselling for Toads Bizarre Incident
Robert de Board used the characters in the Wind in the Willows, and About 11am on the 24 November 1903 a respect-
in particular Toad, to create a modern counselling classic, Counsel- able looking man who gave his name as George
ling for Toads. Written as an extension of the original story we find Robinson, entered the Bank of England asking to
Toad in a depressed state with his friends Mole, Rat and Badger, see the governor of the bank. Grahame, as the
fearful that he will ‘do something silly’. After alternately encourag- Bank Secretary, was the next in command and
ing and then attempting to force him to change his behaviour, they agreed to see him instead. When Graham refused
determine there is only one thing left, ‘You must have counselling!’ to read some documents that the man thrust to-
announces Badger. Over the next ten chapters (or sessions), Toad has wards him, the man pulled out a gun. The quick
counselling with the Heron using the transactional analysis method, thinking Grahame ran out of the room, slamming
learning how to analyse his own feelings and develop his emotional the door behind him. Robinson fired three shots
intelligence. then ran into the Director’s Library. A porter
Grahame and his wife, Elspeth, may have benefited from some form had the presence of mind to lock him in. He was
of counselling with regard to their son Alistair and their own relation- eventually captured with the intervention of the
ship.They lived in a kind of fantasy world as far as he and their mar- fire brigade who used a hose to knock him to the
riage was concerned. Their only child, Alistair was a sickly infant, ground. He was later incarcerated in Broadmoor.
handicapped by blindness in one eye and poor sight in the other. He It is not known what long term effect this incident
was excessively indulged in by his parents and proved to be a difficult had on Grahame. However, he became increas-
child who would sometimes fly into rages. However, for Elspeth and ingly disenchanted with his work at the bank. He
Kenneth, he was ‘loveable and unusually gifted’. He was a misfit at would leave the bank early in the afternoon and
school and struggled to achieve the high academic expectations they was often absent. He experienced ill health as an
had for him. Through Grahame’s influence he was found a place at adult, probably a legacy of the scarlet fever he
Oxford (a thwarted ambition of his own). Alistair could not find a suffered as a child. This was not tolerated by the
course that suited him, was socially awkward and underwent a spir- a new Governor of the Bank of England, William
itual crisis. On the evening of the 7 May, 1920, he took a walk from Campbell Middleton, who was appointed in the
his college to a level crossing on the railway line from Oxford to Wol- spring of 1907. Grahame resigned in June 1908
vercote. He was found dead even though The Wind in the Willows was not
across the tracks in the morn- to be pub-
ing a little way along from the lished until
crossing. Though the official the autumn
verdict was accidental death, and, at this
the position of his body across time, he had
the tracks suggested otherwise. no reason to
The Grahame’s were devas- believe that
tated and spent most of the it would be a
Elspeth Graham
next four years abroad, mostly Portrait by Sir Frank Alistair Graham success.
in Italy. Dicksee The Bank of England

8. ...and butterflies and bugs and other
beautiful things...
Help us celebrate the 5th birthday of
ginger fig gallery
Our ‘birds and bees’ exhibition in January 2013
is open to all local individuals and organisations,
artists, schools and community groups.
When we celebrated our 3rd birthday with
the ‘Gingerbread Man’ exhibition we had
HUNDREDS of entries - and we’d really like
to beat that
We will welcome entries in any media, so take
up your paint brushes, cameras and knitting
needles; oil your printing presses or potters
wheels; get your sewing machines whirring and
put your imagination to work
For more information either pop into ginger fig, call, email, tweet
or facebook us as soon as possible, ideally by 14th December 2012
ginger fig, 1b Bath Place, Taunton TA1 4ER, 01823 326798
10

9. Scarlet Von Teazel: Bohemian Artist
Scarlet Von Teazel re-
flects on her formative
years in Prague and ac-
knowledges its influence
on her recent artwork.
One of the most influential people in Scar-
let’s early life was her maternal grandmoth-
er with whom she developed a strong bond.
She was a gentle warm-hearted person, full
of love and wisdom who was the first to spot
Scarlet’s natural curiosity and creativity. She
inspired and encouraged her. She looked af-
ter Scarlet and her younger sister as both
parents worked. She was fond of her older
granddaughter who reminded her of her be-
loved but complicated father, blacksmith by opted the civil service structure and its em- to work in the hotel industry. As her course
trade, who was able to turn his hand to any- ployees, including her grandfather. Follow- allowed only for the further study of eco-
thing. She can remember how Scarlet was ing the war, the communist regime labelled nomics, she went to university and gradu-
interested in understanding how things were all civil servants collaborators and put them ated with a degree in finance and credit.
made: she could dismantle an old clock and on trial. She remembers finding in one of Despite this diversion she stayed faithful
then put it back together. the drawers in her grandparents house old to her artistic side through part time study
It was old things that took her interest most. handwritten letters from different people at an art college where she specialized in
Scarlet remembers being ill and going to testifying as to how he had risked his life ceramics, photography and creative writ-
stay at her grandparents home, so as not to using his position by smuggling in letters to ing. And she feels Prague, with its vibrant
pass on her germs to her younger sister, who their relatives imprisoned by the Nazis. He cultural scenes, both official and under-
had a weak constitution. She found the best was,as a result, acquitted through the testi- ground, together with its visual beauty,
part of staying there was looking through mony of those who he had helped during the was influential in her development as a
the drawers and discovering old books, Nazi occupation. ‘I realised how powerful person and an artist.
newspapers, family photographs and docu- letters can be,’ explains Scarlet, ‘they can At that time most banks in Czechoslo-
free you but they can also put you in prison. vakia functioned like credit unions. How-
Someone’s life could be decided by pieces ever, there was one commercial bank in
of paper.’ Prague and through a chance meeting with
Another testimony to the importance of let- a friend’s mother who was manager there,
ters in Scarlet’s life was the discovery of a she applied for and was given a job there.
document stating that her father, whose af- Initially she found the work interesting in
fections were always directed towards her its complexity. However, once the chal-
younger sister, was in fact her stepfather. lenge was mastered she became bored and
After her grandfather’s retirement, he start- eventually after a good deal of persistence
ed to work as light operator at the prestig- made her way into the most prestigious de-
Herbal ious Shakespearean “Vinohradske Divadlo” partment of the bank – the dealing room
theatre in Prague. From the age of 8-12 (till – normally the preserve of men and Com-
ments. She recalls being enchanted by the her grandfather’s death) Scarlet had the munist Party members (of which she was
warn leather and the scent of the old pages, unrivalled experience of watching Shake- neither).
fascinated by the gently fading colours and speare’s plays performed from her grandfa- As part of her training she was sent to
beautiful lettering of yellowing newsprint. ther’s lighting box. This gave her an early London, where she met the future father
Her Grandfather was a well read man with exposure to the world of theatre and her of her first child. A year later her son Tho-
many interests. He taught her to play chess already strong love of books and literature mas was born. A move to Shipley near
when she was five. His intelligence and gained a new dimension. Bradford followed. Here she discovered
abilities weren’t reflected in the menial jobs Her parents decided that she should attend the Kirkgate Studios and Workshops. For
he had. As she grew up she became aware a ‘sensible’ college specialising in econom- Scarlet this became a haven to practice art
of her grandfather’s past. Several years after ics, hotel and leisure studies rather than fol- while at the same time she was able to be
his death she discovered that he had once low her heart and study art, languages and near her son who was looked after by two
held a respected position in the civil service. the humanities. She eventually gave in to marvellous women who ran a crèche on
When Germany invaded Bohemia and took family persuasion but very soon discovered the same site. She was able to take advan-
over the state, the Nazi administration co- this to be a mistake and that she did not want tage of the facilities for ceramics, weaving,
11

10. screen printing, stained glass, batique, pho- a foundation degree in fine art at Somerset
tography and film making. Then pregnant College. Even though she had been prac-
with her second child, she and another art- tising successfully as an artist, in her own
ist were awarded National Lottery funding mind she needed the validation of a higher
for their photographic project ‘Hidden in qualification in art. In the second year of her
Plain View’, culminating in an exhibition in degree she began to develop work using pa-
Lister’s Mill in Bradford in 2000. per, glue and a coffee solution. Her tutors
From Kirkgate she then moved on to Brad- were unsure of the initial direction of her
ford and Ilkley College and followed sculp- work (early experiments included strings of
ture and life drawing courses. She was to washing lines of crushed envelopes dripping
add further to her skills with a course for with coffee!), but as the project developed
community arts workers. After the birth of it began to bear fruit. Around this time she
her daughter Aninka the head of a Primary was also invited to work with other artists
School in Leeds offered her an artist resi- alongside the German artist Anselm Keifer
dency. He asked her to make a list of poten- on his installation at London’s White Cube
tial projects that she was interested in doing. Gallery. Later she was invited to visit him
He chose concrete sculpture from the list, in his Paris studio to interview him for her
the one thing she had no practical experi- thesis.
ence in. To test her theory she quickly made An exhibition of her new work Retro-
a sculpture of a tortoise that to this day lives flexions followed at Cream, Leo Davey’s
in her garden. The school wanted the older cafe showing art in Minehead. She was
(year 6) children to create something for the then invited to join ‘The Recessionists’, a
reception class and they chose the characters group of Somerset artists and exhibited both
of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. Working paintings and sculpture at Pylle Emporium
simultaneouslywith 36 children, split into 6 Gallery near Glastonbury, Wiveliscombe
teams, each responsible for one sculpture, Town Hall and at The Quartz Festival. In
she completed the project from beginning May 2011 she put on a well attended solo
to end in two days. Despite having lost her exhibition Exposed at the Pear tree Gallery
voice and falling ill with exhaustion, as well in East Reach. In 2011 and 2012 she shared Silence
as realizing for the future that project of that a studio with another artist in Paris where insect, a beehive. Her Sun and Moon has a
magnitude should require perhaps 2 weeks they began a joint body of work and which primeval quality. Her work on shoes is at
is ongoing. They exhibited together in a Pa- once haunting and provocative and shows
risian gallery in the Marais. A selection of her skill as a seamstress (from the age of 15
her work along with one or two new pieces she made her own clothes).
will appear at Brendon Books in November There is a profound sadness running
and December. through some of her work and an attempt
Her reverence for and recognition of the to create what she describes as a ‘dialogue
power of books is reflected in their repre- with the unconscious through following
sentation in varied dimensions and forms, instincts and distant echoes.’ There are ref-
the surface of some transformed into an erences to her growing up in Prague, the
extraordinary leather-like texture so they letters and unjust persecution of her grand-
take on the guise and presence of ancient father — she draws deeply upon her child-
manuscripts. Her powerful piece Silence is hood. ‘ I believe our perception of the world
dominated by the image of a mother lying as as children, when we were so much closer
it were within a grave symbolising the death and more open to the beauty of the ordinary,
of a child, perhaps a miscarriage: as though to be something that we should try to re-
with the child’s death part of the mother member,’ she explains. All in all there is an
also dies and a clock symbolises an un- intricate craft and distinct quality about her
One of several representations of Oranges timely death. Oranges are transformed and work whose surfaces invite one to touch and
woven into shapes reminiscent of a skull, an feel their resonance.
rather than 2 days…this initial project had
been a great success. She became registered See Scarlet’s Work
on the ‘Northern Artists into Schools’ data- Scarlet Von Teazel’s art will be on display at Brendon Books, Bath Place,
base as a sculptor and mosaic muralist and
Taunton TA1 4ER
over the next 5 years a further 19 projects
across a variety of themes and with different from 12 November 2012 to 12 January 2013
degrees of complexity followed. 01823 337742
Following her move to Somerset she took www.scarletvonteazel.com
12

11. 13

12. Classic Jazz Man: Steve Graham
Classic Jazz is a
seven-piece band
formed with the
original sounds of
New Orleans jazz in
m i n d . B a n d l e a d e r
and trumpeter Steve
Graham offers an in-
sight into the band’s
influences prior to a
performance at Ilm-
inster Arts Centre.
collaborations he met people interested in al reputation as a trumpet player in
Originally from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, traditional jazz and eventually formed the the New Orleans and Classic styles.
Steve Graham moved to Taunton in 1975, Downtown Galmington Syncopa- Steve had learnt to play very basic
initially to work as a classical guitar tutor tors. With Steve on trumpet, the group trumpet while still at school, putting his
but soon became known as a lute player, soon became a popular local band, and newly-found skills to the test in a jazz
performing with several West Country with a renewed focus on the instru- band during his last couple of years
early music ensembles. Through such ment, Steve gradually gained a nation- there. He continued to fit in playing
while studying maths at the University
of East Anglia, and recalls, ‘I learnt
mandolin when a girl friend gave me
one to take on a New Year holiday in the
Scilly Isles, to pass time in the evenings
playing folk tunes with companions.’
Initially inspired by the music of Louis
Armstrong, which Steve admits is formi-
dably difficult to emulate, he eventually
found his way in the jazz world when in-
troduced to and influenced by New Orle-
ans trumpeters Avery “kid” Howard, De
De Pierce, Kid Thomas Valentine and
Bunk Johnson, not to mention Britain’s
own New Orleans-styled trumpeter Ken
Colyer, who was a leading light on the
English scene during the 1950s and 60’s.
Classic Jazz was formed around 2006,
following Steve’s long-term stint in the
group Original Rags, a duo formed with
Mike Denham in 1999 to play ragtime and
14

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Information Centre
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5th October to 22nd December
Over 30 charities represented including:
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and local charities greeting cards
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Opening hours: Library, Paul Street, Taunton TA1 3XZ
Monday to Saturday Tel: 01823 336344
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15

14. classic jazz of the 1920s. ‘We thought
it would be good to have a full band
playing that repertoire for festivals and
concert venues’, explains Steve, ‘and
by that time I had met several top mu-
sicians who were skilled in this music’.
The Classic Jazz repertoire encom-
passes many artists from the hot jazz
era of the 1920s such as Jelly Roll
Morton, and ragtime pieces from the
previous decade by pioneers such
as Scott Joplin. Mainly the band fo-
cus on the recordings of King Oliv-
er’s Creole Jazz Band, which was
the most influential band recorded in
Chicago back in 1923 (with a line-
up featuring the cream of New Orle-
ans jazz musicians; Louis Armstrong,
Baby Dodds, Honore Dutrey, Bill
been with pianist Mike Denham, with and Malc Murphy on drums. The band
Johnson, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin-
whom I have been able to develop both do not seek to reproduce slavish cop-
Armstrong and King Oliver himself).
my trumpet and mandolin playing.’ ies of the original recordings, prefer-
‘This music is predominantly of an
Joining Steve, John and Mike for the ring to create their own distinctive
ensemble style’ explains Steve, ‘but
Ilminster concert will be Dave Martin sound of driving, swinging ensemble
we do have an outstanding soloist
on cornet. Dave has been active on the jazz, using music from which the im-
in John Wurr.’ John Wurr is one of
Devon music scene since the mid-1980s mensely popular “Trad” bands of the
the UK’s most versatile reed play-
and runs the City Steam Jazz Band in 1950s and 60s developed their styles.
ers (on clarinet and saxophone) and
Exeter. Somerset audiences may be Steve works throughout the country
has performed previously with Steve
familiar with him through Bob Rey- with a number of other jazz bands, and
Graham and Mike Denham at Ilm-
nolds’ New Society Jazz Band and he has recently decided to devote his study
inster Arts Centre, both with Classic
will soon be appearing with his own time to the lute once more. ‘Having
Jazz and at Mike Denham’s ‘Speak-
Jabbo Five at IAC in April. Complet- spent a lot of time in the past playing
Easy’ nights that have become a
ing the line-up for Classic Jazz will renaissance music and accompanying
regular fixture at the arts centre. All
be Tom Wittingham, who is a natural singers, I am returning to this but am also
three have become great favourites
musician on trombone and has an in- embarking on a study of the wonderful
there and Steve says, ‘I have had the
stinctive feel for the jazz music of the music of the 13-course baroque lute.’
pleasure of working with several top
period, plus Sarah Thatcher on banjo,
British musicians but, undoubtedly
By Sara Loveridge
the most fruitful collaboration has
Hear Steve Graham perform with Classic Jazz
featuring Mike Denham and John Wurr
Friday 30th November
Ilminster Arts Centre at The Meeting House, East Street, Ilminster. TA19 0AN.
At 8pm. Tickets: £15. Pre-Show Supper at 7pm (must be pre-booked).
Box Office: 01460 54973. Website: www.themeetinghouse.org.uk.
16

15. We are committed to providing honest
food and drink, locally sourced, skillfully
prepared and reasonably priced. Our main
menu changes with the seasons and we
have a great range of daily specials on
offer using the best of South West produce.
We also offer bespoke and budgeted
catering for businesses and private events.
19b Bath Place, Taunton, Tel 01823 337234
Somerset, TA1 4EP Email taunton@thescrumper.com
Back in Bath Place
for the winter season
17

16. Somerset Cricket :The Glory Years 1973-1987
In 2010 Somerset Cricket Museum but devotees of the summer game as a
acquired a unique archive of images whole.
relating to the history of the club. Accompanying the pictures is an
Taken by Taunton-based photogra- informative text by County Museum
pher Alain Lockyer, they chronicle Trustee and journalist Richard Walsh
some of the years of the County’s to complete this remarkable visual his-
greatest success, including the tory, packed with classic memories.
period known as the Glory Years Alain Lockyer is a professional pho-
during which Somerset won five one tographer who has run the Taunton-
day trophies in as many seasons. based Somerset Photo News agency
between 1973 and 1990.Garner, for more than four decades covering
Richards, Botham, Rose and a host National news and pictures and who
of fine players feature in this superb has captured the activity of Somerset
collection. County Cricket Club assiduously in
However, it not only highlights that time.
exciting action from classic matches, Richard Walsh lives in Taunton and
but candid behind-the-scenes shots is a freelance journalist who has been
of the players both at rest and at following the fortunes of Somerset
play. CCC for over 40 years. He regularly
Together the pictures are an irre- writes for the Western Morning News,
placeable document of the Country’s the Somerset County Gazette, and the
greatest cricket team at the height Sunday Independent, in addition to
of its powers, and this book which which he has been the editor of the
is the first publication to feature official Somerset CCC website since it Somerset Cricket: The Glory Years,
the collection widely, will be read was first established in 2001. 1973-1987 Hardback; H:297; W:210;
eagerly not only by fans of Somerset 160p.; black and white illustrations
Halsgrove £19.99
Talk Booksigning
at Brendon Books
on Tuesday 13 November.
Both Alain Lockyear and Richard Walsh
will be present
Please R.S.V.P. Brendon Books, Bath Place,
Taunton TA1 4ER
01823 337742
email: brendonbooks@gmail.com
Joel Garner, Ian Botham and Vivienne Richards
18

17. Somerset and the Defence of the Bristol Channel
in the Second World War
The aim of the book is to fill a gap in
the literature by explaining the strategic
concepts underpinning military activity
in Somerset in the Second World War.
The work addresses naval activities, both
enemy and friendly in the Bristol Chan-
nel, the coastal anti-invasion defences
including coast artillery and also covers
the air defence activities including radar,
fighter control and the revolutionary
electronic warfare directed against the
Luftwaffe bombers navigation aids; to-
gether with searchlights, barrage balloons,
Observer Corps, AA guns and rockets.
The surprising plethora of naval, army,
RAF and other activities in the Somerset
coastal area, many of which were secret, Section post at Blue Anchor Photo: David Hunt
are explained. understanding of what we can still see in Hunt as a Somerset man who knows the
All sources of historical data identified our hedgerows and on our beaches in the county well and sees it through the eyes
so far, including surviving archaeological context of both defending one of Britain’s a senior Army officer. This collaboration
evidence, have been examined, evaluated of expert enthusiasts brings archaeology,
and cross-referenced. Many little known archives and military experience together
but key activities like police wartime to effectively complement each other in
roles, fuel denial measures, patrols against this fascinating book intended for the war
agents landing on the coast are covered enthusiast, local historian and the general
for the first time along with the perceived public.
threats and the coastal defence plans
including the roles of the Army, Home
Guard and the secret Auxiliary Units with
saboteurs, spies and hidden wireless sta-
tions.
The account presented will contain many
surprises which challenge commonly-held
beliefs. For instance, the elaborate coastal
Doniford AA range before the war;
defences were primarily intended to guard
photo Hole collection.
against air-borne not sea-borne invasion.
It contradicts fondly held folk memories most vital waterways and the industrial
such as the ineffectiveness of the Mine- heartlands dependent on it but also of the
head emergency battery. It adds to our ways in which war was brought to the
enemy and ultimately led to their defeat.
David Hunt has done the bulk of the
work searching out and sifting the records
in The National Archives and Somerset
Record Office. All three authors have Somerset and the Defence of the Bristol
shared in its interpretation in the light of Channel in the Second World War. David
their extensive knowledge of Somerset: Dawson, David Huntand Chris Webster.
David Dawson and Chris Webster as Published by the Somerset Archaeological
archaeologists who have worked in the and Natural History Society, Taunton, 112
county for twenty years or so and David pages, 64 maps and illustrations.
Talk Booksigning at Brendon Books
Doniford AA range before the war; the on Thursday 29 November.
Queen Bee, a radio controlled target plane is Please R.S.V.P. Brendon Books, Bath Place, Taunton TA1 4ER
launched; photo Hole collection
19

18. Resolution by John Cole
In describing his new novel, “Reso-
lution”, as the book of a lifetime,
John Cole is not exaggerating, for
the book tells the stories of the lives
of three modern women living in
the twentieth century and up to the
present time.
“I worked as a family doctor
throughout the greatest period of
social change for womankind in his-
tory. The social upheaval was enor-
mous and its effects profound” said
77 year old John. The novel had been
gestating for more than 35 years, but
a busy life in medicine as well as be-
ing a dedicated professional musi-
cian meant that he began writing it
only two years ago.
When Taunton-born John started
work as a house physician and sur-
geon in Cirencester back in the career are widely referenced in the cert at which Brahms’ Requiem will
1950s, fewer than 10% of married novel, from cadavers to choirs. It’s be performed by the Amici Choir and
women were in paid employment. entirely appropriate, then, that the Orchestra West. He was until recent-
By the time he retired from gen- launch of “Resolution” coincides ly conductor of both organisations.
eral practice in 2000, that figure had with John’s musical retirement con-
grown to 88%.
“Resolution”, published in early No-
vember, is set against the backdrop
of national and international politi-
cal and historical events. It explores
attitudes to woman’s place in soci-
ety, gender roles, careers and fami-
lies. Societal changes are reflected
through three women; Maria, Debo-
rah and Ruth. Maria is a first genera-
tion immigrant, Deborah a product
of the “swinging sixties” and Ruth a
modern girl born and brought up in
adversity. Their very different lives
and fortunes touch at various points,
leading to what John describes as
Resolution.
The twin passions of medicine and
music that have characterised John’s
Resolution retails at £9.99 and is available from
Brendon Books, Bath Place, Taunton TA1 4ER
01823 337742 email: brendonbooks@gmail.com
or www.johncoleresolution.com
20

19. The Quantocks
A new book on the Quantocks has been
published this autumn by long-standing
Somerset resident, Peter Haggett.
The book is arranged on historical lines
and paints a biographical picture, not of
an individual but of a region. The open-
ing chapter identifies the unique charac-
ter of the Quantocks and identifies seven
reasons why the area is of exceptional
interest. The next six chapters takes
the reader through the evolution of the
region; from its deep geological roots
(Chap. 2), through its occupation by ear-
ly settlers (Chap, 3), to the evolution of
its separate villages and parish churches
during the medieval period (Chap.4) to
the evolution of its great country houses
and estates in the early-modern period
Bench Ends
Peter Haggett was born, bred and with the AONB service, local landown-
schooled in Somerset. A former Cam- ers, and the Quantock Commoners to
bridge don and Bristol University pro- safeguard the region. It is currently ap-
fessor, he returned to his roots to write pealing for funds to acquire and conserve
this affectionate tribute to this gentle, a major area of heathland (previously
unpretentious and often overlooked part owned by Somerset County Council) to
of his home county. The many maps look after in perpetuity for the people of
and diagrams have been especially Somerset.
drawn for this volume and he teamed
up with his daughter (an Intensive
Care nurse at a local hospital) to richly
illustrate the text with over a hundred
photographs, a third in colour. Peter has
held university research and teaching
posts around the world for half-a-cen-
tury and in 1997 was awarded the CBE
for services to geographical scholar-
ship.
Profits from the sale of the volume
(Chap. 5) The revolution wrought by are being donated to a leading local
the railways is a theme of the Victorian conservation charity, the Friends of
Quantocks (Chap. 6) while even more Quantock. This was founded in 1949
rapid change and the impact of two with the object of safeguarding the
World Wars dominates the chapter on landscape and natural environment of
the 20thC (Chap. 7). The last chapter the Quantock Hills. It works closely
identifies five current problems in the
region (ranging from maintaining its The Quantocks: Biography of an English Region, it is 240 pages long
fragile heather moors to the challenge of
nuclear and tidal power) and debates the
with 120 figures, a third in colour. pb
future of the Quantocks. ISBN 978-0-9573352-0-2
Brendon Books, Bath Place, Taunton TA1 4ER
01823 337742 email: brendonbooks@gmail.com
21

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
Interviews Calender of Events
tist Recorder
John Cole Taunton Literary Festival
Harry Frier:Ar Clare Viner Short Story Growing
unton’s Past
Jeremy Cooper Poet’s Corner
of Ta
an apparent trage
dy.
Toni Davey Children’s Page up with
erty, his last years up to Natalie McGraph Cookery Book Review
Harry Frier is
nton artist from
the one
the late
What we know
now, Jeremy
of Harry Friar
Harvey ackno
to the diligence
wledges,
of local
Jeremy Harvey Gardening Book Review the yBas
Tau ly due Mark Bruce Book Clubs
rdian period is large Michael Jones who has writteof
n
Victorian-Edwa author
on him, the resul
t Summer Holiday Writing Courses
still known
whose work is an excellent book
rch and endea
vour, pub- Gallery 41 Local author
Jeremy
is now an years of resea n in
today. There recent incarnatio Cooper has
opportunity to
learn mor e lished in its most
sadly, out of
2002 though now, own interest began
print.
May June 2012
Free rec
brought out two ently
cy with an Jeremy Harvey’s impor-
about his lega res by the art maste e
r at
Harry Frier tant books on
art in May with weekly lectu the art
exhibition of his - his school. As
a result, Jerem
y becam
other artists and
beginning Shining a light on literarature, art ,music and performance in Taunton West Somerset world.
and a talk byJeremy Har they
In the sixth form and learning from techn iques
excited by art. the skills and
and work at
e
into the countrysid to appreciate explains, ‘
vey on his life would go out
watercolours. His
family
required. ‘By
doing so,’ he
lege in June. he would paint s work more intel- Following a degre
Somerset Col did
ial interest in art you can read an artist
not have any espec sometimes take gh mode st about his skills at Cambridge,
e in art histo
ry
ligently.’ Thou Jeremy Cooper
r would on his own sued a career in pur-
though his fathe Univer- he has sold some paintings the
ries. At Oxford world;as a Sothe art and antiques
him to art galle ded
nt to ed history he atten account. part of by’s auctioneer
ly became evide sity where he studi teaching art as an Antiques Road ,
What became quick g Harry Frier was Eric Newton. Jeremy began
programme at
Som- an owner of his
show expert and
y in researchin art lectures by his interest in
art
adult education own antiques
Jerem h there d
He has maintaine and headship of
the ng ceased ness in Bloomsbu busi-
a man about whic sur- erset College.
When the fundi ry.
that here was and career lecture an important book He also wrote
of contradictions throughout his re to give an open
were a number cted ol in Taunton (whe he was invited talk he on Victorian and
who is avidly
colle Bishop Fox’s Scho ition from the site speakers. The Edwardian furni
prises : an artist prices, its trans along with other he was invit- print). It may
ture (which is still
in
ly, fetches good he oversaw
to its current site
off
gave was well
received and have seemed that
and, increasing ty; as- the Confer- his
of variable quali na- in Kingston Road ever, it was of neces- ed to continue his lectures in career was settle
yet his work is a ge. Since d and as he move
ton though not South Road). How Somerset Colle into his middle d
sociated with Taun Scotland and ended interest. ence Centre at g approxi- come a doyen
years he woul
d be-
from sity, a spare time er he has been givin of the antique
tive (he hailed e meeting d as head teach 2004-2005 he at the college, collect-
through a chanc When he retire to become mately three talks a year
ing world.
up in Taunton Dyer); trained decided that he wanted
art ‘old masters’ However, this
iation with Kate and began studying starting with Giotto and the was not to be.
and assoc n for eenth and Some- Jeremy visited
er yet best know more to the fore weekly progressing through to ninet time in the 80’s
he began takin in his kitchen by
as a portrait paint land- ly and attending as Sickert, g an has seen the
his pictures of art more close morning, twentieth century artists such
interest in conte publi two sheep
watercolours and ienced ns on a Friday architecture and
mporary musi
c and tant non-fiction cation of an impor- of them
artist who exper painting sessio
Degas and Mane
t. this soon began book on conte now in their fifties
scapes; and an in pov- st and involveme
nt extend to the to rary artists: Grow mpo- their )? ‘It is
nition but died Despite his intere al qualification in visual arts. He ing Up: The Youn energy, openness
some early recog writing and has started British Artis g lessness, and
in art he had no
form
arose had published ts at 50. It explo
res their point I like,’ he comm class-
an opportunity eral works of
fiction, and this
sev- collective legac s out that thoug ents and
the art. However, and his April formed the
y when they
trans- each h they may
d way when he art world in the be economica
in an unexpecte who they staging dramatic 1990’s, their lly secure now,
friend, Daphne, original motiv
wife visited a ey Spen- cally in disused
exhibitions, typi- ation was not
niece of Stanl make money, to
knew to be the com- warehouse or an accusation
leaving, Daphne tory spaces rathe fac- has some
times been partic which
cer. As they were d someone woul
d galleries, while
r than commercia
ularly di-
ment ed that she wishe letters she had focusing in detai l rected towards Damien Hirst
with the five of the their l on you want , for ‘If
do something y’s number: Anya to make money
cer. Seeing Jerem laccio, Damien Gal- going to you are not
from Stanley Spen went to a cupboard Michael Landy
Hirst, Gary Hum
e,
go to art schoo
His involveme l.’
she
evident interest 53 letters
and Sarah Luca
s. nt with the yba’s
a box folder of is their history
told by someone It back to his time in Shore goes
and pulled out was there at the who he had ditch where
ition. time and is famil his antiques busin
in pristine cond the
find, Jeremy read with their work iar patronised ess, much
Excited by the them as part the artists perso
and knew sever
al of Joshua
by Gilbert and
letters and gave a talk on amme nally. Compton, a Cour George.
e Centre progr So what attracted history graduate tauld art
of his Conferenc ur- him to these youn and curator, was
d Daphne). Enco The cover for yBa artists, which, g tenant from a
(to which he invite Paul s
he points, out 1991-1996 and
22
nse, he contacted longer young are no a centr played
aged by the respo (most al role in the
yba move-

21. Old Brewery Buildings, Bath Place, Taunton TA1 4ER
01823 337742 brendonbooks@gmail.com www.brendonbooksonline.co.uk
Book Gift Ideas
for Christmas
23

22. Biography
Dante in Love My Animals and Other Family
A.N. Wilson Clare Balding
RRP £14.99 £11.99 RRP £20.00 £16.00
In Dante in Love, A. N. Wilson presents a glittering ‘I had spent most of my childhood thinking
study of an artist and his world, arguing that without I was a dog, and suspect I had aged in dog
an understanding of medieval Florence, it is impos- years. By the time I was ten I had discov-
sible to comprehend the meaning of Dante’s great ered the pain of unbearable loss. I had felt
poem. joy and jealousy. Most important of all, I
Dante in Love also lays bare the enigma of the man knew how to love and how to let myself
who never wrote about the mother of his children, be loved. All these things I learnt through
yet immortalized the mysterious Beatrice, whom he animals. Horses and dogs were my family
barely knew. and my friends. This is their story as much
9781848879492 hb Atlantic as it is mine’.
9780670921461 hb Penguin
Waging Heavy Peace Inside the Centre
Neil Young Ray Monk
RRP £30.00 £25.00
RRP £25.00 £20.00 J. Robert Oppenheimer is among the most con-
An iconic figure in the history of rock and tentious and important figures of the twentieth
pop culture (inducted not once but twice into century. As head of the Los Alamos Laboratory,
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Neil Young he oversaw the successful effort to beat the Nazis
has written his eagerly awaited memoir: ‘I felt to develop the first atomic bomb - a breakthrough
that writing books fit me like a glove; I just which was to have eternal ramifications for
started and I just kept going’. Young offers mankind, and made Oppenheimer the ‘father of
a kaleidoscopic view of his personal life and the Bomb’.
musical career. 9780224062626 hb Jonathan Cape
9780670921713 hb Viking
On Wheels
Tennyson Michael Holroyd
John Batchelor £9.99
RRP £25.00 £20.00 In “On Wheels” Michael Holroyd takes on the
Alfred Lord Tennyson, Queen Victoria’s humble automobile. Weaving together memoir
favourite poet, commanded a wider and anecdote with historical example he traces
readership than any other of his time. His his relationship with cars and driving through
ascendancy was neither the triumph of a lifetime of biography. Sly and perceptive to
pure genius nor an accident of history: he a fault, in these five delightful essays Michael
skilfully crafted his own career and his Holroyd finds new and surprising ways to
relationships with his audience. understand the past and challenge our view of
9780701180584 hb Chatto Windus the future
9780701187439 hb Chatto Windus
Live from Downing Street Close to the Wind
Nick Robinson Ben Ainslie
RRP £20.00 £16.00 £7.99
“Live from Downing Street” takes us on an
Knife-edge decisions, adrenalin rushes, extreme
absorbing journey through the hard-fought
weather, bitter rivalries, heart-stopping races
battles for the right to tell the public about the
- they are all in a day’s work for Ben Ainslie.
decisions taken on their behalf. Parliament once
Against all odds, in the London 2012 Olympics
imprisoned those who dared to report what MPs
Ben Ainslie thrillingly won a fourth successive
had said. Broadcasters used to be banned by law
gold medal, making him the greatest ever Olym-
from debating anything newsworthy and even
pic sailor and a British hero, chosen from many
from covering elections. Since that censorship
to be the flag bearer for the closing ceremony. It
ended, the two sides have clashed repeatedly.
is revised and updated for paperback to include
9780593066805 hb Bantam Press
London 2012.
Patrick: An Adventure Nancy
Artemis Cooper Adrian Fort
RRP £25.00 £20.00 RRP £25.00 £20.00
Patrick Leigh Fermor (1915-2011) was In 1919, Nancy Astor became the first woman
a war hero whose exploits in Crete are to take a seat in Parliament. She was not what
legendary, and above all he is widely ac- had been expected. Far from a virago who had
claimed as the greatest travel writer of our suffered for the cause of female suffrage, she was
times, notably for his books about his walk already near the centre of the ruling society that
across pre-war Europe, A Time of Gifts and had for so long resisted the political upheavals of
Between the Woods and the Water; he was the early twentieth century, having married into
a self-educated polymath, a lover of Greece the family of one of the richest men in the world.
and the best company in the world. She was not even British.
9780224090162 hb Jonathan Cape
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
24

23. Fiction
Citadel Our Lady of Alice Bhatti
Kate Mosse Mohammed Hanif
RRP £20.00 £16.00 £7.99
From the No.1 internationally bestselling author The patients of the Sacred Heart Hospital for
comes the third heart-stopping adventure exploring All Ailments in Karachi are looking for a mir-
the incredible history, legends and hidden secrets of acle. Junior nurse, ex-prisoner and part-time
Carcassonne and the Languedoc. Set during World healer Alice Bhatti is looking for a job. With
War II in the far south of France, Citadel is a power- guidance from the working nurse’s manual,
ful, action-packed mystery that reveals the secrets of and some tricks she picked up in prison, Alice
the resistance under Nazi occupation. starts work at the crowded hospital bringing
9780752876474 hb Orion help to the thousands of patients littering the
corridors.
9780099516750 pb Vintage
The House of Silk The Wine of Solitude
Anthony Horowitz Irene Nemirovsky
£7.99 £7.99
THE GAME’S AFOOT ...It is November 1890 and Helene is a troubled young girl. Neglected
London is gripped by a merciless winter. Sherlock by her self-absorbed mother and her adored
Holmes and Dr Watson are enjoying tea by the fire but distant father, she longs for love and for
when an agitated gentleman arrives unannounced freedom. As first the Great War and then the
at 221b Baker Street. He begs Holmes for help, Russian Revolution rage in the background, she
telling the unnerving story of a scar-faced man with grows from a lonely, unhappy child to an angry
piercing eyes who has stalked him in recent weeks. young woman intent on destruction. “The Wine
Intrigued, Holmes and Watson find themselves of Solitude” is a powerful tale of an unhappy
swiftly drawn into a series of puzzling and sinister family in difficult times and a woman prepared
events to wreak a shattering revenge.
9781409135982 pb Orion 9780099520375 pb Vintage
Standing In Another Man’s Grave The Yellow Birds
Ian Rankin Kevin Powers
RRP £18.99 £15.99 RRP £14.99 £11.99
It’s twenty-five years since John Rebus appeared An unforgettable depiction of the psychological
on the scene, and five years since he retired. impact of war, by a young Iraq veteran and poet,
But 2012 sees his return in Standing In Another The Yellow Birds is already being hailed as a mod-
Man’s Grave. Not only is Rebus as stubborn and ern classic. Everywhere John looks, he sees Murph.
anarchic as ever, but he finds himself in trouble He flinches when cars drive past. His fingers clasp
with Rankin’s latest creation, Malcolm Fox of around the rifle he hasn’t held for months. Wide-
Edinburgh’s internal affairs unit. eyed strangers praise him as a hero, but he can feel
9781409144717 hb Orion himself disappearing.
9781444756128 hb Sceptre
The Death of King Arthur
Armada Simon Armitage
John Stack £7.99
£7.99 “The Alliterative Morte Arthure” - the title given
The author of the Master of the Sea series, is to a four-thousand line poem written sometime
back with a standalone battle book that will around 1400 - was part of a medieval Arthurian
blow all others out of the water. 1587. Two revival which produced such masterpieces as “Sir
nations are locked in bitter conflict. One strives Gawain and the Green Knight” and Sir Thomas
for dominance, the other for survival. Malory’s prose “Morte D’Arthur”. “The Death of
9780007389896 pb Harper King Arthur” deals in the cut-and-thrust of warfare
and politics: the ever-topical matter of Britain’s
relationship with continental Europe, and of its
military interests overseas.
The Last Dance Other Stories 9780571249480 pb Faber Faber
Victoria Hislop The River
RRP £12.99 £10.99 Patricia Wastvedt
In ten powerful stories, Victoria Hislop takes £8.99
us through the streets of Athens and into This is the Orange Prize long listed debut novel
the tree-lined squares of Greek villages. As by the author of “The German Boy”. In 1958, in
she evokes their distinct atmosphere, she a small Devon village, on an idyllic summer af-
brings vividly to life a host of unforgettable ternoon, two children are drowned. Their parents,
characters, from a lonesome priest to battling Isabel and Robert, are overcome with grief but,
brothers, and from an unwanted stranger to a as time passes, their tragedy becomes part of the
groom troubled by music and memory. everyday fabric of village life. One summer’s day,
9780755396276 hb Headline thirty years later, Anna arrives.
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
25

24. Fiction N-W
The Cleaner of Chartres
Zadie Smith
Sally Vickers
RRP £18.99 £15.99
RRP £16.99 £13.99 North West London comes vividly to life in “NW”,
From the author of the bestselling Miss Gar- the new novel by the author of the bestselling “White
net’s Angel and winner of the 2007 IMPAC Teeth” and Man Booker-shortlisted “On Beauty”.
Dublin award, The Cleaner of Chartres is the This is the story of a city. The north-west corner of
beautifully beguiling tale of a young woman a city. Here you’ll find guests and hosts, those with
who brings healing to a town that didn’t power and those without it, people who live some-
know it needed it, only to find her own re- where special and others who live nowhere at all.
demption among its community of lost souls. And many people in between.
9780670922123 hb Penguin 9780241144145 hb Hamish Hamilton
Bloodline The Greatcoat
Felix Francis Helen Dunmore
RRP £18.99 £15.99 RRP £7.99
From Felix Francis, bestselling author In the winter of 1952, Isabel Carey moves
of “Gamble” and co-author (with Dick to the East Riding of Yorkshire with her
Francis) of “Even Money” and “Crossfire”, husband Philip, a GP. With Philip spend-
comes “Bloodline”, the latest Dick Francis ing long hours on call, Isabel finds herself
novel. Set in the cut-throat world of horse isolated and lonely as she strives to adjust to
racing, “Bloodline” is a pay thriller packed the realities of married life. Woken by intense
full of suspense, mystery and intrigue. cold one night, she discovers an old RAF
9780718159344 hb Penguin greatcoat hidden in the back of a cupboard. ..
9780099564942 hb Cornerstone (Hammer)
Merivel: A Man of His Time Dodger
Rose Tremain Terry Pratchett
RRP £18.99 £15.99 RRP £18.99 £15.99
The gaudy years of the Restoration are Dodger is a tosher - a sewer scavenger liv-
long gone. Robert Merivel, physician and ing in the squalor of Dickensian London.
courtier to Charles II, loved for his gift to Everyone who is nobody knows Dodger.
turn sorrow into laughter, now faces the Anyone who is anybody doesn’t. But when
agitations and anxieties of middle age. he rescues a young girl from a beating,
Questions crowd his mind: has he been a suddenly everybody wants to know him.
good father? Is he a fair master? Is he the And “Dodger’s” tale of skulduggery, dark
King’s friend or the King’s slave? In search plans and even darker deeds begins...
of answers, Merivel sets off for the French 9780385619271 hb Doubleday
court.
9780701185206 hb Chatto Windus
Fault Line
A Possible Life Robert Goddard
Sebastian Faulks RRP £7.99
RRP £18.99 £15.99 For Jonathan Kellaway, the past is
Provocative and profound, Sebastian Faulks’ daz- somewhere he chooses not to go. Dead
zling novel journeys across continents and time to friends, lost lovers and a family dy-
explore the chaos created by love, separation and nasty hell-bent on self- destruction lie
missed opportunities. From the pain and drama of buried there. But if he is to uncover the
these highly particular lives emerges a mysterious truth, he must confront all the secrets
consolation: the chance to feel your heart beat in which have consumed his life, and
someone else’s life. which may yet consume him...
9780091936808 hb Hutchinson 9780552161381 pb Corgi
Jewels of Paradise Back to Blood
Donna Leon Tom Wolfe
£17.99 £14.99 RRP £20.00 £16.00
Caterina Pellegrini is a young Venetian musicol- Based on the same sort of detailed, on-scene,
ogist hired by two competing cousins to find the high-energy reporting that powered Tom
truthful heir to an alleged treasure concealed by Wolfe’s previous best-selling novels, The Bon-
a once-famous, but now almost forgotten, ba- fire of the Vanities and A Man in Full, Black to
roque composer. Sworn to secrecy, Caterina can Blood is another brilliant, spot-on, scrupulous,
solve the mystery only by searching through the and often hilarious reckoning with our times.
papers contained in the composer’s two chests 9780224097277 hb Jonathan Cape
that have not been opened for centuries
9780434022274 hb William Heinemann
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
26

25. History/Current Affairs
A History of the World in Twelve Maps Unfinished Empire
Jerry Brotton John Darwin
RRP £30.00 £25.00 RRP £25.00 £20.00
Jerry Brotton is the presenter of the acclaimed BBC4
John Darwin won the Wolfson History Prize
series “Maps: Power, Plunder and Possession”.
Here he tells the story of our world through maps.
for his book “After Tamerlane: The Rise
Throughout history, maps have been fundamental in and Fall of Global Empires”. In “Unfinished
shaping our view of the world, and our place in it. Empire” he examines the enormous influence
But far from being purely scientific objects, world of the British Empire. It has shaped the world
maps are unavoidably ideological and subjective, in countless ways: repopulating continents,
intimately bound up with the systems of power and carving out modern nations, imposing its own
authority of particular times and places. language, technology and values.
9781846140990 hb Penguin 9781846140884 hb Penguin
The Sleepwalkers First Class
Christopher Clark Chris West
RRP £30.00 £25.00 RRP £16.99 £13.99
This delightfully playful history uses 36 of our most
In “The Sleepwalkers” acclaimed historian and
expressive, quirky, beautiful and sometimes baffling
author of “Iron Kingdom”, Christopher Clark, stamps to tell us the story of Britain, through Dickens
examines the causes of the First World War. The and the potato famine to Thatcher and punk. Stamps tell
moments that it took Gavrilo Princip to step a story. Since the Penny Black first burst on the scene
forward to the stalled car and shoot dead Franz in 1840, they have made and mirrored history as it hap-
Ferdinand and his wife were perhaps the most pens - from the ‘British Empire Exhibition’ of 1924 to
fateful of the modern era. An act of terrorism of the Austerity Olympics of 1948, from the Coronation to
staggering efficiency, it fulfilled its every aim. the death of Diana, from the advent of computers to the
new Millennium.
9780713999426 hb Penguin
9780224095464 hb Square Peg
Life Death in the British Secret Service
Gordon Corera Blood Sisters
£8.99 Sarah Gristwood
The British Secret Service has been cloaked in secrecy RRP £20.00 £16.00
and shrouded in myth since it was created a hundred How the Wars of the Roses were won and lost by the
years ago. Our understanding of what it is to be a spy political and dynastic skills of the royal women: this
has been largely defined by the fictional worlds of is the true story behind Philippa Gregory’s dramatic
James Bond and John le Carri. The Art of Betrayal novels about fiery Queens and the perils of power.
provides a unique and unprecedented insight into this After archaeologists unearthed the remains of Rich-
secret world and the reality that lies behind the fiction. ard III in a Leicester carpark, his pivotal era is once
9780753828335 pb Phoenix again ripe for valuation.
9780007309290 hb Harper Press
A Force to be Reckoned With
How Britain Worked Jane Robinson
Guy Martin £9.99
Over 200,000 women in the UK belong to the
RRP £20.00 £16.00
WI and their membership is growing. They
Illustrated throughout with specially commis-
cross class and religion,include all ages -from
sioned photography as well as historical images,
students and metropolitan young profession-
Guy will take us through each project; his pas-
als, such as the Shoreditch Sisters,to rural cen-
sion, enthusiasm and sheer inventiveness bringing
tenarians -with passions that range from sup-
a completely new perspective to the Industrial
porting the 1920s Bastardy Bill (in response to
Revolution.He invites us to live it with him, to
a wartime legacy of illegitimate babies) to the
enjoy the nostalgia, marvel in the mechanics and
current SOS for Honey Bees campaign.
learn from its legacy.
9781844086603 pb Little Brown
9780753540848 hb Virgin
Birds in a Cage Lessons for the Top
DerekNiemann Gavin Esler
RRP £20.00 £16.00 RRP 12.99 £10.99
One of Britain’s leading journalists and
“In the summer of 1940, lying in the sun, I
interviewers reveals what the stories that lead-
saw a family of redstarts, unconcerned in the
ers tell can teach us about getting to the top
affairs of our skeletal multitude, going about
- and staying there. Great leaders have always
their ways in cherry and chestnut trees.”
understood the power of stories. Through the
Soon after his arrival at Warburg PoW camp,
stories they tell, the most successful leaders
British army officer John Buxton found an
educate, persuade and bring about change, but
unexpected means of escape from the horrors
we rarely have the background knowledge to
of internment.
explore how they do so.
9781780720937 hb Short Books
9781846684999 pb Profile
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
27

26. Cookery/Natural History
Nigellissima Curry Nation
Nigella Lawson Madhur Jaffrey
RRP £26.00 £21.00
“Nigellissima” takes inspiration from
RRP £20.00 £16.00
Travelling across Britain, visiting local Indian
Italian cooking to bring the spirit of
and South Asian communities, Madhur reveals
Italy into the kitchen and onto the plate,
how it’s possible to sample virtually the whole
pronto. At the heart of Italian cookery lies
of Indian cuisine without ever leaving the Brit-
a celebration of food that is fresh, tasty and
ish Isles. In the official tie-in book to the series,
unpretentious; Nigella Lawson reflects this
Madhur showcases her favourite recipes with
in recipes that are simple and speedy, el-
influences from all over the subcontinent.
evating everyday eating into no-fuss feasts.
9780091949938 hb Ebury Press
9780701187330 hb Chatto Windus
Clarissa’s England Cooking with the Masterchef
Clarissa Dickson Wright Michael Roux Jr
RRP £20.00 £16.00 RRP £16.99 £13.99
The quintessential Englishwoman Clarissa Michel Roux has a justifiable reputation as
Dickson Wright, one of the Two Fat Ladies someone who knows everything there is to
and author of Spilling the Beans, takes us on know about food, how it should taste and how
a personal journey through the country of her it should be cooked. He is very serious-minded
birth. From Cornwall to Cumbria, Norfolk about cooking and his masterly performances on
to Northumbria she brings her extraordinary MasterChef have created a wide and admir-
knowledge, huge passion, forthright opinions ing fan base. ‘MasterChef shows cooking as
and inimitable wit to the distinctive history it should be and it’s very good at showing the
and regional character of every corner of passion and skills required in becoming a chef
England. and you learn something about food.’
9781444729092 hb Hodder Stoughton 9780753828649 pb Phoenix
Great British Puddings Kitchen Diaries
The Pudding Club Nigel Slater
RRP £18.99 £15.99 RRP £30.00 £25.00
From steamed sponges (chestnut and Includes over 250 recipes, many from his BBC
chocolate pudding) to classic crumbles (ap- TV series Dish of the Day, Simple Suppers and
ple, blackberry and cinnamon), forgotten Simple Cooking. From Nigel Slater, presenter of
creations such as Lord Randall’s pudding and Dish of the Day and one of our best-loved food
school dinner favourites like jam roly poly, writers, a beautiful and inspiring companion
through chocoholic delights to perfect rice volume to his bestselling Kitchen Diaries. ‘For
pudding and vintage Christmas pudding, this years now I have kept notebooks, with scribbled
book is a genuine pud-lover’s delight with shopping lists and early drafts of recipes in them.
150 foolproof, tried-and-tested recipes, easy These notes form the basis of this second volume
instructions and colour photographs.
9780091945428 hb Ebury Press
Wild Hares Hummingbirds Survivors
Stephen Moss Richard Fortey
£8.99 £9.99
As the year unfolds, Stephen Moss witnesses An awe-inspiring journey through the eons and
the landscape as it passes from deep snow to across the globe in search of visible traces of evolu-
spring blossom, through the heat haze of sum- tion in the living creatures that have survived from
mer to the chill winds of autumn; from the first earlier times. In this groundbreaking book, prize-
hazel catkins to the swallows returning from winning science writer Richard Fortey chronicles
Africa; from the sounds of the dawn chorus to life’s history not through the fossil record, but
the nocturnal mysteries of moths. “Wild Hares through the stories of organisms that have survived,
and Hummingbirds” is both the story of a small almost unchanged, through geological time.
corner of the West Country and a celebration of 9780007209873 pb HarperPress
the natural world.
9780099552468 pb Vintage
The Old Ways Otter Country
Robert Macfarlane Miriam Darlington
RRP £20.00 £16.00 RRP £20.00 £16.00
The “Old Ways” is the stunning new book by Over the course of a year, Miriam Darlington
acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane Short- travelled around Britain in search of wild
listed for the Samuel Johnson prize 2012. In “The otters; from her home in Devon to the wilds
Old Ways” Robert Macfarlane sets off from his of Scotland; to Cumbria, Wales, Northumber-
Cambridge home to follow the ancient tracks, hol- land, Cornwall, Somerset and the River Lea;
loways, drove-roads and sea paths that form part of to her childhood home near the Ouse, the
a vast network of routes criss-crossing the British source of her watery obsession.
landscape and its waters, and connecting them to 9781847084859 hb Granta
the continents beyond.
9780241143810 hb Hamish Hamilton
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
28

27. The Spanish Ambassador’s Suitcase House of Fun
Matthew Parris Andrew Bryson Simon Hoggart
RRP £16.99 £13.99 RRP £14.99 £11.99
Matthew Parris and Andrew Bryson bring “House of Fun is a bumper collection of Simon
together some of the funniest despatches from Hoggart’s finest and funniest sketches writ-
British Ambassadors abroad, in this sequel to ten since he took up the poisoned quill twenty
their acclaimed Parting Shots. Based on a new years ago. It is instant history with added jokes.
BBC Radio 4 series, it features some classic 9780852653814 hb Guardian Books
stories.
9780670921034 hb Viking
I’m Sorry I Haven’t a CLue Steven Appleby’s Guide to Life
Barry Cryer et al Steven Appleby
RRP £20.00 £16.00 RRP £14.99 £11.99
“I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” is the most lis- Steven Appleby’s weekly “Loomus” cartoon
tened to comedy programme on British radio. is one of the “Guardian’s” most popular
It regularly attracts an audience of 2.5 million features. Together they form a quirky, origi-
listeners on Radio 4, a figure that would put it nal and hilariously perceptive guide to the
comfortably into the top ten programmes on unexpected twists and turns of everyday life.
BBC2 or Channel 4. The format of the game Have you ever wondered how to be a good
is very simple: four players - Graeme Garden, house guest, been a victim of the curse of the
Tim Brooke Taylor, Barry Cryer and a guest evil spell check or wanted to learn the secrets
are given silly things to do by the Chairman of smell spotting? Here, you’ll find all the
Jack Dee. answers to life’s big questions.
9781848093928 hb Preface 9780852653777 hb Guardian Books
The True History of the Black Adder
J.F. Roberts Mrs Weber’s Omnibus
RRP £18.99 £15.99 Posy Simmonds
The True History of the Black Adder” is RRP £20.00 £16.00
the very first in-depth examination of the Collected here for the first time are the complete
creation of a British institution like no other strips. Although celebrated for pinpointing the
- arguably the greatest sitcom of all time - not concerns of Guardian readers in the 1980s and
to mention the first historical investigation their constant struggle to remain true to the ideals
into the lives of the Blackadder family, one of of the 1960s, they are in fact remarkably undated.
the nation’s most villified dynasties. They show one of Britain’s favourite cartoon-
9781848093461 hb Preface ists, celebrated for “Literary Life” and “Tamara
Drewe”, maturing into genius.
9780224096836 hb Jonathan Cape
Weekend Wodehouse Running My Life
P.G. Wodehouse Sebastian Coe
£7.99 RRP £20.00 £16.00
This title comes with an introduction by Hilaire Belloc.
One second in time may separate the great
“P.G. Wodehouse remains the greatest chronicler of a
athlete from the merely good. Seb Coe has
certain kind of Englishness, that no one else has ever
made every second count. From an early age
captured quite so sharply, or with quite as much wit and
he has been driven to be the best at every-
affection”. (Julian Fellowes). “Weekend Wodehouse” -
thing he does. Since the moment Coe stood
required reading at country house parties in the late Thir-
alongside a ‘scrubby’ municipal running track
ties - remains one of the best introductions to the work
in Sheffield, he knew that sport could change
of PG Wodehouse. All the favourites are here: Drones
his life.
Club stories, Mr Mullinger stories, stories of Jeeves, Lord
9781444732528 hb Hodder
Amsworth and Ukridge.
9780099558149 pb Cornerstone
My Time Can Anyone Hear Me
Bradley Wiggins Peter Baxter
RRP £20.00 £16.00 RRP £16.99 £13.99
On 22 July 2012 Bradley Wiggins became the first British For 34 years from 1973 Peter Baxter
man ever to win the Tour de France. In an instant ‘Wiggo’ was BBC producer of the hugely
became a national hero. Ten days later, having swapped popular Test Match Special, and
his yellow jersey for the colours of Team GB, he won during that time he reported on Test
Olympic gold in the time trial, adding to his previous six matches from around the world. This
medals to become the nation’s most decorated Olympian funny and revealing book takes us
of all time. behind the scenes.
9780224092128 hb Yellow Jersey Press 9781906850432 hb Corinthian
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
29

28. Miscellaneous
The Book of Christmas The Brain is Wider than the Sky
Jane Struthers Bryan Appleyard
RRP £9.99 £7.99 £9.99
It is time, says Bryan Appleyard, to resist, and
Packed with fascinating facts about an-
to reclaim the full depth of human experience.
cient religious customs and traditional
We are, he argues, naturally complex creatures,
feasts, instructions for Victorian parlour
we are only ever at home in complexity.
games and the stories behind our
Through art and literature we see ourselves in
favourite carols, “The Book of Christ-
ways that machines never can. He makes an
mas” is a captivating volume about our
impassioned plea for the voices of art to be
Christmas past.
heard.
9780091947293 hb Ebury
9781780220154 pb Orion
Rough Guide ot the 21st Century Cinema Our Church
Adam Smith Roger Scruton
£14.99 RRP £20.00 £16.00
For most people in England today, the church is
Celebrate the centurys’ finest movies in “The Rough
simply the empty building at the end of the road,
Guide to 21st Century Cinema”, a lavishly illustrated
visited for the first time, if at all, when dead. In Our
homage to the world’s best movies of this new era
Church, Scruton argues that the Anglican Church
of cinema. It offers: the best 101 films: a run down
is the forlorn trustee of an architectural and artistic
of the finest films of the millenium from Hollywood
inheritance that remains one of the treasures of
blockbusters to indie gems.
European civilization.
9781405385374 pb Rough Guides Ltd
9781848871984 hb Atlantic
The Fabled Coast
Sophia Kingshill Great Operas
RRP £20.00 £16.00 Michael Steen
Pirates and smugglers, ghost ships and sea- RRP £25.00 £20.00
serpents, fishermen’s prayers and sailors’ Great Operas is his accessible and entertain-
rituals - the coastline of the British Isles plays ing user’s manual to making the best of an
host to an astonishingly rich variety of local opera - whether at home or at a live perform-
legends, customs and superstitions. In “The ance, interspersing the key facts with erudite
Fabled Coast”, renowned folklorists Sophia commentary from a man for whom opera is a
Kingshill and Jennifer Westwood gather lifetime’s passion.
together the most enthralling tales and tradi- 9781848314573 hb Icon
tions, tracing their origins and examining the
facts behind the legends.
9781847946324 hb Cornerstone
Wonder Book of Trains
The Horologicon
Paul Atterbury
Mark Forsyth RRP £14.99 £11.99
RRP £12.99 £10.99 Paul Atterbury’s Wonder book of Trains estab-
The Horologicon (or book of hours) gives you lishes the sense of excitement and wonder in
the most extraordinary words in the English the world of trains, remembered by a generation
language, arranged according to the hour of the of boys who grew up to be railway enthusiasts.
day when you really need them. Do you wake In this wonderfully evocative book Paul draws
up feeling rough? Then you’re philogrobolized. together marvelous classic colour illustrations,
Pretending to work? That’s fudgelling, which archive photographs and period line drawings
may lead to rizzling if you feel sleepy after lunch, and hand lettering with intelligent and insightful
though by dinner time you will have become a commentaries.
sparkling deipnosophist. 9781446302033 hb David Charles
9781848314153 hb Icon
Hello Again Copendium
Simon Elmes Julian Cope
RRP £18.99 £15.99 RRP £30.00 £25.00
14 November 2012 marks the ninetieth anni- Eschewing the usual criteria of chart suc-
versary of the BBC’s first ever broadcast and cess or acknowledged influence, “The
the beginning of the British love affair with Copendium” - a collection of album reviews
radio. This fascinating book takes as its start- and themed track samplers - takes energy,
ing point those early, tentative programmes originality and heaviness as its bearings. The
broadcast from Marconi House on the Strand, result is a feast of obscure and neglected
and follows the story of those magical masterworks that together form a surprising
radio voices through the years of economic but entirely credible new tradition.
depression, war and austerity, to the swinging
Sixties and up to the digital era.
9781847946652 hb Cornerstone
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
30

29. Children’s Books
How to Seize a Dragon’s Jewel
The Worst Thing About My Sister
Cressida Cowell
Jaqueline Wilson
£5.99
£6.99 The story continues in the tenth volume of
Marty and her sister Melissa couldn’t be more dif-
Hiccup’s How to Train Your Dragon mem-
ferent. Marty loves her Converse trainers, playing
oirs. When we last left Hiccup things were
football, hiding in her secret den and helping her
getting very dark indeed. The Dragon Rebel-
dad with his DIY. But Melissa loves Justin Bieber
lion has begun. Snotlout is the new Chief
and all things pink, girly and pretty. The sisters can
of the Hooligan Tribe. Stoick has been ban-
manage to live together, despite their occasional
ished and given the Slavemark. And Alvin
scraps but then Mum tells them they have to share
the Treacherous has EIGHT of the King’s
a room.
Lost Things, and has been proclaimed the
9780440869283 pb Yearling Pub date 5/12 new King of the Wilderwest ...
9781444908794 pb Hodder
Bilbo’s Last Song I Want My Hat Back
J.R.R.Tolkien Jon Klassen
£5.99 £6.99
While Bilbo embarks on his last journey to
The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back.
the West, his mind is cast back to his first big
Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he
adventure, “The Hobbit”. J.R.R Tolkien’s
comes across, one by one, whether they have seen
beautiful poem is brought to life through
it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately
Pauline Bayne’s stunning illustrations. It’s the
than others. But just as it he begins to lose hope,
perfect introduction to the epic fantasy series
lying flat on his back in despair, a deer comes by
of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”
and asks a rather obvious question that suddenly
for younger readers, and a real treat for all
sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search
Tolkien fans.
with a vengeance.
9780099439752 pb Red Fox
9781406338539 pb Walker
The Big Snuggle-Up The Odyssey
Brian Patten Gillian Cross
Nicola Bayley RRP £16.99 £13.99
£5.99 A magnificent retelling of Homer’s epic sto-
It all started with a scarecrow coming into ry, illustrated with lavish full colour pictures
the house out of the snow, bringing with and exquisite black and white silhouettes.
him the mouse that lived up his sleeve. But Homer’s great story is retold with simplicity
it wasn’t only these two who were looking and style by award-winning children’s writer
for a warm place to snuggle up! Gillian Cross.
9781849394666 pb Andersen Press 9781406303674
Inheritance
One Gorilla
Christopher Paolini
Antony Browne
£7.99
It began with Eragon...It ends with RRP £1l.99 £8.99
Inheritance. Not so very long ago, Eragon Explore the family of primates and learn to
- Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider - was noth- count from one to ten with former Children’s
ing more than a poor farm boy, and his Laureate in this exquisite picture book for
dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the the youngest of children. With all the colour
forest. Now, the fate of an entire civiliza- and drama of the natural world, Anthony
tion rests on their shoulders. Browne’s detailed depictions of monkeys and
9780552560245 pb Corgi apes bring a new depth to first numbers and
convey an important message to us all.
9781406325799 hb Walker Books
Horrid Henry’s Fearsome Four
Francesca Simon
Safe For Life
RRP £12.99 £10.99
Full colour bind-up gift book of four Katherine Reynolds
Horrid Henry Early Reader stories - in- Lord Stomper is kidnapped. The entire troupe must
cluding Horrid Henry’s Birthday Party, flee their home to escape capture. Through many ad-
Horrid Henry’s Underpants, Horrid ventures, Red Tabby and Dylan lead the troupe to the
Henry’s Nits and Horrid Henry and the temporary sanctuary of Buckler’s Island, home of Red
Football Fiend. Early Readers - your Tabby’s old shipmate Captain Buckler. Lord Stomper,
child’s stepping stone from picture rescued by Banjo, disguises himself as a monk to sniff
books to reading books. out the forger behind the illegal sale of his estate
9781444006575 hb Orion 9780955011641 pb ideas4writers
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
31

30. Children’s Books
Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena A Stallion Called Midnight
Rick Riordan Victoria Eveleigh
RRP £12.99 £10.99 RRP £4.99
The phenomenally successful Rick Riordan Jenny secretly befriends ‘Midnight’, a wild horse
is back with the next thrilling installment of on the island of Lundy. Midnight won’t let any-
the “Heroes of Olympus series”. Can “Percy one tame him. Anyone, that is, except Jenny - but
Jackson” and the “Half-blood” Heroes suc- that’s their secret. A perfect story for pony-lovers
ceed on their quest to find “The Doors of based on the real legend of ‘Midnight’ the Lundy
Death” or will the Greek Gods of chaos win Stallion. Jenny has to leave him on their island
their battle to stop them? home and go away to school.
9780141335742 hb Penguin 9781444005523 pb Orion
Diary of Wimpey Kid
Jeff Kinney Make Your Own T.REX
RRP 12.99 £10.99 RRP £14.99 £11.99
The “Third Wheel” is the hilarious next book This title helps you to create your very
in the brilliant, bestselling and award-winning own dinosaur. It’s just what every
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series. Perfect for dinosaur fan wants - your very own
readers of 8+ and all the millions of Wimpy T-Rex! With “Make Your Own T-Rex”
Kid fans. A Valentine’s Day dance at Greg’s you can become an expert paleon-
school has turned his world upside down. As tologist and build your own dinosaur.
Greg scrambles to find a date, he’s worried 9781409376439 hb Penguin
he’ll be left out in the cold on the big night.
9780141344980 Pub date: 14/11
The Sacrifice The Quentin Blake Treasury
Charlie Higson RRP £19.99 £9.99
RRP £12.99 £10.39 “The Quentin Blake Treasury” contains: “All
The sickness destroyed everyone over the Join In”; “Quentin Blake’s Nursery Rhyme
age of fourteen. All across London diseased Book”; “Patrick”; “Angelica Sprocket’s
adults are waiting, hungry predators with Pockets”; “Mister Magnolia”; “Quentin
rotten flesh and ravaged minds. Small Blake’s ABC”; “Cockatoos”; “Angel Pave-
Sam and his unlikely ally, The Kid, have ment”; and “Mrs Armitage Queen of the
survived. They’re safe with Ed and his Road”.
friends at the Tower of London, but Sam is
desperate to find his sister. 9780857550477 hb Jonathan Cape
9780141336121 hb Penguin
Lego Batman Visual Dictionary The Roald Dahl Treasury
RRP £16.99 £13.99 RRP £19.99 £9.99
This superb hardback is jampacked with
Enter the world of LEGO Batman.
complete picture tales, as well as ex-
The complete visual guide to all cerpts from longer stories, poetry (some
things LEGO Batman, and includes an previously unpublished), autobio-
exclusive minifigure with every copy. graphical material and letters. It is also
This is the ultimate guide to every set filled with outstanding artwork from
and minifigure to be found in the DC Quentin Blake, Raymond Briggs, Posy
Universe. Simmonds, Ralph Steadman, Patrick
9781409386018 hb Penguin Benson, Charlotte Voake, Lane Smith
and Babette Cole among others.
9780224046916 hb Jonathan Cape
Darke Wave Hunter
Angie Sage Beth Webb
£6.99 £8.99
On the shortest day of the year, as the Castle Part three of the stunning Star Dancer quartet
is lit with candles and everyone prepares to As she passed her hand over the mirror’s
celebrate, Wizard Apprentice Septimus Heap blackened surface, Étain memorised what she
marks his fourteenth birthday. He has reached a had scried: a young druid-girl with raven hair,
new stage in his Apprenticeship: Darke Week. but not an ordinary student of the arts who
Awe-inspiring, terrifying, unbelievably impor- stuck rigidly to spells and potions; this one
tant, Septimus’s future will depend on what worked instinctively with raw magic plucked
happens during this week. from the elements.
9781408806272 pb Bloomsbury 9780956867308 pb March Hamilton
Brendon Books: 01823 337742 email: brendon books@gmail.com
32

31. November 2012 Events
Events in date order. Contact details for most of the venues are given at the end of event listings. Please note, we do not
take any responsibility for errors or omissions. Please check with venue for timings and programme details.
Date Event Details Venue
13 Talk Somerset Cricket: The Glory Years - Alain Lockyear Richard Walsh Brendon Books 7.00
Drama Farm Boy by Michael Morpurgo - New Perspectives Theatre Company Brewhouse 7.45
13-16 Drama Lend Me a Tenor - Taunton Thespians (also see later entry) Tacchi-Morris 7.30
14 Drama Le Grande Suit (The Big Jump) - Theatre de La Guimbarde Tacchi-Morris (Space) 11.00/1.00
Talk Survivors of the Ice Age - Alice Roberts (Rgs) Brewhouse 7.45
14-17 Drama Calendar Girls - Blake Drama Club Bridgwater Arts Centre 7.45
17 Music Wellington Acoustic Music Club Wellington Arts Centre 8.00
15 Art Talk Tim Markham Art Talk: ‘My Art’ The Barn 7.30
Dance Neshima Dance Company Swerve Dance Theatre Company Tacchi-Morris (Space) 7.30
Music Masters of the House - Songs from musicals Brewhouse 7.45
16 Comedy Happiness Through Science - Robin Ince Brewhouse 8.00
17 Drama Lend Me a Tenor - Taunton Thespians Tacchi-Morris 2.30/7.30
Music Jazz from the Prohibition Years - Mike Denham Tom ‘Spats’ Langham Cossington Village Hall 8.00
Music Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman - Folk Rock David Hall 8.00
18 Music The Martinu String Quartet Dillington House 2.30
Music Sinfonietta 30th Anniversary Concert St James Church, Taunton 3.00
19 Drama Mother Courage and Her Children - Blackeyed Theatre Brewhouse 2.00/7.45
Talk The Parrett Floodgates - Davi Greenfield (Som Ind. Archaelogical Soc) North Town School 7.30
19-20 Dance Dancing Through the Lens - Heathfield’s dance companies Tacchi-Morris 7.30
20 Magician Piff The Magic Dragon in Jurassic Bark Brewhouse 8.00
21 Drama A Child’s Christmas in Wales - Somerset College Tacchi-Morris 7.30
21 Circus Circus of Horrors - Circus acts from around the globe Brewhouse 7.45
22 Floral Art Frosty Festival Fantasy - Stephen McDowell with Taunton Floral Art Club Tacchi-Morris 7.30
Music The Alberni String Quartet Dillngton House 8.00
23 Music Come to the Kabaret - Waterfront on Tour Porlock Village Hall 7.30
Comedy Gagging Order - Jimmy Carr Wellsprings Leisure Ctre 8.00
Music Andre Cannniere - American trumpeter and composer Bridgwater Arts Ctre 8.00
Music The Schubert Ensemble Castle Hotel 5.45
24 Music The Schubert Ensemble Castle Hotel 10.30/5.45
Music Come to the Kabaret - Waterfront on Tour Minehead Social Club 7.30
Music Clare Teal - Jazz and Blues Brewhouse 7.45
Music Baroness Boogie Disco- Funk, R B, Pop Exchange , Taunton 8.00
25 Talk The Tate Britain Pre-Raphaelites With Julian Halsby Dillington House 2.30
Music Schubert Ensemble Castle Hotel 10.30
Music Three Counties Swing band - tribute to eric saffin Lawns (BritishLegion)Taunton 5.30
Music Three Bonzos and a Piano David Hall 8.00
27-29 drama Mansfield Park - Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds Brewhouse 2.00/7.30
27-29 drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - Heathfield School Drama Festival Tacchi-morris 7.30
Music Some Enchanted Evening - Bridgwater Amatuer Operatic Society Bridgwater Arts Centre 7.30
30 Music The Reflections The Crown 7.00
Comedy Feeling Lucky - Chris Ramsey Brewhouse 8.00
Music Steve Graham - Classic Jazz Ilminster Arts Centre 8.00
Music The Producers - David Saunders Band Square Compass, Ashill 8.00
33

32. December 2012 Events
Events in date order. Contact details for most of the venues are given at the end of event listings. Please note, we do not
take any responsibility for errors or omissions. Please check with venue for timings and programme details.
Event Details Venue Time
1 Music Gala Showcase - Somerset Opera St James Church 7.30
Music Carolling Crumpets - John Kirkpatrick Wellington Arts Centre 7.30
Music Come to the Kabaret - Waterfornt on Tour Roadwater Village Hall 7.30
Comedy Roy Chubby Brown Wellsrpings Leisure Centre 7.30
Music Somerset Folk Songs for Midwinter Halsway Manor 8.00
2 Talk The Golden Age of Islamic Science - Prof. Jim Al-Khalili Dillington House 2.30
3 Talk The Fussell’s Family and Their Ironworks - Robin Thornes North Town School 7.30
4-6 Drama Oli (Modern twist on Oliver) - Heathfield School Year 11 drama festival Tacchi-Morris 7.30
7 Music Exeter Cathedral Choir Castle Hotel 6.30
Music Microlight Music The Crown Pub, Ilminster 7.00
Music Open Mic Night of Festive Music Tacchi-Morris 7.30
Music Las Torders - Ska, Pop and Rock Bridgwater Arts Centre 8.00
7 to Drama Wind in The Willows - Brewhouse Christmas Show Brewhouse 10.15/2.00/7.00
5 Jan (check individual days for times)
8 Music Fetsive Evening of Carol Singing Hestercombe Gardens 6.00
Music Phoenix Singers - Christmas Concert St James Church, Taunton 7.30
Music Maiastra - Classical Music Ilminster Arts Centre 7.30
Music 4 Girls, 4 Harps - Christmas Concert Dillington House 8.00
10 Drama Christmas Community Drama Evening Tacchi-Morris 7.30
11 Dance Christmas Community Dance Evening Tacchi-Morris 7.30
12-13 Variety Gensis Christmas Showcase Wellington Arts Centre 7.30
12-13 Drama Underground - real life words and sound form the underground Tacchi-Morris (Space) 7.30
14 Music Pearl and the Diamond - Geezers Music Crown Pub, Ilminster 7.00
Ballet A Christmas Carol - Ballet Theatre UK Tacchi-Morris 7.30
Music And the Beat Goes On - The Mersey Makers Lawns Social Club 7.30
Music Sleep Holy Babe - Blossom Street St Michael’s, Milverton 8.00
Drama Talbot House Bridgwater Arts Centre 8.00
15 Music CK Gospel Choir Christmas Concert Tacchi-Morris 7.30
Music Wellington Acoustic Music Club Wellington Arts Centre 8.00
Music Handel’s Messiah - Taunton Choral Society/Taunton Sinfonietta St James Church 7.30
16 Music Christmas Through the Ages - Gabrielli Consort/Copenhagen Royal Choir St Mary Magdalen, Taunton 3.00
Music Carols in the Park - Friends of Vivary Park Vivary Park 7.00
Music Acoustic Roots - Chris Jaggers Square Compass 7.45
17 Music The Glory of the English Carol - Collegium Singers St Johns, Wellington 7.00
18 Music Business Carol Service (for all those who work in Taunton) St James Church 6.15
19 Music The Deane Big Band - 40’s/50’s big band music/Frank Sinatra Tacchi-Morris 7.30
21 Music Blue Mile Music Crown, Ilminster 7.00
Music Collegium Singers Christmas Concert St Johns, Wellington 8.00
21-22 Music Taunton Concert Band’s Christmas Showcase Tacchi-Morris 7.30
22 Drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - Heathfield School Drama Festival Tacchi-morris 7.30
Talk Crocodile Mundi - Dr Joanna Kyffin of Egyptian Exploration Society Friends Meeting House 2.00
Music Festival of Nine Lessons Carols - Phoneix Singers St Johns Baptist Ch. (Well) 6.30
28 Panto Dick Whittington Wellsrpings Leisure Ctre 2.00
29- Panto Babes in the Wood - Minehead Panto People Regal Theatre, Minehead 2.30/7.30
5 Jan
34

33. January 2013 Events
Events in date order. Contact details for most of the venues are given at the end of event listings. Please note, we do not
take any responsibility for errors or omissions. Please check with venue for timings and programme details.
Date Event Details Venue Time
13 Talk She-Wolves - Dr Helen Castor Dillington House 2.30
13-19 Panto Dick Whittington - Wayfarers Pantomime Society Brewhouse 1.30/2.30
(Check individual days for times) 5.30/7.30
18-20 Music The Endellion String Quartet Castle Hotel 10.30/5.30
Music Bobby Wellins Jim Mullen with Craig Milverton Trio Ilminster Arts Centre 8.00
Music The Dante Quartet St Michaels’, Milverton 8.00
20 Music Final of Taunton Young Musician Competition Queen’s College 2.30
23-27 Panto Alice in Wonderland - Wellington Pantomime Group Wellesley Theatre 7.30
24 Music Hats Off to Led Zeppelin Brewhouse 7.45
25 Storytelling Baba Yaga’s Oven - Storytelling for Adults Brewhouse 7.45
Drama Free Fringe Fridays - experimental theatre Brewshouse (Studio) 7.45
26 Music The Johnny Cash Roadshow - Clive John The Spirit Band The Brewhouse 7.45
Music Concert: Nick Wyke, Becki Driscolli Dave Shepherd Halsway Manor 8.00
27 Talk Gardening Moral Value in 18th Century England-Dr Steve Poole Dillington House 2.30
30 Music Lee Memphis King - Elvis Presley tribute Brewhouse 7.45
31 Music Voice of the Heart - music of Karen Carpenter Brewhouse 7.45
February 2013 Events
1 Music Jazz - Emily Wright The Royals Ilminster Arts Centre 8.00
3 Music The Quartetto di Cremona Dillington 2.30
6 Talk New Leaf Design - Planning to Succeed in Your Market Place Rumwell Hall 6.00
9 Music Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant with Adrian Evans Dillington 2.30
Music Halsway Manor Concert/Dance Halsway Manor tbc
10 Talk Divine Women - Bettany Hughes Dillington 2.30
Music Chamber Music Concert Temple Meth. Church 3.00
13 Music Catrin Finch - Harp International Concert Series 7.45 7.45
15 Music The Cappa String Trio - St Michael’s, Milverton 8.00
Music Jazz - Mike Denham Chris Garrick Ilminster Arts Ctre 8.00
17 Music Grtea Britain - Great Britten - Somerset Chamber Choir King’s College Chapel 3.00
20 Storytelling The Eye of the Beholder - Sharon Jacksties Halsway Manor 8.00
21 Talk My Art Talk - Roger Large TBC 7.30
22-24 Music The Wihan Quartet Castle Hotel 10..30/5.30
24 Music Piano Recital with Martin Roscoe Dillington 2.30
28 Talk Monet - Talk with Jeremy Harvey TBC 7.30
35

34. Art Exhibitions November 2012 - February 2013
06/10/12 – 17/11/12 Brewhouse Theatre Mandate From The Honest Hard-Working People Volkhardt Müller
05/11/12 – 17/11/12 Ilminster Arts Centre TRIPLE VISION Jan Brame - an etcher, Michael Tarr and Robert Parker - painters
12/11/12 – 02/12/12 Hestercombe Gardens Sue Gooch - Stained Glass New Lutyens Gallery Exhibition
19/11/12 – 01/12/12 Ilminster Arts Centre ‘made in glastonbury’ is a collective of seven artists working in, and inspired by Glas-
tonbury and the Isle of Avalon.
17/11/12 - 23/12/12 Gallery 41, Swain St, Watchett - The Big Little Picture Show
03/12/12 – 06/01/13 – Hestercombe Gardens Rebecca MacPherson - Paintings
07/12/12 – 05/01/12 – Brewhouse Theatre Poop Poop – The Wind In The Willows
12/01/13 – 23/02/13 The Brewhouse Taunton Work: Surface - Andrew Davey
Contacts List
Barn, Obridge House. Contact: Jeremy Harvey. 01823 276421
Barrington Court Barrington Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0NQ 01460 242614
Brendon Books Bath Place Taunton TA1 4ER 01823 337742 brendonbooks@gmail.com
The Brewhouse Theatre Arts Centre Coal Orchard Taunton TA1 1JL 01823 274608 info@thebrewhouse.net
Bridgwater Arts Centre 11-13 Castle Street Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 3DD 01278 422 700
The Castle Hotel Castle Green Taunton TA1 1NF 01823 272671
Church St Peter St Paul Moor Lane North Curry Ta3 6JZ 01823 490255
The David Hall, Roundwell St SOuth Petherton. TA13 5AA 01460 240340 info@thedavidhall.org
Dillington House Estate Office, Whitelackington, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 9DT 01460 258648 dillington@somerset.gov.uk
Enmore Inn Enmore Rd Durleigh, BRIDGWATER, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 2AW01278 422 052
Halseway Manor Crowcombe Taunton, Somerset TA4 4BD 01984 618274
Hestercombe Gardens Hestercombe Taunton TA2 8LG 01823 413 923
Hobbyhorse Ballroom Esplanade Minehead, Somerset TA24 5QP 01643 702274
Ilminster Arts Centre East Street ILMINSTER TA19 0AN 01460 55783
Oake Manor Golf Club,Oake Taunton TA4 1BA 01823 461992
Parish Church St John Wellington 72 High Street Wellington(01823) 662248
Porlock Village Hall Toll Road (New Rd), Porlock TA24 8QD 01643 862717
Queen’s Conference Centre Trull Road Taunton Ta1 4QS 01823 272559 contact@queenscollege.org.uk
Regal Theatre 10-16 The Avenue Minehead TA24 5AY 01643 706430 mail@regaltheatre.co.uk
Richard Huish College 2 Kings Close Taunton, Somerset TA1 3XP 01823 320800
Silver Street Centre Silver Street Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset TA4 2PA 01984 623107
St Mary Magdalene Church Church Square Taunton TA1 1SA 01823 272441
St Mary’s Church Bridgwater St Mary Street Bridgwater TA6 3EQ 01278 422437 saintmarybridgwater@gmail.com
St Mary’s Church Stogumber office.qtb@btinternet.com
St John’s Church Park Street Taunton TA1 4DG secretary@stjohnstaunton.org.uk
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre School Road Taunton TA2 8PD 01823 41 41 41 info@tacchi-morris.com
Taunton RFC Hyde Park, Hyde Lane, Bathpool, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8BU 01823 336363
Temple Methodist Church Upper High Street Taunton TA1 3PY (01823) 275765
Warehouse Theatre Brewery Lane, Ilminster, TA19 9AD Tel 01460 57049
36

35. The Art of Concealment
Andrew Davey has a spe- pite being some occasional construction
work for stage design within television,
cific memory of the first and a job at the Royal College of Art -
time his art was recog- that only required him however, to hold
up the art of student applicants to a panel
nised. He was nine and to say yes or no to their entries.
had completed a paint- Eventually, he decided that he would
ing of a butcher’s shop try working as an art teacher. This was
the last year when it was possible to
for which he was praised walk straight into a teaching job without
by his teacher. acquiring a teaching qualification and
he found the first year in his post in a
school in Lambeth without any training
very challenging and at times wonders
A little praise goes a long way for years how he got through it. However, he per-
later in the sixth form at the grammar sisted and eventually he became head of
school he became the first and only pu- department in a school in Islington and
pil to take ‘A’ level art in his year, even spent 10 years in all as a teacher in Lon-
though his headmaster attempted to dis- don. In 1984 he moved with his wife and Andrew Davey in his studio
suade him telling that he was a ‘bright young family to West Somerset Com- as an artist outside his school work and
chap’ - the implication being that he munity College in Minehead as head of away from the rigours and stresses of
should not waste his talents on art. While art and later Team leader for all the Arts. teaching in the inner city. However, he
he did not receive encouragement from He remained there until he retired from was mistaken as the focus on education
his headmaster he did receive it from a teaching in 2008. He enjoyed his time at that time became more intense and
new young art teacher. Warnings that he there immensely and for 12 years was demanding and left him little free time.
was given about ‘goings on’ at Art school joined by his wife, Toni, also a graduate However, he does not regret this and
only served to stimulate his curiosity and of Hornsey College of Art. Together they comments, ‘I felt very privileged to work
he became accepted for Hornsey College built up a thriving art department and be- with kids in this community.’ Andrew
of Art once he had completed his ‘A’ lev- tween taking over the department and his was happy to put his own art work to one
els. retirement the number of students taking side feeling that he had still had a creative
When he completed his Fine Art Paint- A level art each year increased from 3 to life with the students and adopted a way
ing degree in 1969 he took a variety of more than 40. of teaching that meant that he could still
jobs, the first as a hospital operating When they first moved to Minehead participate in the artistic process. There
theatre porter. Gardening and general la- Andrew had imagined that there were are many sketchbooks and drawings
bouring followed, the only creative res- would be further opportunities to work from his teaching years and there were
occasional bursts of painting activity.
Now that he has finished teaching he
has the opportunity to concentrate on
his own art work. He also reflects that
he now has the means and opportunity to
produce the work he wants to, giving him
a kind of freedom that perhaps would not
have been available to him if he was try-
ing to make his way as a young artist.
An early project after teaching grew out
of the departments large collection of art
books – more than a thousand. One day
just before he left he began turning them
all around so that the spine was facing
the wall and the fore edge was on show,
concealing the content. He admits to a
slight obsession with tidying his books
and keeping his studio in order. (His art-
ist’s studio does seem incredibly tidy and
well organized). He then took photos and
Mojos 09 08
37

36. made representations of the books and sev- er Mark Rothko, through the use of his with an impastoed surface to produce a
eral paintings followed. He has been work- stacks of colour, with layers and veils noticeably different effect. This may then
ing full time as an artist ever since. superimposed one upon the other, where be copied and transformed into another
Recent projects have been based on trees, the eye is often drawn away from the cen- painting or drawing – and so on.
the mineral line railway and maps, pairs of tre and towards the edges and margins.
figures, and representations of Shiva. These references to other painters he be-
Andrew’s work is typically based around lieves is a way that his work has been in-
a geometric layer which sits flat across the fluenced by the direction of his teaching.
picture. Layered squares or rectangles com- He encouraged his students to refer to
pete with an image which in varying degrees other artists and their ideas and methods
is obscured. Here is the heart of the matter: as a way of developing their own skills
the balance between what is revealed and and their own work.
what is concealed. The central image may be It made me wonder if there were any
further obscured by painted veils. The image direct links to the art of his student days
though is never completely obscured and when he was studying for his degree at
there is an intentional ambiguity: perhaps the Hornsey:
image is disappearing from view or is about ‘Though the themes and subjects are
to be revealed? There is also an ambiguity very different there are certain ways of
on another level. Is the painting figurative or doing things or a kind of painter’s hand-
abstract? Are we witnessing something that writing that I have in common with my-
forms a series of random shapes and lines or self as a young artist.’ He points to the
is it a tangible image representing an every- way he puts down a mark, how he will
day object? That is how Andrew thinks that often draw directly with the paint tube
we now experience the world, in a fragmen- onto the canvas. In terms of composition,
tary and interrupted way and increasingly there has always been an awareness of Stair
through media or ‘windows’, through com- the vertical and horizontal and the pres-
ence of that geometric overlay. He is also interested by the way inten-
His paintings are always a journey tion is communicated and then interpreted
where the destination is unknown though by the viewer, how for example, a recent
they will be based around a central strong version of a painting of his of a tree with
theme as in the present case where lad- an abstract overlay was interpreted as
ders and steps with all their symbolic sig- the tragedy of the twin towers when this
nificance are central to the body of work. was not his intention. He admits perhaps
Because he is never sure of the precise to searching too much for a meaning in
outcome, there is much room for experi- his own paintings as though to justify his
ment and some of his use of medium is work. This is a dialogue which he has had
unconventional: correction fluid in some with his youngest daughter Rose who is
of his drawings or stainblock for his larg- a graduate of the Slade School of Art.
er paintings (having the quality of being Her response is to tell him not to search
opaque and creamy and lending itself to too hard for meaning and to let it emerge
being dragged or scraped). A painting from the work which is something he has
may become transformed or become a ve- actively tried to do and believes it has a
hicle for another painting: so for example positive influence on the direction of his
a rubbing is taken from a previous work work.
Step Andrew Davey Exhibition: Worksurface
puter screens or virtual portals. Saturday 12 January – Saturday 23 February
While this may seem a very modern type of
observation Andrew draws on the work on at The Brewhouse, Taunton
of the 17th century Dutch masters, Vermeer,
de Hooch and Terborch. In their composi- Artist’s Talk: Wednesday 6 February. 6.00
tions spaces are opened up or closed through
corridors, windows, doors and screens. He is
(Also at The Brewhouse)
also influenced by twentieth century paint- 01823 274608 info@thebrewhouse.net
38

37. 41 Swain Street . Watchet Somerset . TA23 0AE
17 November—23 December 2012
The Big Little Picture Show
Still Life 2 © Janine Partington
Over 100 small, affordable, original pictures
for sale alongside new ceramics, pottery,
sculpture and glass priced from £30.
Ideal for Christmas gifts.
5% of sales from the Big Little Picture Show will be donated to Children in Need
www.g-41.com . info@g-41.com . Tel: 01984 639009
Jazz from the Prohibition Years.
Cossington Village Hall Trivetts Way
Cossington Bridgwater TA7 8JN Saturday
November 17th - 8.00pm
Mike Denham (piano) and Tom “Spats”
Langham (banjo-guitar-vocals) invite you
to jump aboard the Jazz Train on a delight-
ful journey from Chicago to Paris, stopping
off in New Orleans, New York and many
more jazz orientated cities en route. Enjoy
the wonderful works of Fats Waller, George
Gershwin, Bing Crosby,,Django Reinhardt
and more, all performed by 2 outstand-
ing musicians and raconteurs. Reserved
tables £10.00 per person which includes
tasty interval treats.are available from host
Roger Collett 01278 451187 local resident
Sue Tippetts 01278 722463 or Strings ‘n’
Things in Bridgwater. A licensed bar with
real ale will be open from 7.00pm. A dona-
Spats Langham Mike Denham tion from the evening and a collection at the
end of the performance will be on behalf of
Bridgwater Hospital League of Friends.
39

38. Taunton Thespians still pulling it off
The following is an edited bicycles to ride off to give a performance
in a neighbouring village hall; if “Labur-
version of a piece written in num Grove” demanded the unobtainable
1966 by the then Taunton bananas, the props department got to work
with sponge cake and chamois leather;
Thespians chariman John when male members went to the war, their
Wilkins with additional places were often taken by men from the
material provided by Nicola Services stationed in Taunton, among them
some professional actors; and when our
Dawson and other contem- own producers were too busy, we were
porary Thespians. fortunate in finding in Taunton a distin-
guished theatrical evacuee in Miss Esmé
Beringer.
The Founding Fathers – and Mothers With such increased activity a new type
– of the Taunton Thespians would have of organisation was inevitable, and the
claimed no far-sighted plans when, old benevolent despotism gave place
in 1927, finding an amateur dramatic to a set of regular officers elected by a
vacuum in Taunton, they got together formal membership. More players were
and said, “Let’s do a play.” Fortunately needed, and, to train these, classes were
among them was Mr. Neville Bradshaw, established-at one time three of these The first Production: Tilly of Bloomsbury
a master at Taunton School, a born were running concurrently. Other play-
organiser who was producer, business ers, mainly young housewives, formed a Productions there. But it was lost it in
manager and even billposter. And so the Children’s Theatre which gave afternoon the “Year of Disaster.”, 1960. Ine day
posters went up for three performances performances in primary schools. The in the stage gang had just finished the
of “Tilly of Bloomsbury” at the Lyceum importance of youth was recognised, and a fit-up for next day’s opening of a play
Theatre, now the Odeon, with the name, teenage section, “The Pleiades” came into at the Odeon, and at 2 a.m. sallied forth,
The Taunton Thespians, added at the being, to be followed by another Group, raincoats buttoned up against driving
last minute to give a little class. “The Twenties,” which combined acting rain. By 7 a.m. Taunton was under three
The production was a success; none of practice with play production. feet of water, the Odeon was awash, lots
the trusting guarantors had to pay up. These manifold activities had to be of equipment was lost and the play was
The proverbial shoestring was al- pursued in a variety of make-shift rented off for six weeks.
ways in evidence; a bill for ten pounds premises, garages, army huts, a rifle After ordeal by water, ordeal by fire.
for a broken “prop” which had been range, and, above all, some old stables Next May, the old “Dump,” now ironi-
borrowed meant a treasure hunt or known affectionately as “The Dump.” It cally like tinder after a dry spell, went
whist drive to avoid depleting slender was decrepit, draughty, and it leaked, but up in flames, leaving just a few twisted
reserves. A tremendous debt is owed was well loved. The Thespians rehearsed lanterns, charred remains of rostrums
to two of the schools in Taunton which and built scenery in it, and did Studio and scorched and soaking drapes. It had
provided
facilities at a peppercorn rent, the
former Weirfield School (later sold
and incorporated into Taunton School)
with rooms for rehearsals, and Taunton
School with facilities for scenery con-
struction, and later, with the use of the
School Hall for productions.
The Society met in September, 1939,
with resolution and determined to “carry
on.” Indeed, as the war progressed,
it increased its productions to three a
year. Somehow the difficulties were
overcome; players walked to rehearsals
through the black-out, or got on their The Winslow Boy, 1949
40

39. been destined some time for demo-
lition to make way for a car park;
perhaps there was wry satisfaction
in seeing it end its days in a blaze of
glory, and it did indeed contribute
some extra publicity towards the
Society’s 100th full-length produc-
tion, “Teahouse of the August Moon,”
which took place in the autumn.
Miss Ewing and the Taunton Arts
Centre Association made efforts to
induce the Town Council to adapt an
existing building as a little theatre.
But it was no good; the old Town
Mill by the riverside was demolished,
and that disused eighteenth century
chapel, full of character, was regarded
as a structural menace. Then, in the
black-out of frustration some un-
seen benevolent electrician switched Daisy Pulls it off in the Gambia, 2009
on a couple of spots; the Council
announced its decision to build a years enters one or two short plays.
splendid civic theatre, and we found a Over recentyears, the Thespians have
big old Georgian House, condemned deliberately attempted more outreach Lend Me A Tenor
for housing, but just what we wanted, activities including semi-improvised The Thespians latest production
and could afford. murder mysteries, cabarets and mini
However, it took ten more years of tours. This night in September of 1934 is the biggest
in the history of the Cleveland Grand Opera
lobbing and fundraising before the In 1997 Arthur Miller’s The Cru-
Company world famous tenor Tito Morelli is
Thespians celebrated the opening of cible was the first in-house produc- to perform Otello, his greatest role, at the gala
the Brewhouse Theatre. Many Thes- tion at The Place at Wilfred Road. In season opener. Saunders, the harried General
pians volunteered as helpers at the 2001the society initiated a two week Manager, hopes this will put Cleveland on the
new theatre. In the 1990s the Thes- open air touring production in mid cultural map. Morelli is nowhere to be found;
pians moved out of the Canon Street June. Twelfth Night was popular suc- when he finally arrives drunk, it is too late for
premises into a former fruit ware- cess and has been followed by other any rehearsal. Through a hilarious series of
house at the far end of Wilfred Road. Shakespeare mishaps, ‘Il Stupendo’ is given a double dose
comedies, and then a romp through of tranquilizers which mix with the booze he
Since then, the Thespians have aver-
has consumed and he passes out. His pulse is
aged three of four main theatre pro- restoration and later amusements
so low that Saunders and his assistant Max
ductions a year. The society is a keen including The Rivals, Tom Jones, believe he is dead. What to do? Saunders
supporter of the Somerset Fellowship London Assurance, A Servant of Two coaxes Max into Morelli’s costume, intending
of Drama One Act Festival and most Masters and in the wettest summer for to fool the audience with this fake ‘Il Stupen-
100 years, Terry Pratchett’s Lords and do’, blackface and all. Nervous amateur Max
Ladies. succeeds admirably, but Morelli revives and
In March 2009. with great sadness, dresses for his second act. With two Otellos
the Thespians announced that they now in costume and two women en deshabille,
could no longer afford to hire the each thinking she is with ‘Il Stupendo’, the
farce spins out of control onstage and off.
Brewhouse Theatre and moved their
spring and autumn productions to the
Tachhi Morris Theatre. 13-17 November
In November 2009: Thespians were Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig
invited to take a show to The Gambia Tacchi Morris Theatre Arts Centre
as part of that country’s first ever arts School Road Taunton TA2 8PD 01823
festival. The chosen play was Daisy 41 41 41
Pulls It Off and it prove a great suc- info@tacchi-morris.com
Costumes arranged in date order
cess.
41

40. 42

41. Rachel Hartland: Accentuating the Positive
In 1978 Rachel was badly the place even though the hospital presented
many organisational challenges with a mish-
burned in a car accident on mash of buildings many of which dated back
her way to work at a local to the Second World War. And there was
Taunton newspaper. Her new the support of a constant stream of visitors,
volume of poetry, Holes in the colleagues, friends and family, and lots of
treats.
Soul, A Life of Poetry in Art, She spent the Christmas of that year there.
is dedicated to all the staff at Her bed was at the back of the ward which
Frenchay who enabled her to looked onto the green at Frenchay and she
remembers seeing the squirrels running up
make a good recovery and the trees through the snow and this gave her
then return to work to resume a feeling of great hope for the future.
her life. There was also a bizarre almost surreal ex-
perience of which she thinks with great affec-
tion that happened that Christmas. A young
junior houseman with a guitar approached
Rachel takes a very positive approach to liv- her bedside where she was sitting covered
ing since the accident and her life since is a in bandages. He asked her if she could sing.
testimony to this. However, we need just for She said ‘yes’ (her brother and sister could
a moment to consider the severity of the ac- play the piano but she was considered the
cident. She was involved in a road traffic ac- yet Unqualified’ one with the best voice). They proceeded to
cident, having been knocked unconscious by In those days East Reach was the accident tour the ward as a duo while she sung ‘The
a head on collision, and for a time she was and Emergency centre for Taunton and after Times They Are a Changing’ and he accom-
trapped in a burning car. It was a devastat- a short assessment the decision was taken to panied her on the guitar. She felt like some-
ing accident. The burns to her face caused transfer Rachel to the burns unit at Frenchay. thing from the horror film ‘The Return of the
excessive swelling which in turn affected the She can remember the excruciating pain, as Mummy’, but strangely her voice still sound-
eyes and she was unable to see for the dura- the ambulance made its way to Bristol, and ed the same and this was very comforting,
tion of a week. This is a frightening aspect on to Frenchay Hospital. The initial problem having to come to terms with such a changed
of facial burns, as not only is the patient in a with severe burns is the loss of fluid from the exterior. However, she reflects, many people
strange environment but is unable to see the body; this is called hypovolaemic shock so in the ward were in a similar positions and
treatment being given. The staff were excel- before leaving Casualty in Taunton intrave- being in hospital buffered the patients from
lent with their communication skills explain- nous fluids we set up. the reactions they would receive outside the
ing to Rachel what was happening to lessen From beginning to end she has nothing but hospital.
the anxiety of the situation. Full thickness praise for Frenchay hospital and the staff. After a short convalescence at Wellington
burns were sustained to her hands and legs ‘They carried me through it,’ she explains. ‘I Cottage Hospital she was back at work with-
as within in a few minutes her life had been did not want to fail and they were not go- in a few months at the newspaper, quicker,
transformed. As described in her poem ‘The ing to let me. Failure was not an option!’ She the surgeon told her, than anyone he can re-
Scream’ accompanying this article, ‘Changes benefited from the fact that her surgeon then member - she believes, on reflection, a little
was Mr. Hiles, one of the most respected in too quickly.
his field with regard to burns and their treat- She was not prepared for some of the re-
ment. However, she finds praise for the help actions she would get to her injuries. She
she was given at every level. ‘As I was im- wanted to go swimming to improve her flex-
proving and my eyesight was restored, if the ibility: ‘It was a nerve-racking experience
Nurses were too busy, the Domestic staff when people’s children started pointing and
on the ward would help me open my post, describing my scars in loud voices ,’ she
as I had polythene bags full of ointment on admits. Sales assistants would drop change
both hands.’ She had lost weight, and at one into her hand ‘because they think you have
point was only 7 stone. ‘The lack of suit- an infection when in fact you have a nice
able nourishment will cause skin grafts not clean skin grafts.’ In the poem ‘My Beauti-
to ‘take’ effectively, so all the time I was in ful Hands’, Rachel celebrates the usefulness
Ward 24 the Nurses encouraged me to eat, of her hands and all the things she has been
and drink high protein drinks, as a result of able to do with them as a result of the nurs-
this I had a 99% ‘take’ on all my grafts. An- ing and medical skills at Frenchay Hospital .
cillary staff, medical and nursing staff, were She writes ‘In the last poem and art work on
commendable in the way they worked as a page 51, I show my heartfelt gratitude, as the
team.’ Rachel noticed that even though there pattern for the fabric collage is taken from
was an ancillary workers’ strike and heavy the present topography of my useful, flexible
snow, they never let the patients down. She and therefore beautiful hands.’
Residue considers that there was a great spirit about Though she had enjoyed working on the
43

42. newspaper, a few months after she returned when she was younger, having attended eight thoughts on paper. Even at the age of nine
she felt the need to be involved with a job that schools before the age of thirteen due to her she remembers using poetry ‘as a cathartic
presented her with more immediately real is- family re locating, Drama became the easiest medium in which to file and explore her
sues, and that she should pay something back option when the eighth school closed in her feelings’. The poetry covers a wide range of
to society, so she decided to train as a RGN. A level year. She then attended Drama school subjects over a long period though; naturally
She nursed for over ten years, first in Taunton in Bristol. many of the later poems record her feelings
and then in Pembrokeshire. She also gained She began producing art in her studio and in relation to the challenges presented by her
a diploma in cosmetic camouflage for scars. was commissioned to make several interior accident. ‘Changes in body image, identity
She thought that she would like to help oth- panels for private homes in the Taunton area. and trauma are present in some poems, as I
ers, and while still in Somerset she gave ad- To reinforce her art experience she complet- try to come to terms with my new life,’ she
vice both cosmetically and supportively to ed a fine art degree with Plymouth Universi- explains. Each of the pages in the poetry book
those who had met similar challenges. ty which she attended at Somerset College in includes background images from Rachel’s
Returning to Taunton she met and married 2010. Rachel has exhibited at the Hot House art or photography. Rachel is keen to point
her husband, David. After obtaining a Cer- Gallery at Somerset College in Taunton, The out however that the book covers many sub-
tificate of Education, she taught an adult Old Glove factory at the North Devon Festi- jects, not only her hospital experiences, there
education class ‘Painting on Glass’ at Som- val, the Brewhouse in Taunton and twice at is humour and satire within the work.
erset College, tutored Saturday workshops The Atkinson Gallery at Millfield in Street, The profit from the poetry book will be do-
and evening classes and also ran private day where she won a prize for her installation, nated to the adult burns unit at Frenchay
workshops in Somerset. She had always ‘The Shadow Factory’ (at the 21st Summer
enjoyed art although excelled at drama and Show in 2009). She has also exhibited in her Poetry Book Launch
own gallery as part of Somerset Art Weeks
in 2010 and 2011. Examples of Rachel’s art
Rachel will be launching her po-
along with poetry are currently on display
in the North corridor of Frenchay hospi- etry book at Brendon Books on
tal and will be exhibited until March 2013. Tuesday 27 November at 7pm.
Ruth Sidgwick, Arts Programme Manager There will be a short talk and
for North Bristol NHS Trust was particular-
ly keen to mount the exhibition, ‘We really
reading followed by a signing.
hope that Rachel’s words and images will There is no charge for this event
be a rich source of inspiration and hope for but please R.S.V.P.
other trauma patients’.
Brendon Books.
Poetry, of course, has also played an impor-
tant role in her life. As a child she remembers Bath Place Taunton, TA1 4ER
spending time in the old servants’ quarters on 01823 337742
the top floor of a remote rambling vicarage
in a tiny village in Yorkshire and sharing her
brendonbooks@gmail.com
The Scream
You knew not of my burning fame
Because the face no longer fits the name Absented from a humdrum working life
Turning you disowned me in that place Because the face no longer fits the name.
From deep inside the scream is still the same.
Perfection melting in the flame
You may have thought it just a silly game Changes yet unqualified
This dreadful visage an impostor’s ruse From deep inside the scream is still the same.
Because the face no longer fits the name.
Embarrassed I turned away in shame
Ethereal essence that will not tame How will I live if I am not myself?
As ghost patrolling my usual haunts Because the face no longer fits the name
From deep inside the scream is still the same. From deep inside the scream is still the same.
44

43. BOOKS: New Old
Ordnance Survey Map Stockists
Named as one of the top 50 of all bookshops in the UK
by the Independent Newspaper in February 2012
01823 337742
brendonbooks@gmail.com
www.brendonbooksonline.co.uk
45

44. A 100 Years of Music Making
Eighty voices in full flow at that season by Coleridge-Taylor’s ‘Hia- ijah’. Perhaps pleased to have set him on
watha’s Wedding Feast’ – a work not of- his way (!), Bryn is now the Society’s pa-
a rehearsal on a Tuesday ten heard these days. tron but unfortunately rarely has time to
evening can be a pretty sing with them now... After a successful
The pattern that became established quite and influential fifteen years, John Cole
overwhelming sound! But early in the life of TCS was to perform retired from the Society in 2004 with a
it is also a very uplifting large choral works interspersed with in- sell-out performance of Verdi’s ‘Req-
experience for the mem- strumental and smaller scale works. This uiem’. His wife, Linda, still works tire-
is still much the same today. Between lessly for the Society ‘fixing’ soloists and
bers of Taunton Choral the two World Wars many of the famous supporting it as its President.
Society as they hone their choral repertoire pieces were tackled but
after 1939 records have either been lost The last few years have seen perform-
performance in prepara- or are incomplete until 1955. During that ances of such grand pieces as Haydn’s
tion for their next concert year we know the Society performed a ‘Creation’ and the ‘Nelson Mass’ as well
in December. programme of Christmas music. as ‘Elijah’ again – this time with the
wonderful David Soar taking the title
Many in the town will remember Ronald role. And last year, timed to celebrate an
Tickner and it was when he was appoint- exciting royal occasion, their most re-
The current membership is continuing ed as MD in 1975 that the group changed cent musical director, Stephen Bell, led a
over a hundred years of music making its name to Taunton Choral Society. ‘Celebration Concert: Music for a Royal
for the Society. It all started in 1903 as During Ron’s leadership the choir sang Wedding’. Works by Parry, Handel, Mo-
the Taunton Madrigal and Choral Soci- works by Rossini, Purcell and Britten as zart, Walton and Rutter echoed round
ety. Although madrigals feature less in well as many other choral favourites. In King’s College Chapel to a warmly re-
the repertoire now, the tradition of cho- 1989 John Cole took over the baton and ceptive audience.
ral music continues. Records show that it was he who persuaded a then up and
the first concert was a performance of coming young baritone by the name of But what sort of person sings choral mu-
Mendelssohn’s ‘St Paul’ followed later Bryn Terfel to sing the title role of ‘El- sic these days? Well, Gareth Malone has
46

45. satisfaction at producing a harmonious, Accompanied by Taunton Sinfonietta,
well blended sound. That’s partly why TCS will sing this well loved work on
TCS ran a workshop earlier this year. Saturday 15th December at St James’
Their ‘Come and Sing’ day was a great Church in Taunton. Tickets are £15
success – many visitors came along and (with concessions for students) avail-
rehearsed Faure’s ‘Requiem’ and the able from the Ticket Office in TIC, or
‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ during the by calling 01984 640787. Alternatively
day, then gave a pretty polished and well you can now book for the ‘Messiah’ and
received performance in the evening. all TCS’s other concerts online (for a
small booking fee) at www.tauntoncho-
The members like to perform to an au- ralsociety.org.uk.
dience – so what’s next...? Currently the
choir is preparing for a performance of If you think you’d like to join the choir
Handel’s ‘Messiah’. Many see this as or simply want to know more about it,
the perfect start to their Christmas cele- you could take a look on their website
brations (even though it was written for or email the secretary at pjhollin@sky.
Easter). The first performance of ‘Mes- com. Rehearsals take place every Tues-
siah’ was in April 1742 (not by current day evening at 7:30pm in Temple Meth-
TCS members!) in Dublin. Parts of the odist Church hall – do go along if you’d
work are very well known and almost like to give it a try. The choir can also be
MD Stephen Bell Photo: Jolie Blanchard
anyone will be able to sing a few bars of heard in Taunton town centre on Thurs-
the famous ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. Tradi- day 20th December singing carols to
shown us how popular choral singing tion says that when that part of the mu- entertain the shoppers. And in the New
can be – and also that almost anyone sic is reached, the audience stands sup- Year look out for details of Carmina
can do it. Although there are some very posedly because King George II stood Burana (remember the Old Spice ad-
experienced musicians in TCS, there up at that point when it was performed vert!) that they are due to sing in April.
are also many members who simply in London in 1743. But there’s no con-
enjoy singing as a hobby. It’s not essen- vincing evidence that the king was even Christopher Doyle
tial to be able to read music, although it present at that performance! Neverthe-
helps a bit – but a good ear and a will- less, when you come to hear TCS you
ingness to learn brings enjoyment and will no doubt carry on the tradition.
47

46. Cinephilia
The Brewhouse cinema in association with independent cinema group
Curzon Cinema was launched at the beginning of September and has
mirrored a trend in the growth of independent film clubs and cinema.
We look at some of the offerings in the area.
The Brewhouse initiative appears to have proved an im-
mediate success with the first film, The Artist, shown
to a packed audience. It has a large screen that fills the
prosenium and, in modern cinema terms, with its 350 seat
capacity is a large capacity audtorium. Robert Miles, chief
executive of the Brewhouse, believes it will allow them to
show a different kind of film which previously may not have had an airing in commercial
cinemas and would be mostly be available on CD. The films will not necessarily be ‘old’
as many films with be available wihtin a month or two of their release.’The great thing
is I get emails from people asking for particularly films and very often I can respond to
their requests.’ Plans in the near future include a season of all the Harry Potter Film over
4 days next Easter and all the Star War films on the same day on the 4th May – entitled
‘May the Fourth be with You.’ It helps to make us truly more of an Arts Centre rather
than just a theatre -important though that is.’
He does not think that they are necessarily in competition with local film clubs in the
surrounding vilages and towns. ‘There is something special about experiencing the cinema within your own immediate
community and they are more accessible to many people In general it is great that cinema is becoming an important part of
our lives. The more we get of it the more we will get a taste for it.’
The Cinema at the Warehouse is situated in the Warehouse Theatre (a former banana warehouse) in
Brewery Lane, Ilminster, Somerset.
It is now in its twenty-first season and is vey popular. As there are only 150 seats in the theatre, member-
ship is restricted to 220. They have a waiting list of people wishing to join.
Sat 15 December: Hugo, Sat 5 January Carnage, Sat 19 January Coriolanus, Sat 16 Feb Casablanca.
All films are now shown on a high quality 11ft x 14ft, electrically controlled, screen using DVD. The
cinema’s seats are raked.
Coming Shortly: at 15 dec Hugo, sat 5 Jan Carnage, Sat 19 Jan Coriolanus, Sat 16 Feb Casablanca.
Contact details: Rob Rainbow 01460 cris.rainbow@runbox.co.uk
48

47. North Curry Film Club
Aim to show contemporary films that do not get a wide distribution by
large multiplex cinemas. The majority of films are in the English lan-
guage but foreign, subtitled films are also shown. The equipment is owned by the village hall and is available for hire
to other interested groups. Initially showings were to members only, but from September 2012 it is possible to view
individual films for a payment of £5 on the door, if the Hall is not too full. We are also introducing a ‘Winter Warmer’
series of films on Saturday afternoons in the Winter, with tea and cake. Information about these extra programmes will
be given nearer the date. there will be a charge of £2 for members and £5 for non-members. Nov 28 th Mao’s Last
Dancer, Dec 19 Albert Nobbs, Jan 23 We have a Pope, Feb 27 Sex Drugs annd Rock and Roll. Contact:
Heather Williams, Willow Cottage, Knapp, Taunton, TA3 6BB
The Regal Theatre, Minehead
The largest film society in the South West. Has been running for 18 years. Unlike
many film societies now they still run 35mm film as well as digital – some affician-
does believe that it delivers better quality film. They have nearly 400 members and are
based in the Regal cinema though it is temporarily closed for refurbishment. Show an
ecelectic mix of English and foreign language films.
November screenings in the Methodist Hall, opposite the Regal while the theatre is
closed.
‘The Descendants’ on November 13 are available from Toucan Wholefoods, The Parade, Minehead, or telephone Vic-
toria Thomas on 01643 831343.
Membership for the season costs £16.50 for an individual and £27 for a couple, with a concessionary price of £11 per
person. Admission to films costs £2.50 for members and £4.50 for guests. Tuesday, February 19 – The Angel’s Share.
Taunton
Film Society
Formed in
2003 The films
shown tend
to be contemporary, of all genres and from a
variety of different countries. Also promote Cinema Obscura, Wiveliscombe.
the study and appreciation of film by arrang- Formed in 2000 to spotlight films you might not
ing events, such as earlier this year a showing otherwise see. They have given several films their
of ‘Pina’ at Tacchi-Morris which also involved South-West premiere, and shown others never
a performance by some dance students or at screened elsewhere in the UK. Alongside recent
the end of 2011 the day conference we ran films from around the world they find room for
about book/film links based on ‘Never Let Me neglected classics.
Go’.TFS meets in a lecture theatre at Somerset They have recently been re-equipped with a Blu-
College on one Friday in each month, except Ray player and high-quality projector.
in August; the doors are open from 7:00pm They meet at the Primary School, North Street,
with the film starting at 7:30pm. The next Wiveliscombe TA4 2LA. Screenings start at 7.30,
dates being 16th November, when the film but the doors open at 7, when you can meet other
will be ‘Whistleblower’ an American film enthusiasts in an informal atmosphere over tea,
about human trafficking, then on 7th Decem- coffee and cakes.
ber ‘The Kid with a Bike’ a winner at last Membership is still open, but guests are very
year’s Cannes Festival and 18th January 2013 welcome: admission for non-members is £5. For
we will show ‘Position Among the Stars’ a further information, visit their Facebook page,
documentary about a family in Indonesia. or ring Eddie Gaines (01984 624657) or Barry
More information about TFS and an up to date Witherden (01984 629114).
programme can be found at www.tauntonfilm-
society.co.uk or ring 01823 412201
49

48. Poetry Corner
The 21 October marked 240 years
since Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s
birth. He was only 25 when he
moved to Nether Stowey in 1797.
During the next three years he
would write poetry which would
change the way we saw the world
forever, and the Romantic Move-
ment would be born.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, known as Sam to
his family, was born in the vicarage of Ottery
St Mary in Devon in 1772 and spoke with a
West Country burr all his life. He moved to
a cottage in Nether Stowey - “the hovel”, he
called it - with his wife, Sara, and baby son,
Hartley, in 1797 to be close to his patron Tom
Poole and to concentrate on writing. It was
damp and mouse-ridden. In a letter to a friend,
he described his routine. He cultivated his Portrait of Coleridge by Pieter van Dyke
large vegetable garden in the early morning,
followed by reading and composing, back
to the garden in the afternoon, attend to the
pigs and poultry, more literary work until the Written in 1798, Frost at Midnight is one of Col-
evening and, at night, socialise with the very eridge’s conversation poems and, of these, is usually
pretty young women of Stowey. We are very reckoned to be his finest.
happy.’
Coleridge lived in the cottage for less than two The poem expressed the need to be raised in the coun-
years before going to Germany in September tryside and he expresses the hope that his son Hartley
1798 to study. Yet here he produced much should experience this.
of his finest work in verse - including Kubla
Khan, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, This
Lime-Tree Bower My Prison and Frost at
Midnight, and began the collaboration with
William Wordsworth on The Lyrical Ballads. Walk the Coleridge Way and feel the wild romance
This inaugurated the Romantic movement in
England, which, in turn, would revolutionise of the Quantock Hills
the world of poetry. Wordsworth and his sister, Further information
Dorothy, rented the gentleman’s residence of www.quantockhills.com
Alfoxton Park for a year and either he or Col-
eridge would walk the three miles to the other
almost every day.
50

49. And so I brooded all the following morn,
Awed by the stern preceptor’s face, mine eye
Frost at Midnight
Fixed with mock study on my swimming book:
Save if the door half opened, and I snatched
The Frost performs its secret ministry, A hasty glance, and still my heart leaped up,
Unhelped by any wind. The owlet’s cry For still I hoped to see the stranger’s face,
Came loud--and hark, again ! loud as before. Townsman, or aunt, or sister more beloved,
The inmates of my cottage, all at rest, My play-mate when we both were clothed alike!
Have left me to that solitude, which suits
Abstruser musings : save that at my side Dear Babe, that sleepest cradled by my side,
My cradled infant slumbers peacefully. Whose gentle breathings, heard in this deep
‘Tis calm indeed ! so calm, that it disturbs calm,
And vexes meditation with its strange Fill up the intersperséd vacancies
And extreme silentness. Sea, hill, and wood, And momentary pauses of the thought!
This populous village ! Sea, and hill, and wood, My babe so beautiful ! it thrills my heart
With all the numberless goings-on of life, With tender gladness, thus to look at thee,
Inaudible as dreams ! the thin blue flame And think that thou shalt learn far other lore,
Lies on my low-burnt fire, and quivers not; And in far other scenes ! For I was reared
Only that film, which fluttered on the grate, In the great city, pent ‘mid cloisters dim,
Still flutters there, the sole unquiet thing. And saw nought lovely but the sky and stars.
Methinks, its motion in this hush of nature But thou, my babe ! shalt wander like a breeze
Gives it dim sympathies with me who live, By lakes and sandy shores, beneath the crags
Making it a companionable form, Of ancient mountain, and beneath the clouds,
Whose puny flaps and freaks the idling Spirit Which image in their bulk both lakes and shores
By its own moods interprets, every where And mountain crags : so shalt thou see and hear
Echo or mirror seeking of itself, The lovely shapes and sounds intelligible
And makes a toy of Thought. Of that eternal language, which thy God
Utters, who from eternity doth teach
But O! how oft, Himself in all, and all things in himself.
How oft, at school, with most believing mind, Great universal Teacher ! he shall mould
Presageful, have I gazed upon the bars, Thy spirit, and by giving make it ask.
To watch that fluttering stranger ! and as oft
With unclosed lids, already had I dreamt Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Of my sweet birth-place, and the old church- Whether the summer clothe the general earth
tower, With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Whose bells, the poor man’s only music, rang Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
From morn to evening, all the hot Fair-day, Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
So sweetly, that they stirred and haunted me Smokes in the sun-thaw ; whether the eave-
With a wild pleasure, falling on mine ear drops fall
Most like articulate sounds of things to come! Heard only in the trances of the blast,
So gazed I, till the soothing things, I dreamt, Or if the secret ministry of frost
Lulled me to sleep, and sleep prolonged my Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
dreams! Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.
51

50. Flowers in the Minefield: El Alamein
to St Honorine
John Jarmain -War Poet
As an anti-tank gunner with the famous 51st
Highland Division John Jarmain saw action at
the battle El Alamein in October 1942 and then
for the next six months he fought with them
through the Libyan deserts, right up into Tunisia
and then took part in the invasion of Sicily.
The 51st were often in the thick of the fight-
ing and took terrible casualties. He sent over
150 airmail letters back to his wife in Dorset,
often written at night in a small dugout by the
light of the moon, and inside the letters were
the poems. The title of the book is taken from a
line in a poem about that crucial battle. Seventy
years have now passed since El Alamein, but the
poems are still fresh and in many ways untypical
of war poetry, being understated and minimalist.
Jarmain was killed by mortar fire in Norman-
dy, rather unsportingly before breakfast, on 26th
June 1944, in the once picturesque village of St
Honorine, east of Caen, in the Calvados region.
Sadly John Jarmain never saw his poems in print
or even his first novel called Priddy Barrows
which was about a boy’s school on Mendip. He
was himself a schoolmaster at Millfield in its
early days. The reviews that his poems received
in 1945 were impressive. Today several key
academics such as Prof. Jon Stallworthy of
Oxford are keen to recognise the re-discovery of
his work.
Almost by chance James Crowden found the
poems and the letters and has worked for over a from those that were embroiled in such major conflicts of conscience, brav-
year researching Jarmain’s life and the various ery and hardship. Jarmain’s poems were shaped by solitude and the desert
actions he took part in. It has been a journey of And as one of his lines says:
discovery and immensely rewarding. Crowden
feels that John Jarmain deserves to be known “ And the desert will live within us when war is ended.”
to a much wider audience and his poems once
again set alongside the work of other Second John Jarmain - War Poet 1911- 1944
World War poets like Keith Douglas, who are Edited and researched by James Crowden, a ‘new’ book of war
still, even today, little known and very much in poetry by John Jarmain, is to be launched at Sladers Yard, West
the shadow of their First World War counter- Bay, as part of the Bridport Literary Festival - Remembrance Day
parts. They fought a very different but just as - 11th November 2012 12 noon.
bitter war, and many of the poets in the Western Available form Brendon Books, Bath Place Taunton TA1 4ER
Desert were killed. We can still learn so much 01823 337742 brendonbooks@gmail.com
52

51. Short Story
Jonathan Pinnock, who lives pettiness of everyday working life, just left. She’s pretty fit.”
near Wedmore, has been writ- waiting for the moment to strike. At last my He snorted. “Ha! No. You’re wasting
ing for several years and had destiny had been revealed to me. your time with her. Nah. I’d go for the
his first book about software Curiously enough, it turned out to be a dark one in the middle.”
rather good day all round. I shafted two of “But why?” I was genuinely fascinated.
development published in 1997. “Y’see,” he was continuing, oblivious to
my least favourite colleagues in our Mon-
In recent years he has turned to day-morning progress meeting, closed a my interruption,
fiction and his Regency science- half-million deal just before lunch and “if I look around this bar, this whole
fiction spoof “Mrs Darcy versus booked myself a few rounds of golf with place is like a bleedin’ menagerie to me.
the Aliens” was published last the MD for the end of the month. The run of See that guy over there?”
success continued for the rest of the week, “The Asian guy with the newspaper un-
year and has proved very popu- der his arm?”
and by Friday morning, I had installed a
lar. His short stories have won rather magnifcent framed picture of an ea- “Yeah, him. Penguin.” He started to scan
several prizes and have been gle over my desk to remind me of what I the room. “Ooh, there’s an interesting
published in a number of pres- had become. one. See that chap over in the corner?
tigious places, including BBC It was raining that evening, but when I The one with the half-pint of shandy?”
got to the tube station, the tramp was still “Where?” I said. “Oh, him?” He was
Radio 4. HIs first short story col- looking at a weedy-looking middle-
there, sitting behind his bucket, which now
lection, “Dot Dash”, is published had more water in it than money. It seemed aged man with thick glasses.
by Salt Publishing in November. churlish not to offer to buy him a drink, and “Yeah. Manatee. Don’t see many of
The following short story, The he readily accepted. them in this part of town.”
Birdman of Farringdon Road is “So what ... I mean ... how ...” It’s not al- “Are you sure?”
ways easy to open the conversation with a “Course I’m sure. Anyway, it’s my round
taken from that collection. ...” he waved his empty glass at me.
beggar. But he understood what I was ask-
ing. “Oh, thanks, I’ll have ...”
“You may not believe it looking at me “... only as you are no doubt aware, I’m
I don’t usually give money to beggars. now,” he began, “but I went to university skint.” He was still waving the glass.
After all, they’ll only spend it on drink. once. Studied zoology.” “Another pint, I think.”
So I’m really not sure what got into my “Really?” I said. I went of for the next round. He spent
head that July morning. Maybe it was the “Yeah. But afer I funked out, the only job I the next quarter of an hour identifying a
sunshine, maybe it was the girls in short could get was as a zookeeper.” bizarre array of animals that were appar-
dresses, maybe there was just something “Well, at least you still managed to work ently sharing the bar with us. Finally, I
in the air. Whatever it was, I went over with animals,” I said, trying to sound posi- drained my glass, and made to leave.
to the old tramp outside the station and tive. “Er ... your round, I think?” he said.
threw a couple of pounds into his bucket. “Hah. Have you ever considered how much “Well, I was just leaving.”
Instead of thanking me, however, he stood shit they produce?” “I’m not. And whilst you’re at the bar,
up, reached behind my ear and produced “No,” I replied, truthfully. “Rather a lot, I have another look at that dark one. Trust
a single feather, as if by magic. Looking imagine.” me, she’s red hot.”
deep into my eyes, he pressed the feather “Rather a lot,” he said, “rather a lot.” He “But what’s so special about her? I still
into my hands, closing them over with was silent for a few seconds before continu- like the look of that blonde.”
his. ing. “Anyway, it all fnished afer the acci- “Nah. She’s a rabbit.”
“You’re a bird,” he said to me. The voice dent.” “Sorry? Excuse me, but isn’t that ...”
was quiet, steady and educated, with no “Accident?” He leaned in close, and whispered in my
discernible accent. He held my gaze for “Bleedin’ hippo fell on me. Damn nearly ear. “The one in the middle is an octo-
several more seconds before nodding killed me. As it is, I’ll never work again, but pus.” He tapped his nose in a meaning-
slightly and releasing me. I didn’t really I did acquire this ability.” ful manner, nodding slightly.
know what to say, so I simply nodded “I’m sorry?” I said. Curiously, he turned out to be right
back and moved away, putting the feather “Yeah. See those tarts up at the bar. Which about her. It was quite an exhausting
in the inside pocket of my jacket. one would you choose for a one-night weekend.The upward trend continued
Far from being discomfited by the morn- stand?” for the next week. The new project was
ing’s strange encounter, I felt elated for “You what?” getting ready to start, and I was invited
the rest of the day. A bird! Yes! That’s “I said, which one would you choose?” to recruit my own team. I was new to
what I was! I was an eagle, soaring with “Oh, I dunno. Maybe the blonde one on the this, and the idea of selecting staff was
wings outstretched above the mundane more than a little frightening, but it oc-
53

52. curred to me that I might be able to use all good airport bookshops. something better to do with his life.
my new friend. So next Monday morning, Unfortunately, we ran into problems He did seem to have acquired a tan, how-
I stopped by to have a word with him. on the very frst day, as one potential re- ever, and he was looking slightly fuller in
“D’you fancy a bit of work this week?” cruit who had interviewed extremely well the face.
I said. turned out to be an elephant, and thus “Fat load of use you were, mate.” I said to
“Like what?” completely inappropriate. I had an ex- him, brandishing my P45.
“I need some advice picking a team.” tremely tough job explaining to personnel “Didn’t work out, then, did it?” he said, as
He rolled his eyes, as if he’d seen it all be- why I didn’t want her for the job, and it if he’d been expecting this all along.
fore. “OK, I’ll do it,” he said eventually, got worse when I also had to turn down “No, it bloody didn’t,” I said. He smiled,
as if he was doing me a great favour. a puffin, two sloths and an aardvark the and reached into his coat pocket. He with-
“£500 a day.” same day, all of whom had otherwise ex- drew a handful of birdseed and held it out
“Huh? That’s outrageous,” I said. “You’re cellent attributes. in his palm. A pigeon few down from the
a beggar!” However, on the second day of inter- roof of the station and started eating.
“£500 or nothing,” he said. “If you really viewing, we struck gold, in the shape of “Nice picture you’ve got there, Mr Bird-
believe I can help you, you’ll pay that.” a cat, a dog and a fox in rapid succession. man,” said the beggar, examining my ea-
I thought about it for a few seconds. To be honest, all three had turned in rath- gle.
“OK,” I said. “Deal. er lacklustre performances, but I insisted “Hah,” I said. “Well, that’s a bit of a sick
When can you start?” that they were just what I was looking for, joke now, isn’t it?”
He looked from side to side, then down at and eventually got my way. I arranged for “Hmmm,” he said. “Did you ever take a
his bucket. my proper look at that feather of yours?”
“Well,” he shrugged, “I can fit you in to- friend to get paid a grand in cash for his I put down the picture and reached into
morrow.” eforts and he went on his way a happy my inside pocket where I kept the feather.
The next day I picked him up outside the man. I was happy too. I really felt that I I took it out and held it in front of me.
station and took him along with me to the had learned something important. Now that I studied it closely, it was ac-
offices. The receptionist eyed him up sus- Three months later, the project and my tually a rather dull, unexciting greyish
piciously before relenting and giving him immediate career were both in ruins. My colour. I looked at the feather and then I
a badge to wear. Then the MD walked fox had turned out to be a thief, and had looked at the pigeon, still eating out of the
in, provoking an odd response from the succeeding in embezzling an impressive beggar’s hand. As I watched, the pigeon
beggar. He burst out laughing and started amount of the company’s funds. My dog stopped eating and looked back at me. It
pointing at him. was indeed loyal to me, but then he was cocked its head on one side and appeared
“A pig!” he said. “Your boss is a bleedin’ loyal to anyone and everyone who made to smile, as if to say: do I know you from
pig!” the mistake of giving him the time of day. somewhere?
This did not go down well, and my He was probably the neediest person that
planned golf session was mysteriously I have ever met, and he also turned out
cancelled not long aferwards. I made a have appalling personal hygiene, to the
mental note to keep my friend out of sight extent that our customer had specifcally
for the remainder of his employment. asked that he should no longer visit their
We spent the next few days going offices.
through the various applicants. The rou- The dog was also making life difficult
tine was the same every time. I would go for the cat, although she was as useless as
through the motions of a formal interview him, given as she was to spending most
accompanied by a stooge from personnel, of her time preening herself and falling
and then I would take them on a tour of asleep in the corner of the office. Even
the office, during which the beggar would when she was working, she tended to
observe them covertly before giving his wander of on her own projects, ignoring
assessment once they had gone. I had al- the interests of the rest of the team alto-
ready decided that my ideal team would gether. She had also developed a habit of
consist of a fox (for cunning), a dog (for making unpleasant personal attacks on
loyalty) and a cat (for stealth and speed), me, which didn’t
so all we had to do was identify one of exactly help with our working relation-
each. ship.
As you may imagine, I had been think- As I walked back to the station for the Dot Dash is available from Brendon
ing all this through in some detail, and I last time, clutching my P45 in one hand Books, Bath Place, Taunton TA1 4ER
was beginning to see a whole new career and my framed eagle picture in the other, 01823 337742 brendonbooks@gmail.com
opening up for me. I could see the title I was surprised to see the beggar again. I
of my slim management treatise now: hadn’t seen him for a while, and I had as-
“Who’s in Your Zoo?” – available from sumed that he had used the money to fnd
54

53. My Favourite...
Stanley Reynolds published his first novel, Better Dead Than Red,
in his twenties, and the next, Death Dyed Blonde, in his seventies.
He wrote a satirical column for the Guardian, was TV critic for The
Times and the Guardian, and for many years was Literary Editor of
Punch. He lives near Taunton.
One of my favourite nights in the theatre audience. “I bet you thought I wouldn’t Bill Nighy) I like best to listen to classi-
was when Pete Postlethwaite was acting make it,” he said. cal music. I turn on Radio Three every
in Desolation Angel , a little play of mine But Shakespeare is my favourite. I’ve morning. If it’s Wagner or Leonard Bern-
about Jack Kerouac. He suddenly came see many Hamlets and it’s amazing how
out of character and said to the audience, the play seems new with every new
“Can you imagine, someone actually sat Prince. Romeo and Juliet became a fa-
down and wrote this shit?” vourite one night when the performance
suddenly stopped and the manager came
on and said we could all get out money
back because Friar Lawrence was drunk.
I’d been sitting there thinking it was a
wonderful new twist which explained a
lot.
I made a living writing a satirical col- Tchaikovsky, composer of Swan Lake
umn for the Guardian, and I suppose
Candide is my favourite book. When I stein, I turn off. Of American composers,
came to England from America practi- I like Charles Ives. My favourite music,
John Barrymore, Hamlet 1922 though, is Swan Lake though I don’t
want to see it performed; since I find it
That was in what I’d guess you’d call difficult to walk, I don’t think I’d enjoy
an experimental theatre in an old ware- seeing people use their legs too well.
house. The late Pete laid off the drink I fell in love with painting when I first
and performed in the same piece many saw the French Impressionists; to me,
times in different former warehouses. It they are It. I like Picasso in his Blue pe-
was in another warehouse where I was riod, and Gauguin, but my favourite is
reviewing a play by Ken Campbell that a Matisse. What appeals to me are the col-
massive piece of the scenery fell into the ours and the flow of the lines.
seat beside me. He said later that it was 1759 edition of Candide
his best night ever in the theatre, coming
close to killing a critic. A few nights later cally as a barefoot boy, I discovered
a small fire on the stage became a big Evelyn Waugh, and a little later Ronald
fire; the fire engines came, and the build- Firbank. The best of Firbank for me is
ing went back to being an empty former a novel which he wanted to call Sorrow
warehouse. in Sunlight, but it has always been pub-
George Bernard Shaw is a great favour- lished as Prancing Nigger. Such a very
ite of mine, particularly Man and Super- un-PC title probably means it is out of
man. I saw this at the National Thea- print these days.
tre, and another production when Peter Despite my own attempts at musical
O’Toole came on after drink had been theatre (I had a musical version of An-
taken; he succeeded in walking across drocles and the Lion put on at the Liv-
the stage in one scene and turned to the erpool Everyman with Julie Walters and Woman Reading, Matisse
55

54. 56