Concrete issue 054 29 11 1995

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THE GUARDIAN/ NUS STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE

Whigfleld or The Beatles?

NCH

._.,...,...~~

The Event predicts the Christmas No.l single

NEWS: Money down the drain over Fifers Lane?- see page 6

Union Exec slams _egist~

occuP-_afion

desP-ite wliOP-P-.ing student •Yes• vote THE FUTURE of the Rent Strike seems uncertain after the Union Executive urged those Involved In Monday night's Registry occupation to back down and leave the building.

Despite the action being overwhelmingly sanctioned by the second quorate UGM of the academic year, Union officers pleaded in a letter to the protesters: 'leave now or face the consequences'.

Approximately 30 students forced entry to the University's administrative offices at just after ?pm after an attempt made earlier in the day was unsuccessful.

Then, a group of I00 students marched to the Registry, beat the windows and chanted loudly but were repulsed by UEA porters and police.

Later, when the security presence in the Registry was reduced, little resistance was offered and the students gained access.

Union Executive officers issued a statement short! y afterwards condemning the occupiers' actions and calling for them to leave.

But this came a a dramatic turnaround for Union sabbatical Adam Bowden who last week made a passionate speech proposing direct action including occupation.

He was among eight signatories to the Executive's climbdown statement, which stated: "[We] on behalf of the Students Union are unable to accept re ponsibility for your actions tonight.

"Criminal acts ... have been committed

coner e

and the Union is forbidden, under its constitution, to support such acts despite the resolution from the Union General Meeting.

"These acts were committed without reference to the Executive and can have serious consequences for you as individuals."

"While the Union is clearly against any repercussions against individual students, the University is at liberty to take such action as it deems to be necessary.

"We would therefore suggest it is in your best interests to leave now."

Earlier in the week, Finance Officer ' John Holmes, Welfare Officer Esther Jillett, along with Adam Bowden, had received injunctions taken out against them

by UEA's solicitors.

The~ prevented them from "inciting, inducing , procuring or in any way facilitating any sit-in protest or demonstration of any nature whatsoever within the confines of any University building."

John Holmes opposed occupation, favouring other less confrontational means of opposing UEA's current rents policy, which has seen campus room rates rise between five and 14 per cent this year.

Esther Jillett did not sign the Executive's letter, having gone home ill at the time.

She stated earlier in the day that she

Union Women's Officer, Alison Ravenhall, attempts entry into the Registry (above) whilst Welfare Sabb, Esther Jillett, bums the court injunction (right) was prepared to go to prison and publicly burnt her court injunction in front of the Registry.

Said UEA spoke person Anne-Marie Triggs: "Although the University is sympathetic to student poverty, we're obviously disappointed at the action.

"Our main policy is to continue constructive dialogue with the Students Union and to safeguard the normal working of the University."

• See UGM report, page 2

WILL BE BACK ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 - MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERSI

2 Concrete,Wednesday,Nove~r~9. 1995 1

+++UNION RENT STRIKE LATEST+++UNION RENT STRIKE LATEST+++UNION RENT STRIKE LATEST+++

Drugs campaign launched ANEWthreeyeardrugscampaign is being launched this month by the Health Education Authority, writesJulia Bennett.

The scheme, part of a wider Government initiative, aims to move away from scare-mongering tactics used in the past.

Instead of recommending people to 'Just Say No!', the campaign promises to give thosewhoafreadyrejectdrugs concrete reasons for continuing to do so and inform users of the risks and dangers.

A national drugs helpline started last week, the number of which will be included in publications such as the 'Club UKGuide',tlle'GuestUstBooklet' (a pocket size club guide available in London Record Store)andtllemonthly'lnforma Magazine'.

Various clubs are to feature the helpline's number on their flyers as well as on the labels of bottled water, including Manchester's Hacienda.

Numerous record stores anddolheschain'RedOrDeacf are also supporting the cam·

Calls for moderation thrown out after heated debate OVER FIVE hundred students turned out to have their decisive say on the Rent Strike issue at last week's UGM. Four of the five motions on its ,....---By--agenda had been brought forward Jess Kiang from those discussed at Week 8's inquorate meeting.

Rent Strike and proposed by SWSS, The first two, dealing with the urged direct action including an establishment of a Disability Officer for the Union Executive and a imminent occupation of the Registry, further strikes and the noncampaign for better lighting and safety on campus, were both passed payment of University fines. quickly.

But before discussion could proThe meeting was then briefed on ceed, a Labour Students amendment the University's offer to set up a was proposed, which would remove £100,000 Hardship Fund, depend- the clauses pertaining to the occuant on the unconditional terminapation and fines, replacing them with a resolution to cause the Unition of the Rent Strike.

After some discussion, there was versity "maximum embarrassment" a near-unanimous vote to reject the by targeting incoming students and offer. parents on open days.

The third motion, relating to the After an hour of debate, the

·amendment was not passed, although SWSS agreed to add the 'embarrassment' clause to their original motion, which was then debated and passed by 265 to 72.

The next motion mandated the Union to express its condemnation of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Nigerian government, which went through unanimously after a minute's silence in commemoration.

The fifth and final motion, a boycott of French products in protest against nuclear testing, also became Union policy after a vote in its favour although by tl1is stage, after two and a half hours of discussion and debate, less than half the original number of students remained.

PHOTO: N\COLA DALEY PHOTOS: STEVE HOWAAD

Simply Soup-er!

paign.

•The National Drugs Helpline is a free 24 hour, 7 day a week national service staffed by trained counsellors available on 0880 776 600.

00 A Newcastle student had to go to hospital after going to a fancy dress partyasDavidBowie. He had superglued the blonde wig to his head.

GOT ASTORY? PHONE USon250558orintemally on 3466. Don't worry about the cost- we'll call you straight back

"FREE SOUP!" was the cry echoing around The Square last week as the Union served up a free lunch as part of Student Hardship week.

The area just outside the main doors to Union House provided an ideal place for students to meet and claim a free, and depending on the amount of rolls claimed, substantial lunch.

It was an ideal opportunity also to compare stories as students were reminded of their financial situations.

Although the soup itself did not change much day to day, it was nevertheless an intriguing mix of Heinz's tomato and vegetable varieties.

Union officers played down any suggestions of it being available

By ----.

Tom Howard under a Heinz promotion.

Reaction, like the soup itself, was mixed.

One recipient claimed to be on the verge of being sick, yet others seemed more than satisfied.

"This is really nice actually", said EAS third year Polly.

Servers remained calm during their lengthy and cold job, although momentary panic did break out when it was discovered that the croutons were in fact French.

Christine Martin Word-processing and DTP service

SHE LIVES in a house, a very big house in the country ••• or does she?

DOur pictures above show the VC's house, Wood Hall in Hethersett, which attracted mentions in both regional and national media last week.

OReports claimed some UEA students were up in arms over the fact that the house was refurbished at a supposed cost of £100,000 over the summer, although University sources strongly dispute this.

DThe VC lives rent-free in Wood Hall, which is maintained at UEA's expense, ostensibly for entertaining visiting academics.

DBut, as the inset (right) suggests, Dame Elizabeth has yetto unpack, with boxes clearly visible through the open windows ...

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TWO SENIOR UEA staff played would-be students last week, by living on the equivalent of a full grant and loan for seven days, writes Joanne Robertson.

Director of Residences, Jenny Grant, and Assistant Dean of Students, Janet Havers, responded to an invitation from Union Welfare

Officer, Esther Jillett, as part of Union Hardship Week.

But other senior UEA officials, including Registrar and Secretary M G E Paulson-Ellis declined the offer.

"It's part of my job to put myself in a student's place" said Jenny Grant last week, ''I'm doing it to help me do my job better. Having

to rely on a grant and loan has been pretty tight, particularly because I smoke."

But Janet Havers said her lifestyle had not really changed whilst taking part in the exercise.

"I still have to do my weekly shop, but one night I had a pizza and didn't want anything else."

Edinburgh University respond to student hardship A DISAPPOINTING turnout of fewer than 150 students did not stop UEA from making its presence felt at last week's NUS National Demonstration against student hardship in London.

By ----.

Although the five mile march from Mal et Street to Kennington Park only took about two hours, it became obvious en route that many of the 8,500 marchers had an agenda different to that of NUS organisers.

This was first made clear as the demonstration crossed Waterloo Bridge, when a large number of students elected to sit down on the road, inciting others- including many of the UEA party - to do the same.

This "sit-down" broke up ten or so minutes later, when NUS stewards demanded that the protesters move on as a disproportionately large number of policemen had gathered round.

Many participating students expressed their disgust at what they saw as a seeming lack of support from NUS representatives.

"You couldn't be sure who were the stewards and who were the police", said a student from Essex University.

The most dramatic event of the march was a scuffle that broke

TWO LEADING members of UEA's Conservative Students group have expressed severe doubts over the Union's support of last week's national hardship demo called by the NUS. MarkWebbandJimVessey ctaimthattheUnion'ssubsidisingofstudents' transporttothe rally contravenes its charitable status.

This is because demonstrations do not give a balanced point of view in order to allow the taxpayer to make a reasoned judgement on a given cause, according to Conservative Party literature.

Mark and Jim therefore queried the validity of the Union's position with the Charity Commission, whose reply stated: "If it [a demonstration] involves nothing more than the provision of reasoned argument or infor-

I

I

By - - - - .

Joanne Robertson

• mation (such as the handing out of leaflets in a public place), no particular difficulties should arise."

But it added: "Different considerations apply if an event moves beyond the provision of reasoned argument or information (as will typically be with the case of marched or rallies)."

A charity can only take part in this kind of activity if it forms part of a "well founded and properly arguedcampaign"andthatdemonstrations pose "significant risks" to this.

•

Jess K1ang out between police and a group of Turkish students, about a mile further on, which culminated in four students being arrested.

There was widespread outrage among the witnessing demonstrators, but a second attempted sit-down protest was broken up almost immediately by the police and NUS stewards.

The rest of the march passed without incident, and the procession arrived chanting and shouting militant slogans at Kennington Park to hear speeches culminating in an address by NUS President, Jirn Murphy.

Union WelfareOfficer,Esther Jillett, then attempted to get NUS officials to account for their perceived lack of support, but she and the group of angry supporters were ignored.

Said one LSE student of the rally, "It was a total damp squib - it's a shame the NUS didn't make a bit more of an effort."

OFFICIALS at Edinburgh University have recently launched a scheme aimed at helping students find part-time work to supplement their grants, writes Hannah Malcolm.

Such a scheme reflects issues raised during last week's 'hardship week', namely increasing poverty has led to part-time work becoming a necessity to many students.

Edinburgh University's 'Labour Exchange Scheme', supported by the Bank of Scotland, aims to attract local businesses into employing students for up to 15 hours a week. lt also intends to offer help in combining paid work with study. lntherecentpast,someuniversities have actively discouraged part-time work by students, on the grounds that it provided a distraction from full-time study.

But further grant cuts have forced many institutions to revise their ideas. "lt is a recognition of Student hardship" said Bob Porrer, of University of Edinburgh's Careers Centre, who also estimates that one quarter of Edinburgh students are forced to work in order to survive the duration of their

"Any charity taking part in demonstrations or direct action must consider the implications of doing so... from the point of view of both the possible impact on public support and potential civil or criminal liability", the Charity Commission concluded.

But Mark and Jim's accusations incensed Union Welfare Officer, Esther Jillett.

'What are student unions supposed to do if not fight for students", she said. "lfthe Tories weren't cutting incomes, allowing universities to send rents through the roof, crowding lecture halls and cutting benefits, then we wouldn't have to demonstrate.

"What sort of Union would charge students for coaches if they couldn't afford to eat? We will keep on fighting."

ECSTASY FEAR SPARKS LOCAL PRESS CAMPAIGN

'THIS COULD have been you'- that's the message being sent out by the local press following the death of student Leah Betts from taking ecstasy, writes Hannah Malcolm.

The campaign, launched throughout the region by the Eastem Daily Press, utilises the emotive picture of the tragic 18 year old Essex teenager in an attempt to warn young people about the possible consequences of ecstasy and other dance drugs.

The growing popularity of speed, amphetamines and especially ecstasy is providing continuous problems for those who are approached to tackle the problem.

Authorities at UEA acknowledge the presence of drugs on campus, but in comparison to other universities in the UK, it is not viewed as

a particularly grave situation.

Dean of Students, Or C C Matheson, said, "Universities are

fertile grounds for drug dealers, and UEA is very aware of this. It monitors the situation very carefully and also liaises closely with the police.

'The University's view is firmly that dealers will not be tolerated."

It is hoped that the picture taken ofLeah in her hospital bed in Chelmsford, Essex, which is being used on posters to be displayed throughout East Anglia, will put across the powerful message of the possible consequences such a drug could have.

Both the EDP and Leah's family stress that if the campaign helps to highlight one of the risks involved then it will be successful.

24 HOUR FREEPHONE

0500 5567 9

4 Concrete, Wednesday, November29, 1995 .,J

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SEA in Shell station demo EIGHTEEN members ofUEA's Society for Environmental Action (SEA) staged a demonstration against Shell at its Unthank Road service station two weeks ago, writes Matthew Fasken.

Protesting over the oil company ' s "appalling environmental and social record" in Nigeria, the SEA members were met by three police cars within fifteen minutes of arriving at 7.40am.

Several policemen then proceeded to make them dismantle the barrier they had set up across the entrance to the station.

Four students had used bicycle 'D' -locks to chain petrol pump handles round their necks, and were informed that they would face arrest if they did not unlock them immediately.

They grudgingly conceded, but the protest went on regardless.

SEA's leaflets, painted faces and banners proclaiming ' Boycott Shell', achieved the desired effect of attracting both media coverage and the attention of rush -hour traffic and passers-by until 9.30am.

Shell station staff refused to comment on the demonstration.

• students vote to boycott French goods on campus - see page 5.

Government report identifies •serious problems• with rep_flyments GRADUATES are having serious problems paying back their student loans, according to a Government report.

week. Featuring a record number of shops supplying clothes and a large number of new models taking part, organisers hope it'll be the best yet.

The first 300 people through the doors for Wednesday's show (admission £3) will win a bag of fashion goodies courtesy of the promoters, Better Than Life Production Co. Thursday's ticket price (£5) includes entry to the LCR disco. Tickets for both nights are available in advance from the Union Finance Office, upstairs in UH ..

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Figures publi shed earlier thi s month by the Department for Education revealed that almost fifty per cent of graduates who took out student loans over the past five years have been unable to start making repayments because their earnings are considered too low.

Outofthe435,000graduatesdue to start paying off their loans, only 204,000 were up to date with their instalments.

35,000 were more than two months behind and regarded as in default; 9,000 were in arrears ofless than two months; and 187,000 were deferring repayments until a later date.

Since the launch of the student loans scheme in 1990, the total amount outstanding stands at£ 1,279 million.

Although graduates are given ten months after the end of their course before they have to begin repayment s, many have not found 'proper' jobs by then, which means they are not earni ng enough to keep up with the payments.

Under the terms and conditions of the loan scheme, if the borrower's income is less than £15,200 a year - 85 per cent of the national average- then they are not required to start repaym::nts.

The pressure is therefore on graduates to either find jobs or con -

.

..---By----.

Wendy Leech tinue studying, and good jobs are becoming increasingly difficult to come by. Consequently, many graduates end up taking lower-paid, unsatisfyingjobs simply 'to keep their heads above water'.

Caireen Kennedy, who graduated from EAS last June, is one of a number of graduates who have remained in Norwich to work in the Union'sbars.

"I'm not earning enough yet to be in a position to pay off my student loans", she said. "My overdraft concerns me more at the moment. " As more and more people enter higher education each year, competition for highly-paid jobs becomes more and more fierce, making it increasingly favourable to continue srudying.

Tony Burton, former president of UEA' s Graduate Students Association (GSA), said, "I was £2,000 in debt when I graduated and I needed to borrow more money to continue in education."

A source at the Students Loans Company claimed however that it is not concerned by the level of deferment and stated that there are no plans to lower the 85 per cent repayment threshold.

A._, "stcard lr""' ._,arts Marl(Austin reoo

F

or a whole afternoon I was afforded the luxury of not having to restrain the near uncontrollable urge to lash out at the ubiquitous small ratlike dogs that seem to accompany any Parisian woman over the age of 50 down the street.

What brought this relief was the fact that there were so many students in the streets that the rat-dogs and their owners had been forced inside for the afternoon.

Demonstration took place in several places across France calling for the grants to universities to be increased so that, among otherthings, more teach{ ers can be paid for.

At the moment, there are huge financial inequalities between institutions across the country.

The marchers in Paris were headed by 1500 students from Rouen , where a cross-university strike lasting four weeks had ended with them winning

~*ram Fra11ce. pledges of more cash and teach ers.

And now the taste for action is spreading across the country even further.

Up to ten universities have now joined in, holding strikes and de m· onstrations.

Last week the Minister for Education, Francois Bayrou, met with every university President to put across his plan to solve the huge financial inequalities between different institutions after his initial proposals had been judged insufficient by student organisations.

Comparisons are inevitably being made with the action of May 1968, but last week 's march through the streets of Paris by 3,000 noisy students had no pretensions to cause any trouble.

Waiting forthem as they reached the Assemblee Nationale were the massed ranks of tens of police deployed in full riot gear, itching for some action.

Curious Japanese tourists

pulled out their cameras, ever eagerforthat memorable holiday shot.

But the demonstrators merely turned their backs on them and marched off chanting in the opposite direction.

Not ten feet behind the last demonstrator came an army of Parisian street cleaners,lorries, vans and men with brooms who cleared up within seconds all trace of the 6 ,000 feet as if they had never been.

Yet while evidence of their physical presence may be easy to overcome, the growing momentum of the students' demands seems unlikely to be so quickly disposed of.

Perhaps there are lessons to be learnt for British students.

Instead of student numbers being cut, the impulse here is to demand more cash to fund the additional students.

And the students seem to be

.

6 ~· i, S: 13':J:·n V : 1 W. ~ , ·' '.;;; t'.' ;;.'CI')('JI"/) , Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995 5

FRENCH goods will no longer be stocked In Union outlets following a decision made at last week's UGM. A motion proposed by the Society for Environmental Action (SEA) urged a boycott of major French manufacturing companies who have not condemned its government's current policy of nuclear testing.

And students at the meeting held two days before the fourth explosion in the Pacific - overwhelminglybackedSEA'scallsand illustrated the depth of feeling over the issue.

Union commercial managers say that the boycott could provide a slight degree of angst for customers, but adequate substitutions will cover any potential financial loss.

Collectively, the Union Paper Shop and Supermarket estimate that French good account for around £900 per week in turnover.

Supplies will be allowed to run out and alternative products will be found.

Popular products to be affected include: •Danone dairy product •Most French cheese •HP Sauce

Weave your own Web Why should we have all the fun? lt isn't only a highfalutin' webzinecum -eo I u m n- in-awardwinning-student-newspaper that can create content for the World-Wide Web, you knowl This week, Hype demonstrates that it is truly the most equal of egalitarians by telling you how to create pages of your very own.

Simply follow the steps outlined below to become a web author par excellence ...

1. Get an Alpha account. If you already use email, then you already have one of these.

Otherwise, go to CPC reception and ask for one.

2. Log In via telnet. On one of the PCs scattered around the university, double-click on the "Teemtalk" icon.

Then choose cpca5 from the selection box and press OK. When you are prompted for a user ID, enter your registration number with a lower case 'u' before it (e.g. u9512345).

Then enter your password.

After a short wait, you will be presented with a prompt that looks something like "cpca5Q".

3. You have now entered the UNIX system.

This is where the fun stops.

Never mind that ifs all a load of gobbledygook, just type the following, pressing Enter after each line: mkdirwww chmod a+rx www cdwww

plco welcome.html then, once you've written yourself some web pages (see step 4 below), type: chmod a+r •

To understand what these arcane commands actually mean, visit Hype's Web pages for an explanation, or fork out for CPC document 23.

4. Now, you can create your home page. Webpagesarewritten in HyperText Markup Language (HTML), which, despite its fancy name,ls nothing more or less than plain English, interspersed with 'tags' which tell the browser software (e.g. Netscape) how to display the text.

These tags take the form of angled brackets (<TAG> to start and </TAG> to end ).

For example, writing <I>Zowee Caveel<ll>willdisplaytheita!icised words Zowee Cavae! on the screen when somebody looks at your page using Netscape or Mosaic.

A standard page layout looks like this:

<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Write the title of your page here

<./TTTL.E>

</HEAD> <BODY> The main part of the page goes in here. <IBODY>

<IHTML> So, type In the above, including a title, and then you're ready to create the main body of the document.

Put the tag <P> at the beginning

of each paragraph and <.lP> at the end. Two other tags that you should know about are <IMG> and <A>.

The first allows you to insert images into your text, and the second lets you create link to other web pages, which can be located anywhere in the wor1d.

Unfortunately, due to space restrictions, you're going to have to visit Hype's web pages for further Information on these, or buy the hugely overpriced CPC document 201.

To save your home page, exit the pico editor by pressing ctr1+X, Y, then .Enter.

5. You have now completed your home page and will doubtless be wanting to know your address on the world-wide web. lt is as follows: "http ://www. uea.ac. uk/ -u9512345/" (where 9512345 is your registration number).

Weep with joy. Tell your friends. And that's it really.

Piece of piss. lfitstillallseemstoodaunting, you need to check out Hype's website where we'll be providing wads more information on the subject, plus giving links to HTML reference books, free HTML editing software, and even to web sites that will literally write a home page for you ...

To reach this cornucopia, double-click on Netscape on one ofthe university computers, then go: UEA Welcome -t UEA Information --. Students --.

Campus TV, Radio and Publications --. Hype.

You can e-mail us at su.hype@uea.ac.uk or yia internal mail clo Concrete.

I Hanna:~alcolm I • French mineral waters eGauloises and Gitanes cigarettes and tobacco eB!Cpens •vogue magazine Union Environment Officer, Lucas Psillakis, believes that a system of attack on French companies is an effective measure, and that consumers wield a formidable influence.

"Boycotts do work", he said, 'They have in the past and can again. " By applying economic pressure you can often hit where it hurts."

00 According to a survey, freshers at Leeds Metropolitan Uni are using far morecondomsthantheir counterparts at Leeds Uni. Oo-ermissus ....

Graduate Students .Association Publicity Officer The position for Publicity Officer is still open. If you would like to become involved in the efficient running of the GSA and have a creative turn of phrase, then don't hesitate to talk to one of the committee members - ex or present. Those who are certain they can enjoy themselves in such a stimulating position (?) please apply, in writing, nominated and seconded by ordinary members, to the Secretary, GSA, UH - Internal Mail.

The GSC Lunch time opening hours .. are 12-2pm. This is proving to be very popular with our members- where they may bring in their lunch and even use our microwave (thafs the thing next to the jukebox).

We are also an outlet for SASSAF rolls - the profits of which go directly back to the organisation.

ENTS: Following the success of our first Karaoke, there will be another one on Sunday 9th December with the return of the incomparable compere - JG. There will be a special one-off Fosters Ice promotion on the night to help you swing straight into the party mood and lose all those graduate inhibitions. (In the interests of fun, all guests will have to sing).

FINALLY Ents are run for GSA members and if you have ant ideas, contact our elusive Ents Officer - Bob Blair - (who wasn't mentioned in the last issue of Concrete, but really is on the committee- sorry for the boob, Bob) or failing that, tell one of the bar staff.

PS PPS If this article hasn't convinced anyone to stand as Publicity Officer then I'll just have to revert back to drinking.

Web address is http://www.uea.ac.uk/menu/grad_students/welcome.hlml, e·mall please lo gsaOuea.ac.uk

This section is written and paid for by the Graduate Students Association

6 C:o

crete , Wednesday, Novembe'r29 , 1995. ~,

Abandoned residences at Fifers Lane to cost UEA £l m over next ten years ABANDONED student residences Fifers Lane could cost UEA a whopping £1 .1 million over the next ten years ... that's one of the findings of an exclusive Concrete Investigation made last week.

It also rev_eals that bungling UEA Accommodauon bosses: • sanctio ned the bui lding of the £12.25million University Vi llage while still facing a 12 year commitment to the Fifers Lane lease, •have ignored an approach from an outside company to acquire part of the land, •abandoned the former residences but left many working fixtures and fittings behind, • enabled wanton vandalism by refusing to board up the buildings upon vacating them, • have maintained a daily security patrol of Fifers Lane whilst students at Mary Chapman Court receive nothing.

In the current cl imate of student economic hardship and amidst the ongoing dispute over campus rent levels, UEA faces a further drain on its ea h- trapped resources to the tune of around£ I 00,000 per year - equivalent to the total amount of fund s offered in the propo ed Hardship Fund package to end the Rent Strike.

EXCLUSIVE BY ri"oanne :-l Robertso"J -

The Fifers Lane residences, part of a fo rmer RAF station, provided 650 rooms for UEA students between 1965 and 1994 when accommodation at University Village was opened.

Although an additional 20 year lease on Fifers Lane was signed with Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council in 1986, Regi stry chief decided to find an alternative to housing students there and in 1992 negotiated the repurchase of 40 per cent of the origi nal University Vi llage site - land it previously owned until 1987.

Plans were then announced for the construction of 750 student rooms at a cost of £ 12.25 million.

But now, al though the Village supplies accommodation for 750 students ju toff the main ca mpus, UEA is till liable for another I I years of the Fifers Lane lease at around £100,000 per year.

29 years of service d ledbytheMinlstry FIFER'S LANE was oiglnally ow_n~ an occup tional atrfaeld. of Defence as an ope ra tforwardforthesaleofthe In the mid 1960s, proposals were ~~ldin s and land. airfield and surrounding wa~lm:!tolJE~forat•rmof21 years. ln1965the38acreslt~was,::ntial quarters were refurbished The mess rooms an res d tl n Ius sports and social facillto provide student accommo a o a~dltional block was added. ties, and In subsequent Y~~;s, ~a ne • five miles away from the Despite the location of ' ers I with the thousands of UEA Plain - it proved enduringly popu ar d th re over 29 years. students house e lty spirit- it felt like a real home at " Fifers had a great commun could get away from campus"' the end of the day because you said one former resident, rt of something different"' added "lt was really nice to tee a pa . another.

Fifers Lane in its student days (above), and last week (right) "It was a bigger waste to throw good money after bad for accommodation at Fifers Lane", said Richard Goodall, UEA' s Director of Estate and Building .

"It was logical to have students closer, plus it was more cost effective to build the V ill age than to ref urbi h Fifers Lane. We wanted to utilise the Univer ity's hardearned cash."

He added that negotiation are currently under way with a view to putting the disused residences to good use: "We want to realise the best potential of the site for the benefit of the community at large."

But Concrete can reveal that one approach made to UEA bo ses has been effectively dismissed.

Locally- based company Ai r UK approached UEA with a view to converting oneareaofFifers Lane - the former ABC block which includes bar, kitchen and di ning fac ilities - into a staff training ce ntre for its operations at Norwich Airport, but are still waiti ng to hear a response.

"It is of interest to us," said Air UK's consultant surveyor, Ray Ellis, "But in the its current state of repair, one more winter may be too late."

He added that the moth balled building - abandoned with the other former ac-

tes

commodation blocks - may need too much essential building work to bring it up to safety standards if it continues to be neglected.

But Richard Goodall countered these claims, stating, 'There have been no firm proposals from Air UK; we'd be delighted to take a view but there is nothing to take a view on.

"Accommodation at Fifers Lane was

substandard; it isn't at the Village."Union Welfare Officer, Esther Jillett, described the situation at Fifers Lane as "a waste."

"Fifers Lane had no problems with overflowing sewage and leaking howers as the brand new Village did", said Esther.

"It's j ust another example of UEA's absolute utter incompetence and then getting students to pay for it."

...nowlying forlorn BOTHpollceandlocalcounclllo sh "' vandallsmatFifer'sLane Local r ,:veexpre&sedconcernsover also bemoaned the tact.th t res entsllvlngnearttltJsitehave a vandals are ru 1 des plte regular security patrols. nn ng amok there • Despite the grass still contln I board up the buildings when th u ng to be cut, UEA chose not to after the vandalism started ey were left vacant, onJy doing so it is rumoured that this h~s c would have if they had secu ost the University double what it abandoned. The buildings thred :e buildings When Flters was been left to fall Into dlsrepa· ems ves are well built, but have tr, Coo kers, fridge-freezers and ment have simply been at;>and V~lous Items of kitchen equip.. and "_liscellaneous fixtures a~~efiW~s as beds, mattresses Earherthlsyear oneLabou .9 • be Used as a co~plex to ho~sceouthnCihllor called for Fifers Lane to e omeless.

;ell

GOT ANY TALENT TO OFFER? FANCY HAVING A CHINESE A TH IRD year WAM student is hoping to organi se an alternative event to the biannual UEA Fas hion Show, writes Hannah M a/eo/m.

Loui se King i propo ing an alternative show which will incorporate a wide spectrum of acts from singing, dancing and te ll ing jokes to reciting a Shakespearean sonnet.

"The Fashion how is shallow, uperfi cial and reinforces stereotypes", she said. " I believe people want the opportunity to perform without the commitment

that the Drama Society or the Fashion Show requires."

She added, "Th e idea behind the show places a great deal of empha is on indi viduality; I am offering people the opportunity to grab what they rea ll y want- just two minutes of fame - without hav ing to rely on their looks."

Louise' s tale nt show will go ahead towards the beginning o f next semester, with the possible backing of Drama Soc. A request for pri ze money has already been submitted to the Union .

• For further details call Louise on 01603 663581.

FOR THOSE who like finding out what music people like, or whether they have any brothers or sisters, opportunity knocks, writes Charlotte C/ark.

DEV postgrad Cathy Farnworth i the voluntary pen friend co-ordinator of the Society fo r Anglo-Cbinese Understanding (SACU), and is looking to put UEA students in touch with a whole host of Chinese people.

Corre pondents available range from between eighteen to forty years in age, the majority being students studyi ng English or traditional Chinese medicine.

PEN FRIEND?

A new pen friend can be found immediately as Cathy has many people on her flies.

• Anyone interested should leave their name, address and any other relevant information- such a the name and description ofyourpetdog- inCathy' s pigeon hole, DEVPG. Happy writing!

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

7

Observer announce top photo competition THE OBSERVER has announced this year's Hodge Award for young photographers, writes Laura Edwards.

Now in its tenth year, the competition - started in memory of freelance photographer David Hodge - aims to reward and encourage budding photographers.

Open to all snappers under the age of thirty, the Hodge Award organisers are particularly interested in receiving contributions from student entrants.

Due to the high standard of last year'sentriesandTheObserver's commitment to the award, there will be a first prize of £3,000 plus the opportunity to undertake an assignment on b!3halfofthe newspaper, with expenses paid up to £1,500.

Runners-up prizes include a £1,000secondprize,a£500third prize, £1,000forthebeststudent photographer, and an Olympus 15 3000 for the student runner-up.

Portfolios of between five and ten photographs may be submitted, and should reflect cultural life in the United Kingdom. Each portfolio should be linked by a subject or theme and they should have been taken between January 1,1995 and January 161996.

•Entry forms are available from The Observer, 119 Farringdon Road,LonOOnEC1R3ER TheclosingdateisJanuary31,1996.

SENIOR Israeli diplomat, Arthur Koll, visited UEA last week to speak at a meeting In the Bill Wllson Room.

Mr Koll pictured after the meeting with Nicole Gee, President of UEA 's Jewish Society

Mr Koll, a senior PR official from the Israeli embassy in London, has played an ongoing participatory role in the peace talks in Washington and has previously served in the Foreign Office in Jerusalem and holds the rank of captain in the Israeli army.

Appropriately, he began by speaking of the "very deep sorrow" shared by the Jewish people after the recent assassination of Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin by disaffected student Yigal Amir.

Mr Koll described the killing as "a very tragic occurrence that has left a deep scar in Israeli society."

Although the self-confessed assassin claimed that his actions were supported by a large percentage of both Israeli and Diaspora Jews, and despite suspicions of other involve-

Syrian representative at Rabin's funeral, which was attended at short notice by 85 world leaders, including Arab delegates and three American MiloTaylor presidents.

Mr Koll was cautiously optimisment in the assassination, it now tic over the peace process, he stressed appears that Arnirworked alone and that the structures of democratic represents a marginalised fringe. continuity would ensure continued The actions of a single man, in . Israeli commitment to peace and this case a right-wing Jew, have identified a change in the general seriously hampered the move to- strategies demanded by both the wards peace, Mr KoU added.

Israeli and surrounding Arab peoThe void left by Rabin, who was ples.

He said the all-or-nothing deseen by many as the herald of a new era in the Middle East, will be diffi- mands of the past were now discredcult to fill. ited, and that peace is desired by the Yitzhak Rabin's successor, majority in the area as there is no Shimon Peres, and his government better alternative.

"Compromise is a need, a must were sworn in as Mr Koll spoke in and a necessity for all states conthe Bill Wilson room.

As Peres made the reopening of cerned if a peaceful future of copeace talks with Syria a top priority, existence is to be ensured for all in Mr Koll noted the absence of a this war-weary region", he added.

..----By----.

-----

ANTI-SEMITISM ALERT ON UK CAMPUSES atarecentNUS-backedanti-rascismconference held in Leeds, writes Adrian Steel.

When a member of the Muslim extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir spoke at the meeting, his speech drew applause from a number of delegates. Hizb ut-Tahrir is reported to be

active on many university campuses, including Manchester, Birmingham. UCL and Cambridge.

Nicole Gee, President of UEA's Jewish Society. explained that the group advocated thekillingofJews,stronglydeniedtheHolocaust and was opposed to greater equality for

women and homosexuals. She added that opposing Hizb ut-Tahrir was not "anti-IsJam, it's anti- extremism."

A specially established Campus Watch hotline, set up by the NUS for students to report extremist activities, has been bombarded with calls about Hizb ut-Tahrir since

it started in October 1994.

"The NUS quiterightly campaigns against all rascism, whether carried out against Muslims or in the name oflslam", said NUS President, Jim Murpby. ''We are firmly opposed to the activities ofHizbut-Tahrir. They are, after all, banned in most Middle Eastern countries."

To date, there have been no reports of Hizb ut-Tahrir being active at UEA.

What does Technopolis mean?

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homework, in-depth research or even to finish a crossword.

You won't even have to travel to TECHNOPOLIS to use it.

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Tel: Technopolis, Castle Mall Management Suite, 4th Floor, Castle Mall, Castle Meadow, Norwich NR1 300

GET STUFFED!

Getting stuffed...

TOP UEA history lecturer and media personality Dr John Charmley was turned away from a prestigious venue on a recent lecture tour of America, writes Adrian Steel.

ANYONE interested in improving their seduction technique or just who fancies something saucy could benefit from the latest student-friendly cookbook, ' Get Stuffed' ,writes Harrier Mills.

According to this little book, recently published by the Cambridge Publishing Group, readers need look no further than their wok or frying pan to wow all their friends - and potential friends- with their culinary skills.

Aside from making the truly astounding claim that ten hungry students can be fed for less than lOp a week, 'Get Stuffed' is a deliciously stuffed aubergine of a book, ideal for the kitchen-shy , impoverished student.

Author Pat Moir, states that it contains the 'creme de la creme' of good, easy-to-follow recipes: no fidd ly bits and 100 per cent Flaff-free.

It's even about 350 degreesgas mark 4- more amusing than DcliaSmith.

• 'Get Stuffed' is avai lable from bookshops priced £3.95.

TEN BRAV E members ofUEA' s Amnesty Society survived a ni ght in The Square as part of a sponsored vi gil.

The event, which rai sed £200, was staged to highlight hum an rights abuses in the fonner Yugoslavi a, and to publicise the work of

Amnesty UK. The society arc keen to thank all those who donated to their collection in The Pub, and are asking all students to continue their support by signi ng a letter at the weekly Amnesty sta ll , on Thursdays between 122pm, situated downstairs in UH.

3 COURSES FOR 3p!

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"I suppose if people do get upset it shows that they agree with me on one thing: that history matters."

Earlier this year, Dr Charmley made an appearance on the BBC' s Question Time, and debated alongside fonner Defence Minister and maverick Tory MP Alan Clark agai nst Lord Blake and Andrew Robert over the contents of hi s new book on 'Churchill 's Grand Alliance'.

On a previous tour of America to promote his controversial biography of Churchill, Dr Channley faced a hostile reception.

"One lady walked out on me for using the word ' homosexual"', he said.

\~ooo

~[Xk)ooo

Dr Charmley

.----By - - - - , Caireen Kennedy

3 Red Lion Street, Norwich Tel 614676 rr.------il r. - -----., r.- ----., DESSERT FOR lp I I

• Forthcomi ng Amnesty events include National Human Rights Day on December I 0, which will feature a Christmas card campaign.

"Every lunchtime you can send a card to 'Prisoners of Conscience' - watch out for 'prisoners of conscience at UEA! '", said a source.

Well known for hi s controversial views, Dr Charmley was refused permission to speak at the Thomas Library, despite already having received confirmation he could do so.

He says he was not "politically correct" enough for the institution, although its officials denied any accusations of censorship.

In the US to promote his latest book, Dr Charmley also faced hecklers.

"In certain areas political correctness has spread faster than a computer virus, and both have the same effect on intellectual integrity in my opinion". he said. " What the problem was is that one of the areas of my argument could be taken to be that the second world war was not the great and good thing we've all bee n brought up to believe." " Some peop le find this a disturbing argument" he added, ·• and un able to think through why they find it disturbing, they just prefer to shout."

Accepting that people fee l st rongly a bout hi s views, Dr Charmley said, ''I'm very used to people being upset at what I say, but I don't do it to upset people."

I

THERE 'S GOOD news for all student fashion victims out there ... Caterpillar have launched their latest clothing range just in time for Christmas.

Featuring two individual lines for men and women - even though the designs are androgynous enough to sui t all - the collection is inspired by the American blue-coll ar, workwear roots of the original CAT designs, although not one production line overall is vi sible.

What is in sight is the denim, cord and I 00 per cent cotton look made up into jeans, shirts, jackets and waistcoats.

Though the patterns only extend to checks and stripes, their plainness is their advantage as much as their expense is their di sadvantage.

Jean s start at £39.99, simp le tops come in at £24.99 each and wai stcoats at are a snip at £39.99.

And the seasonal mu st - the puffa jacket with fake fur collar - is a bargain at £84 .99 (pictured, ri ght).

The new CAT line can be found at River Island stores throughout the Uni ted Kingdom.

Two Leeds University students have been charged with posessing grass ... some newly laid turf that they'd pinched from some poor sods garden ...

Nottingham Universtiy's newly rehoused Department of History was re cently flooded with raw sewage.Andyou thought your course was full of...

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

••• former Warwick Arms relaunched last week OWNERS of the newly-opened 'Mad Moose Arms' are hoping that their latest venture will be the 'beast' pub In town following Its launch last week.

By - - -...

The former Warwick Anns- a popular student boozer- reopened under its new moniker after a four monthrefurbishmentandconsiderable controversy.

Local residents shunned the originally proposed name, 'Beastie O'Shagg's', as a "sick joke", forcing new owner Henry Watt to think again.

But the name was not the only change to be made to the original plans, as the decision to give the Golden Triangle pub an lrish theme was also abandoned in the face of strong opposition.

Now, the emphasis lies on it being "a traditional pub with a vast choice of beers and an extensive menu." "'The Mad Moose Arms' was chosen to be something different as well as fitting in with the names of our other pubs like The Wildebeest Arms", said a spokesman at Hec-

Alison Meakins tor's House, another ofMr Watt's outlets.

The changes were accepted by residents who were invited to ex- ' press their opinions at a meeting held at the newly-refurbished pub last week.

And the new name, decor and landscapedareaonthesiteoftheold , car park seemed to generate 'enormoose' praise all those present.

Dover Street resident, Sarah Griffiths, who last month slammed the original "beastly" choice, said she had no objections to 'The Mad Moose Arms'. She added that she was "very happy" with what she had seen. Said the pub's new manager, "I think the residents have got used to the fact that it will no longer be The Warwick Arms."

Calling young •

mUSIC

• 1ournos ••• THEGUAAO~am~~

young writers who are knowledgeable and talented when it comes to music, writes Sarah Mu/lis.

Afr.jonewhothinkstheycould constructively criticise a rock or pop gig, offering more than 'it was good' or 'a load oftollet' are being invited to enter The Guardian/ BBC Radio 5 Live STOPPRESS~L

ltcouldbetheirchanoetoget hitherto undslcovered talents discovered.

The competition, cuiT8fltly in its fifth year, Is concentrating on Rock criticism this time around; entrantsneedtosubmit a rock music feature of no mom than 1,200 words or a review of a rock music event of between 6·800 words.

ThewinnerofSTOP PRESS will win a Sony Music recorder - ,he most flexible digital recordable format ideal for the editing of high quality audio playback, mate"- plus the chance to have their work published in The Guardian.

•Send entries to: The Guardian/ Stop Press Competition,

Room4065, BBC Broadcasting House, London W1 A 1AA. befor&Oecember31.

SOUTH AFRICAN MP VISITS SASSAF A SOUTH African politician visited UEA last week to congratulate the volunteers at SASSAF for their charitable efforts.

Livingstone Maluleke, a recently elected ANC councillor and school principal from Northern Transvaal, took time out from a UK trip to encourage even more support for educational projects in South Africa.

"Our schools are very much in need", he said.

"We have to depend on other

it all on our own."

Livingstone added that he has a shortage of basics like boots, desks and furniture and that urgent structural repairs are desperately needed.

'The average class size is sixty in my school; we need at least six more classes to decrease overcrowding."

Finishing with visits to local schools, Livingstone is hoping to

~urture ties between Britain and South Africa.

"Support from SASSAF at UEA is very helpful", he said

9

10 Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

r~~m:~tJ A day at the races?

Some observers may have expected the current Rent Strike to have fallen at the first fence. as did the one held in 1992.

Certainly, the fact that 650 students backed the call for action at a UGM and eventually formed a total of 750 who paid their money to the Union's Rent Strike Hardship Fund were good signs.

As the Union Executive were - and are - keen to impress on the membership, a large group of people in the strike offers a formidable bargaining chip in the campaign against rent rises which have been dubbed "excessive".

All along the development of 'Rent Strike '95' (could it become a yearly event?) there has been much lively discussion and energetic debate.

Passions have run high, especially at last week'squorate UGM when 550 students turned out to have their say in the issue at a point where a strategic decision certainly needed to be taken by the Union after two poorly attended meetings.

Having over £450,000 of students' rent cheques in the Trust Fund, the Union's position is one of being able to offer the University sufficient nuisance by impeding its cash flow.

And, true to form, UEA's eventual response- to offer a £100,000 Hardship Fund in return for the immediate abandonment of the Rent Strike - was viewed as imaginatively as some of its accommodation policies.

Little surprise then, that this proposed ge tu re was thrown out at the meeting.

Although the rents campaign needs to be sustained. the direct action endorsed at the meeting - including occupations, sit-ms and further strikes - seems unlikely to offer the way forward.

It may be a day at the races for certain groups of people. but surely it doesn't represent the best option for everyone else -after all, the Registry occupation of 1993 caused re ·entment of students from some quarters which took some time to dissipate.

You may have to be in it to win it. but there's not much to say for flogging a dead horse.

NI N G

Last but not lease-d

E'P OUT ~~t.JESE

An exclusive investigation in this issue reveals how Fifers Lane could cost the University over £1 million between now and when its lease runs out in 2006.

This is a considerable amount of money for an institution that consistently pleads poverty in the face of criticism.

Although there may be perfectly adequate reasons why UEA chose to vacate Fifers Lane in favourofthe Village when it did- from mainly financial points of view- surely there can't be much justification for the continuing neglect of a site that could be so useful for other purposes.

The University should remember its commitment to trying to find the best use for the site for the benefit of the community at large: it's worth more than vandal fodder.

last issue of Concrete for this year...

~NO

ARE

(;.1(ouNt>S

DANGEROUS

IS OCCUPATION THE ANSWER?

e decided to write this letter as we are disgusted at the petty political antics of some members of 'our' Union.

They lower our morale by setting up their smelly and unsightly soup kitchens. They then waste our money be fully subsidising a jaunt down to London for a demonstration on student hardship.

This is little more than a free shopping trip.lfthey wish to tad.le this perceived poverty then this wasted money should be diverted away from political activities to cutting prices in Union outlets.

W

UEA'S Independent Student Newspape• INCOAPORATING

the

We'll be back on Wednesday, January 24

BUILDlN(,S

event PO Box 410, Norwich NR4 7TB Tel: (01603) 250558 Fax: (01603) 506822 E-ma/1:

slmon@stuserver.stu.uea.ac.uk

But, in times of such 'poverty' why is it that trade in Union bars is booming and most students can afford designer clothes?

However, now a situation has arisen where some members of this University feel that it is just to impose their views onto the apathetic majorit}.

The bannmg of French products from Union outlets is dictatorial.

If they wish to boycott French products then so be it, but there arc members of this University who do not hold their views.

There are some people who believe that what the French do is

none of our business and are angry at the way that our freedom of choice has been eroded by self-righteous environmentalists.

Not being content with lowering our morale, wasting our money and restricting our choice, people now wish to ruin our job prospects and education.

If the Registry is occupied. as SWSS and some members of our Union Executive want. it will be a disaster.

The reputation of this University will be dimini~hed, thus It will be even harder to find a job with a UEA degree. Occupation of the

Registry might even result in the temporary closure of the University.

So people wishing to be educated and learn we'll be denied this opportunity. We think that left-wing political antics at UEA are out of control.

We arc dissatisfied with the wa.,tc, the disruptive socialist activity, the way we are told what w c can and cannot buy, but most of all don't rum our education.

1 Ves~ey (SOC2) S Cook (EUR2) S Micallef(SOC2) 1 Briscoe11 (CHEI)

•Editor: Niall Hampton•Deputy Editor:Michele du Randt•Assistant Editor:Nik DavyeSport Editor:Jane Horner•Music Editor: Sa m Aichards•Assistant Music Editor: Mark Tobin•Screen Editor: Matthew Doyle •Assistant Screen Editor: Liz Mills• Stage Editor:Matt FaskeneSpecial Projects Editor:Caroline Adlem •Go-Listings Editors: James Curt is and Helen Lovett•Contributing Editors: Mark Austin, Peter Hart, Caroline JenkinsoneChief Reporter. Joanne RobertsoneStaff Reporters: Joanna Emsley, Katie Lane, Adrian Steel •Editorial Contributors.tlannah Malcom, Wendy Leech, Harriet Mills, Julia Benne!!, Jo Emsley, Jess Kiang, Charlotte Clark, Laura Edwards, Alison Meakins, Milo Taylor, Tom Howard, Sarah Mullis, Caireen Kennedy, Emi Emoto, Martin Plant, Jacob Leigh, Polly Binyon, VanessaSmith, KarenJenkinson, Chartie Gates, Chris Hodgen, John Holmes, Scott Coomber, Scott Tompsett, Sally Rose, Steven Jackson, Jonathon Cattell, Mattlngram, Phillipe Pemotich•Photographers:Mat!Stocks, EmilyWilson, Jeremy Hill, NikDavy, Stephen HowardeAdvertising Manager: Simon Man ne Production Manager: Stephen Howarde Proofreaders: Kay Spragg, Jane Kirby •Special Thanks to: UH Stewards, Bonusprint, all at Network Associates and Lasermasterforgrooming the Donkey printer and everyone at ECN•OTP Assistants:Niall Hampton, Michele du Rand!, Nik Davy, Jane Horn er, Sa m Richards• Concrete is published by the Union of UEA Students.

Opinions expressed are that of the Contributor and not necessarily those ofthe Publisher or Editor. Use of the name The Event' appears by arrangement with the copyright holders, Planet log Ltd. •No part of this newspaper may be reproduced, passed through louvred windows, transmitted by any means electronic, sleigh powered, or otherwise withoutthe prior written consent of the publisher•Printed by Eastem Counties Newspapersonaveryoldpressforthe last time (we'll miss you) in Norwich, NorfolkNR11 RE.©UUEAS, 1995. Soon to be printed on a 'top' shiny press at Thorpe- maybe. See you in '96.Have Fun. That's yer lot.

- -- - - -- -- - -

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

THE RENT STRIKE Mo~e

H

a third year student with he daunting prospect of mding a job in the coming year, I am more than a little concerned with the blatant disregard 'our' Union seems to have for our University's reputation.

I believe that the Univcr~ity was a headline feature on Tuesday's regional news as well a~ on many regional newspaper~.

Unfortunately, not all publicity is good publicity.

There i also a very real danger that it will be damaging to employment prospects for all UEA graduatcs.

I was not in favour of the rent strike. but I acc.:ptcd its intention~.

I don't however accept SWSS' · intentions or their methods.

An occupation of the Registry or any other building for that matter will almost certainly be counterproductive. it' s time to stop this nonsense. work with the University and keep UEA in the news for positive reasons.

I

Michael Bklckmore (SOCJ) A previous student demo- with SWSS out in force

arn writing to you to express my

E

oncem in the way tht Rent trilce and UGMs, in particular, are being used by SWSS for their own propaganda.

I strongly think that the rents on campus are horrendously high, and I do agree that the students should not let the University get away with it.

However, occupation of the Registry does not seem the right way forward to me.

After all, an occupation is against the law.

And I don't say that because I believe that the law is always right and the final authority, or because we should be scared of the authorities.

But if the occupation does not achieve the goal of the University lowering the rents- and I can't quite see it doing that - then the University would actually have something legal in their hands against the Students' Union, and this would malce any further negotiations or action even harder.

At the meeting it seemed to me

that SWSS was using the growing concern of the people who put their money into the rent strike in favour of their own agenda.

They are trying to use this occupation (if it ever happens) mainly for their own publicity, and I suspect that quite a few members of the SWP are probably quite happy that the university is not cooperative at all.

Let'srememberthat we are fighting for lower rents - not for some rather undefined political ideas of a radical political group (SWSS).

Two more points! think are important: Firstly, most of the speakers wasted half their time telling people things like "The University are bastards".

Please, get to the point, these empty words won ' t ever get us anywhere!

Secondly, the suggestion to occupy the Vice Chancellor's mansion: true that this might be brilliant fun .

True also that it seems unfair that she lives rent free and earns lots of

money, while many students are struggling to get by.

But hands on your hearts: if you were offered all these benefits, would you refuse them?

Occupation of her mansion would simply be an invasion of her private life.

And it's probably not only up to her to lower rents anyway.

After all, she came here after the rent rates for this year were already decided.

DO YOU FANCY A TOP MEDIA JOB? niversity life is a curious thing I A scorpion with a hidden sting /Itpt'OIIliscs knowledge, a dQgree and more I To a possible career it is the door.

But, hide from reality, while you're here, I Drown your sorrows in a daily pint of beer, I Do unquestioningly the work you're set I Any disquiet with antagonism is met It's over my head! And mine and mine! I Such bewildennent is a constant whine I Universal concepts practically obsolete I Which will never pay for tbe next time you eat.

It will never be used in any work place. fFellow staff will mock and laugh in your face I It does not teach you technical skills I And leaves you confused about moral ills.

Such grievous years amount to rninimwn·three I Societies' suckers, that's you and me I Bending and buckling to

U

11

N...

play a role I And aiming for somebody else's goal.

Name and addresr suppU.d 's apoent aboutthe new, and er so efficient

ffi

R...

Woe unto you, leaders of BUR,/ You have toadied to ludicrous tyrants I Killing off the TEFL goose with the golden eggs I in the new, efficient EUR. Desperately you whip up phantasms of courses, I Thin in content. but many in number/ And brag of our "modular programrnes"llnthenew,efficientEUR. You claim we can balance our budget I And that everything's fine in the school.

I Yet class sizes grow, and contact hours shrink /In the new, efficient EUR. Do you think all of this bluffing and weaving I Will impress our watchful masters; I And hold off the inevitable shrivelling /Of the new, efficient BUR?

Name and address supplied

ip! Every week, almost every day in fact, I talk to omeone who wants to be a journalist, work in radio r TV, or get into advertising, PR or publishing.

Why then were the media careers talks so badly attended?

Eleven students came to the local radio talk, ten to magazine publishing. Even the most popular - advertising - only had an audience of thirty, and it was excellent.

Sorry this sounds like a gripe.

It's really hard to get media speakers. They come at their own expense and don't come back if it doesn't worthwhile.

Can anyone let me know why students don't come to careers talks, especially when we get employers like ITN, Saatchi & Saatchi and the British Film Institute? Answers. ideas and commentsdirect to me or through this column.

Anne

H

Williamson

Careers Centre

write to you with reference to Vron Leek's survey of musical tastes at the LCR disco, published in the last· issue.

As the Chairperson <'f the Alternative Music Society, I would like to suggest that more 'indie' music should be played at the event.

We get about an hour ofpopular 'Britpop' from 10-1 1 and then the rest of the night is a bit of a loss, music wise.

Why not have alternative dance/ indie nights in the Hive on LCR nights?

This would make a lot of people more satisfied than they are at present.

I understand that a lot of students think the music in the LCR is OK, but this may be because they enjoy Ritzy!

Uz:r. Page (EAS3)

TECHNOCRUSH

I

'm sick of being a Techno· phobe. May I through your columns ask if there's any-

one out there (in the Physical world) prepared to teach me how to use computers properly?

Internet and all?

If so would they be kind enough to contact me by pigeonhole and I'll endeavour to be a good student- andbuy them a drink or three maybe!

TonyCrush(IDSJ)

Marc von Hobe (CH£ 3)

EXHIBITION

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Concrete, Wednesday, November 29 , 1995

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Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

13

- - - - - a paid advertisement by your student union - - - - -

MONDAY 4 DECEMBER 1995 7.30PM LCR YOUR CHANCE TO LO LAST YEAR - AND

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Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995 15

paid advertisement by your student

On Monday 20 November at a quorate General Meeting (575 students present) a vote was taken to reject the University's offer of £100,000 into a Hardship Fund as seHiement for the current campaign to get rent levels reduced on campus. lt was also decided to step up the campaign using tactics such as occupations of University buildings.

Regardless of what tactics are used, the aim remains to get the University to accept that rent levels are unjustifiably high and that they do have it within their means to reduce them.

The offer of £100,000, while still supported by the Students' Union, is not new money. They are simply going to take a little bit from every School, the Sports Centre, the Students' Union etc. This is probably justified but it does not go far enough and represents no additional funds and the University's reserves keep

on building.

The University have argued that their spending has to be on teaching and research which would be fine if at the same time students didn't see the Vice-Chancellor's house being refurbished and nearly £150,000 used to subsidise catering on campus - not exactly teaching and research.

Students must believe and campaign for the University to act on rents - they are getting away with murder.

As to the University's closure of the Registry to students in need of vital services the Union has been acting. The University were threatened with court action over their refusal to hand over grant cheques - they were told that those cheques are the property of the local authority and the student - not the University at all. The University backed down quite rightly. For access to Hardship Loans the Union also made it clear that these funds are vital to students in financial need and the

7•

University backed down. The same is currently being argued about Student loans and the Union is convinced we'll win that, too. lt really is a bit rich for the University to blame the Students' Union for the closure of the Registry. They are more than aware that there exist other, less draconian, methods for restricting access to the Registry, but have instead chosen to make a political statement at the expense of withdrawing vital services to students in need.

PS. On Friday 24 November, three of the four sabbatical officers, Adorn Bowden, Esther Jillet and John Holmes, were served with writs telling them not to occupy the Registry or incite, induce or procure others to do so. If they break this they will be deemed to be in contempt of court and face jail sentences. Nice one,

16 Concrete, Wednesday, November 29 , 1995

Horoscope

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

â&#x20AC;˘ Sally Rose joined the History Society as they learnt how to read Earlham Park with UEA a landscape archaeologist

H

as anyone ever considered the history of our campus site?On Wednesday November 1, Dr Tom Williamson donned his wellies to give members of the History Society the lowdown on the origins of Ear1ham Park.

As a landscape archaeologist, DrWilliamson 'reads' the countryside as an alternative historical source to documentary

evidence.

What he described as 'bumps and things' can help us leam how humans lived in the past.

Luckily, for those on the guided walk, this didn't involve any diggi1g!

DrWilliamson told the party, for example, that the large tree near the entrance to the park at the Porters Lodge is actually a pollarded oak over 500 years old.

"So what?", some might say.

Well, this means it is older than anything else around it and medievaI peasants would have collected its branches for firewood.

Th1s tree

has witnessed its farmland surroundings change to a Capability Brown-style landscaped park, to apublicgolfcourseandthen, from the late 1960s, to form part of the UEAcampusarotrd Ealtlam Hall.

From peasants to gentry then students; what goes around comes around, as they say.

Whataboutthebumpsanddips encountered on one's way across the park to the firework display and fair on bonfire night?

DrWilliamson informed us that some of these are the remains of filled-in pits to extract gravel, but manyareinthelinesofoldsunken roads, known to archaeolog1sts as holloways, which crossed open fields before

Earlham Hall was built.

Earlham Park itself was created from this farmland in the eighteenth century.

This was the world of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice; gravelled walks, garden terraces, ha-has and carriageways.

A landscaped park was a status symbol with more grandeur than a swimming pool or a Porsche.

Dr Williamson described them as "little islands of politeness surrounded by peasants."

Here at Earlham, trees were planted in avenues focused on the Hall, now converted into the School of Law. There is a guideline that each inch round the circumference of the trunk equals one year of growth, butDr

Williamson dismissed this; it is plain common sense that a big tree is an old tree.

If you have approached UEA along the 81108, you may have noticed a small, square brick building near the road, opposite the church and the Village residences.

This was a dovecote with around 800 nesting holes and is deliberately on the edge of the park so that travellers would realise just how wealthy and important the owners of Earlham Hall were.

Only lords of manors could keep doves to eat because they fed on the crops grown in the fields of their tenants.

If the tenants

17

were allowed dovecotes too, it would have been a form of 'seventeenth century communism.'

Dr Williamson's guided walk was an introduction to this way of looking at the landscape and examples are duplicated in parkland areas across the country. "Landscape archaeologists take completely useless evidence, then invent stories about it", said Dr Williamson. "This is the same as normal historians do, but we're more honest about it and our sources are more fun to study."And after this entertaining tour, dodging too f~u~ showers, most Histor.y ~ ety membefs might even agreE1. ~

18 Concrete , Wednesday, November 29, 1995

Features

r Emi Emotocontinues her lo at w at foreign students are a ing of the EA e perience s you may have noticed, there are many Japanese students here at UEA. Now UEA is undertaking an ex change programme w1th several Japanese universities and 's even planntng to set up a Japanese Studies course next year.

Se suko lmaizumi is one of the Japanese students who arnved in Norw1ch this September, and is currently studying for an MA in International Relations "I was originally do1ng a graduate diploma course, but one of my lecturers recommended I should try an MA course", she explained. 'The lecturers at UEA are encouragmg and I think this IS very good for students."

She added that she also thought it a good 1dea to have a personal advisor. "At a Japanese university, you might find a lecturer who would be willing to see you as an advisee and who could become a referee for your CV only because he/ she teaches you in a seminar.

"I know I shouldn't generalise much about this, but it is often unusual that Japanese universities have the same kind of personal advis1ng system as UEA".

I asked Setsuko what she thinks of UEA overall. 'Well, it's okay and I do like it.

Many English people may find it strange, but I have to say that there was no computing system at my college library (fsuda College) when I was a student there, so I was impressed that UEA has such an advanced system."

Is she joking? A Japanese college didn't have a computing system at their library?

She added,

I had to look up a whole bunch

of cards arranged in alphabetical order.

"Mind you, I did leave college about five years ago, so things may be differ-

Of course there are some who live away from their home towns and find accommodation close to university. But still the

ra ent now. I hope they've changed it!"

Setsuko seems to have had a problem with her accommodation at UEA. "I lived in Waveney Terrace during the first few weeks and eventually found another Japanese girl to swap my room for one at Nelson Court" When asked what she disliked about Waveney, she answered , " I thought I wouldn't have to share a bathroom with blokes!".

In Japan many untver.sity students tend to live with their parents and go to college by train.

+ ,...

~

proportion of those who live away 1rom home is smaller compared with the UK. Setsuko explained some of the bizarre differences in Japanese student residences. 'There are usually separate residences for male and female students, or they hve on different corridors.

"If you live in a separate residence from

your female friends and want to go and see them, a security man will usually come and ask who you are, who you

11

are going to see , hy you are going to see her, how long it will take ... " No wonder she didn't expect to live and share things with male students. "I was just shocked when I first saw the toilet seat was up!" she added.

One of the things t hat Japanese people find

strange about the English is the way they blow their nose.

"They often blow their nose with either a tissue or sometimes a handker.hief cleverly using only one hand, and then put the tissue in the pocket or sleeve of a jumper to use it again!

"Thrs never happens among the Japanese. We wonder why they use the same tissue agail"' We even wondered whether they wait until the t1ssue gets my next ime they use it! " So 13 it for environmental rPasons to rduse r .e .>ame t1ssue or is it just a cultural th1ng? Could somebody tell us?

Anyway. there are m<1ny differences between Japan and Britain, which Setsuko rs just beginning to experience.

The good thing for her is tnat food and beer nre cheaper. "I couldn't believe that we can have a pint for a pound! lt costs about ÂŁ3 orÂŁ4 in Japan!"

SetsuKo never feels homesick, although there is or1e thing she misses very much . That is white radish, which is often used for Japanese meals but is hard to get in England. Apparently, if you finely grind some white radish and have it with some boiled pasta, some tuna and a bit of soy sauce, its very tasty - she strongly recommends it.

For anyone interested in Japan or thinking of going there to teach English, there is an opportunity to find out more about it because UEA is planning to hold several exhibitions of Japanese Art at the Sainsbury Centre as well as a Japanese cu ltural day next year.

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

19

.,,...;.,;o;;;;t~WJ~i,~:;;z; ~.-;;· j·;;;,.(l..:;;;;.~· ·.R,e dlure$ ...

..

• Nicole Gee asks whether Chaplaincy really is a multi-faith facility. Photos by Rachel Ad/em

W

eallknowthe rumour that t h e Chaplaincy was bu il t instead of some Olympic sized swimming pool.

But imagine if the powers that be gave us the choice of getting rid of the Chaplaincy to make way for a swimming pool. Not that the University could ever treat us like mature adults ...

The question is: if push comes to shove, could the Chaplaincy justify its existence?

Yes, it should serve the purpose of installing sanity in those who are believers in God, no matter what religion. For those who are not religious or who are simply curious, it is there to answer questions on religious or ethical issues.

This in fact reminds me of what happened when a Jewish Chaplain first took over the London re-

gion. One day he received a phone call from someone saying he had a rather serious problems, and would the Chaplain mind listening.

He was of course quite receptive and so the caller said, "Well, it's just I've being going out with this non-Jewish girl for some time (for those who aren't too up on Judaism, this is a bit of a catas-

trophe for Jewish continuity), and well, she's pregnant."

The Chaplain , in his understanding way, told the caller not to worry and to carry on .

"Erm, well, you see I've also been doing drugs. Do you mind me telling you this, as you're quite orthodox?"

The Chaplain wanted him to continue, realising his role was to help anyone who came to him. So the caller continued by saying , "Erm, because I've been doing drugs, I've contracted HI V." At this stage, the Chaplain realised that the call was just a huge wind-up.

This story is totally true , but on the serious side, it shows the importance of the Chaplains. They are there for anyone, no matter what religion, or indeed if they are an atheist.

But what on earth has this to do with justifying the presence of the Chaplaincy itself?

The fact is that it does and it doesn't.

If anyone who is not Christian in it's 'truest' sense and has ever been into the Chaplaincy, he or she would have realised that you don't quite fit in.

An atheist friend of mine went into the Chaplaincy for the first time in his third year, while someone who has described himself

as 'culturally' Jewish finds the whole atmosphere too scary and refuses to go in. More to the point, I know plenty of Christians who also don't like the place's atmosphere. Perhaps one could say, 'Well it's obvious- if you go into a Chaplaincy with an active Christian Union and several other Christian groups, you expect to be bashed by a Bible and come out with a dog-collar on ."

But I'm Jewish, and I can quite confidently say that no-one attempts to convert me, and that there is mutual respect. But even so, I am (possibly unjustifiably) more conscious here than anywhere else that I am an outsider.

So it begs the question: "Why?" This is the one place on campus where you are judged (albeit unconsciously) on your beliefs, and so minorities feel like minorities.

One only has to look at the Chaplaincy's social area to realise that it is dominated by different Christian denominations. But to non-Christians, the denominations can seem blurred, making the building seem first and foremost a Christian building.

Each of the following groups has a noticeboard: the Methodists, Quakers, Anglicans, Christian Union, Christian lectures, and,

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in the corner, the Jewish Society.

Also, the windows and doors where pestering is allowed are covered by Christian posters. I don't have a problem with Christianity being the dominant religion if I did, I'd have moved to Israelbut the Chaplaincy has no contact with Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus or Buddhists.

Surely this is not how it should be. lt should endeavour to be a multi-faith centre, and to be more

welcoming than it is. At present, it is almost impossible to understand each other's religions and beliefs with Christianity dominating everything. The Chaplaincy caters for no more that 300 people, about five per cent of the University's population, and despite the fact that I use it, I do not think that it can justify itself.

So what about that swimming pool? Well, no, actually. Although it is far from perfect at the mo-

ment, it has the potential to be the most objective place for counselling on campus, while providing ongoing education on different cultures and beliefs on the most sociable level. For this reason, if not for any other, every student should go to the Chaplaincy at least once, and find out why it should be worth more than a swimming pool.

•Nicole Gee is president of UEA 's Jewish Society

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20

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

Features

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• They•ve been there, done that, and got the T-shirt. .. and the video, and the soundtrack, and the screenplay. So just what do you buy the film buff who already has everything ? Liz Mills and Caroline Jenkinson found out

E

veryone knows that age-old question "What came first; the chicken or the egg? ". Well , here 's a new variant for you: "What came first; the merchandise or the movie? " Nowadays , it's hard to tell , I'm afraid . Ever since the heyday of the Star Wars movies , when little boys clamoured to have plastic battle cruisers and tiny figures with detachable light sabres , films that look as though they have any sort of appeal to kids are marketed to death. Even films that children rea ll y shouldn't have seen , such as Robocop or Terminator have their own line of toys. Morally disgusting, you might think.

Oh yes . But when Christmas is looming , and you rea ll y

don't have a clue on what to buy that budding Barry Norman in your family, they can provide a host of interesting (not to mention bizarre) ideas for gifts.

With this in mind, we. ventured out into Norwich to seek out, the best (and worst) of the film tie-ins on offer. The price ranges varied (as did the qual ity) , but whatever your budget , you 're bound to find something 'nice' in this little assortment of goodies, listed shop by shop.

The Regency Flower Shop Well this may seem an odd choice, but a whole host of balloons just happened to hit us as we emerged from the car-park . On a further reckie our 'ideal' helium-filled si lver

bags just had to be ...

L/Z'S PREZZIE CHOICE: Cat Woman (£1 .75) ; she did it for me, and since I always buy prezzies that I would like myse lf, everyone wou ld get one of these . The only prob lem would be how to wrap it!

CAROL/NE'S PREZZIE CHOICE: WeiJ, if I was buying for myself, I'd have the Scooby -Doo ba ll oon . But if I had an annoying younger brother to deal with , it would have to be one of the Power Ranger balloons (£1.99 each) . Plus you could get some flowers for your mum at the same time .

Bonds Enticed in by their needlework department (honest), we

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must admit that once we'd torn case really). ourselves away from the L/Z'S PREZZIE CHOICE: Disney embroideries , we No Christmas were quite amazed what you would ~&I A can actually buy in this store. ,,,.~ ,m l' Read on ... ft \ ~ ~ LIZ'5 f11Q~1" PREZZIE CHOICE: \ The Disney towels (£12.50) were a definite must. The thought of being rubbed down by Mickey at shower time after a long day on campus is really too much .

CAROLINE'S PREZZIE CHOICE: No, I don't care what anyone says, I' m sticking with the needlework kits. The little cards (£3.45) were OK, but the bigger pictures of scenes from Fantasia or The Little Mermaid (around £16) would get my needle all of a quiver.

The Baloo pyjama case (£19) came a close second. be complete without the tree decorations, or to be more exact, chocolate Pocahontas tree decorations (£1.79). Okay Having gone in search of so this doesn 't technically Needlecraft magazine for have prezzie status , but is a Caroline, we landed up in the good excuse to stuff your face attractive 70s styled Smiths on after the festivities have died St. Stephen 's Street, wh ich down. Just remember to put actually on further them high up the tree out of investigation revealed a reach of little siblings and veritable heaven for Trekkie wayward Labradors .

CAROLINE 'S fans .

PREZZIE CHOICE: L/Z'S PREZZIE CHOICE: As contender for the most Much as I'd like to choose a bizarre prezzie it would have Barbie convertible complete to be the soundtrack which with tree Barbie and Ken dolls had been inspired by, wait for (a snip at £29.99!), I must stick it, the soundtrack of The Lion to the point of this feature and King (£6 .99) , complete with choose something with a such classics as The film-type theme. So let's go Warthog Rhapsody . Boogie for the most weirdly titled thing in the entire store, which was on down . the 'Modern Mickey Juice CAROL/NE'S Canteen' (£3 .99). What 's PREZZIE CHOICE: I know several Trekkies, and wrong with calling it a flask? the How To Host A Mystery Is 'Juice Canteen' a more Star Trek game (£19.99) politically correct term? And would keep them amused for, what if you wanl to put ooh ... hours. Pretend to be something other than juice in Riker, Or Crusher, Data or it? Like Ribena?

Geordi La Forge , and work out which evil sod nicked the 'Orb of Knowledge '. lt was Colonel Mustard in the Study Whilst nipping in for a bottle with the Lead Piping! Or of conditioner and packet of perhaps not.

Nurofen, you may care (as we did) to browse over the seemingly endless isles of Ch ri stmas goodies (and if you Good old Woolies. We found did just happen to want just a plenty of choice at the 'cheap bottle of conditioner, tough , and che erful ' end of the it' s relocated been market. Good stocking fillers somewhere into January) . ahoy! (and plenty of Sindy L/Z'S PREZZIE CHOICE: Doll s to keep Caro line For all those cuts and grazes amus ed - its worry ing , I' m (j ust gaping wounds to the su re she 's regress ing . Sad elbows and knees mind) that

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you collect over the festive period , Disney can offer you some 'Mickey Mouse ' elastoplast (£ 1.45) .

But 1 must admit my personal fave of faves was the bendy Trekkie (a worrying £10)!

Yes, dare I say it, Sindy for Sci-fi fans!

CAROLINE'5 PREZZIE CHOICE: Smellies always go down well at Chrimbo, and what better for Granny than a Robocop bubble bath (£3 .99)?

Not suitable , hear you cry? Well , treat her to a Batman or Batmobile bubble bath instead (£3 .99 and £4.99 respectively) . They also do Gasper bubble bath {£2.99), but that's for wusses and small children .

ISGIFTS

WHSmlth

Boots

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The Disney Store And you thought we 'd forgotten . s~ last but not least, its the heaven of all collectable collectors, the winner by far of the most hyped and overmarketed movies award , the guiding light for all movie merchandise, yes, ladies and gentlemen the winner is The Disney Store.

LIZ'S PREZZIE CHOICE: You can buy every1hing (and I mean everything) for the cook (yes cook) in your fam ily. First up I'd have to recommend the Mickey pie server and je lly mould (£2.50 and £1.95 respectively), closely followed by the fridge magnets (£2.95) .

But the ultimate has to be 'Mickey's Gourmet Cookbook' (£6.99) , comprising the alltime classic recipes from your favourite Disney films. The time to start worrying is when you find a dwarf in your soup!

CAROL/NE'S PREZZIE CHOICE: I want to have a pair of Disney heroine earrings (from about £3.50 upwards) . There's so much choice - Pocahontas , Jasmine , Belle , and my per sonal fave , Princess Aurora. But for the men in my life, it would have to be a pai r of Disney box er sho rts (£9.95). Not quite as nice as Marks' button fly charcoal-grey boxies, but there you go.

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22

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995·

Features

Features •John Holmes has come a long way since playing cheeky schoolboy Luke 'Gonch' Gardener in Grange Hill - or has he? Anton Maphill finds out what it's like to be a child superstar, a dedicated horse racing fan, Union Finance Officer and, ooer, to be fancied by Dani Behr... leven years on and John Holmes hasn't quite managed to banish the ghost of Gonch from his life.

In fact, it's something made even harder now because of the current BBC2 repeats of Grange Hill on Sundays.

But the Union Finance Officer finds it easy to deal with at UEA, because after all, he's a bit of a cult figure.

"Generally you can get paranoid if people are always looking at you, but it:s probably only because you're looking a bit rough that day", he muses.

"But with someone like

it screwed him up a he got to the stage didn't want to go out he was getting the time. that if you play a or someone a bully, then is usually taken way." all part of a to playing infamous

watching for schoolchild in And the fame, infamy, is showing going away.

"When I was eighteen nineteen, I started going out to clubs with a few of the people from Grange Hill, and I suppose there were people there who were giving us snide looks.

"You can react two ways to these things; you can either be really arsey yourself if people are talking about you behind your back or shouting

nasty comments across the room at you, but I've always thought it.was a bit of a waste of energy to get affected by it really because you can't stop people doing it.

"Equally, it's a nice way of starting conversations with people, although I've never once introduced myself in that way.

"I've never said, "Hello, I was in Grange Hill' or "Did you ever watch Grange Hilf?"

"But if people bring it up, then I don't get arsey."

And it's just as well really, with John having such a highprofile position on the Union Executive, running the UEA Racing Club and playing

who I am is basically about you behind rattier than coming and saying, 'You're Hill, how abaut it?'

"I'm sure there peopre here at UEA I'm in. Grange about" me with ' who wouldn't and say <>n..,nol'1on True or such a far cry John was hopeful Scher's the numerous nda Robson from Birds and Phil Daniels, 1rnJ'lhll!nl:~ and Blur""'"'''r•n fame.

"My parents thought it was a good idea, even though it took about six months for my name to come up.

"I went there with my sister twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school.

We did stuff like marching, skipping and improvisation.

"The aim wasn't to get professional work out of it, although as it happened,

1978 was also the year Grange Hill started."

Despite John eventually only getting a C in '0 ' level Drama, "because I was crap", the experience gleaned at

hopefuls to play Zammo, Jonah, Fay and Annette, and John found himself auditioning for the part of Jonah, although he was unsuccessful.

" I've never once introduced myseH as Gonch. I've never gone up to someone and said,'Hello, I was in Grange Hill but if someone else brings it up then I don't get arsey" This proved to be only a minor setback however, because in 1984 at the age of fourteen, John had another were

because he thought it would there was also the fortune, interfere with other things he which eventually proved to be was doing like school and quite a plus point. money wasn't other hobbies.

"The "That left them in a bit of particularly good in the first two trouble, because they only years, but once you reach had a month before filming sixteen and start getting adult was due to start, and Gonch money, for someone who was was one of the main still living at home, it seems characters in the first year. quite good.

"The producer, Ben Rea, "I bought things with it; a TV, came back to Anna Scher's video, Walkmans, a pool asking if anyone else wanted table, table-tennis table, and to try for the part. even went on holiday.

"So three of us, me, another "But it wasn't ostentatious guy called John and a guy at all; I didn't go out and buy called Dicken, did a little bit of flashy new clothes or go to improvisation for this bloke school on a £500 bike, or and then went and had a cup wear expensive jewellery. of tea with him in the office "I guess I was still shy at that behind the theatre. stage, keeping my head "I literally spent ten minutes - down , rather than saying, doing an improvisation , a 'Look at me, I'm in Grange fifteen minute chat over a cup Hill.'" of tea and I got the part.

So what similarities are "11 was as simple as that, there between John Holmes really; it was all over in half an the actor and Gonch the hour." .. character?

Thus John started an eight "I think Gonch was meant year stint playing Gonch, the to be an over-confident 11 year likeable rogue and cheeky old who had all these ideas whippersnapper selling toast and various money-making in the playground, lending out schemes. videos, hiring personal "There was no malice in it; stereos and being involved in it was just good, clean fun." just about every seam going.

Yet despite this, John thinks Not bad for a 14 year old that he wouldn't be the same schoolboy, living a double life person now if he hadn't been whilst all his schoolfriends in Grange Hill for eight years. had to make do with the kind "If I talk about going horseof life they were watching in racing, or if I say that the Union Grange Hill. should be making money in "I suppose you think, this is some other way, then people top children's TV think I'm just like Gonch." a programme , a job for five So what behind the scenes years, a bit of money, working gossip does John have to with people you like, time off share with his devoted fans? school and so on.

"There were a few "All those things were romances going on behind attractive about it." the scenes.

And school, real school, "Aobbie and Ronnie, who was clearly dis!inet from the ~rwent outwitheachother one present~ by John a~ In the programme, started his colleagues. :gl)ing out with each other in "I suppose my ~ wee~ reaVIife in 1986 and are still concerned Grange Hll woUld • ' goi ng out now as far as I affect school. although there .' know. were ~a llmited·:amounf pf·· >' "He's in London's Burning hours you couJd do. · ~ now, and she was training to "I didn't get muCh hassle at be a nursery nurse, the last I school, not for the first two heard." years at least.

All this plus John being the "The way it works is that it object of a tee.l)age crush from takes people quite a while to TV darling Dani Behr, formerly get to know you, and equally it of The Word.

"Dani Behr fancied me. takes people quite a while to forget."

When I was in fourth or fifth And, in addition to the fame, year, she was an extra on the programme for a year, and she would have been 13 when I was 18.

"She looked up to me you see; I was always the father figure because I was the eldest of all the people in it."

One thing that John didn't suffer from, however, was fluffing his linea.

"I was a lot more sorted than the others -I could'rea<:t which - -""w~s an advantege. · " loGenerally, because the others were d8dicated drama school kids. they weren't particularly literate, and In terms CJf not jult ......,.. but remembering hll tnM. ZlsiW by far the..._

.,_s

played Tegs, was always asking me to help him with his lines."

John eventually decided to leave Grange Hill after eight action-packed years.

"The reason I left in the end was to give myself six months to do A-levels.

£30,000 worth of losing slips, but since you don't get to keep your winning slips, I can't keep track of all my wins.

"I know that my losses over seven years must only be about two or three thousand pounds.~

Other Gonch enterprises

"Dani Behr fancied me when she was an extra on Grange Hill. She looked up to me as a father figure because I was the eldest in it"

"I suppose the resu lts I already had would have got me into some places but I wanted to go to a traditional university."

And, it seems, he hasn't been sufficiently tempted to return to the fast and furious world of acting, or even join the swelling ranks that have made the popular Grange Hi/V Eastenders progression.

"Although I don't actively go seeking the work, I suppose if Anna Scher's phoned me up and asked nte to.dcfa,\folceover orSom&other WQ,tk,.' then I'd go for it Straightaway. Jt'd be siUy not to n:mlJ¥~ .

"Yes, if someooooffe'red me a part in Ea,stendei'S'.Pr· as a teacher lri Grange Hill, then I'd dO it. I wouldn't even have to think about it."

Other than Grange Hill, John has worked on a couple of other projects, such as providing the voice behind the Rolo TV adverts screened a few years ago.

"They rang up out of the blue, asking for someone with a child's voice to do a voiceover, and paid £100 for an hour's session.

"Then once they decided to use my voice, they started paying ridiculous amounts of money.

"I must have done four or five of the adverts over two years and must have got between

£6·7,000.

'Plus, I'm about to get another £600 soon, -~use they're selling the amrert to

South Africa.• .

And dtd these earnings,

wilh al 1he Glarlge Hill cash, then

disappear

at

the

booM llhert, 81 popular mylt) , _ 11? .

~~~.-~~~~~~~~~~ ~· an M-~ ~~ ~~ -=·~~ ~~~~ ---.. ~~~ ~~~ ~~ --~ --

include a single; a rap effort recorded with Ziggy and a host of other characters and titled 'You Know the Teacher (Smash-head)', taken from the stonking 'Grange Hill: The Album'.

"We shot the video for it at a school in Liverpool, but one of the other tracks, 'Just Say No', went to number five in the charts.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't on Top of the Pops with the rest of them."

But Top of the Pops or not, has John still got his school blazer hanging up in his wardrobe, as another story has it?

"No I haven't, although I've still got the tie, some scripts and a few videos."

So what plans for the future then? Will Gonch make a return?

"I don't know; I fell into acting and I suppose I became complacent. Despite all these actors who complain that it's a really hard life, and go on about all the struggles they've been through, it still doesn't compare to what I'd call a proper job.

"Coming to university, getting a degree, doing the work I'm doing now and all the skills I've picked up has been great, although there are always other thlngs I could consider doing.

"None of those things have got to the point where I know definitely what I want to do, although I could always give up acting foe a pennanent job.

"But this time next year who knows where 1'0 be.. : • You can catch John in the repeats of Grange Hill on Sunday mornings at 1025am on BBC2

\

24

Concrete. Wednesday, November 29, 1995

t is all too normal for 'student bands' to be spoken of within the parameters of the cliches which that term throws up, i.e. loud, distorted guitars, tuneless singing, out-oftime drumming, banal lyrics, etcetera, etcetera. 1t is therefore a testament to the quality of UEA's very own NAVIGATOR that

their footing and progressed smoothly to a set which won over most of the audience.

On to HALF TIME ORANGES then, who from reports I'd heard prior to their set sounded like an ace idea: An entire set dedicated to songs about football! Unfortunately, it soon transpires that there was only ever one good football song ever written which was recorded in 1968 and called Peterborough La la la.

Needless to say, Half Time Oranges do not

these narrow critical margins are no longer adequate.

Tonight is only their third show but already they are building a reputation that has attracted music industry interest. This, the band's first gig away from the fairly safe territory of University campus, is a test of their real mettle.

Needless to say they rise to the challenge and triumph magnificently. After a nerve-induced start which gave rise to initial doubts, the band found

perform this masterpiece and end up boring me completely. Never mind, think I, the eternal optimist, here come SIDI BOU 路SAID! Oh dear!!! Yet again I'm left wanting so much more than they can ever offer. Vocally they are excellent, but they insist on diluting the superb harmonies with what can only be described as grey, lumpy indie dirge. The lead singer wiggles her arms every now and again, she even whacks her face on the

I

N

',.... t

ow listen. You lot have been a bit reticent to collect the hallowed sack in the last couple of weeks. Fair point - it was cack.

So this issue, we've bunged in everything whether it's good or not making an irresistible Christmas gift from us to you.

Up for grabs this time are: SOME ZIG AND ZAG STICKERS AND A POSTER! THE UN-ZIP CD-ROM MAGAZINE! A CANNON CINEMAS TSHIRT! SOME TASTY FRUITTEA! A FEW PAIRS OF THOSE BLACK GLOVES THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GIVE AWAY FOR WEEKS! COS BY THE LIKES OF THE FOO FIGHTERS, ERASURE AND THE OUTCAST BAND! ALL CONTAINED WITHIN AN EXCLUSIVE MTV BEACH BAG! Wow! To win all these fantastic items, all you have to do is pay a visit to Concrete HQ and pretend you're Santa Claus coming to collect your sack.

Just say "ho ho ho" and that'll probably be enough. Easypeasy.

R

microphone three times!

But even this fails to amuse me enough to enjoy myself. The truly amazing thing about them does not lay within their music but within the fact they still belong to a

record company which willingly invests time and money into them. How long will it possibly be before someone is willing to do the same for the real stars of the evening?

Mark Tobln

ock 'n' roll is dead. The future belongs to techno and house music." This has been a slogan of the late '80s and early '90s as we see more and more punks and indie kids go electronic and groovy. The openminded house scene has also given a renaissance to the old hippie philosophies preaching peace and love and exploring the beats of the world.

An endless stream of hypnotic ambient house music heated our souls and brought us out of this cold November night. The surprisingly good support act Tribal Drift presented largely instrumental, meditative dance music based around didgeridoo and the sensual dance of singer Faith. Two keyboards and a bass kept the beat going. lt came as a deliverance when keyboarder/ guitarist Duncan took up his flute and put variation into the music.

Loop Guru came as a bit of a let down after Tribal Drift's fine set even though they presented a much more professional and entertaining stage performance with vocalist Nishal Bulbul putting feet on the moniter and screaming at the audience. Slowly, the band succeeded in working up a sweat, mixing in their samples from the Muslim and Buddhist world.

Loop Guru's vitality is confirmed by the fact that their music doesn't fit into any known parameters. The use of percussion and two drummers provides a steady beat for dancing. The music itself is a strange combination of traditional music from around the world and the loops of modern house. The astonishing voice of Nishal seduces you into this search of the lost chord, but it's not quite enough to convince about the death of traditional rock.

Jan-Oiav Glette

M

y excitement upon discovering that new(ish) pop/indie/punklfast guitar band Scarfo (same label as Elastica) were playing the Arts Centre was considerable. lt involved shouting and leaping.

Anyway, less about me. The Des Lynam Allstars were as fantabulous as ever with new songs, new haircuts and a new drummer. They made me laugh, and dance - what more could you ask for?

Imperial were poo, so I went and got my record signed by Scarfo while they played.

Scarfo, Scarfo, Scarfo. Three blokes with sensible instruments and cool hairdos (I fancied them all). They went mental and rocked the joint with punky, poppy songs such as Skinny, Eyesore (my fave) and Wailing Voices, all played with extreme energy and excitement.

If you like These Animal Men, S*M*A*S*H or early Catherine Wheel, Scarfo are for you.

I think they'll go all the way (with Llzz Page me, hopefully).

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

25

Des BVent

---~~~

~-----------------~

their own Heaven Up Here gigs with bands such as Moose and Stereolab, but these days they don't really DBEATNIK FILMSTARSI look forward to playing there I MOBSTAR - their Apathetic English PO Box 788 Swine single (taken from Bristol BS99 1SF their last LP Astronaut House on La-Di-Da) could almost be about gig Tranquil , and one of the audiences. These days they releases was an eight-track •Joe Morris ignores trip-hop and finds another side to Bristol get out more, even touring mini-LP by another Bristol usic journalists are Bristolians, most of whom sounding a hell of a lot like the West Coast of America band MONEYSPIDEA. Their always keen to agree there simply isn't one a C86 version of Galaxie earlier this year with brand of Velvets/Raincoatscreate scenes in their town. However, there 500, but these days, Flaming Lips and Archers inspired pop should have because it helps to package are several excellent bands comparisons to Pavement Of Loaf. The Beatnik's most garnered much attention, up bands and sell papers and labels who call it home. and Truman's Water come recent single is the but, like the Beatniks, they and since I'm not really My own favourite are closer to the mark. They delightfully ... .., have been largely .1g~ore d ou t SI'de of interested in either, rest BEATNIK FILMSTARS who have always been pretty ......... _ . - - - - are three albums down the active in --Bnstol. However, assured I'm not trying to do that. The idea of a 'scene' is road with another waiting Bristol, ... _ _. • ~8~ ,,, lW • instead of sitting on pretty alien to most release. They started off running l..n~~~()l i .i ;) their collective arse \Jt• i;) mended \\aten\n9 $l mber\and) and moping, they recom pJnk Nofse 7'" ( u ranqu\\) have taken to oseatnlk f\\f'C\S\BI'S • ppldef m\n\-\..P ~\nO) ' organising their oeY$1)\det • r.tone • Furtrtetl..P {OO own Sonic Tonic O~ng saucer Attae:,e 1..P lP\ane\) mini-festival OoMov\8\one • 6f0Vlet1 ,.

- - - _. featuring bands twadS. Quad ... ....such as BEATNIK poppy New FILMSTARS, BOYRACER 1 . . _.

Boyfriend And Black Suit and the final gig of released on their own PUSSYCAT TRASH. Mobstar label, and, with One of the most anticipated their first Peel Session gigs at this year's Sound under their belts, they City was the Planet Records should go a long way. night, featuring the fuzzy Catch them live at the Arts sprawling hardcore of CRESCENT, the delicate VU Centre on December 11 .

Beatnik guitarist Tim used of MOVIETONE (both of to run a small label called whom have just released

a~~Pesses:

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LPs on the label) and, perhaps the most 'successful' of all these bands, FLYING SAUCER ATTACK whose fuzzy 'urban psychedelia' earned them a deal with the hip Domino label. Their most recent single, Outdoor Miner!

Psychic Driver, while not their best, is as good a place as any to start.

Finally, a quick mention must go to THE HEADS who do a very fine Stooges/ MC5 rock boogie, and can name Thurston Moore among their admirers, and the Posies-like CAKE who have yet to get their '60s melodies on to vinyl but are worth catching live. Also I must say a fond farewell to Sarah Records who have finally decided to call it a day and wonder why on earth Dishy Records moved to Edgeware!!

So there you have it... and not a mention of trip-hop in sight!

•

•

GIG GUIDE DECEMBER '95

Round VCR Uve By The Sea Is a live video of Oasis recorded at the Southend Cliffs Pavilllon in April this year and we have two copies of this fine video to give away I All you need to do is answer the following question:

Which of these men has not played bass for

Oasis?

way

a) Paul McGulgan b) Scott McLeod c) Ally McColst Mark your entries with your name and school and put them in the Concrete competition box in The Hive or hand them in to the office.

The Editor's decision is, of course, final and all that malarkey.

Fri 1 Dec Sat 2 Dec Mon 4 Dec Tue 5 Dec Wed 6 Dec Thu 7 Dec Fri 8 Dec Sat 9 Dec Mon 11 Dec Tue 12 Dec Wed 13 Dec Thu 14 Dec Fri 15Dec Sat 16 Dec Mon 18 Dec Tue 19 Dec Wed 20 Dec Thu 21 Dec Fri 22 Dec Sat 23 Dec Sun 24 Dec Mon 25 Dec Tue 26 Dec Wed 27 Dec Thu 28 Dec Fri 29 Dec Sat 30 Dec Sun 31 Dec

LUKE ARNOLD & GUESTS LENA BLACK BAND JAZZ 'N' BLUES JAM JAZZ 'N' BLUES JAM NEW HORIZONS CLEEVING HEAVAGES BEYOND THE BLUES EMMA HALL BAND NEW HORIZONS JAZZ 'N' BLUES JAM LEE VASEY BAND DALLING BROTHERS 4D JONES TUCKERS TORPEDOES NEW HORIZONS JAZZ 'N' BLUES JAM NEW HORIZONS SOULED OUT BUCKET BRIGADE BEYOND THE BLUES CHRISTMAS EVE- THE ROOSTERS CHRISTMAS DAY- CLOSED BOXING DAY CLOSED LEE VASEY BAND BOOGALOOS MOJOS ACME BLUES BAND NEW YEARS EVE - DALLING BROTHERS

• BAR FOOD • FULLY LICENSED •

9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 8pm to 11pm 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 8pm to 11pm 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 8pm to 11pm 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight 9pm to midnight

11 TirNi liWiHiTEIii'cl riir11 24

I

DPLANET RECORDS 9 Hanbury Road I ._ 1 Cllfton Bristol BS8 7EW .J

r

â&#x20AC;˘lt's everyone's favourite topic at this time of year - Christmas singles are crap.

So, fuelled with alcohol, The Event's music section played some of '95's festive efforts. Words: Mark Tobin and Sam Richards. Schnapps: Matt Stocks

A

s everyone arrives, Top Of The Pops is on TV and Matt is declaring his undying love for Boyzone.

However, what we're waiting for comes at the end of the programme.

ROBSON AND JEROME: I Believe it's number one, it's a favourite with the housewives, but have they shot their load too early?

Simon: "Don't buy the single, the album's bound to be much better value!"

Jan: "I don't think that The Event should be giving any publicity to Robson and Jerome."

Sam: "Like they're going to be really worried about that!"

Simon: (with emphasis) "Robson and Jerome shot John Lennon." Eh? "Well, John Lennon had musical genius and was assassinated, while Robson and Jerome still roam the earth." Rightio then!

Sam: "This would be better if it was Bryan Robson and Jerome K Jerome."

Suddenly Becky launches into a long monologue about some bloke who stuck all the Robson and Jerome COs to the shelves of record shops. Noone has a clue what she's going on about though, and we decide that the next single should be aired.

Chances of Christmas No. 1:

harmonising way, filling us all with hope of a brighter future. lt sounds hideous, but Mark admits "this actually isn't as bad as it could have been." There then dawns a realisation that if all the AOR toss collaborated on one single, there would be less of them for us to listen to.

Stuart: ''This is going to be a huge number one in America, but not here."

Simon: "To be honest they could have been singing about child molesting and it would have been a perfect Christmas sentiment." lt appears that Elisabeth is a bit of a clairvoyant as she begins predicting specific chart placings for our pop stars.

Elisabeth: "it's going to be number six at Christmas." OK then.

'''

))

Do these people know anything about music? You decide...

And as soon as the music does start, there are nods of recognition as this is a cover version of the Maria McKee song.

Sam, Stuart and Simon begin discussing how attractive Tina Arena is, when things take a turn for the worse!

Simon: "If she got her tits out on the cover I'd buy it."

Jan then lets us in on one of Norway's best kept secrets, Trina Rae. "She's got almost the same name as Tina Arena, she does the same kind of music, but she showed her tits on the cover and it became a big hit!"

Sam: "That's the way forward for Tina Arena: less

''

BLUR: The Universal

MARIAH CAREY AND BOYZ 11 MEN: One Sweet Day This is a proper Christmas tune- it's got bells! lt also transpires that our resident Beatnik Filmstars fan is harbouring a deep passion for MsCarey.

Joe: "I quite liked her last single actually."

Mariah hits the high notes while Boyz 11 Men get meaningful in a swing beat, close

everything. The riff from Common People was taken from a dodgy Spanish song."

Becky: "Jarvis is just like Shakespeare." You what?!

"Shakespeare nicked all his ideas from Italy, and so did Jarvis.â&#x20AC;˘ This isn't the first timeand won't be the last of the evening - that Becky has spurted absolute nonsense.

Sam and Mark then claim that they have met two of the girls from the inside cover but noone else believes them.

Elisabeth likes the song but is upset at some of Jarvis's witty observations: "I think that the implication that wood-chip is in any way tacky is absolutely outrageous." So we all know what her sideboard's made of then.

PULP: Disco

2000 We now move away from your Mum's favourites and into the kids territory, with Britpop's Christmas hopefuls.

Mark: "This is nicked from the seventies disco hit G/oria but I can't remember who sang it."

Sam: "Pulp have ripped off

Stuart (above) studies the credentials of one contender, but it's enough to make Simon turn to drink

TINA ARENA: Show Me Heaven Before the music even starts we all agree that she has got a top pop star name. lt rhymes.

We haven't had a good argument yet, probably because it's difficult to get passionate about Tina Arena.

However, strong opinions are held on Blur and Becky makes her views on this record clear by buggering off to the toilet as soon as it starts.

Sam {shouting): "This record should be Christmas number one!" General agreement - apart fromBecky: ''They're running out of ideas.

I did like Blur up to Parklite, but The Great Escape isn't as good."

However, it soon transpires that Becky bears a personal grudge against those lovely Blur boys. "My boss knows Blur and he used to DJ at Blow

that Oasis get:

L\:>.

"He went up and met them one night and said 'one ofthe girls I work with really likes you, can she have an autograph,' and they said 'if she wants our autograph she can queue up backstage like all the other groupies and shag us.' " Sam: 'Well that's what I would have said!" He's drunk, everyone.

Becky still hasn't finished: "When they say they've found their forte in pop music, they mean they've found a type of music that makes them the most money. it's just the sort of music that gets them a shag. Leisure is tons better than anything else they've done." She is shouted down and chaos ensues.

OASIS: Wonderwall At this point, plenty of earnest discussion takes over.

However, we won't bore you with the details suffice to say

THE CHILDLINERS: The Gift Of Christmas The teen pop antidote to ugly old men on Top Of The Pops is here! And they're all celebrating the seventh anniversary of Dame Rantzen's Childline charity. Such musical luminaries as Michelle Gayle, Tony Mortimer, Deuce and C.J Lewis have ditched their egos and made up their teen-dream faces all in the name of charity. Ain't it grand?

Well it doesn't seem so from the reactions of the inebriated

I ''

I

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

panel of self-styled experts.

Stuart: "This is a great excuse to end the IRA cease-fire and semtex the whole studio." Hmmm, it seems as if the beer Stuart's drinking has turned him into l.iam Gallagher.

However, our Stuart doesn't seem particularfy 'mad for it', "I really hope they all die horribly."

Some people, eh?

Mark: "That - out of what we've heard so far - has the best chance of getting to numberone. lt'sgotall the ingredients."

Stuart: "But it's bollocks."

Becky: "I really hate this teeny bop crap. lt just makes me want to cringe. But it is for charity so for that reason I hope it gets to number one."

Elisabeth: "No, no , no. I disagree. If this is what it depends on then I don't care if children die!"

CELINE DION: Misled No surprises here then.

Celine has plumped for some bog-standard warbling that will be sure to earn her a small fortune. Sam takes this opportunity to inform us all that Celine is actually this year's biggest selling artist. Stuart shivers. We all become vety afraid.

Mark: "Celine sings in French sometimes doesn't she? Well

whacked her. She's got stupid lips. No, I don't like her."

Aaaahhh, good

quality music journalism with well reasoned statements. The Evenrs got it all.

PASSENGERS: Miss

Sarajevo At this stage in the proceedings it is almost futile to try and concentrate on the music. So talk turns to Mark's inflatable Santa. lt was purchased from Poundland and has all the inherent tackiness you've come to expect. Santa has the most evil face we have ever seen, but it seems, he is not without a certain amount of charm.

Joe: "Hey, listen! lt squeaks!"

Mark: "Yeah, but not only does Santa squeak - he also has a phallic hat!"

Elisabeth: "I think he's got a nice shape, I could quite warm to him."

Pavarotti breaks into full songandSam tries to steer us back toward the

.. lt looks like someone's whacked her and she's got stupid lips. o, really don't like her.'

- Becky on Celine Dio.

shouldn't we be boycotting this cackthen?"

Sam: "Sod that! We should boycott Celine Dion anyway!"

Simon: "Ooooh, she's a rough

moose."

Becky: "Her eye make up i5;T. shit.lt looks like someone's

music, "Come

on, this is Luciano, give respect!"

Sirnon: "He is a fat bastard and has no place on a pop record."

Sam (close to tears) : "Oh, come on! Is that all you can say about the world's greatest tenor?" lt is at this point in proceedings that Sam (who is the Music Editor, rernernberl!) forgets peoples names.

No-one takes any notice of what he says from now on.

Then things digress even further from the music, because Joe has just spilt his wine.

Becky: 'Whoah ... Joe was holding Santa and has now left a wet patch on the floor!"

27

"Come on, I'm pissed, I think that's quite funny."

Becky: "Doesn't it piss anyone off that this is John Lennon's song and they're releasing it after he's dead? Just so they can make a few extra bucks? I mean this is worse than Michael Jackson" Mark: "Let's not worry about that. Just look at the video!"

Becky: "I think the video's better than the song."

Stuart: "If you listen to - - - - - - - - - - - - this song expecting it to be like WHIGFIELD: Last the original Beatles then you're Christmas going to be disappointed, but it The Christmas bells have still beats anything that Oasis barely finished, the Danish can do." belle's vocals have hardly Jan: "Of course this is going started but already everyone to be number one.• knows that this is Wham's Sam: "That's going to be infamous Christmas ditty given the Whigfield treatment.

Everyone, and we mean everyone, is singing along!

Becky: "This song makes me want to cry, it really does!"

Elisabeth: "What! Do you mean that genuinely?"

Becky: "Yes, of course I do. lt's a modem classic."

There is a unanimous agreement that this is the song of the night, people are singing to it, dancing to it, hugging to it, phoning up long lost friends and

MICHAEL JACKSON:

Earth Song

Michael gets all'right on' in some vain attempt that this will help boost his record sales. A bit like Manln The Mirror, only this time he wants to help some trees or something.

Discussion turns, somewhat inevitably, to the debate over his skin colour, his madness and his ... er... alleged sexual deviance.

Becky: "He reckons he's got a skin disease or something though, doesn't he?"

Sam: "Bollocks. He's just mad. You can't say 'oh he's trying to be white' or whatever.

He's just absolutely mad."

Becky isn't having any of that, she's going to defend Mickey to the hilt: "Well, wouldn't you be mad? I mean after all he's been through."

Simon: "This song is cool though."

Becky: "I would just like to say that I don't like Michael Jackson as a rule, but on this record he's trying really hard.

He's like, 'OK, so I've shagged all these kids and I'm sorry', so he's trying really hard to show The Beatles ·Free As A Bird 8/13 that he's got a • Robson & Jerome • I Believe 2/1 conscience. This Queen· Heaven For Everyone 411 song has a good Dorothy ·What's That Tune? 10/1 message."

Michael Jackson • Earth Song 12/1 At this point Mark Child line· The Gift Of Christmas 1411 gets very irate and Frank Bruno -16/1 jumps to his feet Michael Barrymore • 20/1 waving the CD case Passengers • Miss Sarajevo 20/1 and pointing to the rest of the inebriated throng: "Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks.

Hang on! Look! Oooh inlay card!

Oooh CD! Oooh chemicals! Don't think so Michael! I think you just number one. Decided. want some money in your "Can we have the stupid pocket. records to listen to now, "He's just exploiting an please?" important issue for some cash!"

So there we have it. Jacko is the antichrist. The mad antichrist at that.

fbB ()~~S:

•

For all your THE BEATLES: Free

As A Bird Of course we all know this is going to be the number one single.

But that won't stop us making many dodgy, drunken comments regarding the song, its video or anything else for that matter.

Simon (after the first two bars): "lt sounds like Julian Lennon's Salt Water recorded in the shower."

Mark: 'Wouldn't that be Fresh Waterthen?"

Everyone else: :Shut Mark."

peace is iTlminent.

Joe: "I'd snog to this."

Matt: "I'd snog Whigfield."

In fact the

DOROTHY: What's

That Tune?

What's this tune indeed?

Because by this point people are either going to the toilet, phoning up taxis for the imminent LCR or just too drunk to string any kind of sentence together! Unfortunatly, we seem to have given up on Dorothy, altogether.

Oh well, all in a days work eh?

.

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28 Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

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30 Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

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• Liz Mills and Matthew Doyle wrap up warm and see which films are worth braving the cold for this Christmas

0

kay, so you've done the late night shopp ing , wrapped the pressies , roasted the chestnuts and stuffed that turkey of an unusually large disposition .

So time now to settle back and sample our top ten tempting titles for the festive break.What's pink, got pointy ears and makes funny grunting noises? Mr Spock with sunburn? Nope, we're talking about Babe - The Gallant Pig. Based on the story by Dick King-Smith , and with animal effects by Jim Henson 's Creatu re Shop, this was , rather surprisingly, made by the same folks who did Mad Max. Anyway, Babe is an orphaned pig (aaaah) , who

not only walks and talks (would I tell you porkies?!) , but herds Farmer Hoggett's sheep in this delightful film for all ages. Continuing this farmyard banter, is Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, a definite contender for 'turkey' of the top ten . Jim Carrey returns , complete

with attractive quiff, and this time the pet detective's busting crime in the African jungle .

Instead of watching The Great Escape again , we recommend you hotfoot it down to your local flicks and catch Four Rooms instead.

This quartet of stories

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centres around the comic goings on at a hotel on New Year's Eve. With 25 per cent directed by Quentin Tarantino, and other segments helmed by Al ison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell and Robert Rodriguez, together with a cast the magnitude of which Robert Altman would be proud (including Tarantino stalwart Tim Roth as the bellboy, ably supported by the likes of

plastic toy aston ishingly to life. For something rather different, have a look at Denzel Washington 's latest role in Devil in a Blue Dress. it's 1948 and Los Angeles is booming , but Easy Rawlins (Washington) has seen better days. He's just been fired and he's got house payments to make, so when he's offered a job locating the mysterious Daphne Monet, he doesn't

entertaining. Paul Verhoeven is no stranger to publicity having directed Basic Instinct, and more trouble lies ahead for his latest movie Showgirls, about the life and loves of Las Vegas strippers , especially debutante Elizabeth Berkley.

Another one far more suitable for Yuletide viewing is The Swan Princess, an animated movie wh ich almost makes up for a

----~-:-~:::.~--~~Ol proper Disney film not being Antonio Banderas and Madonna), this should be at the cinemas this well worth a look.

Christmas. Based on the Vying to give you classic fairy tale Swan Lake, Something to Talk About this is a story about true is Julia Roberts . love and courage , voiced by the likes of Jack Palance , Dispensing with those thigh high leather boots , John Cleese, Sandy she plays a genteel, Duncan and Steven Wright.

Set in a mythical land with Women's Institute type majestic castles, wife . Genteel that is until she catches hubby Dennis forbidding forests , enchanted animals and a Quaid in a clinch with anothe r women , and does wicked sorcerer. This summer was not one of not take too kindly to his infidelity, causing a bit of a the best for Kevin Costner, with his wet fish fuss in the local community.

Men, you have been warned! of a film Waterworld. His Definitely something to talk Christmas release also about is the new Michelle didn't set US tills ringing, Pfeiffer movie, Dangerous waste much time saying hence the delay us getting to Minds. Al ready known yes. Now, he finds hi mself see The War in which he eostars wi th Elijah Wood . On thanks to Coolio's hit single , drawn into a web of murder, it's based on real life events. blackmail , brutal cops and returning from the war, Pfeiffer plays Lou-Anne city politics. Just what you Costner fi nds it difficult to fit Johnson an ex-marine need to combat those cold back in to the family, as his turned English teacher, on a nights. Returning from the son , Wood , has various new mission to instil trust , critical failure of adventures in a gang of his belief and potential into a Frankenstein, Kenneth own. And last but by no group of tough inner-city Branagh bounces back with means least we have his latest flick In The Bleak Strange Days. This is the teenagers . One for the kids is the new movie from the Midwinter, which he wrote new movie from Kath ryn and directed . Starring Bigelow and starri ng Ral ph producers of ET, which we are reliably informed is a Michael Maloney, Richard Fiennes, which opened the modern mag ical miracle tale Briers , John Sessions, Julia London Film Festival. it's to awaken the child in us all .

Sawalha and Joan Collins December 30, 1999, in LA The Indian In The Cupboard as a group of has-been and a cop turned dealer in tells the story of nine year actors who decide to put a "SQUI D clips" (memories old Omri and the mag ical production of Hamlet on in stolen from human brains) world which unfolds when an old church . Despite enlists the aid of a securi ty he discovers that a turn of a concerns it might be just a agent to solve a brutal key in the old cupboard can luvvies' party, Branagh's murder before the turn of the century. bring his three-inch-tall script is funny and

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Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

31

BVent

K

en Loach has been called the King of Cannes. He has won five prizes there for his recent films, including the International Critics Prize for Land and Freedom .

Despite European praise , it is only recently that British film criticism has come to regard Loach's films as of any importance. screen but the sense of honesty is never While French film critic Fran<;:oise Aude lost. Whether or not you agree with Loach's likened the recently televised Raining political viewpoint he has become a master Stones to that accepted masterpiece of film-maker, Italian Neeunequalled in this Realism, The country. In his 32 Bicycle year career Loach Thieves, the has been able to Sight and develop a unique Sound shooting style . reviewer, Jenny Actors are Turner wrote encouraged to that it was: improvise around "visually boring , the scripted lines, a success ion which they are only of weakly given a day at a framed shots time and in story which could have been order. Then , when constructed to editing , Loach prove that there (pictured left) is nothing strips away the interesting to improvised look at in material until he places where ends up with the poor people original script. live." Loach's This means that film-style is the performances often seen as are nearly always being invisible, fresh and transparent or, spontaneous and at worst, boring .:..R.:.:a:.::in:.:.:':.:.:·n;.;;!g~S:..:t;.::o.:..;n.;;;e.;;;s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ yet the fidelity to

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because it is not visually intrusive. Way back in 1963, when Loach began work at the BBC as a trainee director, he was put to work on Z-Cars and the series Diary of a Young Man, before working on the Wednesday Plays.

His producer at the time was Between the Lines producer Tony Garnet!, who said recently that you could perhaps describe the strategies that Loach and himself used in Cathy Come Home and Up the Junction as Brechtian. In these plays Loach and his writers used songs, stills, voice-overs and intertitles to break up the linear narrative and present dramatic juxtapositions which could comment on the subject matter. In 1969, Loach and Garnet! collaborated with JeanLuc Godard in the film British Sounds. The combination of Godard's radicalism about the limits of the medium and Loach and Garnett's brand of British socialism was too much for those who commissioned it and LWT left it on the shelf. Loach has fine-tuned his technique and avoided mannerisms by attempting to life as it is experienced in the most appropriate way.

Yet in his 1988 documentary The View From the Woodpile , about youth unemployment, there is a complex web of narrative and performative levels that is supremely self-reflective.

The naturalist transparency is subverted on-

the script ensures a tight narrative structure.

Th is summer Jarvis Cocker presented a screening of Kes at the NFT, saying it was his favou rite film . Stephen Frears has compared Brian Glover's entrance onto the football pitch in Kes to Orson Welles' entrance in The Third Man. In Land and Freedom, Loach has made another milestone for British cinema, as much as Kes was 25 years • ago.

lAND OF FREEQOM (PG) UK (1995)

.

Clvfl war epic Olr: Ktn Loach Clneme City • Nov 3~ Dec 1

K

en Loach's new film, written by his long-time collaborator, Jim Alien, is quite simply his greatest achievement yet Set in the Spanish Civil War, it speaks directly to all of us who have lived under a Tory government. The film stresses that we should not always believe what we see and hear, that we should go and find out for ourselves. That is exactly what the young unemployed Liverpudlian and Communist Party member David does, after seeing a propaganda film about the war in Spain. David, superbly played by lan Hart, makes his own way to Spain and by chance meets up with the revolutionary socialist POUM Party. Joining an Englishspeaking section of the POUM, he engages in trench warfare with the fascists.

Loosely based on Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, the whole film is set in modernday Liverpool. A sophisticated flashback structure is used to make David's experience in 1936 directly relevant today.

After his death, David's granddaughter Kim, when looking through his belongings finds letters, newspaper clippings and a red handkerchief containing some dried earth .

Reading her grandfather's personal letters, including those describing a passionate affair with a Spanish woman , Kim uncovers a history she knows nothing about.

Loach re-presents a history that is a personal eyewitness account of an event that had repercussions for the rest of the century. A history that tells us that there is another story to socialism that is not stalinism. And his triumph is to harness this political story to an intensely personal and romantic narrative that is also deeply moving.

Jacob Lelgh

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he Basketball Diaries is an adaptation of Jim Carrell's diaries of the same name.

They were written by Carrell between the ages of 13 and 16.

After being published in 1978, the book became a cult classic among young readers and this new film sets out to recreate its appeal for today's youth .

The film follows young Jim Carrell and his rebellious friends growing up on the streets of New York.

Jim deals with his troubled

BASKETBALL DIARIES (18) USA 路(1$95) " ' ' ~, Dreary drama 路 路 ~.

Dlr: Scott Kalvert Cannon ~ from Dec 1 journal and playing basketball but these aren't enough to keep him from darker impulses and he develops a heroin habit.

For his drug abuse, Jim is thrown out of school. He and his gang are then caught in a downward spiral as their crimes get bigger and bolder to support their everincreasing habits.

The film stars promising young actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who was Oscar-nominated for his performance in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, in the role of Carrell.

He had to research the role with a drug counsellor to learn about the behavioural nuances of a heroin

addict. DiCaprio says the movie takes a realistic approach to drugs remarking, 'I think it will show how easy it is to get addicted, and how once you give yourself that first hit you can quite easily get in over your head'.

Go-starring as street kid Micky is Mark Wahlberg, better known as rapper Marky Mark (from Funky Bunch fame) . Also a newcomer to films is the director Scott Kalvert who has previously been working in pop videos, through which he met Wahlberg.

The pop music associations of the film suggest it is very much aimed at a young audience. Kalvert stresses however, it is not a preaching movie, explaining "When young kids look this film they will see the good and the bad - both points of view" .

-.Ptl!

MURDER IN THE FIRST(15) USA (1995) Murderous thriller Dir: Marc Rocco

Cannon - from Dec 8

H

ot on the heels of last year's The Shawshank Redemption comes yet another film touching on the brutality of old-fashioned prison regimes .

The slammer in question this time is Alcatraz in San Fransisco Bay, infamously known as 'The Rock', and the plot concerns the apparently true turn of events leading up to the institution's closure on grounds of cruelty.

Whereas Glint Eastwood in the 70s film Escape From Alcatraz

manages a crafty wriggle through the air vents to freedom , with just a trace of designer stubble to show for his ordeal, Henri Young's (Kevin Bacon) escape bid lands him three years in solitary confinement - 'the Hole' - from which he emerges rather more mould-encrusted, and consumed with bitterness.

His vengeful murder of the man he believes to be responsible for his capture , results in idealistic young lawyer James Stamphill (Christian Slater) taking up his case. Star support comes from Gary Oldman as the sadistic prison warder, which should mean we can rely on the usual medley of psychotic sneers and the eye rolling .

'The Rock' , 'The Hole' - there's

nothing like a prison for having ominous-sounding nick names flying around, and this film goes to town with the dingy lighting to help create that authentically bleak atmosphere.

Expect plenty of barely-contained aggression, dank claustrophobia and dodgy looking food worthy of Prisoner Cell Block H. With much of the drama centred on the courtroom, verbal duelling and impassioned speeches in the style of A Few Good Men abound, and it has to be said that getting the audience to grit their teeth at the sly-fox manoeuvrings of the scoundrel prosecution has always been a fool-proof formula.

Vanessa Smith

' <I Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

33

'hfrenl A

ll EAS first years will be familiar with Nathaniel Hawthome's novel The Scarlet Letter.

Now it has been made into a film starring Demi Moore and Gary Oldman. Sadly, they shouldn't have bothered.

The credits inform us that it has been 'freely adapted from the novel...', and the mish mash of trying to make it erotic and a period drama fails on both accounts.

Hester Prynne (Moore) falls in love with Reverend Dimsdale (Oidman) and then falls out of popularity with the local Puritan community when they discover she's pregnant.

They manage to keep their relationship secret, but trouble lies ahead as the town elders want to know more ...

Those of you after the easy option of seeing the film rather than reading the book - don't bother. Despite Oldman's best efforts, it's a two hour bore and a waste of your hard earned readies .

Matthew Doyle

I

ts that time of the year again. Decorations, turkey, presents, more turkey, Santa, rein deers, snow, seasonal 'spirit' (bottled) and yet still more turkey. And Christmas film re leases. Every year without fail.

In Waft Disney's latest offering The Santa Clause, the film looks to answer that age old question that has perplexed us all - just who is Santa Claus? In this instance, Santa Claus turns out to be a star of American TV sitcom, Tim Alien. Readers may know him best as the DIY handyman from Home Improvement, now being shown on Channel 4.

The plot of the film is virtually non-existent. Divorced father; strained relationship with son ; Mr Claus falls off a roof on Christmas Eve; father becomes new Santa; by the end of the film everything is hunky-dory. In a nutshell that's it.

But its for the child in all of us, the humour and the fantasy story that we all want to see it.

The humour appeals to the child in all of us, particularly the addition of James Bond-like gadgetry to Santa's souped-up sleigh.

This is a film that will make you laugh and will make you cry. In his role as Santa, Alien had to put on 100 pounds of weight. Taking his acting very seriously, he became the traditional, chubby Father Christmas by keeping to a strict diet of chocolate and cookies. Nothing but blood, sweat and tears from these actors.

Martin Plant

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34 Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

• Liz Mills and Matthew Doyle avoid the mistletoe and take a look at ten classic TV movies for the festive season

0 The Great Escape Matt: One of the Christmas repeats which is actually well worth watching again and again. Steve McQueen, Dickie Attenborough , Charles Bronson and Donald Pleasance are the allied prisoners planning to escape from a German prison camp . McQueen stands out for a top notch performance, and you a guaranteed to be singing the theme tune by the end.

Perhaps a touch long at three hours, but for sitting down in front of the telly for an afternoon, there is little better.

Liz: it's just one of those films you can't escape from!

Sorry!

Sleighbells:

~~~~

01ndiana Jones Matt: For blockbuster, whipcracking, Nazi-bashing action , nothing compares to Or Jones' adventures. Lets face it, Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, whether it be rescuing the Ark of the Covenant, The Holy Grail or some rather mystic rocks . he's your guy.

Spare a thought for the Jones' Girls however: all three of them seem to have pretty much sunk without a trace (Well, with the exception of Kale Capshaw who is now Mrs Spielberg).

My personal favourite is The Last Crusade with excellent supporting performances from River Phoenix, Denholm Elliot and Sean Cannery. For pure escapism, you can't do much better.

Liz: Disagreement's rife

here. I thought the final episode was a damp squid.

I'm sorry but you can't beat the large ball rolling scene , or the monkey brain soup number, and what about when the 'girl' has to put her hand into the wall slithering with creepy crawlies to find the concealed lever?!

Excellent stuff.

Sleighbells:

~~ Osaarwars Matt: Well what can you say about these three cinematic masterpieces? Luke , Leia , Han and Chewie became members of the family over the festive season, as good battled over evil personified in Darth Vader. Sadly, sightings of the Star Wars

Trilogy have declined in recent years, thanks to Sky owning the rights and us poor blighters without a dish have to miss out. Hopefully the ol' Beeb will be able to negotiate the odd screening just for old times sake. After all, playing with the latest figu re Auntie Beryl had given you, seeing Luke blow up the Death Star again - this was what Christmas was all about.

Liz: I have to admit Christmas would not be the same without the becloaked one and his bad case of asthma.

Sleigh bells:

~~~

®The Snowman Liz: The Snowman is Mary Poppins. Think about it, what do the characters do?

Yes, spend most of the film 'Walking in the Air', in this beautifully animated tale of a snowman who comes to life and brings pure magic to a little boy's Christmas dreams .

Unfortunately, writer Raymond Briggs doesn't truly get into the spirit of things in giving us a pathosladen tale, complete with 'that' Kleenex moment when our sub zero friend finally melts away.

A moment almost as bad as finding out Santa doesn't exist. Sorry to have to break it to you like this Matt!!

Matt: Liz , I know Santa does exist, who else puts the presents in my stocking?

Anyway, the Easter Bunny told me he was real - so there !

Sleighbells:

~~

0 Sallla Claus ·lbe Movie Liz: This was actually the first movie I ever saw at the cinema and I'm surprised it didn't have a detrimental effect on my love of the cinema for life. All I can say is that I must have been so overwhelmed by the aura of the big screen that I failed to miss how bad Dudley Moore 's _performance . actually

was! Anyway this is one of those sickly sweet 'family' films with Dud playing a devious dwarf doing the dirty on Santa and his annual good will to all children mission. Turkey points aplenty!

Matt: A load of old nonsense, Dudley shows himself to be a, well , dud in the acting department in this festive flop.

Sleighbells:

~

o_

Popplns

Liz: Mary Poppins is Forrest Gump's mother. Think about it, all those homely pieces of good sound advice.

Who needs the old

35

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

BVent Llz: This appears to be television's token 'arty' gesture for the Christmas tide. I must admit I've never seen the film but it always appears at lunch time on BBC 2.

This leads me to believe it's not a film at all, but Babette is just a French incarnation of our very own Delia Smith showing eager viewers what they can do with the leftover

turkey and 11b of frogs legs in a two hour cookery lesson.

Matt: In fact its about a French refugee in 19th century Norway who wins 10,000 francs in a lottery and spends it on a banquet for her friends.

But the Delia prog would probably be better.. .

Sleigh bells:

OTheObllg ryB Llz: lt goes without saying that the hols just wouldn't be complete without a Bond movie.

But the question on everyone's lips is of course, which one will grace our screens this year?

After hours of deliberation I'm going for Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me - you know the one with the girls, gadgets and glorious locations.

Just the fact that James & eo. are still wheeled out and dusted down with amazing regularity proves that when it comes to a good action fest, 'nobody does it better'.

Matt: Certainly nobody does do it better if Mr Connery is the man with his finger on the trigger, but Roger the Dodger isn't that bad ...

lifestyle their pop has chosen for them .

Director Robert Wise was one of the three Oscar winners, and all the Rogers and Hammerstein songs have become all-time classics.

Definitely not one to miss any Christmas.

Altogether now: "Doe a deer, a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun, me a name ..."

Llz: Oh dear, what a sad case. Excuse me whilst I gag him.

Well it's actually my claim to fame to have missed this every time it's on!

Nick "I've won two Oscars" Park, this is bound to be a belter, so set the video and make a date.

Llz: Well as long as Sean or the other festive fave, Harrison is in it I'm quite happy.

Sleigh bells:

___ ___~ .._

Slelghbells:

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Matt: Currently celebrating it's thirtieth birthday, The Sound of Music is a musical masterpiece.

Julie Andrews stars as the dutiful nanny to the seven kids of Captain Von Trapp, who tries to make them break out of the regimented

Matt: This year there is the usual feast of Hollywood premieres to watch - some of which are half decent!

Highlights for this year include Patriot Games, The Last of the Mohicans, Sister Act and Much Ado About Nothing.

One premiere which deserves mention, although not strictly Hollywood, is the new Wallace and Gromit flick, A Close Shave. From

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• Charlie Gates sees if the Force is still with the Star Wars trilogy after all these years

he Star Wars Trilogy is legendary. lt seems that no other films have become so embedded into the culture of our generation.

Everyone has memories of Star Wars toys, as an eight year old my most prized position was an AT-AT. Every boy fancied Princess Leia, despite her ridiculous hair.

Star Wars is more than just an amazing trilogy, it is a cultural phenomenon .

A phenomenon which never seems to die, eighteen years after its release and it is still top of most video charts. This time with digitally re-mastered editions to give a much better image. The sound has also been improved using Lucas' own THX sound system, to reproduce that wonderful John William's soundtrack with crisp clarity. Also , for those very rich die hard fans , there is an £80 box set. This includes all three films and scripts , various artwork and a documentary. A limited release of 20,000 copies

world-wide on December 4 assures its exclusivity. it's beautiful ... but expensive.

Despite the collective success of the three Star Wars films as a trilogy it is interesting to compare the films to each other.

Empire Strikes Back is quite

obviously the best of the three films. After George Lu cas established the mood and look of the trilogy in Star Wars, the second film could have fun. There is the high adventure of the ice planet opening and the asteroid field chase Empire is also the first to feature the superb Imperial Theme . lt underscores imposing images of the Imperial cruisers with real

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of the Jedi, by comparison, is not as good . lt seems to be trapped by the fact that it has to create a satisfying conclusion . Darth Vader dies, along with the evil Emperor, dispensing of all the bad guys. While the spirits of Yoda, Ben Kennobi and Annekin Skywalker smile together, Han, Leia et al dance with the ewoks in a cloying ending. lt is still a great fi lm, just not the best in the trilogy. Seen as a comp lete trilogy though, the films combine to create a we ll-paced and th rilling three-part story, while also standing alone as individual films. ' Star Wars is a ground-breaking trilogy in so many ways. lt was a pioneer of the motion control techniques that make its space action sequences so impressive. lt also pioneered the idea of Dolby Surround in cinemas. The sound in Star Wars suggests space ships are behind and above you, adding to the excitement. Star Wars signified a return to the cinema of spectacle and gung-ho fairy-tale adventure.

This was refreshing after the dark and cynical films of the early 70s, such as The French Connection.

The trilogy is a unique and original triumph, make sure it sits on 'your video shelf.

The column that fondly remembers those classic TV programmes of yesteryear

NO 12: Cheggers Plays Pop Tea-time telly, courtesy of the Beeb, didn't come much better than this pop music quiz classic.

Keith Chegwin was the host of this landmark programme, which dwarfs ITV's Razamatazz and Mike Raid's Pop Quiz by comparison. Sadly, after Cheggers Plays Pop was axed, the boy Keith went on a bit of a bender involving booze and night nurse, and presenting Sky Star Search on which various acts tried to find fame and fortune, with Cheggers as the chuckling compare.

Fortunately Chris Evans and The Big Breakfast came along to rescue poor old Keith and he can now be seen back on top form in the early mornings.

Anyway, back to the action. There were always two teams, a red and a yellow, who had to battle it out in various rounds, before they could end up on the foam filled inflatable for the ending. Poor old Cheggers always seemed to be grunged in one form or another, but he stiU man·

aged to keep his chripy chappy character in place.

My favourite round was when singles were played backwards, with the kids trying guess what top tune it was. I always felt sorry for the BBC techie who had to sit back stage, pushing the turntable round the wrong way.

Just one question - why did they always wave those torches at the end?

tMcrete. W~es1:1av: t-i6'Vefn6er 2~? '1995' 3 ~··

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BVenl

Jn C:he Wings Peter Pan

Theatre Royal Mon Dec 18 ·Sat Jan 27

• Craig Charles, star of Red Dwarf, is about to arrive at UEA on his stand-up tour. Martin Plant tells the story of his rise and fall and rise ...

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n the weekend of the 10th, 11th, and 12th of this month, the UEA Drama So clety brought Shakespeare to the Studio namely Antony and Cleopatra, directed by Charlie Marenghi. lt was a straightforward, un· pretentious production, in modem dress (soldiers dressed in baggy fatigues and so on).

The scenes, set alternatively In Rome and Egypt, relied on minimal scenery, so the emphasis was on the acting in question, to bring to the audience a feeling of the sultry decadence of Egypt, in contrast with the raw power that dwelled in Rome. The production starred Warren Howard and Anna Marie Currle in the title roles and boy, did they star. The sheer passion they brought to their characters was enough to have the audience practically cheering every time things were going Antony's way, and hissing every time Cleopatra got too wily for her own good. But the real evil was brought to the play by Charlie Marenghi, In the fonn of

Caesar, the sinister, all powerful emperor of the Roman Empire. He delivered his or· ders quietly, almost motionless in his gravity, chilling my blood. All those who crossed him did so only after expressing poetically, in true Shakespearean fashion, how much they were bricking themselves. Superb performances also from Tim Grey, as Antony's faithful companion Enobarbus, and Helen Job, as the mysterious Sooth· sayer. My only criticism is that at some points I simply didn't know what was going on. This could be due to: (a) My near complete ignorance of the play, (b) The cast's lack of conviction In using Shakespeare's language to portray some of the more corn· plicated thoughts and emotions he was try· ing to get across, or (c) some degree of both. I think (c) Is most likely, seeing as whether or not I have any prior knowledge of a play, 1 should not have to struggle to understand what is happening, or being discussed, on stage. That said, Antony and Cleopatra is well known to be one of Shake· speare's most difficult plays to perfonn, so H is no shock 1 had trouble with H at times, and it was, all things considered, a very good production.

Matthew Faslcen

Christmas, as you are probably well aware of by now, is coming. The decorations are up in St Stephen's Street, you can't move in the shops for bauble and tinsel displays, and the television set is dominated by ads for kids' toys.

But most importantly of all, Christmas means panto season. And for the past couple of years, pantos at the Theatre Royal have been dominated by one man • children's TV star Peter Simon, Mr Run The Risk himself.

Strangely enough, this year is no exception, for he is back, back, BACKI with an all 'star' cast for this year's production, Peter Pan. Obvious joke time: Oh no he isn'tl Oh yes he is! Oh no he ... etc. etc.

Anyway, he is back, playing the Captain's mate Smee. Captain Hook himself (Boo! Hiss!) is played by veteran actor Frank Finlav, while the

part of Mrs Darling (not a huge one, seem to recall), falls tp that former Give Us A Clu lovely, Liza Goddard. od, Local girl made Catherine Debe hamTaylor, who starre last year's panto Aladdin a the princess, will also be back this year, as Wend .

OK, I can hear what you're saying. You're oo grown-up, sophistic ted and, let's be honest h~rd for all this panto mularkey. Rubbis f Borrow a couple o kids for an afternoon o evening and go al g. I bet you anything ou like you'll be screami g "Behind you!" wit the rest of the audie e after five minutes.

And if you watch lsney film religiously a d still cuddle your teddy bear In bed at night, then I'm sure you will just ve this.

But don't worry if y 1.1 do miss it, 'cos it's a · ate bet that Peter Sim n will be back next year! Oh yes he will! Oh n he won't! (To be ea ed on ad infinitum).

Caroline Jenki On

GIRLS NOW OPEN - CLUBWEAR FOR GIRLS 10°/o student discount miss moneypenny - dub - atomic - komodo above the blue jean eo 8-1 0 lower goat lane

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Concrete, Wednesday, November 15, 1995

BVent ~ 'i1Ci1

BOOKSHELF

Sponsored byWaterstones On 'The Street' at UEA, Tel 453625, open weekdays 9-5.30, Tuesdays 1o-5.30, Saturdays 11-4.00. ! \._~s~ ~t- Lo_'!~~n Street, ~orw!:h, Te~ 632426,__ ~'!_ w_ee!!~ays 9:_7, !'!..!sdays 1D-7, Saturda!!_9-6. )

REBOUND: THE ODYSSEY OF MICHAEL JORDAN Bob Greene

H

ave you ever been longing for some colourful pictures of "the ultimate shooting guard in the hi$tory of basketball" (topless p$rhaps)? Did you ever want to find out his "Innermost thoughts"?

Probably not... but fortunately, that is not what Rebound is about And that Is why it is actually worth reading it!

Bob Greene presents a

collection of moments • snapshots, lf you lil(e - in his friend's life, covering

Jordan's basketball year and his comeback to the Chicago Bulls and the NBA. We meet the commercialized Jordan; the athlete on the court; Jordan In a hotel room With the door double-locked, trying to

ENIGMA: Robert Harris

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Hutchinson £10.99 special price.

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his novel has be come a bestseller in no time, perhaps because of Harris's highly acclaimed first novel Fatherland. The historical setting is as in Fatherland the second World War, but this is not a war-novel. The

hero is not a machoman but a mathematician with ailing health, working with codebreaking of interception of German communication.

This book stresses the importance of intelligence imformation and how wars

are not always won on the battlefields.

The story is based around the Bletchley Park complex where all British codebreaking took place and where some claim the war was won.

This could tend to sound a bit boring and it is sometimes, but Harris manages (rather late in my opinion) to built up a reasonably good plot.

Harris tells a story in an

make

sense out of his life;

the minor league basketball ~)layer working so hard. And then there are his teamates, his friends, people who just happen to be there.

We also h;ave Jordan in hi$ own words~ "f just want to keep

learning about everything l can. About life, and abol.rt. my family, and abQUt me. lt can all en(l so quickly: BasicaOy, Greene gives us a personal picture of one

ot America's mosf · celebrated sports figures, In a leisurely ,style and with thoughts that don't run unnecessarily deep • something which even a non-basketball person can appreciate.

Bentclo,.ch

Nicholas Saunders- £9.95

A

B

asically, Heaven Sent is an anthology of angel stories. Not the popular myth of angels as seen on Christmas cards, but angels as mysterious, dark forces in occult literature and religious mythology. Eighteen prominent fantasy writers contribute their amazement and fear of divinity and retribution. The subject is one that has risen in all societies in history; and myths and legends abound.

The individual short stories are of variable quality. Some are excellent and enthral you. Others, however, fail to suspend disbelief and just

seem, well, silly.

'Relief' by Jane lindskold, 'Angel Blood' by Bruce Arthurs and Michael Bishop's story with the mouthful of a title, 'Spiritual Dysfunction' and 'Counterangelic Longings', or 'Sariela: A Case Study In One Act', are all examples of the potential quality of this anthology and are all well worth a read. They make you think about the subject under discussion in an evocative way.

Other stories fail to arouse any interest. Worth reading, but not one that you will keep returning to.

Martin Plant

exciting background and in my opinion its that background that makes the novel good.

The Second World War still has a lot interest both to authors and to the public which is probably why Harris is so popular.

This Book may not have the same acclaim as Fatherland, but it is in no way a bad book but not a classic either.

Christian Schou

ECSTASY AND THE DANCE CULTURE t last! The long awaited, down-toearth informative guide to the not-so-elusive drug known as Ecstasy.

Written by a man who isn't particularly an expert in the field, this book covers "everything you ever wanted to know" about Ecstasy (or MDMA as it is officially labelled), from its history to its effects; from the laws 'controlling' its use to the dance scene with which it is associated. For example, did you know that it was orginally sold as a slimming pill, and its side effects were only recognised through light-hearted comments? Or

HEAVEN SENT Various authors

that elderly Siberian reindeer hunters take fly agaric mushrooms (a form of anphetamine), and then their urine is drunk by other tribe members to get high?!?! Using his own experiences and those of others, the writer gives plenty of 'advice' as well as into, such as how to deal with a bad trip. Complete with colour photos of happy hardcore ravers and other drug phenomena, this book proves a worthwhile read for anyone - from students of medicine to those simply 'interested' in the drug scene.

Wendy Leech

fAY WJELDON SPLKTTKNG /

flow marn• u:omen cm JON fit into one body?

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6/lp a can H lneke 59p a can Hofmeister 99P a can Stella Artois Draught Guinness £1 a can 89P a can Boddingtons 59P a can Fosters Cider £2.29 Llebtraumllch £1.99 Chandernay Lambrusco £2.69 Bulgarian Cabernel£2.99 Martini £3.99 Croll Original £5.119 20/20 £1.15 Two Dogs 79P acan Mace WhiSkY £8."9 Mace Gin £7.99 Mace Vodka £7.99 Teachers WhiskY £10.99 Smirnoll Vodka £9.99

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Union Post Office •

X a in T. e Papershop

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China dolls from £9.99 Santa twi kle badges £ .

• 3.5 .. HO Diskenes (11) £6.50 3.s·· Apple ac Disks £2.99 • Cuddly Toys from £2.99

large selection or boxed Christmas carlfs from £1.25 Christmas paper J5p asheer or 10 for £1 Chocolares Advenr Calendars Cllarltr Xmas Cards

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Special BT Phonecard oner: .. flights for the price of one· • when vou but a special £5 phonecard •

Union Sports Shop

Tom Smiths Crackers £2.85 Tree Decorations lrom £1.25 Satirical T·Shins Candles from 99p Perfumed Candles Christmas Cards from 50p Incense Sticks Packs from £1.99 Assorted Holders Santa Hats iust 99p Schoool Scarves Balloons, panv poppers, tree Embroidered & Printed lights, christmas wrap Sweatshirts, T·Shins, Special oner! Spend aliver Polo Shirts, Drill Tops and get atree c90 tape Warm and Waterproof Jackets _ _ _ _ _ _ __J Visit the second-hand bookshop

For second-hand course books. We also have competitively priced gift books: Biographies, music, art, travel etc. You name it, we probablY have it. We also buy books, bandy tar those who would like to raise some extra cash tor the lestive season!

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000 MGM CANNON Some or all of the films listed below will be showing over the next fortnight. For exad listings and times, please ring the cinema .

Candyman 2 - Fairwell to the Flesh 081 Sequel to Candyman 1 (surprisingly).

A Walk in the Clouds IPGl Another healthy dose of schmaltz coutesy of Keanu Reeves.

Murder in the First (18) Chrilsilan Slater plays a holshotlawyer defending Kevin Bacon from getting trapped in the clink.

The American President 112) Michael Douglas scowls his way around the White House in this political comedy.

Clueless 112) Teen film based on Jane Austen's Emma about a brattish teenage do-gooder.

Species(l8) A DNA mix up creates a creature more obnoxious than Bob Monkhouse.

To Wong Foo !PG) Hollywood copies the Australian transvestite film Prisci//a, adding nothing new.

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Apollo 13!PGl Tom Hanks gets himself lost in space, the world breathes a sigh of relief.

ODE ON Some or all of the films listed below will be showing over the next fortnight. For exact listings and times, please ring the cinema.

Crimson Tide !15) A blatant piece of American propaganda. Good in terms of adion and excitement. but even good performances by Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington cannot prevent this film from being complete. unmitigated Poo. The Scarlet Letter (15) The book may be toss. but this is even worse, despite Gory Oldman and Demi Moore's best efforts.

Golden Eye 1121 Pierce Brosnan finally gels to try his hand as 007.

After nmothy Dalton's less than inspiring efforts, even Brosnan's smarmyness could come as a relief.

French Kiss 1121 Kevin Kline and Meg Ryan frollic and fornicate around Paris (where better?).

Pocahontas !Ul Wait Disney's latest attempt to make cinemagoers feel nauseous.

The Santa Clause !PG) or Hollywood's annual cash-in on Christmas.

CINEMA CITY

UEA - UNION FILMS

Land and Freedom (15) Thurs Nov 30 - 2.30pm. Fri Dec 1 - 8.15pm Ken Loach direds Ion Hart in this ambitious tale following a young Liverpudlian who travels to 30s Barcelona to fight in the Spanish Civil War.

Don Juan De Marco Thurs Nov 30 -?pm World renowned poke merchant. Johnny Depp takes the part of a young man who believes he is the legendary shag-monster who is responsible for impaling a thousand women.

The Postmaster !15) Fri Dec 1 - 5.45pm. Sat Dec 2- 6.30pm & 8.30pm.

Sun Dec 3 - 7.45pm. Mon Dec 4 - 8.15pm. Tues Dec 5 - 2.30pm & 5.45pm.

Philippe Noire! is the Chilean poet. Pablo Neruda !Italy- 1950sl whose exile was made bearable by a close but unlikely friendship with an illiterate fisherman . Bring a box of tissues.

Belly Blue: The Director's Cut (1 8) Fri Dec 1 - llpm Drawing comparisons with Brigitte Bardot, the voluptuous French actress Beatrice Dalle achieved immediate stardom through her role in this hugely popular tale of erotic obsession .

Judge Dredd (15) Sat Dec 2 - 2.30pm & 4 15pm Spectacular sets and special effeds almost make up for Sly Stallone's unquestionable lack of acting talent.

Henry V !Ul Sun Dec 3 - 5pm Lorry Olivier hams it up, in this dated and stagey version of the Shakespeare classic.

The Year of the Hare 115) Mon Dec 4 - 5.45 pm A whimsical fantasy about an advertising executive whose life is altered by a chance encounter.

Bad Boys Fri Dec 1-?pm Will Smith !Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) ably transposes his comic talents to the big screen.

Reservoir Dogs Tues Dec 5 - 7pm The movie which made Tarantino. An ultimately moralistic film, despite the vast quantities of blood and guts being liberally splashed around.

LCR - UEA

Waterwortd Wed Dec 13 -?pm Kevin Costner's wet fish of a film, with a plot which makes no sense and is only remotely watchable thanks to Dennis Hopper.

The Neon Bible !15) Mon Dec 11 - Tues Dec 12 - 8.15pm, Wed Dec 13 Thurs Dec 14 - 8.15pm, Fri Dec 15 - 8.15 & 11pm.

Matinee on Thurs at 2.30pm From director Terence Davies comes this Gothic tale of family life in rural Georgia during the 40s The Young Poisoner's Handbook 115) Tues Dec 12- 5.45pm, Wed Dec 13 & Thyrs Dec 148.15pm, Fri Dec 15- 8.15 & 11pm. Matinee on Thurs at2.30pm A slonking directorial debut, it focuses on a 14-year old boy who becomes obsessed with poisoning people. Fun.

Craig Charles Sat Dec 2 Amid his recent shenanigans. he finds the time to entertain us once again. £5.

Tank Girt Fri Dec 8 -?pm Adaptation of cartoon strip with the same name. A lager-obsessed, tank-driving skinhead (who probably plays rugby in her spare time) save the world from the evil Kesslee who plans to control the world's water supply.

Crumb 1181 Fri Dec 8 - 5.45, 8.1 5 & llpm An appropriately odd though affecting documentary about the freakish life and limes of Robert Crumb, whose anarchic creations included Fritz the Cat.

Hamlet Goes Business !18) Man Dec 11 - 5.45pm Aki Kaurismaki cheekily transplants Shakespeare's play into the world of high finance, ho ho

WATERFRONT

Boothby Graffoe + Ed Byrne. £3.50 - £3.

Sun Dec 3 - 7pm

The Piano Tues Dec 12 - 7pm Dumped on a New-Zealand beach with a piano and her 9 year old daughter, Ado !Holly Hunter) fails to hit it off with her husband

Jeanna La Pucelle: Parts 1 & 2 !PG) Sat Dec 9 - 5.45 !part1l & 8.15pm !part2l Sun Dec 10 - 5pm (part1l & 7.30pm !part 2) Two part epic about the life of French hero Jean D'Arc

A-Z of Drugs Wed Nov 29 - 8pm From Alcohol to Ecstasy, from Cocaine to Coffee, let two men of substances !or James Poulter and Graham Duff l take you on a journey of experimentation through the highs and lows. £5 - £6 .

Batman Forever Thurs Dec 7 Exhausted by the demands on his acting abilly, Michael Keaton passes the bat-costume over to Val Kilmer. In the third Batman film, Kilmer is obliged to make dog food of Messrs. Jim Carrey and TommyLee Jones.

The Big Sleep !PGl Tues Dec 5- 8.15pm, Wed Dec 6- Thurs Dec 75.45pm & 8.15pm. Matinee on Thurs - 2.30pm Bog art and Bacall in this classic thriller, based on the Raymond Chandler novel.

The Dark Crystai!PGl Sat Dec 9 - 2.30pm From Jim The Muppets Hen son comes this children's fantasay

NORWICH ARTS CENTRE

JudgeDredd Thurs Dec 14 - ?pm

THEATRE ROYAL Sing in' in the Rain Fri Dec 1 & Sat Dec 2 - 7.30pm. Mon Dec 4 - Sat Dec 9 - 7.30pm !Matinees - Sat Dec 2, Thurs Dec 7, & Sat Dec 9 - 2.30pm).

Paul Nicholas stars in rampant musical extravaganza .

MADDERMARKET Henry V Fri Nov 24 - Sat Dec 2.

UEA STUDIO Nights at the Circus Wed Dec 6 - Sat Dec 9 - 7.30 The Drama Sector present a new adaptation for the stage from the novel by Angela Carter. £3.50 - £6 .

Stranglers Fri Dec 1 - 7.30pm Ageing rockers strut their funky stuff. £9.50.

Thunder Sun Dec 3 Ageing rockers strut their funky stuff. £10.

Magnum Wed Dec 6 Ageing rockers strut their funky stuff. £7.50.

Shone MacGowan & The Popes Sun Dec 10 Ex-Pogues singer this time hopefully a bit more sober. £10 Stone Roses Tue Dec 12 Don't even think of trying to get hold of a ticket now- classics in the making.

Christmas bash with Bjorn Again Wed Dec 13 End of term party featuring cult impersonators of a cult 70s band.

THE WILDE CLUB Done Lying Down + Lovejunk MonDec4 Raucus new wave type stuff. £3 .50 adv/£4 door.

Beatnik Filmstars + Support Mon Dec 10 Angular low-fi pop, in the vein of pavment and Sebadoh. £3.50 adv/£4 on door.

HECTOR'S HOUSE Whisk+ Pitkins + Overhead Fri Dec 1 lndie-tastic local bands.

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Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995 41

LIVE IN THE HIVE. Bubble Machine Tue Dec 5 Ceilidh bond.

Xmas Party Tue Dec 12 Yes, ifs the one and only, the unmissable, the one you're all waiting for...the annual booze-test (shouldn't that be weekly?!?)

ALSO: DEV-SOC PARTY Fri Dec 8 - music from 7.30 till after midnight Cheap bar, 2 Bonds and a DJ. £2.50 members, £3 non-members.

RITZY Mondays - Rrst Degree Admission 50p before midnight with student ID. 9pm - 2am.

Wednesdays - Cool and Casual Admission £1.50 before llpm, £4 after. 9pm 2am Fridays - Fast Trax Admission £3 before 10.30pm, £4 after. 9pm 2am.

Saturdays - Furious Fun Admission £4 before 10.30pm, £5 after. 9pm 2am.

PEPPERMINT PARK Mondays - Student Party Night Admission £1 all night. 9pm - 2am.

Wednesdays - Midweek Party Admission SOp all night. 9pm - 2am.

Fridays - Frantic Fridays Admission £1 before llpm. 9pm - 2am.

Saturdays - The big One Admission £2 all night. 9pm - 2am.

Fridays - Club X-press Pumping house and garage. Admission £4. 9pm - 2am.

Saturdays - Cow Club Pumping house and garage. Admission £5.

9.30pm - 2am.

UEA LCR Thursdays - LCR Music, dancing, copius amounts of cheap alcohol - a recipe for feeling bad the naxt day.

Sat Dec 9 - Section 77 Miss Moneypenny's Featuring DJs Tony de Vit and Jim Shaft Ryan. £8/£7conc.

THE WATERFRONT As Pure as Soul Sot Dec 2 An evening of REAL dance music, spanning 4 decades of soul. £3.50/£3 cone.

ZOOM Mondays - Cow Club, Student Night Admission £2 with ID. 10pm - 2am.

Tuesdays - Fresh!

Current and classic chart and donee. Admission free before 11.30pm, £2 after. 10pm - 2am.

Wednesdays - The Main Ingredient Hip hop, swing, soul, and funk.

Admission free before 11.30pm, £1 after. 9pm 2am.

UEA FASHION SHOW Wed Nov 29 & Thurs Nov 30 The twice-a-year show advertises all the latest clothing for the Autumn and Winter of '95. The show also inclu~es performances from UEA's superb Contemporary Dance Society. £3 adv. for Wed Nov 29, £5 for Thurs Nov 30 (Thursday ticket includes LCR disco admission).

Telephone Numbers Hys

621155

The loft Monttottans Peppermint Park Ritzy The- Waterfront Zoom CannQ'n Cinerna Cit Od on Ma(jdermarket

Arts Centre

623312 622047 621903 62091 66-0352

Theatre Royal

630000

UEAUnlon En1s

505401

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42·: €oi:!Cfet~ .Wednesddy,. I>JGlvembet

29; 1995. .

Sport

•John Holmes dons his jodhpurs and explains the ins and outs of how to beat the bookies THEY'RE under orders ... and they're off. In fact, the 120 members of UEA's Racing club have been off twice already- Newmarket in October and Kempton Park in November.

seem odd when ~tuden t s are see n to have no money, but it doesn ' t have to be an expens ive day o ut. Most of the people on these trips had never been rac ing be fore but, w ithout exce ptio n, all want to go aga in .

The day out probabl y cost no more th an £15 for most peopl e- the same as a gig and a co upl e o f beers. Obviously, if you pick no winners and put £20 o n every race you won ' t ge t mu c h c han g e from £150 but few students are in that pos ition.

Equally, quite a few will leave with pockets bulging.

Many compare betting to smoking in that eventuall y you ' lllose, but thi s isn' t strictly fair. Unlike smoking,

The club has a simpl e consti · tuti on - to go rac ing, have a drink and a bet. It has been clear from the two trips that you do n' t ha ve to do all three.

Some just like the thrill o f seeing thoroughbreds at full throttle. Others need the added bonu s o f having some money riding on them, and a few , who shall remain nameless, simply like to sit and drink in different surroundingsnot a problem.

The two trips were arranged in partnership with the racecourses, who have been keen to aim at a new market - students . This may

which can never do you good (in a phys ica l se nse) there are some, and not just the bookm akers, who do profit from betting .

These people arc ca lculati ng. methodi ca l and patie nt. nothing

like most gamblers, but they are a shining example of the gai ns that can be made. Like big winners in the lottery they serve to keep the dream

Too Little Too Late

AFTER all the disappointments, Pacific Team Lotus ended their season on a high as Bertrand Gachot recorded their best-ever finish, writes Sally Rose.

In Adelaide, on November 12, Gachot qualified last, and finished in the same position, but such was the rate of attrition that it was good enough for eighth place. The team's previous highest position was Andrea Montermini's ninth,back in March.

On the way, Gachot endured brake problems which caused a minor spin from which he thankfully recovered, but his teammate was not so lucky. Starting 22nd, Montermini leapt up to 17th on the first lap, but gear selection trouble caused a terminal spin on only lap three. He can console

himself with the knowledge that he outqualified Gachot six times to five this year, and is being wooed by the Brazilian Forti team.

However, the bad omens for next season continued, as neither driver qualified within 107%ofthe pole time. The new ruling, in place in 1996, will mean elimination for any driver which fails to do this.

Also, although there have been rumours of Judd engines (alias 1995 Yamahas) for next year, the team is still 'financially challenged'.

Their problems looked to be mounting further when the family of this year's British Formula Three champion, OliverGavin, were set to sue over an investment loan of around £350,000 made in 1994.

At the time, Gavin believed he would be driving in Formula 3000 for Pacific and acting as their For-

mu la One test-driver, but neither happened. He was also thwarted in his hurriedly-arranged F1 debut bid for Pacific in this year's finale, when his superlicence application somehow failed to reach theFIA. This left uncertainty over the legal situation, as the proposed drive would probably have gone some way towards compensating father Mike Gavin. Tearn boss Keith Wiggins claims to have resolved the matter, but Gavin admitted to being "disappointed and alittleangry.But,asalotofpeople said to me during the weekend, that's F1 for you".

Those who have followed Pacifiq's progress in 1995 know the feeling only too well. As for next year? We shall have to wait and

alive. Patie nce is the key. An yone can learn how to assess form but it takes strength o f will to wait fo r those races where form is re li able and can be used as a genuine yard stick in rating and compari ng horses.

Most, including my self, enjoy the thrill o f a wager too much to wait for the right race .

You have to be discerni ng when you bet. The 4-6 shot might win sometimes but eventually you ' ll 'do your dough' .

Form is most reliable in races where horses are exposed (ie. they have run enough times to give a fairly certain indication of their capabilities) and where prize money is high enough to ensure that most, if not all , run to their potential.

One of the problems with rac.ing in this country is that prize money is abysmally low. Britain has more meetings than any other European country but just about the worst

prize money. T he result of thi s is that for many owners I trainers more money can be made by gambling on a horse than relying solely on the prize money.

The way to ensure the biggest odds on your horse is to have it run badly for a few races, convince the bookmakers (and other punters) that your horse is worse than it really is, and then let it run on its true merits and hopefully win at a big price. To the ignorant punter this practice is just another pitfall in the battle against the bookmaker.

Low prize money is perhaps the major explanation, but also a major symptom, of the troubles that racing finds itself at the moment. Like any industry, the recession has had its effect on racing, but there have been other difficulties.

The most recent is the National Lottery. Bookmakers have estimated that their turnover will have dropped by I 0% over the last year -specifically du e to Saturday Night Fever. The bulk of racing's income comes from the Levy, a percentage o f money staked with o ff-course bookmakers. Therefore, as turno-

ver fall s so does raci ng's income.

There is no support from the go ve rnme nt ( in fac t th ey ga in through betting duty) so racmg is left to find new sources of fin ance.

It has been argued that the govern ment should take less. but individual racecourses have been looking at other ways to increase income.

Most have tried to market their facilities on non-race days (about nine tenth s o f the year), but a lot have also looked at ways to get more people through the door on race days. Introducing racing on Sundays, common in Europe for many years, has attracted a lot of new people into racing - particularly young families.

Also, the Racecourse Holdings Trust (umbrella body for eleven racecourse) has decided to attempt to attract students , and UEA has led the way in making this a success, with the Racing Club even sponsoring a race in February.

• For more information about the Racing Club, contact John Holmes (Union Finance Officer I st Floor UH), William Binns ENV 4 or Claudine Bertram LAW 4.

see.

THE 0 LY WAY IS UR ••

THE Yellow and Green band-wagon in now well and truly rolling, and with plenty of style writes Adam Aiken.

Norwich C ity have now risen to second place in Division One. and the fans are ecstati c thanks to th eir team 's victory over local ri val s Ipswich Town .

Following on from victories against Bradford and C rys tal Palace. goals from ewsome and Robert Flec k secured an impressive 2- 1 win.

However. the last ten minut es were full of controversy, and will be talked about for years to come. After ·wark (pen)' had appea red on the

derby scoresheet yet again, Ipswich were awarded another spot-ki ck with just five minutes remai ning, for a very doubtful fo ul o n a divin g C la us Th o msc n. furi ous C it y players persuaded the refe ree toco n ~u lt hi s linesman who. in turn . reve rsed the decis io n thank s to a debata ble o ff-~ id c claim .

The livi d I p~wic h fans, be liev ing they had bee n robbed o f a po int, tried to get onto the pitc h, and then proceeded to rip out more th an I 00 seats, but thi s didn't stop the Canaries from gainin g their third derby victory in a row .

Ju st two days later, Norwich travell ed to West Bromwich Albion and achie ved possibly their best result of the season .

With more than half of the first team injured, City fie lded a make -shift side and , after go ing a goa l down with onl y five minutes gone, it looked as if the visitors were going to st rugg le to take any points back to Norfolk .

Nonethe less, they perse vered , and Fleck equalised just seconds before the interva l.

Further goals from debut-boy Keith Scott, Neil Adams and Ashley Ward ensured a sty lish 4- 1 victory ,

with both Spencer Prior and Robert Ullathorne o nce again outstanding.

Sunday saw the Canaries playing away again, this time at Watford.

After a bl eak ope ning 30 minutes, Ward scored his seventh goal in six

games with the first real attack of the game. He got inside his defender to shoot home an Adams cross from close range.

Norwich added to their tall y immediate ly after hal f time through Scott , and Fleck should have made it 3-0 when he rounded the keeper. only to lose the ball in a last-ditch tackle .

So with four straight league wins after an uncertain start to the season, Ci ty look to be heading back to the top flight, but have also been developments behind the scenes at the club.

After the Ipswich game, which he described as "a very excit ing cup tie", Robert Chase shocked East Anglia by offering to sell Norwich City F.C. to anyone who can convince him they will "do a better job".

Unfortunately, since Chase has open ly stated that his priority is the redevelopment of Carrow Road,

rather than the improvement the team, it is unlikely he will find a bidder who can satisfy hi s personal criteri a.

Anyone got a few millions to spare?

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29. 1995

43

,.

AND THEY CALL THIS FUN? GrandPrlx DESPITE freezing conditions, rain, ankle deep mud and hail like shot-gun fire, Martin Alrey secured his third consecutive victory In the Grand Prlx Fun Run on November 17.

,..---By--Scott Tompsett Negotiating the two and a half mile course from the front, Airey led from start to finish, beating the chasing pack by over 300 metres with a run which he described as "quite hard, due to the conditions".

For the mere mortals left in his wake, the word 'fun' does not spring readily to mind when describing the race. As competitors were spared the added agony ofWaveney Mountain, it was left to alternative entertainments like mud fights to take people's minds off the Siberian conditions, which got worse as the race progressed.

Due to the adverse weather, many teams suffered in thequestfor Grand Prix points due to not being able to field the full six runners, many preferring to stay indoors in the warm and dry.

However, thanks to Airey's fine run, and a superb team performance, the Salmoners collected the I 00 points awarded for victory ,just

ahead of Barely Legal and Park Rettu.

But with some teams playing their jokers and doubling their points in this, the first event, positions going into the five-a-side football on December 6 are: I Barely Legal 198 points; 2 The Wombles- 192 points; 3 The Salmoners - 100 points

TRY-ING TIMES FOR UEA Rugby THE Rugby Firsts came off second best when they played Luton, with poor tackling and abysmal line outs the order of the day in a disappointing 18-33 defeat,

writes Scott Tompsett.

Luton, whose coach de cribed their performance as "the worst they've played all season", put UEA on the defensive right from the start. They scored the first try, and this was followed hortly afterwards

by a gift of a penalty in the 25th minute.

The home side reacted by getting a penalty themselves, but this proved to be virtually their only attacking move of the match.

The entire first half was dogged by untidy play, with the ball spending more time out of play than on the pitch, and this continued in the second half.

Ian Nicholl managed to get through the visitors' defence for a try on his third attempt, but any hope of catching Luton were

da hed when they responded with a try from the kick-off. This was repeated later in the half when Rick Selva scored from a blistering run down the left flank, only to have Luton take a try and a penalty in the dying minutes of the game.

Unfortunately, things didn't get any better in the next game, against Essex. This time, they lost 19-4 7 in a game they will be keen to forget.

However, the Seconds and Thirds made up for this with fine victories, winning 56-0 and 20-5 respectively.

ACTION from the game against Luton, which ended In a surprise defeat for the Netball Firsts.

PHOTO JEREMY HILL

• • •

venue, so next up was Scott Coomber.

The fighting went well but Scott was denied a place in the final by the competitor who eventually went on to claim first place. He therefore had to settle for third place but was nevertheless pleased to collect his first trophy for the sport.

In the Ladies event Caroline Marks was thrilled to come away

with a third place trophy in her first competitive fight.

Finally, to make his journey worthwhile, club president Brett Brewin decided to try his luck in the Kata competition and, showing superb focus in performing the set moves of Pinan Nidan Kata, he easily took first place.

So with three trophies and beaming smiles the team returned to Norwich, determined to enter as many competitions as possible in the future - and to take a map with them next time!

results • • •

BUSA BLOCK FIXTURE -15/11/95 UEA v LUTON

(UEA score first)

Rugby

Football

Men's 1st 18-33 Men's 2nd 7-38 Netball Women's 1st 26-52

Men's 1st 1-3 Men's 2nd 1-2 Women 5-3

Basketball Men 59-83 Women 69-31 Hockey Men's 1st 3-1 Women's 1st 2-0

BUSA BLOCK FIXTURE -22/11/95 ESSEX v UEA (UEA score first)

Rugby

Football Men's 1st 2-1 Men's 2nd 0-3 Men's 3rd 4-2 Men's 4th 2-2 Badminton Men's 1st 5-4 Women 9-0

Men's 1st 19-47 Men's 2nd 56-0 Men's 3rd 20-5 Women 0-37 Netball Women's 1st 44-40 Table Tennis Men 9-8

Hockey Men's 1st 3-0 Men's 2nd 0-1 Men's 3rd o-o Women's 1st 2-0 Women's 2nd 9-1 Winter Tennis Men 3-3 Women 5-1

SAILING The UEA Sailing club made its annual exodus to Plymouth recently to compete in the Laser 11 national student championships.

On November 11, with winds reaching20mph, Amy Burgess andStevenJacksonfinishedan excellent eighth in the first race and in the second, with much lighter winds, Andy Colinette andlim Davies came tenth, and Verity Slater and Nic Hayllar were 12th.

The second day saw UEA's sailors continue to perform well, with Amy and Stave's 12th and 19th places the highlights of the day.

SKIING

Karate WITH three out of four competitors returning with trophies, the first competition of the year proved to be a great success for UEA's Shi-Kon Karate club.

As club is mainly made up of students who are new to the sport, few competitions are entered, but when the club was invited to an open COn:)petition at Colchester a small team was gathered.

First on the mat was Chris George who fought well against an evenly matched opponent and was very unlucky to be eliminated in the first round.

Unfortunately, Brett Brewin and lgor Semikhodski discovered that they had missed their fights due to confusion over the location of the

I;;C»trlll:l , 0 ......

Fancyagoodpiste-up?Then why not take part in the BritIsh Universities Ski Championships, on March 23 next year? Two thousand British students will be Invading Les Arcs, In France, for the annual event, and lfthe word 'championships' puts you off, take heart from the fact that all standards are catered for, even absolute beginners.

In fact, you only take part In the competitions If you really want to; most students do their own thing, taking advantage of over 150 km of ski runs and the other activities on offer, such as paraglldlng, club nights and excursions. The cost Is £289, which Includes everything except food. Further Information can be obtained from Jonathan Cattell, EUR3.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL With two losses in two games, it wouldappearthat the Pirates are facing a rebuilding year.

The offence failed to score in the first game, but salvaged some pride in the second, with players scoring twice in the second half. With such a small squad, and many of last year's players having graduated, this season was always going to be a tough one. However, the club need more players, so if you are interested, contact them through their pigeon hole in the Sports

Centre.

VOLLEYBALL

TIP TOP UEA! Basketball

AFTER watching the men lose their match, the UEA Ladles knew that their game against the Luton University team would be a tough one,

writes Sarah Mu/lis.

The squad was depleted du!! to illness and injury, and the home side only had six players compared to Luton's ten.

Tip-off was delayed due to the Luton coach getting lost in Norwich, but when the game finally started the UEA girls quickly established themselves as the dominant

team, allowing the opposition to score just 12 points during the first half.

The visiting side's game was quite untidy, which punhem on team fouls in both halves, and UEA took full advantage of this.

Theirgamedroppedslightlyduring the second half due to tiredness, and point-guard Louise Goncalves came off injured, leaving the team with no substitutes.

However, they still managed to win the game 69-31, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Top scorers were Rosemary Powell (24) and Goncalves (15).

Both the Men's and the Women's teams are celebrating after Impressive performances In the qualifying round of the Hllton International Student Cup, held In Leeds on November 18. They now go Into the final, which takes place in February.

The women had a slow start In their first match, against St Andrews, but played brilliantly against Leeds In a hard fought match. UEA lost on point difference, but then went on to win against Hertfordshire and Liverpool John Moore's. Meanwhile, the men finished top of their pool, winning all three of their matches, against John Moore's, Glamorgan and Surrey, In straight sets.

..

44

Concrete, Wednesday, November 29, 1995

r----By--~

Sports Reporter THE one hundred per cent record maintained by UEA's men's hockey firsts secured them a place In the knockout of the BUSA ro un d competition.

Against Luton, a side bristling with talent, the UEA defence was on its toes for the whole game, as right from the start the Bedfordshire side pressed forward.

But the solid defence soaked up the pressure, and the first goal went UEA 's way thanks to some inspired play from Andy Catchpole.

Despite Luton fighting to try to control the game, the UEA midfield proved dominant. ltwasnottoolongbeforecaptain Mark Shurrnerthreaded through the opposition defence to earn a short corner, Dan White promptly stepping up to fire home UEA's second.

Luton came out even more determined after the break, but their frustration lead to two sendings off.

UEA capitalised on this, with Catchpole scoring the team's third goal, and effectively ending the game before Shurrner was sent off and Luton managed to score a consolation goal.

The team made sure of qualifying for the knockout stages with a 3-0 beating of Essex.

Goals by Shurmer and two from Terry Venables separated the teams, and the UEA side hung on despite losing Dan White through 'behavioural anomalies' .

SIX defeats at the hands of hit-and-run Luton brought many of UEA's teams down to earth with a bump, though they bounced back a week later at Essex.

The men' football, rugby and ba. kctball and the netball team

were all beaten by the sports-studies university, leaving only four team with victories.

Beside the men's hockey, the ladies team al o notched up an impressive 2-0 win, with Marianne Fredrikze playing the leading role.

The other v1ctors were the ladies'

a

basket bailers and the ladies' football team, whose impressive start was rewarded by three early goals.

A Maradonna-esque handball was allowed to pass by the referee as Luton reduced the deficit to two, but further goals from Alice TaylorGee and Lisa O 'Neill restored and

â&#x20AC;˘I

u

then improved on the distance between the two teams. Luton scored again before the break leaving a 52 half-time scoreline.

A rejuvenated Luton side threw everything at UEA in the second half, but with capatin Suzie Mayer directing the defence from a sweep-

0

ing position, the Norwich side held off al l but one of the Luton attacks to give the side a 5-3 win.

Against Essex, goals from Tomas Amesen and Matt Jelly returned the football firsts to winning form, and the netball team earned a narrow 44-40 victory.

Meanwhile, the ladies' hockey firsts earned a 2-0 win, with Liz Jones and Caroline Taylorearning the points. However their result was a overshadowed by the second team's amazing 9-1 win, where sisters Eleanor and Julia Ward scoring four goals each.

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5 minutes from City Centre ÂŁ34 each per week Merry Christmas to all Concrete's readers from the students' landlord!