Stretch 2

h c t e r st a just

p ed u k o e co w g thin e m e so littl

ISSUE 2, S UMMER 2 005

THE INTERVIEW

KT TUNSTALL BABLAKE DRAMA

BEYOND THE BARRICADE REAL-LIFE STORY

BOSCASTLE SURVIVOR YOU CAN HELP TO

MAKE TRADE FAIR

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02: stretch

STRETCH INGIT EDITORS MARK WOODWARD NADIA GARRETT REPORTERS RACHAEL CHAMBERS ADAM FRAY NADIA GARRETT JENNA HASTINGS TARA KATTI CHARLI SEARCHWELL-GUEST CLAIRE TAGGART CONTRIBUTIONS STEPHANIE WEBB DESIGN PAUL DIBBENS (www.mustardhot.com) ADAM FRAY

www.stretch-mag.co.uk www.2morrow-2day.com Bablake Careers Department www.bablake.com

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STRETCH TEAM 2005

BACKGROUND COPY WAS PLANNED AND PRODUCED IN THE L6TH WORK EXPERIENCE WEEK. A PRESSROOM WAS SET UP IN THE 6TH FORM LIBRARY AND ALONG THE WAY, STRETCH MET THE EDITORIAL, DESIGN AND SALES TEAMS AT ETC MAGAZINE AS WELL AS JOHN WEST FROM THE COVENTRY TELEGRAPH. FIONA SIBLEY, AN ONLINE JOURNALIST, ACTED AS CONSULTANT AND THERE WERE A FEW PRACTICAL EXERCISES TO HONE THE TEAM’S REPORTING SKILLS. THERE WAS EVEN TIME TO FIT IN A PHOTO SHOOT FOR SOME NEW 6TH FORM LITERATURE. WE FINISHED WITH A MOCK-UP OF THE ISSUE AND THOUGHTS OF A NEW WEBSITE TO DISPLAY THE WORK. IT WAS A BRILLIANT WEEK AND A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH SUCH TREMENDOUSLY TALENTED AND PHOTOGENIC STUDENTS!

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WE HOPE YOU ENJOY STRETCH 2!

EDITORIAL

A DRAMATIC, UNFORGETTABLE WEEK IN THE NATIONALS:

EARLY FRONT PAGES WERE DOMINATED BY THE EUPHORIA OF LIVE 8, A TABLOID PRICE WAR AND ANTICIPATION OF THE G8 SUMMIT. ‘LICE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS’, OBVIOUSLY A SLOW NEWS DAY, GAVE WAY TO EUPHORIA AT LONDON’S SUCCESSFUL OLYMPICS BID AND LAMENTABLE GLOATING OVER THE DEFEATED FRENCH. 7/7 SHATTERED ALL CELEBRATIONS. THE CHILLING IRONY OF LONDON IN TERROR NEEDED NO TEXT. FIRST CAME STAGGERING IMAGES OF THE MANGLED NO 30 BUS, THEN THE WALKING INJURED. SOON HUMAN TRAGEDIES WERE TOLD AND OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS BEGAN. TRADITIONAL REPORTERS AND THE PUBLIC TOGETHER HAD CAPTURED AN INTERNATIONAL TRAGEDY IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND THE PUBLIC WHO STARTED THE WEEK DEFIANT AGAINST WORLD POVERTY ENDED IT DEFIANT AGAINST ANOTHER SCOURGE... TERRORISM.

Bablake School 03:

onTOUR NADIA GARRETT

IT WOULDN’T BE UNFAIR TO SAY THAT THE STRETCH TEAM WERE LESS THAN ENTHUSED AT THE PROSPECT OF TURNING UP AT SCHOOL AT THE UNGODLY HOUR OF 6AM AND ENDURING A 31/2 HOUR MINIBUS JOURNEY TO HARROGATE. HOWEVER, WHEN WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT ETC, WE WERE WON OVER WITH CUPS OF TEA, TWO FUNCTIONING (AND MIGHT I MENTION, VERY CLEAN) TOILETS AND A GROUP OF FRIENDLY FACES. FIRST WE SQUEEZED INTO A ROOM IN WHICH ETC EMPLOYEES WITH RATHER INTIMIDATING TITLES LIKE DESIGNER/VISIONARY AND TECHNICAL WIZARD SURROUNDED US, BUT WE WERE INSTANTLY PUT AT EASE BY THE REMARKABLY LAID BACK ATTITUDES OF BOTH EVAN JEFFRIES AND RUSS THORNE, EDITOR AND DEPUTY EDITOR. WE ASKED QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED AND EVERYONE ACQUIRED A VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF MAGAZINE JOURNALISM. EVEN NATURALLY NEGATIVE CHARLI WAS NOTHING BUT POSITIVE: ‘THIS HAS DEFINED MY DIRECTION FOR FUTURE. I’VE REALISED THAT THIS KIND OF JOURNALISM IS SOMETHING I REALLY WOULD ENJOY.’

A DAYAT ETC MAGAZINE THE MAJORITY OF OUR VISIT WAS SPENT LOOKING AT HOW THE MAGAZINE WAS PLANNED, HOW THE JOBS INTERWOVE WITH ONE ANOTHER, THE DIFFERENT ROLES ON OFFER AND ATTEMPTS TO CONCEAL OUR ENVY WHEN RUSS REGALED US WITH MEMORIES OF FAMOUS INTERVIEWEES. RETIRING TO A BISTRO TO TALK ABOUT ETC, IT WAS EASY TO REFLECT ON A VERY BENEFICIAL VISIT. ONE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SUCH AN OUTING WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR OTHER PROSPECTIVE JOURNALISTS IN THE FUTURE.

www.etcmag.co.uk

04: stretch

oPInion

TARA KATTI

COLDPLAY CAMPAIGN TO ‘MAKE TRADE FAIR’ THANKS TO PUBLICITY AT G8 AND LIVE 8, THE MAKE POVERTY HISTORY CAMPAIGN WAS RECOGNISED AND SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. YET ONE COMPONENT THAT COULD HELP TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY IS FAR LESS RECOGNISED THAN IT SHOULD BE.

MAKE TRADE FAIR I first became aware of Fair Trade at a Coldplay gig. After an approach by Oxfam in 2002 to back the Make Trade Fair campaign, Coldplay, and in particular Chris Martin, have worked hard to promote it. Chris, for example, travelled to Ghana and Haiti to become more aware of the problems behind trade in developing countries.

Oxfam says: ‘The problem is not that international trade is opposed to the needs and interests of the poor, but that the rules that govern it are rigged in favour of the rich’.

Developing countries are exploited by wealthier countries in terms of trade. This is clearly seen through the use of subsidies in the Western world. The West heavily subsidises its farmers- rates can be as high as $1 billion a day. This encourages farmers to grow much more food than is necessary. The surplus produce is then ‘dumped’ upon developing countries at ridiculously cheap prices which make it hard for local farmers to compete with the markets. Similarly, each European cow costs taxpayers $2.20 a day, while half the world’s population lives on less than $2 per day.

In Ghana, a predominately agricultural country where over 60% of the population relies on farming to live, subsidies for farmers are nonexistent. In return for a loan, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank insisted that the Ghanaian Government stop supporting their own farmers in favour of importation.

Imported products now flood the country, undercutting the value of local produce. Poor countries are also faced with exportation tariff barriers that are four times higher than those encountered by rich countries.

Fair Trade is a clear problem and public pressure is a vital weapon. Whilst aid helps in the short term, long term plans are needed to deal with corruption in countries.

Chris Martin says: ‘’Travelling with Oxfam I’ve seen a lot of unnecessary poverty. But the problems are solvable: a few changes to the trade rules would make a huge difference, and we all need to pressure our politicians to act.’

We could all contribute to a fairer world, by buying Fair Trade products, or adding our voice to Oxfam’s ‘Big Noise’ campaign.

‘WE ALL NEED TO PRESSURE OUR POLITICIANS TO ACT’ CHRIS MARTIN

MAKE A DIFFERENCE! CREDITS: THANKS TO MATT VINES, A FORMER BABLAKE STUDENT WHO WORKS FOR COLDPLAY’S MANAGEMENT, AND CHRIS LATHAM AT EMI

www.bignoisemusic.com www.makepovertyhistory.org www.coldplay.com www.maketradefair.com

Bablake School 05:

YOURSHOUT TARA KATTI

After the concert Stretch interviewed these pupils again, to find out if they thought ‘Live 8’ had made a difference and what they thought world leaders could do to help make poverty history...

FAITH HANNON I didn’t think Live 8 would make a difference, but now I think it has. There were so many people involved in it and it wasn’t just all about the music: I think the clips of film they played were effective. Cancelling debt will help, but the world leaders need to be more constructive.

It’s not just charity the poor countries need.

IRA KLEINE Most people just went to the concert for the music, so I’m not sure if it made a difference.

I’ve heard that some debt but not all got cancelled. I think it would be more useful for the world leaders to make arrangements with leaders to look after their countries. They could put pressure on the African leaders to use more money for housing, water and immunisations rather than big palaces.

BEFORE ‘LIVE 8’ THE COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH INTERVIEWED A FEW BABLAKE PUPILS SEEKING TEENAGE VIEWS ON WHETHER BOB GELDOF’S PLANS WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO LONG STANDING THIRD WORLD POVERTY

NISHA PANCHAL People went to Live 8 to see the artists, like Madonna and U2, but there were minutes of silence when people thought about what was happening in Africa. I think it would be better to send world leaders to Africa to experience it for themselves, instead of wasting money on things they don’t really need.

TOM BROWN I think Live 8 raised awareness of the poverty situation. It showed what people from all over the world can do when they come together too.

The G8 leaders should cut debt and fund help/relief for the poorer countries.

the clips were effective put pressure on leaders send world leaders Live 8 raised awareness

06: stretch

intERview

THIS PAGE AND COVER IMAGE: DEREK SANTINI

RACHAEL CHAMBERS/STEPH WEBB

KTTUNSTALL EXPOSED

Bablake School 07:

SHORTLY AFTER HER FAMOUS PERFORMANCE ON ‘LATER WITH... JOOLS’, KT TUNSTALL AGREED TO HEADLINE A GIG AT BABLAKE TO SUPPORT ‘PERFORMING AMNESTY’S ‘STOP VIOLENCE OWN AGAINST WOMEN’ CAMPAIGN MY MATERIAL WITH MY BAND WAS ANOTHER STEP UP. I ALWAYS FEEL A NEED FOR PROGRESS WITH MY MUSIC AND THIS WAS DEFINITELY THAT. IT WAS AN AMAZING CROWD TO PLAY FOR. THE MUSIC HAS GROWN UP THROUGH TOURING WITH THE GUYS AND I HAD A TOP www.kttunstall.com DRAWER SPARKLY PINK FROCK! IT WAS BLISS!’ FOOTNOTE:

SINCE THIS INTERVIEW AND OUR GIG, KT’S CAREER HAS ROCKETED WITH A PLATINUM ALBUM, 2 HEADLINE TOURS AND NUMEROUS FESTIVAL APPEARANCES. IN FACT WE ASKED HER FOR AN UPDATE ON HER 2ND GLASTONBURY:

WE WERE EAGER TO MEET THE UNIQUE ONEWOMAN BAND, KT TUNSTALL, WHO WAS TO PERFORM HERE, IN OUR VERY OWN BABLAKE THEATRE.

HELLO, KT! THE SOUND CHECK SOUNDS GOOD ALREADY! YEAH! THAT’S A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM YOU HAVE THERE. PROBABLY THE BEST I’VE PLAYED ON ALL TOUR ACTUALLY... REALLY GOOD SOUND. SO HOW’S YOUR TOUR GOING?

WELL I FELT REALLY BAD COS I HAD TO CANCEL THE GIG IN OXFORD BUT I REALLY COULDN’T HAVE PERFORMED. I WOKE UP LITERALLY UNABLE TO SPEAK. THE REST OF IT HAS BEEN GREAT- MOST OF THE VENUES HAVE SOLD OUT WHICH IS REALLY GOOD FOR A FIRST HEADLINE TOUR. DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC VIEWS ON THE WORK DONE BY AMNESTY?

I’M A HUGE SUPPORTER- THESE EVENTS ARE SO ENCOURAGING AS THEY REALLY RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE WORLD. IT’S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AS A FEMALE. I’M NOT SUFFERING ANYTHING LIKE THESE WOMEN BUT BEING A FEMALE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS DEFINITELY A STRUGGLE SOMETIMES! WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

WELL MY PARENTS DIDN’T OWN A STEREO SO I NEVER GOT TO LISTEN TO AS MUCH MUSIC AS I’D LIKE. I ENDED UP LISTENING TO THIS OLD CASSETTE MY DAD HAD BY TOM LEHRER. HE WAS THIS AMERICAN HARVARD MATHEMATICIAN WHO TURNED INTO A POLITICALLY SATIRICAL MUSICIAN. ANYWAY, APART FROM THAT I RELATE TO PEOPLE LIKE ELLA FITZGERALD, JAMES BROWN AND JONI MITCHELL.

ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR VENUES YOU’D LIKE TO PLAY?

I’D LOVE TO GO HOME AND DO A REALLY INTRICATE TOUR OF SCOTLAND. I’D LOVE TO GO TO THE STATES AND DO GIGS IN NEW YORK, L.A. AND ALL ALONG THE WEST COAST.

SO ARE YOU WILLING TO GO REALLY FAR WITH YOUR MUSIC?

I’M QUITE WILLING TO PUSH IT AS FAR AS IT WILL GO. I HAVE THE DESIRE TO SHARE MY MUSIC WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE SO OBVIOUSLY GOING TO THE US WILL BE A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT! WHAT CDS ARE YOU LISTENING TO AT THE MINUTE?

TOM WAITS’ LATEST ALBUM- HE REALLY IS ONE OF THE LAST GREAT INDIVIDUAL MUSICIANS. ALSO MY FRIENDS’ BAND, HALF COUSIN FROM ORKNEY. I ALSO LOVE NINA SIMONE, KINGS OF LEON AND ELBOW’S ‘CAST OF THOUSANDS’.

WHO’D YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE?

OHHH, BECK, THE FLAMING LIPS, BOWIE...

YOU PERFORMED AT THE GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL THIS SUMMER... HOW WAS IT?

IT WAS THE BEST GIG OF MY LIFE SO FAR. I’D ALWAYS HAD A PACT WITH MYSELF NOT TO GO UNLESS I WAS PLAYING COS I JUST KNEW I’D BE SCREAMING TO GET ON THE STAGE. I THOUGHT I WAS NEVER GOING TO GO BUT THEN I GOT INVITED ALONG WITH OI VA VOI AND IT WAS FANTASTIC. THANK YOU

IMMENSE THANKS TO SIMON BANKS, KT’S MANAGER, WHO HAS BEEN BRILLIANT THROUGHOUT

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drAMA

LESMIS ERABLES JENNA HASTINGS

AS THE CURTAINS CLOSED, THE STAGE PAINT FADED AND THE COSTUMES RETURNED, THE LIGHTS DIMMED ON ANOTHER FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE FROM THE BABLAKE DRAMA GROUP – ONE OF THE BEST IN FACT.

THE DREAM A group of miscreants was gathered by ‘Ayatollah’ Appleby and Mr Prescott to undertake a formidable task, the production of ‘Les Miserables’. However, with wonderful musical help from the ‘inimitable’ Mr Sutton and Mrs Tatum, it was a complete success, despite just about everyone falling ill in the final week of crucial rehearsals. Hurried adjustments were made to ensure people did not trip over their finery and the backstage crew triumphed, grasping where each piece of set went at which point.

THE PLOT ‘Les Miserables’ has many plot lines that interweave with each other. Valjean escapes parole and makes a new life for himself, masquerading as a factory owner and mayor, but is constantly chased by the policeman Javert. Fantine is a worker in his factory but is dismissed by a foreman when she is found to have an illegitimate child who is in the care of the Thénardiers who are evil, thieving innkeepers. Enjolras is the leader of a band of students who embark on Revolution to end the hardship they and the fellow common people are suffering. The barricade is set up and the revolutionaries fight hard, joined by Valjean.

Javert pretends to join the revolutionaries but is found out to be a spy by Gavroche and is tied up. Valjean spares his life, but in sparing Javert’s life, Javert then commits suicide. The revolutionaries all die on the barricade.

Meanwhile, Marius (Enjolras’ best friend) has fallen in love with Cosette (Fantine’s daughter whom Valjean is caring for) and marries her after surviving the barricade. Eponine, the daughter of the Thenardiers, is in love with Marius but he never sees her in this light. The story ends with Valjean dying and joining Fantine and the others who died on the barricade. Breathe out?!

THE CAST The cast was amazing – especially since most of the chorus had a solo part as well as nearly 25 songs to learn. As for individuals, Arthur

Keegan-Bole impressed learning practically all of his lines only a couple of weeks into rehearsals and filling in for absentees. He played Valjean, ‘the righteous, sincere, kind hearted hero unjustly imprisoned for 19 years’ and kept things light hearted with his random impressions, jokes and dances! Stacie McDermott blew me away as Fantine. She says she enjoys singing and performing and thought ‘Les Miserables’ would be ‘good fun’ but boy did she have a hard time of it when sports commitments clashed with rehearsal time.

Adam Jackson, as Javert, was vocally the very essence of a domineering policeman and Edd Whitney believes he has no resemblance to his character Marius. One of the funniest interchanges I saw during rehearsals was Edd and Arthur’s song called ‘The Sewers’ where Arthur always managed to nearly knock Edd out for real on the set. One time you could hear the crack of Edd’s head loud and clear hitting the wall by the bandstand! Alex Kantor played the ‘leader of the Revolutionaries’ Enjolras. He struggled to hit his high notes until the decision to take it down an octave made it easier for him. By the end of rehearsals, he really was the most improved performer, more than able to sing out confidently. Rachel Fitzgerald and Ruth Herbert shared the part of Cosette and both were more than competent in acting and singing, working well alongside Arthur and Edd. Ruth’s main challenge was getting to rehearsals: ‘I’ve had a lot of dental appointments to go to!’ Rachel merely looked forward to seeing ‘the outcome of everybody’s efforts.’ Sarah Corrigan played Eponine, caught in a love triangle: ‘Eponine loves Marius, Marius loves Cosette, Cosette loves Marius, Eponine is sad’ as Sarah so deftly put it! She has a fantastic voice but is to be immortalised for her classic scream! She’s an emotional and dynamic actress and was well cast in her role.

Adam Fray and Elisse Power played the comic characters, Monsieur and Madame Thénardier.

These two are the worst of the worst – Elisse described her character as ‘vile, pure and simple’ while Adam interpreted Thénardier as ‘the lowest form of life imaginable’. Elisse

found it hard to sing in ‘such a harsh and revolting way’ and felt her throat was ‘about to collapse and die after a long rehearsal’! Both are great actors, able to pull off the sliminess of their characters and offer comic relief.

Finally we had the little ones in the cast: Kate Byrne as Little Cosette and Andrew Monaghan playing Gavroche. Both have excellent voices – with Kate you can feel Little Cosette’s fear while Andrew is really cheeky and fits Gavroche perfectly with a brilliant, catchy song to die with! He tells me ‘performing is the best part of doing any show’.

Thanks to the chorus, we had fantastic numbers like ‘At the End of the Day’, ‘Lovely Ladies’ and ‘One Day More’. Just about everyone had a small solo part. The favourite song among the cast (and myself!) seems to be ‘One Day More’ with everyone (except poor Stacie!) involved- it was a magnificent feat to behold. I have to say I was reduced to tears by the final song. Giggles were heard at Adam and Elisse’s antics as the Thénardiers, gasps from the fallers at the barricade and not just me crying as Fantine and Eponine died! Watching a faultless performance and fantastic singing from all, I was incredibly proud of everyone and they fully deserved the standing ovation they received. Everything just seemed to come together – from the fantastic fight between Stacie and Hannah Godfrey, to the two Richards egging each other on at the barricades that led to an amazing leap off the barricade to his death by Richard Lowe. The girls looked great in their ‘lovely ladies’ costumes and one of the best scenes has to be ‘Master of the House’ which was performed particularly well. Another favourite was ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, certainly a hanky moment.

Bablake School 09:

BACKSTAGE ADAM FRAY

BEHIND THE BARRICADE – INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST.

Why did you choose to tryout for Les Misérables?

Sarah: Looking horrible and sad.

Fray: Moaning at sailors and whores who aren’t rowdy enough for my liking. Moaning at the barricade which looks like four giant Lego blocks. Moaning at the chorus because they keep singing over me in ‘Master of the House’ with the wrong words.

Arthur: After enjoying the Edinburgh Fringe Festival play ‘How to Succeed...’, it was a matter of course to audition... however I was even more enthusiastic once I heard ‘Les Mis’ was the play.

AJ: I thought it would attract members of the opposite sex.

Ruth: Easy?! ....and the hard parts?

Stacie: I chose to audition for the musical because I enjoy singing and performing and thought it would be good fun.

Fray: Trying to think of new insults for people who get on my wick. Oh and that stupid attack song... The timing is just evil! We all miss our cues on that song. Of course I’m finding it very hard to become Thenardier because I don’t agree with picking pockets and pinching the derrieres of young women...

Ha!

Fray: I had to prove to a certain ‘person’ that my singing is not terrible. But then again it isn’t anything to get too excited about either...

Explain your character and their contribution to the plot.

Edd: Marius is the love interest in the musical. Two people fall in love with him, but I can’t see why.

Childish and weak, he’s not the sort of man that would attract me!

Rachel: I play Cosette, the daughter of Fantine. When Fantine dies, her ex-employer (prisoner 24601) Jean Valjean takes Cosette in his care and brings her up.

Cosette then meets Marius and they fall in love, to the sadness of Eponine, who is also in love with Marius. Cosette and Marius get married and are seen as the positive future of the story.

Alex: Singing high notes!

Andrew: Gavroche’s main story is unveiling Javert as a spy at the barricade and he is just really a little beggar who sees over everything in the slums.

Elisse: I am vile, pure and simple.

I am the Innkeeper’s wife who Fantine gave her daughter Cosette to. I am also a crook, thief and liar...so all round a lovely lady! I can promise you I’m not typecast and in fact am delightful! My husband and I provide some light comedy amidst all the doom and gloom!

What are you finding easy about rehearsals?

Arthur: When we rehearse songs I’m not in!

Edd: Acting is a completely new thing to me; I have left it late to learn how to plaster on a happy face with the click of a finger or to run across a stage to greet someone I have no wish to speak to. Acting is something acquirable with time and patience - two things that I have in rather short supply. I’m sure I have been terribly ‘wooden’ in my role.

AJ: Just the parts where you have to sing!

Are you looking forward to the performances?

Kate: Yeah! It’s all starting to come together now, and I’m really excited. I get such a buzz from an audience. I doubt anybody’s going to understand it though! Oh well!

Rachel: Yes, it should be good to see the outcome of everybody’s efforts.

Elisse: Of course! I can’t wait to see the end product with all the costumes and set.

Alex: Damn straight! The adrenaline you get on stage is fantastic.

Finally, What is your favourite song and why?

Ruth: ‘The Docks’ - it provides a good opportunity for us girls to make absolute idiots of ourselves.

Stacie: It would probably be ‘Master of the House’ with the Thénardiers. Adam and Elisse are superb at what they do and the chorus is really uplifting, it gives a real buzz. I guarantee everybody will be thrilled with this performance.

Andrew: Definitely ‘One Day More’ because I like the way all the different parts interlink with each other. Also the end is really powerful and exciting.

Sarah: ‘One Day More’; it’s emotional in sooo many ways! I so nearly cried at the theatre the other day in that song!

10: stretch

PHOTOS/STORY/MODELLING: ADAM FRAY

Bablake School 11:

12: stretch

mUsIC

The Kaiser Chiefs also run an indie club night in Leeds called Pigs. “It's really good, we set it up because there were no club nights in Leeds that we wanted to go to anymore”.

If you like catchy indie-pop tunes, then this is definitely a band for you. The band also has a UK tour planned for October.

CHARLI SEARCHWELL GUEST

BOYS WILL BE BOYS The Ordinary Boys have come a long way over the past year. They have seen the rise and chart status of friends and former support band, the Kaiser Chiefs, but now they are finally beginning to be recognised for their own success. The Ordinary Boys’ large following of fans, named “the ordinary army”, pride themselves, like the band, on their unoriginality. Lyrics like “Let’s see... what can we be now? That hasn't been done before?” mock today’s music scene.

Not trying to be anything but itself, this is a band that knows it’s good, but doesn’t like to be arrogant about it. “‘Over the Counter Culture’ [the first album] was the best album we could have made but I think it annoyed a lot of people.

The lyrics were quite scathing-especially about the press”.

we

t c i d e r p t o i r a

HOT LEEDS 5-PIECE, THE KAISERS CHIEFS HAVE SHOT TO STARDOM OVER THE PAST YEAR. SINCE THE BAND’S FIRST RELEASE, THE CATCHY I PREDICT A RIOT, CAME OUT LAST AUTUMN, THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT DEMAND. STRETCH CORNERED THE BAND TO FIND OUT ITS OPINION ON THE NEWFOUND FAME. WE ALSO CAUGHT UP WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FORMER SUPPORT BAND THE ORDINARY BOYS.

www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk www.theordinaryboys.co.uk

The band named itself after a song by hero Morrissey. (You can find it on the album ‘Viva Hate’ if you who haven’t been introduced to the wonders of Morrissey.) “We also chose it because the words looks nice, very nice. Just look at the sign! They look good, don’t they?”

Stretch was inclined to agree.

When asked if they were at all surprised they replied: “No, I think we have some good songs”. The boys were conscious not just to be known for the one single though and felt that the album was received well, getting to top 3 in the album charts. Next on the band’s plan is to storm America and this has started with their performance at Live8 and various shows around the US.

The Chiefs prefer to describe their music as “upbeat” as opposed to “fun” but the band’s main aim is to entertain. Ricky Wilson said: “I want to see people sweating and I want to see them enjoying themselves and if I don’t spend half the gig in the audience, then it’s not been a good gig really.”

The Kaiser Chiefs have been around for a long time. Previously known as “Parva”, the band was signed and then later dropped. This fuelled their determination and many of the Kaisers songs are inspired by this event: “At the time Parva was dropped the music industry’s eyes actually started to turn towards Leeds more and we noticed a lot of our friends getting record deals”. The band planned to learn from their previous mistakes and now “try to get better with each record”.

Over the past year there has been a lot of change in the ordinary world. Since our last interview, the boys have written and released a new album/single, recorded various videos, been to Japan and America, featured on ‘Big Brother’s Little Brother’, ditched one drummer, and found a new one. Sam Preston says “I’m very happy with where we are at the moment. I love the new album!” Despite their success the singer still claims they are as poor as mice: “My card got refused the other day. Everyone seems to think we are rich but we’re not. The first album creates the debt, the second album pays the debt and the third is the one that starts making the money. So we’re all still a bit skint at the moment!”

The Ordinary Boys go on tour again in the autumn and will be playing Birmingham Academy on 29th October. It’s their favourite place to play:“The crowd just goes wild for us there, especially when we play week in week out”.

ORDINARY INFORMATION Preston once went to a party dressed as a kissing booth.

The band generally cut their own hair – “lack of money you see”.

The band like pink but agree that men generally have to be fairly popular to get away with it.

They hate long hair on men. Preston spent months trying to convince Will to cut his hair“he caved in eventually”.

Preston says: “Buy the singles! I want to be on CD:UK.”

Bablake School 13:

Are there any particular artists that inspire you to write your music?

INTERVIEWS CLAIRE TAGGART/STEPH WEBB

I really like Gwen Stefani, she’s so original but that’s nothing like the music I write. I like qualities in other artists that I’d never have.

Y’know some people are saying, ‘You remind me of Beth Orton’ and I think, ‘Really?’ Then others say, ‘You’re like Dido’ and I think ‘Oh god! No!’ I guess music in general inspires me.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Kings of Convenience and Gwen Stefani. Polly Paulusma is really good.

THE POLYPHONIC SPREE Love, hope and sunshine are what The Polyphonic Spree, a 22-piece Dallas band, are all about. The band is an eclectic mix of piano, guitars, horns, violins, woodwind and percussion. The easiest way to describe them would be a cross between The Flaming Lips, The Beatles and a rock gospel choir. You are hard pushed to find a Spree song that does not involve sunshine, hope or reassurance of their everlasting love for us all.

So what makes you all so happy and hopeful all the time?

Rick Nelson (strings): “I think it is just the energy of the show and the fun of the music that makes us all happy.”

Brian Teasley (percussion): “Someone has to carry a huge sign that says "Hope" on it across the globe, don't you think?”

How does the band work together with so many members?

James Reimer (trombonist): “We all make significant contributions to the music. It's a bit like a colouring book and each person is responsible for his/her crayon.”

Finally, my friend Kris would like to know why you didn’t let his band enter your Battle of the Bands 2 years ago… he’s still bitter about it.

Ooooo, were they the bare-chested ones? It was for my degree and I needed to look pretty professional. They might have been taken as a joke, also Sarah Corrigan was just a whole lot better than them. Ha Ha! OLIVIA We invited local artist, Olivia, hailed as “one of Warwickshire’s best kept secrets”, to talk to Stretch about supporting KT Tunstall. Olivia, singer songwriter and former student at Bablake is someone to watch out for in the future.

Did you enjoy the gig? How did it compare to previous gigs?

Yeah, it was so much fun. I was pretty scared beforehand cos this was one of the biggest gigs I’ve done. Godiva Festival was probably the biggest before though I did Peace Fire and that seemed more ‘giggy’ as Godiva was more casual with people sitting around.

Are the Spree religious?

Did you like performing at Bablake?

Rick: “Some people have their own religious beliefs, but that is kept to themselves and is not a group thing.”

Are there deep meanings in your lyrics or are they just about love and sunshine?

Brian: “The lyrics are mostly concerned with melody and nice simple words that are almost like children's songs. You never needed a dictionary to figure out what the Beatles were singing about. I think it's similar with Tim's lyrics. It's best to think of the basic connotation of their colour and not some deep secret meaning.”

www.thepolyphonicspree.com www.oliviamusic.co.uk www.remhq.com

Definitely! I was cool with a sit-down audience, especially as my music isn’t really the sort to dance to!

What do you think of the other performers?

KT Tunstall is fabulous, she’s very original and obviously clever in her writing. I really like the loop effect she uses.

What do you eventually want to get out of your music? Fame, money, fortune?!

I’d really just like to have my album out and not have to perform all the time cos I don’t particularly enjoy that side of it. I guess some kind of fame would be nice!

Olivia can often be found on Thursday nights at the Hope and Anchor on Whitefriars Street (a bargain at £1 on the door). Also check out www.oliviamusic.co.uk R.E.M LIVE Nottingham Forest Football Ground 6th July 2005 R.E.M opened with ‘Bad Day’ on a wet stage from the rain which had persisted throughout the support acts of Idlewild and The Zutons.

They continued to play a set of their hits such as ‘Leaving New York’ and ‘The One I Love’ interspersed with a few songs from their new album, ‘Around The Sun’.

Not playing too many songs from their new album was probably in their favour. Though they have produced many good songs over the years, fans have spent the past 13 years or so waiting for another ‘Everybody Hurts’ or ‘Losing my Religion’ which unfortunately their new album has not produced.

As it rained, the stage began to fill up with water. As Stipe sang, a dozen roadies crawled around his feet with a seemingly infinite supply of towels to mop up. Stipe then proceeded to sit down on one of the amps to take off his boots and put on a pair of ‘training shoes’ so as not to ‘fall on his ass in front of a bunch of people’ whilst recounting a story about performing with Cher in the rain.

Stipe was now able to dance in his usual theatrical style, fearless of slipping over. As the band worked though their classics the towels kept coming. The set finished inevitably with ‘Everybody Hurts’ before an encore of six songs including ‘Night Swimming’ in which Stipe and Mills did a mellow piano/vocals duet. They then finished with a crowd-pleasing recital of ‘The Great Beyond’.

14: stretch

mUsIC

SURVEY NADIA GARRETT/CLAIRE TAGGART

RnB/ RAP 6% WORLD 6%

FOLK 6%

POP 9%

INDIE & ROCK 73%

STAFF (20 Indie and Pop 9% (20 STAFF World Indie 6% and Fol k 9% 6% Pop R n B/ap R6 World 6% Fol k 6% WEEKS BEFORE THE OBSERVER PUBLISHED A SUPPLEMENTL6TH (16R n B/ apR ON THE NATION’S MUSIC TASTES, WE ASKED STAFF AND Indie and hno(1611% L6TH STUDENTS AT BABLAKE ABOUT THE MUSIC THEY HAD MOSTTec Fol k Ro c k 6 RECENTLY BOUGHT OR DOWNLOADED AND WHAT WAS ON Indie and Techno 11 THEIR MUSICAL WISH LISTS. 3RD Fol k YEAR Ro ck(1 6 Indie and R n B/ apR(1 1 3RD YEAR Pop 12%and Indie FROGS 5% Rin gtones R n B/apR Pop 12% Our Shells gave RnB and Rap a high rating.

POP 12% SHELLS 2Pac and 50 Cent were great favourites with Ringtones( lyrics like the rebellious ‘cuz I choose to Indie puff a and blunt and drink a beer with my homies’ or the R n B/ ap R( 4 SHELLS morally alternative ‘it ain’t about black or RnB/RAP 18% Pop 12% Indie and white, cuz we’re human’ flagged up for Mums to give approval to and buy for ChristmasRandn B/ apR INDIE & ROCK 65% birthdays. Green Day and Good Charlotte also Pop 12% had high popularity scores. Clearly repetitive guitar riffs and na na na na nas are still able to impress at this age.

STAFF (20-somethings, middle-aged and fossils)

FOLK ROCK 6% TECHNO 11%

INDIE & ROCK 83%

L6TH (16-17 year olds)

3RD YEAR (13-14 year olds)

Indie music such as the Killers, Kasabian and the Kaiser Chiefs constituted the overall majority for the 3rds. Pleasingly this gave STAFF (20 something , m iddle aged and fossil e) evidence they were beginning to appreciate Indie bands andck Ro73%instruments rather than pressing playing buttonssomething on a deck.

However, Pop 9%(20 STAFF , m i ddle Stretch agedwas and fossil e) shocked to see a certain slimy amphibian World 6% Indie and ckRo73% appear more than once in the survey.

Fol k 9% 6% Pop Our L6th has developed much more R n B/ap R 6% World 6% independent tastes. Though indie and rock Fol k 6% scored highly, there was greater diversity with The Decemberists being bands L6TH (16-17 yearand olds) R n B/ ap R 6%like Linear nominated.

Indie and ck Ro 83% INDIE & ROCK 40% staff was more our notable The taste ofyear Techno(16-17 11% L6TH olds) with Coldplay, KT Tunstall and Pink predictable Fol k Ro c k 6% Indie and ck Ro 83% RnB/RAP 48% Floyd being nominated by most. Pleasingly the Techno younger 11% teachers enjoyed a more raucous fare, 3RD YEAR (13-14 year rockin’ worldolds) to legends like the Jam Fol k Ro ck 6% in the free or current rockers Indie andckRo65% like the Kaisers and Razorlight. As ever the Careers Department R n YEAR B/ap R 18% 3RD (13-14 year olds)diet, with Jack was gorging itself on a catholic Pop 12% Johnson its latest find.

Indie and ckRo 65% Rin 5% R ngtones B/apR 18% SHELLS (11-12 year olds) Pop 12% SHELLS year olds) Rin gtones(11-12 5% Indie andckRo40% R n B/apR(11-12 48% SHELLS year olds) Pop 12% Indie andckRo40% R n B/apR 48% POP 12%

Bablake School 15:

FOPP’S GOING ON? ALBUM REVIEWS

CHARLI SEARCHWELL-GUEST/NADIA GARRETT

WE TELL IT LIKE IT IS IN 20 WORDS OR LESS EDITOR’S CHOICE – ALBUM OF THE SUMMER Jack Johnson ‘In Between Dreams’ Awesome sun-soaked, strumming from surfing Jack. Beg Santa for his wonderfully infectious back catalogue and dream of seagulls and sands!

THE REST OF THE SQUAD Jamiroquai ‘Dynamite’ Customary Cat in the Hat – laidback, electric jazz/funk with ‘Seven Days in Sunny June’ and ‘Black Devil Car’ standing out.

KT Tunstall ‘Eye to the Telescope’ Pedal bashing, guitar plucking, one-woman rhythm and soulster. Bablake’s favourite, surrogate Old Wheatleyan! Plus we predicted the Mercury award nomination!

Nine Black Alps ‘Everything is’ Regarded as the debut of 2005: Manchester’s best export since Oasis. Energy abounds, superb live and deserving of wider acclaim.

Hard Fi ‘Stars of CCTV’ Sounds from Staines’ suburbs representing a disaffected, disturbed generation. A little bit Clash, a little bit Specials. Hard to beat?

James Blunt ‘Back to Bedlam’ Disregard over-exposure from chart domination. Ex military man swaps bullets for a guitar and tenders poignant tales of human heartache.

The Magic Numbers ‘The Magic Numbers’ The new Mamas and Papas? They’re big, they’re around, you’ll be struck by their charming multi-part harmonies and summer sound.

McFly ‘Wonderland’ McFly strode in gallantly, healing teenage/ tweenage hearts rent by Busted’s demise.

‘Wonderland’ offers maturity amid the guaranteed fun pop.

John Legend ‘Get Lifted’ Surely R&B’s most soulful, best connected new soloist? Offering vocally versatile tales of angst, including the stunning ‘Ordinary People’.

Gorillaz ‘Demon Days’ Celebrity laden, second offering of catchy riffs and cool capers from Damon Albarn’s crazy cartoon crew. Dangermouse on production.

Antony and the Johnsons ‘I Am a Bird Now’ Intimate, haunting, enchanting 2005 Mercury Award winning album. Boy George, Rufus Wainright, Lou Reed and Devendra Banhart join in too!

The Departure ‘Dirty Words’ Heartfelt, happy pop driven with the mission to make people dance. If you are lovin’ 80s electro-pop, you’ll dig this.

Royksopp ‘The Understanding’ ‘Melody AM’ it ain’t but how do you follow the dance album everybody loved? Heavier and more female vocals. Still contagious.

Sigur Ros ‘Takk’ Their first album to feature songs mainly sung in their native Icelandic. Fantastic, melodic mood music.

Franz Ferdinand ‘You Could Have it So Much Better’ Assured, bouncy follow-up to iconic debut. Similar baseline and tested formula will triumph at Indie discos.

TWO FOR 2006?

Radiohead Spring release for eagerly awaited material.

Bound to be different. More synthesised style this time? Tour to accompany?

Linear Promising Coventry band and if you like Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand or the Arcade Fire definitely one to watch.

16: stretch

BLAGGIN’ IT...

NADIA GARRETT

BUS/ TRAIN FARES? By rights, you should be entitled to a child’s ticket, if you are still in full-time education. So put on a pitiable, somewhat high-pitched voice and look at your inspector as if he’s depriving you of your dinner money. I realise that it’s a hard look to conjure up out of nowhere, so just imagine your favourite possession being cut up into tiny little pieces, being melted down and then recycled to make a set of nauseating floral curtains.

CVS? There’s so much I could put in here that I’ve decided to keep it simple. We all know CVs are a collection of nicely worded untruths, so when it comes to describing previous work experience, it’s imperative that you go to great lengths to use formless, futile terms that either blanket or exaggerate the importance of a particular job. For example that time as ‘trolley collector bloke’ becomes ‘director of resource transport’ or ‘bin man’ becomes ‘detritus harvester’.

TICKETLESS FOR A GIG? This one’s admittedly a bit controversial, but we all know how desperate one gets when Glastonbury/ Reading/ what-have-you rolls around and all the tickets are sold out. One option is to bring an intricate array of unearthing tools in an attempt to tunnel under the entrance; another is to mooch around as if you’re part of the band though that’s easier said than done. My personal favourite is to dress up as a giant ladybird and jump the fence, because who in their right mind can say no to nature or a fine bit of craftsmanship? If that fails, you could look back in time and emulate our forebears by creating a large Wooden Trojan Ladybird and pass it off as a gift for the band. Also it’s pretty easy to get your hands on press passes – Charli made that clear when she managed to acquire some for the Godiva Festival by simply phoning various organisers of the event.

DISCLAIMER Of course you should never attempt anything illegal… we are simply reflecting what the less principled may be tempted into.

Bablake School 17:

MRS HARRIS WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING AND SEEMED RATHER AKIN TO THE WELSH NATIONAL TREASURE THAT IS CATHERINE ZETA-JONES… ARE YOU IN TOUCH WITH YOUR WELSH HERITAGE (IF YOU HAVE ANY)?

I’M AFRAID NOT. THERE’S A BIT OF SCOTTISH AND IRISH AROUND SOMEWHERE BUT DEFINITELY NO WELSH. … AND WHAT’S YOUR STANCE ON OLDER MEN? Mrs Harris

Catherine Zeta-Jones

I’M ALL FOR IT. A FEW MONTHS OR A FEW YEARS- AS LONG AS THEY LOOK AFTER YOU! LASTLY, HAVE YOU EVER USED THE PHRASE AND ALL THAT JAZZ? I VERY MUCH DOUBT IT. I CERTAINLY HAVE NEVER SUNG IT OR DONE A DANCE ROUTINE TO IT! MR CLEAVER CERTAINLY GOT INTO CHARACTER WHEN ASKED QUESTIONS THAT EQUATE HIM WITH THE SELF-CONFESSED MINIMALIST, MOBY… HAVE YOU EVER USED THE EXPRESSION ‘WHY DOES MY HEART FEEL SO BAD’?

YES. OH REALLY, WHEN? 2000, IN STANFORD.

Mr Cleaver

Moby AFTER HIS 1996-THRASH ROCK SINGLE, ‘ANIMAL RIGHTS’, MOBY WAS HAILED AS THE NEXT JOHNNY ROTTEN. HAS ANYBODY EVER MADE A SIMILAR COMPARISON WITH YOU? YES, I’VE BEEN CALLED ROTTEN MANY TIMES. STRETCH WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH MR GRANTHAM AND HIS UNCANNY RESEMBLANCE TO ONE OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS MEN IN HISTORY… WHAT SORT OF REFORMS HAVE YOU INTRODUCED DURING YOUR TIME AT BABLAKE? I HIDE BEHIND THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM AND SCHOOL PROCEDURE, CHOOSING TO CONFORM RATHER THAN INNOVATE. HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ANY ‘BATTLES’ AT ANY POINT IN YOUR PROFESSION?

Mr Grantham

Napoleon

EVERY LESSON IS A BATTLE. EVERY STUDENT IS A MIND TO BE CONQUERED. FINALLY, IF YOU HAD A HORSE, WHICH ONE OF YOUR VICTORIOUS CONQUESTS WOULD YOU NAME IT AFTER? LIKE LISA SIMPSON, LIFE HAS BEEN HARD ON ME. I STILL LACK AN EQUINE FRIEND. AS FOR CONQUESTS, I AM TOO MODEST TO MENTION ANY.

SEPARATED ATBIRTH?

18: stretch

inSIGHT JENNA HASTINGS

LIFE ON THE COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH JOHN WEST, THE TITLE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH, VISITED STRETCH. HIS JOB NOW IS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE READERS BUT HE WAS HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT LIFE AS A JOURNALIST ON A NEWSPAPER. BIG NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STORIES ARE FEATURED BUT FOLLOWING EDITIONS WILL CONCENTRATE ON LOCAL INTERESTS AND REACTIONS.

REPORTERS TEND TO BE THE YOUNGSTERS, THE 20 AND EARLY 30 SOMETHINGS. THEY SPEND ALL DAY FLITTING IN AND OUT OF THE OFFICE GOING ON EMERGENCY CALLS, HEADING FOR INTERVIEWS AND REPORTING BACK. LIFE IS PRETTY DIVERSE FOR THESE GUYS – IN THE MORNING THEY COULD BE REPORTING ON A MURDER IN BIRMINGHAM, IN THE AFTERNOON THEY COULD BE AT A CHARITY EVENT IN WYKEN. THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE. FOUR EDITIONS OF THE TELEGRAPH ARE RELEASED EACH DAY SO REPORTERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH STORIES IF NOTHING MAJOR IS HAPPENING. SPECIALIST REPORTERS ON BUSINESS, EDUCATION ETC MUST KEEP UP TO DATE WITH RECENT EVENTS AND EVERYTHING HAS TO BE LOCALISED.

JOURNALISM IS HARD TO BREAK INTO BUT ONCE YOU’RE IN IT’S RELATIVELY EASY TO MOVE ABOUT AND WORK YOUR WAY UP. A NCTJ QUALIFICATION IS REQUIRED. SHORTHAND, SADLY, IS ALSO A NECESSITY AS NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO WRITE 100 WORDS PER MINUTE! NEWSPAPERS HAVE DIFFERENT CRITERIA FROM MAGAZINES AND SHORTHAND IS ESSENTIAL TO GET ALL THE FACTS RIGHT. PEOPLE SUING FOR NEGLIGENCE MUST BE AVOIDED. THERE’S NO ESCAPE FROM EXAMS IN THIS BUSINESS EITHER – AN 18-MONTH APPRENTICESHIP IS UNDERTAKEN AND EXAMS INCLUDE A MOCK INTERVIEW AND SPEECH TO TEST SHORTHAND SKILLS. IF YOU PASS, YOU BECOME A SENIOR AND THE PAY GOES UP, YAY!

IT’S NOT REALLY A JOB FOR MONEY – GENERALLY A JUNIOR WILL START AT £14,500 MOVING UPWARDS THROUGH TO A ROLE AS A SPECIALIST AT £21,000 BUT PERKS INCLUDE FREEBIES, VARIETY, ACCESS TO ALL AREAS AND THE FUN OF THE JOB! JOHN SAID IT WAS A “FLUID JOB, NOT NECESSARILY A JOB FOR LIFE”. HE REFERRED TO THE BUZZ IN THE NEWSROOM AROUND NEWS STORIES LIKE 9/11 AND IRONICALLY THE DAY AFTER HIS VISIT LONDON’S BOMB TERROR EMERGED.

WITH THANKS TO JULIE CHAMBERLAIN, SUB EDITOR AT THE COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH FOR ARRANGING THIS VISIT.

Bablake School 19:

IMAGE: MISS JAMES

BOSCASTLE JENNA HASTINGS

DEATH DEFYING ESCAPE ‘IT’S NOW OR NEVER’ MISS JAMES This article was produced from a Press Conference staged with Miss James.

Interestingly Bablake’s flirtation with nature is constant- our Weather Station is recognised nationally and just before the end of the academic year separate lightning strikes deprived the school of the internet for a day and destroyed our Sports pavilion roof.

NEARING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLOODING OF BOSCASTLE, I SPOKE TO ONE OF THE ESCAPEES, BABLAKE CLASSICS TEACHER MISS JAMES, WHO NARROWLY ESCAPED WITH HER LIFE. STORMY Miss James tells of how she and her boyfriend, Lee Wakefield, faced near death on an innocent stop off visit. They had stopped in Boscastle to take in a last glimpse of the sea before returning to Coventry.

TORRENTS The couple had just entered the Witches Museum when they were told to flee as the museum was flooding. On exiting, Miss James told how she saw cars floating away, trees being uprooted and tarmac peeling up under the strain of severe flooding. Boscastle, which sits in a steep valley, had come under huge torrents of water from recent storms.

HERO “We said to each other ‘it’s now or never’ as we saw cars floating away” she said. “Everyone told Lee to get back as he waded out for the car so he came back to me. However, we knew we weren’t going to get out without the car so he went back for it. He was a real hero. We managed to drive up the hill just as the River Camel burst its banks and the car park we were in was completely flooded.

The car stopped on a bend, another frightening moment, but eventually we were able to continue our journey. On the news later that night we saw cars from the car park being swept out to sea and recognised tourists, we had been chatting to, stranded in the emergency rescue centres.”

TERRIFIED Miss James was terrified: “Not so much for our lives but the car belonged to my parents!” She could not believe how fast everything had happened and the extent of the damage until she saw the news at home. Miss James had spoken to her mother on the phone who told her to “call the AA assist team” obviously unaware of the seriousness of the events unfolding.

RESPONSE Miss James told me that she was surprised at the international media coverage of such a small town – she never expected it to be lead item on the national news that evening. She also said that she was very impressed with the emergency response – there was a constant supply of air rescue helicopters, ambulances and fire engines.

IRONY Miss James also said that she will return to Boscastle one day but that it shouldn’t become a tourist attraction. “It was like something out of Hollywood, we only went to see some water!”

h c t e r t s just

e gw n i h t ome s e tl a lit

d up e k coo

MER 2005 M U S , 2 E ISSU

KT TUNSTALL REM Kaiser Chiefs Ordinary Boys Bablake drama

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