Spark* - Vol 56 - 1

Tuesday 24 June Volume 56

Issue 1

Summer Ball: Students finish the What’s year on a high note Inside?

Abbie Weaving

With the end of the academic year fast approaching, the University of Reading’s annual Summer Ball was back with a bang this June.

Despite only placing 6th for Club MTV’s PimpMySummerBall tweeting competition, the University nevertheless managed to help everybody celebrate the end of their exams, as well as creating the perfect send-off for final year students.

Ending the year on a high note was this year’s line-up, which consisted of NME award winner Katy B, Wilkinson and Sigma, who all performed outside Mojo’s inside the bright blue and yellow Big Top music tent.

RUSU President, Mark Kelleher said: “RUSU was delighted to see over 4000 students at this year’s Summer Ball, the highest number ever. The event was a great success.”

Lizzy Iredale, a second year English Literature student said: “Katy B was amazing, there was such a good vibe in the big tent and everyone knew her songs really well. Wilkinson was good, but most people were just waiting for his song Afterglow! I think all the acts were good though and people were having a good time no matter what!”

Jamie Gostlow, another second year student, studying Politics and International Relations, said: “The music was great and there was a very good festival atmosphere.”

With 3,000 tickets alone sold on the first day of sales, around 4,000 students attended this year’s ball, with many party-goers labelling themselves as ‘survivors’ once the event finally drew to a close at 6am.

Not only was there music to entertain the University’s students, but a fun-fair, food trucks, live footage from the England vs. Italy World Cup game, and Cube who took over 3Sixty for the evening.

Closing at 1am, the fairground rides proved to be a real hit with students. In fact, the fun-fair was so popular on the night that twenty-minute-long queues formed outside the designated ride area, which was located in the car park behind The Study.

This year, students were able to enjoy four different sets of amuse-

Film 12

Music 8 ment rides, including much-loved classic, the dodgems, as well as the Mega Bounce.

Second year Philosophy student, Arran Ainsworth, said of the night: “It’s a shame that the rides shut so early, but the fairground is definitely something that the University should keep doing for its Summer Balls. I think more rides might be better next year, but overall, it was still a great night!”

As well as an all-star line-up and a host of amusements, students were treated to energy-boosting food stands and outdoor bars.

Whether it was a portion of chips, a warm baguette or a gourmet hot dog, the food trucks made sure to keep students on their feet throughout the night.

Arran Ainsworth, added: “The amount of food on offer was great, and rather than just having some chips you could have baguettes or a curry instead. The variety of food helped to stop long queues, and I think it made people more likely to stay longer knowing that they could re-fuel halfway through the evening!”

Despite the queues and long hours, this year’s Summer Ball went down a hit.

Indeed, Harriet Barber, another second year student, studying English Literature, said: “I walked out of the Summer Ball at 6am with feet engulfed in mud, a ruined dress and numerous bruises, wishing it could have lasted just a few more hours. Cheesy as it sounds, it

Health 17

Travel 22

Photographs taken by Paul Underhill was undoubtedly the greatest night I’ve ever had.”

2 News

Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

University pays tribute to Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas Abbie Weaving

The University of Reading has paid tribute to graduate and solider, Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas, who died in a helicopter crash on the 26th April.

The 26-year-old was serving in Afghanistan and was working on operational duty when the crash occurred just outside Kandahar airbase, alongside four other British servicemen.

Born in Brecon, Powys, Lance Corporal Thomas graduated from the University in 2009, with a BA in War, Peace and International Relations.

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said: ‘Everyone associated with the University of Reading will be saddened to hear of the death of Lance Corporal Thomas. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.

‘It is particularly poignant that we only recently held a service to recognise those from the Univer-

sity who lost their lives in the First World War. This terrible tragedy reminds us, a century on, that our graduates are still putting their lives at risk in the service of their country.’

During his time at Reading, Lance Corporal Thomas was a member of the University’s Officer Training Corps, before moving to London where he worked in the office of an MP. By 2011, he had become an Army Reservist, and joined 3 Military Intelligence Battalion in the following year.

Lance Corporal Thomas was described as ‘enthusiastic and highly capable’ by his Battalion’s Commanding Officer, while his immediate Officer Commanding remembers him as being ‘bright, gifted, with an enquiring mind, and laser-focused on the task in hand’, as well as having ‘a keen sense of wit’.

Having volunteered to serve in Afghanistan, he had been working in the country since December 2013.

His family said: “Oliver was a truly amazing person, living his life to the full, while fulfilling some of his many dreams and adventures. He was very much loved and will be greatly missed by his grieving family and friends.”

University displays £962,000 Beckett manuscript lindsay coles

The University of Reading became the new owner of Samuel Beckett’s Murphy manuscript after purchasing it at Sotheby’s auction house last year for £962,000.

The manuscript, written by one of the world’s greatest authors and playwrights, recently went on public display, on the 11th June, in the Special Collections Service at the Museum of English Rural Life.

The University of Reading proudly houses the largest Beckett archive in the world, with over 600 items of original material, including drafts and annotated pieces.

Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “As the University’s research on Beckett is one of our greatest strengths, we believed that it made eminent sense for us to pursue such a significant acquisition.”

The Vice-Chancellor also commented on the importance of purchasing the manuscript as it will give students and lecturers fundamental access to a valuable resource. He added: “The University of Reading is a worldrenowned institution that exists to promote the discovery of new knowledge and understanding. In doing so, it is essential that we offer our scholars, researchers and students access to the very best resources.”

Beckett started writing the nearly 800-page manuscript for Murphy in 1935. Originally titled Sasha Murphy, it was rejected by 40 publishers before it was published. Murphy is unique among Beckett’s work in that it is a London novel about a young Irishman attempting to seek peace in the nothingness of the mind without interruption from the outside world.

The manuscript is particularly interesting because it shows Beckett struggling to find an opening for the novel. Indeed, lecturer Mark Nixon said: “He starts eight times in the first notebook before he gets going.” The first 11 pages of text are entirely crossed out, and the eight cancelled versions of the novel’s famous opening sentence

see him working his way from “sun shone, as only the sun can, on nothing new” to the definitive line: “The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new”.

These amendments prove that the manuscript will be a welcome and invaluable resource for students who want to pursue studies relating to Beckett.

From October, the manuscript will be available at the Museum of English Rural Life for scholars and students across the world to study and also for any members of the general public who wish to view such a rare piece of literature.

The University also has exciting plans to digitise and produce a hard copy version of Murphy to make the manuscript even more widely accessible.

Students tell universities they demand more for £9000 fee Abbie Weaving

Between 2012 and 2013, the number of student complaints reached an all-time high, figures have shown.

According to a Freedom of Information request, called for by the BBC, over 20,000 students filed complaints to their higher education institutions within the last year, a 10% increase from the previous.

With universities demanding £9000 a year in tuition fees alone, students are now beginning to

question whether they are truly getting their money’s worth.University Minister David Willetts, has said that the growing number of complaints shows how students now demand more for their steep fee of £9000 a year.

Mr Willetts has said that: “If there are more complaints because students are more aware of what they should expect of funding and are more demanding, then I think that’s a good thing.

“When there’s a fee of £9000, the university is obliged to show what they’re doing and provide a decent service.”

What’s more, Rob Behrens, an independent adjudicator for higher education, revealed that his office received 2000 complaints in 2012, and that this number has been rising annually for the past five years.

He said of the recent complaints: “I think the decision to raise the fees has had an impact on student thinking.

“Students do see themselves more as consumers than they used to. They want the best possible degree they can get.”

A recent BBC Radio 4 programme, ‘You and Yours’, broadcast on 27th May 2014, discussed the recent findings of the Student Experience Survey.

For one caller, the annual £9000 fee was deemed an unfair price to pay for a university course. It was noted that university departments fail to provide substantial contact hours, do not lend core texts, and expect students to pay for library printing facilities, which some believe should be included in the tuition price.

Others, however, argued that if students are willing to make the

effort to meet with their tutors and fulfil the available contact hours, then higher education is worth £9000.

Indeed, particular emphasis was placed upon the difference between universities and schools.

One caller noted that while schools ‘spoon-feed’ students, universities expect independent learning, with students teaching themselves.

The Higher Education Academy and The Higher Education Policy Institute, organisers of the Student Experience Survey, found that students are less happy than other young people, and indeed, are unhappier than the rest of the population overall.

The title ‘complaint’, however, addresses numerous circumstances. While some student complaints stem from addressing the structure and contents of their course, others focus on appealing their grades.

Indeed, Anglia Ruskin University received the highest number of complaints and appeals between 2012 and 2013, with 992 in total. A spokesperson for the institution, however, said that it teaches 32,000 students and is willing to address more appeals than other higher education systems.

As a result, the spokesperson asserted that of the 992 complaints received, fewer than ten were “actually complaints”.

They went on to say that: “The vast majority were academic appeals where students queried assessment marks or submitted late notification of mitigating circumstances they believe could have affected their performance in an assessment task.

“Our process is more generous than other universities. By providing an opportunity for late mitigation to be considered as part of the appeals process, after the main mitigation process has been concluded, our students are able to discuss their situation as part of the appeals process.

“This opportunity has been taken up by a large number of students as they benefit from a more detailed conversation and analysis.”

For the full radio programme, please visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ programmes/b044gvzh

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

University passes world-famous Turing Test Abbie Weaving

The University of Reading has passed the world-famous Turning Test, held at the Royal Society in London last weekend.

The achievement marks a historic accomplishment for the University, thanks to the performance of supercomputer Eugene Goostman, a computer programme that simulates a thirteen year-old boy.

The technology was created in Saint Petersburg by a team of developers including Eugene’s father-figure Vladimir Veselov.

While the computer engineer was born in Russia and now lives in America, Eugene is supposedly from Ukriane but lives in Russia.

Not only is Eugene a computer programme, but time was also taken to mould a believable personality for him. Indeed, the thirteen year-old has a pet guinea pig and his father works as a gynaecologist. What’s more, the age

of Eugene was carefully decided.

Thirteen was old enough for Eugene to be intelligent, but young enough to forgive his occasional spelling mistakes.

The Turing Test is formed from code-breaker and mathematician Alan Turing’s famous 1950 question and answer game, ‘Can Machines Think?’.

Professor Warwick noted that: “Not long before he died on 7 June 1954 Alan Turing, himself a Fellow of the Royal Society, predicted that in time this test would be passed. It is difficult to conceive that he could possibly have imagined what computers of today, and the networking that links them, would be like.”

The Turing Test 2014 was particularly poignant because it landed on the 60th anniversary of Turing’s death.

The experiment was designed to explore the possibilities of creating a machine that can replicate human behaviour. In doing so, the experiment aims to test whether participants are able to detect if they are talking to a real human or not. If participants, for 30% of the test, are unable to recognise that it is a computer with whom they are sharing a conversation, then the experiment is labelled as a ‘pass’.

Eugene was able to convince 33% of the human judges (thirty judges took part) that he was a human, not

a computer programme. Out of the five other computers taking part, Eugene was the most convincing, thus winning this year’s test.

A Visiting Professor at the University of Reading and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at Coventry University, said: “In the field of Artificial Intelligence there is no more iconic and controversial milestone than the Turing Test, when a computer convinces a sufficient number of interrogators into believing that it is not a machine but rather is a human. It is fitting that such an important landmark has been reached at the Royal Society in London, the home of British Science and the scene of many great advances in human understanding over the centuries.

This milestone will go down in history as one of the most exciting.

“Some will claim that the Test has already been passed. The words Turing Test have been applied to similar competitions around the world. However this event involved the most simultaneous comparison tests than ever before, was independently verified and, crucially, the conversations were unrestricted. A true Turing Test does not set the questions or topics prior to the conversations.

“Of course the Test has implications for society today. Having a computer that can trick a human into thinking that someone, or

even something, is a person we trust is a wake-up call to cybercrime. The Turing Test is a vital tool for combatting that threat. It is important to understand more fully how online, real-time communication of this type can influence an individual human in such a way that they are fooled into believing something is true, when in fact it is not.”

Upon winning the test, Vladimir Veselov said: “I want to congratulate everyone who worked on Eugene Goostman. Our whole team is very excited with this result. It’s a remarkable achievement for us and we hope it boosts interest in artificial intelligence and chatbots. Special thanks to Professor Kevin Warwick and Dr Huma Shah for their effort in organising the event.

“Eugene was ‘born’ in 2001. Our main idea was that he can claim that he knows anything, but his age also makes it perfectly reasonable that he doesn’t know everything.

We spent a lot of time developing a character with a believable personality.

“This year we improved the ‘dialog controller’ which makes the conversation far more humanlike when compared to programs that just answer questions. Going forward we plan to make Eugene smarter and continue working on improving what we refer to as ‘conversation logic’.”

News 3

East Reading Festival kick starts summer season Abbie Weaving

The East Reading Festival returned on the 8th June 2014 and brought the beginnings of the summer weather with it.

The free event, held in Palmer Park, aims to bring together the local community with a selection of stalls, music tents, and local products to try. What’s more, numerous charity stalls were set up, as well as ones which offered local services.

Not only could locals enjoy music from Reading College students, but also other artists who performed various genres from across the world, such as Bhangra and Rock.

As well as this, energetic performances were given by local dance groups, and attendees managed to get involved with a Zumba routine.

When re-fuelling was needed, a vast selection of food was available, including paella and hotdogs, as well as a traditional ice-cream van to help keep the summer heat at bay.

60% of students want to start Cash-strapped students forced to rely on their own business parents Leigh Anderson

According to recent research, the number of young people looking to start their own business has risen significantly over the past year.

In fact, the number of people of any age looking to start their own business has rocketed over the past year. According to StartUpBritain.co, more than 520,000 new businesses registered with Companies House during 2013, which is a rise of 8% on the figures for 2012.

The trend for an increase in new businesses has continued into 2014, with 38% of adults thinking of venturing out on their own and setting up their own business. A whopping 60% of 18-30 year olds are also hoping to start up their own business despite the current tough economic climate.

Despite their ambitions, many young people have sadly recognised that their youth is a disadvantage in the business world and expect that there will be higher barriers in their way than there are for older workers.

Cotswold Fayre, who carried out the survey, delivers fine food to retailers. Managing Director Paul Hargreaves said: “The growing number of young entrepreneurs looking to start a business is a great sign for the fine food

industry. However, the prospect of starting a business or taking it to the next level can be incredibly daunting.”

The company are looking to help young entrepreneurs who want to make it in the fine food industry and have announced to launch a start-up scheme, called Cotswold Collaborates. The scheme is open to fine food entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 and 24 who need help with their business plan.

Paul Hargreaves added: “Cotswold Collaborates will offer the winning entrant not just monetary support but also business advice to help face the difficult challenges of setting up a business.”

The winning entrepreneurs will be given £1,000 to help their company grow and will be invited to monthly mentor meetings with Paul Hargreaves to gain industry insight and advice and to help develop their business further. The winning applicant will be able to collaborate with Cotswold Fayre’s in-house designer, who will work with the winning applicant to design and develop a strong brand identity.

To apply, please visit www. cotswoldfayre.co.uk - applications are open now and will close on the 30th June 2014.

SONAL POPAT

In recent years, with increasing accommodation and living costs, students are finding it increasingly difficult to fund their studies.

Many turn to their parents in order to get through the academic year.

According to a recent survey by the National Student, one in five students are borrowing money from their families, despite the average student expenditure decreasing by 5% last year.

The rise in financial parental support for students has provoked questions as to whether families should have to burden the expenditure and whether there is more that the government could be doing.

The average maintenance loan is currently £3840. When this is compared with the average annual rent for students in England which the National Union of Students (NUS) estimates to be £4834,the disparity between income and outgoings become immediately apparent.

There is an urgent need for the government to increase the maintenance loan in order for students to be able to manage their own finances. On top of accommodation they must be able to pay for their living costs which can cost up to £1000 annually.

Speaking to the parents of students at the University of Reading, there seems to be a shared feeling of frustration. As one parent whose daughter is studying BSc Economics explains: “I wouldn’t want my daughter’s studies to suffer because of financial worries, so I give her £200 a month, although it can be a stretch for us at times.”

This feeling resonates with other families, as not all parents are able to provide their children with money on a regular basis, which can make university an extremely stressful time. A recent study carried out on by the NUS found that a staggering 49% of undergraduates of the 14,404 students asked had considered leaving university due to their their financial situation.

Alternatives to financial support from families include overdrafts and loans, with one in six students having to work in order to fund their studies which can often have an effect on the amount of time they are able to study.

As the current situation stands, students from higher income families are shouldering less financial woes than those from lower income families, cutting off poorer students from the higher tier of education. In a country where education should be accessible to all, this demonstrates the immediate and desperate need for changes to the system before the country begins losing out on talented individuals who simply cannot cope with the costs of university.

4 News

Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

Reading students’ ‘Garden of Earden’ room opens at Royal Berkshire Hospital Nathalie Siah

A new garden-inspired waiting room was opened at the Department of Audiology at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on 11 June.

Seven committed fine arts students at the University of Reading had completed a year’s worth of hurdles to finance, plan and paint a more playful space for children with hearing disabilities to interact.

The aim of the project was to renovate the waiting room of the Children’s Audiology department The seven student volunteers, Emma Wise, Katie Wood, Charlotte Napier, Tien Nolan, Kassie Headon, Kelly Alcantara and Suzie Murray, begain soliciting funding for their project in August 2013.

Using an online ‘kickstarter’ to raise money for the department’s revitalisation, the students were able to obtain the funding that was needed for the proposed changes.

Troubled at first by the lack of donors, they had reached their goal of £1700 with final contributions from the NHS. In June 2014 the students met with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading, having been selected as runners-up at the 2014 student community awards.

The prize of £100 was collectively decided to be put back into the project.

The renovated waiting room is designed to be as welcoming to children with hearing difficuties as possible This money was able to go towards the mystical grass patterned flooring, a challenge that was met not only by finances but also the hunt for an appropriate company that would be able to create and install what was envisioned below their feet. Meadee Flooring Reading proved to be an excellent choice.

Professor Tina O’Connell, the organiser and overseer of the project was in a bubbly state showing full supporting of her students.

“I’m so proud,” she said, presenting the talent exhibited along the walls.

In celebration of their efforts, the building was decorated with balloons and ribbons. A table of delectable snacks were also set up to attract visitors from around the area. Students had decorated their

own cupcakes spelling out the words ‘The Secret Garden’. Others were decorated with an assortment of coloured flowers.

The waiting room is a blend of fun toad stools, a large playful mirror and many creative murals and toys. The paintings which are located around the entranceway are described by the students as colourful and artistic abstractions of the exterior and interior of the human ear. These images begin the adventure and stand out right away to those who enter.

In addition to planning the renovation of the ward, student Kassie Headon designed a children’s toy, manufactured with a 3D printer

The opening ceremony at RBH. Photo copyright to Nathalie Siah.

The large mural located in the main hall of the waiting room is a flurry of fantastical flowers, faces, animals and non-sensical creatures inspired by surrealist paintings, especially those painted

by Heironymus Bosch. Such a dynamic painting allows adults as well as children to keep their eyes as well as attention moving across the painting. As the main attraction, it is difficult to stop oneself from staring, as much curiosity is encapsulated in its imagery.

Funding for the renovation was sourced from donations online, using Kickstarter New toys and artwork at the Children’s Audiology waiting room. Image sourced from the project’s tumblr.

In addition, an interactive toy (see image, top) was designed by student Kassie Headon for children at the department. By pushing buttons along the surface of the dome-shaped plaything, LEDs change colours, allowing visual stimulants to entertain and excite, especially for those who are hard of hearing. Children have already responded positively to the changes in the department.

For more information and further media, see http://gardenofearden. tumblr.com and the project’s kickstarter page.

The fine arts students with Vice Chancellor Sir David Bell at the student community awards (June 2014).

Image sourced from the project’s tumblr.

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

News 5

University shows support University professor wins National for IDAHOT Teaching Fellowship Dan Mitchell

The University of Reading has once again shown its support for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).

On Friday 16th May, the University raised a rainbow flag to show their support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

As a new member of the Stonewall Diversity Champion’s programme, the University is proud to be flying the rainbow flag and a ceremony took place on campus between the Library and Whiteknights house on the afternoon of Friday 16 May to mark the occasion.

IDAHOT is marked annually on May 17. In just under 10 years it has become the single most important date for LGBT communities to mobilise on a worldwide scale. The day was created in 2004 to draw attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally

Dan Mitchell

Stonewall’s Diversity Champion’s programme is Britain’s good practice employers’ forum on sexual orientation and gives an organisation one-to-one advice on making the workplace the best it can be for everyone.

Ruth Busby, Deputy Director of Human Resources said: “Recognising the impact of homophobia and transphobia and taking action to stop it is an important part of this. That is why we are supportive of Stonewall’s ‘no bystanders’ campaign raising awareness of the challenges that many individuals continue to face.”

The University is seeking to continue the legacy of it’s former Vice-Chancellor, Lord Wolfenden, by continuing to promote diversity and tolerance in its research, teaching, and support for all who work and study here.

Matthew Almond, a Professor of Chemistry Education at the University of Reading, has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship.

He is one of 55 recipients of the award this year and received his National Teaching Fellowship for his instrumental approach in the introduction of technologyenhanced learning at the University of Reading.

The National Teaching Fellowship is a national award scheme that recognises dedication to improving the education experience of students. The awards are presented by the Higher Education Academy and celebrate outstanding contribution.

Upon receiving his award, Professor Almond said: ‘I am delighted to receive this recognition which reflects the impact of my work in teaching Chemistry at Reading for almost 30 years.

‘The support I received from students for my nomination was overwhelming. One of my guiding principles which underpins all that I do is the concept of “Students as Partners” which I’m proud to have embraced long before the idea gained wide acceptance across the sector.

This involves working alongside students, developing not only their subject-specific knowledge but also transferable skills and research expertise.’

In 2010 and 2013, Matthew Almond also won the Reading University Students’ Union student-led teaching award for best lecturer in the Faculty of Life Sciences.

Professor Gavin Brooks, ProVice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of Reading, said: ‘I am delighted that the Higher Education Academy has recognised Matthew Almond’s contribution to the teaching and learning community. This award is well deserved.

Matthew has dedicated much of his career to promoting and enhancing teaching excellence.

‘Matthew’s work has led to national and international recognition. He is an external examiner at three institutions and carries important roles with a number of professional bodies such as Royal Society of Chemistry, Higher Education Academy and Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

‘He has taught at several overseas universities, includ-

ing Auckland, New Zealand and NUIST, Nanjing, China. These appointments demonstrate his commitment to using his experience to lead and mentor others and to ensure that good practice is disseminated as widely as possible.’

This year, the National Teaching Fellows were chosen from over 180 nominations. Successful nominees were nominated by their institutions and submissions had to show evidence of three criteria: individual excellence, raising the profile of excellence and developing excellence.

Museum of Rural Life holds annual fete Reading Ranked 30th in

University League Table 2015

rebecca spokes

On Saturday 31st May, the Museum of Rural Life (MERL) on Redlands Road held it’s annual village fete. The event began at 10am and ended at 4.30pm and was full of food-themed fun. The fete included cookery demonstrations, science experiments, craft stalls and Morris dancers.

It was officially opened by Radio 4 Gardener’s Question Time panelist Bunny Guinness, a landscape architect who studied Horticulture at the University of Reading

before going on to complete a postgraduate diploma in Landscape Architecture at Birmingham City University.

She was awarded a Doctorate by the University in 2009.

Bunny said she was “very much looking forward to returning to Reading. It is fitting this year’s fete is focusing on food as the University has a prestigious reputation for food and plant science which links directly into the town’s beer, bulbs and biscuit history.”

Bunny also judged the MERL Biscuit Bake-off and the University students competed in a ‘Reading, steady, cook!’ challenge to create a new dish using only ingredients for the diverse communities of the town.

A Sherfield Village Brewery even created their own ale especially for the occasion. The brewery helped students create their own ‘extra curricular’ ale and created a light, hoppy beer for the fete.

Public Programs manager Phillip Heath said: “of course you cannot have food without drink and we are delighted to welcome the Brewery History Society to this year’s event.” The fete also included its own village pub, ‘The Merl-inn’, which served local ales and ciders.

Phillip continued: “There is something for everyone to enjoy, from food-themed family tours of the museum, traditional games and face painting to delicious refreshments including ice cream, smoothies, cream teas and cake, a beer tent, vegetarian street food and a hog roast!”

Not only is the fete a successful and fun annual event for everyone to enjoy, but also all of the proceeds go to the MERL Development Fund to enhance experience for the thousands of visitors to the University museum’s each year.

Leigh andersom

The University of Reading was recently ranked 30th in the Guardian University Guide 2015, meaning that it has moved up eight places and is ranked into the top quarter of the 116 university’s on the list.

It has also been ranked above seven institutions in the Russell Group, a group which represents 24 of the leading institutions in the UK. Unlike most other rankings, the Guardian University Guide judges the universities on student satisfaction and services rather than the quality of the research they carry out.

They particularly look at the latest National survey; spending per student; student: staff ratio; graduate career prospects; and a valued added score based on average final degree results compared to entry qualifications.

Reading has also ranked higher in other areas than previous years. Most notably, the University was ranked 21st for student: staff ratio compared to 30th last year and was ranked 22nd for spending per student compared to 40th for last year. Both areas showed a considerate increase.

Accountancy and Finance; Agriculture, Forestry an Food; Design and Crafts; Building, Town and Country Planning; Business Management and Marketing; Earth and Marine Sciences and Education are all subjects that ranked in the top 25% nationally for

their fields.

Upon hearing the news the University’s Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said: “It is always good news to move up the national rankings and perform well against our competitors. At the same time though, it is important to be cautious about league tables and, in particular, one year’s results. A university’s qualities are never as clear-cut as the tables suggest. Crucially too, a league table does not capture the hard work of our staff so, as ever, I pay tribute to everyone concerned.

“We have been listening carefully to what our students have been telling us. That is why our £4.4 million library refit finishes in 2014 and we are now offering 24/7 term-time access to all students.

“We finish our £148m revamp of our student accommodation this summer - part of a multi-million pound investment in teaching and research facilities. And the latest figures show 93% of our students are in employment or further study six months after leaving - three quarters in professional and graduate-level jobs - as a result of our efforts to prepare them for life beyond university.

“We can never be complacent in the fast-moving world of higher education.

So, we will continue to build further on the great teaching and outstanding research that already takes place here at the University of Reading.”

6 News

Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

Young people fail to service University invents method for their cars because of cost monitoring Arctic sea ice coverage Abbie Weaving

For many student drivers, their car is their most-prized possession. Despite this, 68% of 18 to 24-year-old drivers refrain from getting their vehicle serviced, usually because of the cost, according to research carried out by car retailer Evan Halshaw.

Even though the same percentage of those asked were aware that forgoing motor maintenance would make an accident more likely, saving some money seems to be a more attractive option for 62% of young drivers.

Not only is splashing the cash an issue for young drivers, but so too is simply finding the time to fit in a garage visit, with 56% of people claiming it is too much of a ‘hassle’. A further one in three young drivers asserted that finding a trustworthy garage to carry out vehicle checks was another factor in their reluctance to get their car serviced.

The survey, which asked over 1,000 people, concluded that a staggering 69% of those aged 25-34, and 52% of drivers overall, refrain from making sure their vehicle is regularly checked and made roadworthy.

Abbie Weaving

What’s more, it was found that women are most likely to delay vehicle upkeep, with over half of female drivers (55.6%) putting off trips to the local garage. Men, however, were close behind with 47% neglecting to give their motors a regular check-up.

Not only are women more likely to refrain from maintaining their car, but they are also more likely to be unaware of the dangers of doing so, and how, without proper care, the chances of having an accident are greatly increased.

Indeed, men appear to be more aware of these dangers, with 69% understanding the dangers of neglecting vehicle repair compared to just 61% of women.

Emma Pochin, Aftersales Marketing Leader at Evans Halshaw, said of the results: “Regular maintenance is key to staying safe on the roads – not just for the driver but passengers and other road users.

“As a lot of people drive every day, they don’t notice a gradual change in their stopping distances or braking performance.”

Arctic sea ice coverage was recorded as being at an all-time low in the summer of 2012, but now because of research from the University of Reading, coverage will continue to recover this year.

According to polar climate scientists at the University, the new forecasting method will be the most skilful one yet. It aims to predict the size of the annual summer melt three months before it hits its peak in September. This new method works by analysing ‘melt ponds’ on the surface area of the sea ice, assessing their size and coverage.

Arctic sea ice coverage in 2012 was recorded as being 3.4 million km2, but earlier this month, the University announced that it predicts the coverage for September 2014 will be 5.4 million km2 which is a significant rise. This prediction closely resembles the results in 2013, demonstrating a slow, but nevertheless steady rise in Arctic sea ice coverage.

Recent predictions present a positive outlook for the Arctic, however they still sit 18% below the 1981-2010 average of 6.5 million km2, demonstrating the

Government announces cuts to DSA DAn mitchell

The government have announced that they are to make major changes to the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

The DSA is a non means-tested financial help for students with disabilities, long term health conditions, a mental health condition or a specific learning disability. If these changes are to go through then it will ultimately affect some disabled students’ ability to go to University from 2015/16.

The changes would include cuts to manual note-takers, non-medical helpers, funding for standard computers for disabled students and funding for accommodation as well as restricting the parameters of who will be entitled to DSAs to those with ‘complex needs’.

Hannah Paterson, NUS Disabled Students’ Officer, said: ‘The prospect of deeply unfair cuts to support for disabled students should concern us all. We already know that disabled students are under greater financial strain than others. It is arrogant and out of touch to assume that disabled students can access “basic” equipment or

that universities will accept the new responsibilities ministers are seeking to place on them.

This was corroborated by Colum McGuire, NUS Vice President for Welfare who added: ‘It is likely that many students will fall through the cracks as a result of this withdrawal of support and associated ministerial buck passing.

The disabled students’ allowance currently plays a pivotal role in allowing these students to access, and stay in, higher education. We demand a full equality impact assessment of any proposed changes and a halt to their implementation until this is carried out.’

Here at the University, this issue has also been addressed and a statement on the RUSU website states: “The University of Reading and RUSU are working together to limit the impact that these proposed changes

will have on disabled students at the University and it’s worthwhile saying that at this stage the government’s plans have not yet been confirmed. We are in contact with the NUS and our local MP to make sure the full impact of these changes are understood and plans to cut DSA are reversed.”

Students interested in helping to put forward the strongest case for saving the DSA can tweet your own story by using the hashtag #degreesofdiscrimination and can also sign the e-petition set up by the NUS, which can be found online at http://epetitions.direct.gov. uk/petitions/63748. More information can be found online on the RUSU and NUS websites.

amount of damage has been done to the region in recent decades.

Leader of the NERC Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling team at the University of Reading, Professor Daniel Feltham, said: ‘Compared to the last five years, the Arctic has had colder air temperatures and slightly thicker ice in the relevant areas, meaning the melt ponds have not developed as quickly in 2014.

‘Melt ponds are crucial to the speed of the annual ice melt, as the dark water on the surface absorbs more energy from the sun than the white ice, which reflects much of it back into space. But until now, there has not been a physicallybased melt pond model.’

In addition, Dr Ed Hawkins from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), also based at the University, asserted that different rates of ice decline in the Arctic was to be expected, and entirely normal.

Indeed, he said: ‘The latest climate models suggest that Arctic sea ice will dwindle as the 21st century progresses. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at their current rate it’s likely that

the Arctic Ocean will be completely ice-free in around 40 years’ time.

‘However, during this long-term downwards trend we expect to see periods of several years when the sea-ice melts very rapidly, and similar periods of relatively stable ice levels - the decline will not occur smoothly.

‘The very low level of Arctic ice in 2012 took many people by surprise. If this new forecast is correct, it may indicate that the decline is temporarily in one of these more stable periods.’

Professor Fletham added that the new forecast system cannot only be used by scientists, but also by a number of industries.

‘This system could be used by the shipping, tourism and oil industries, which are all looking to exploit opportunities that new passages through the Arctic could provide,’ he said.

‘Our work will also help global climate models become more accurate, further strengthening our confidence in how the climate will change in the years and decades ahead.’

Queen to open Reading Station Abbie Weaving

Reading will host Her Majesty the Queen this July, as she officially opens the revamped station.

The station has recently undergone a £897 million upgrade, with four new platforms, two entrances and a new link bridge.

Indeed, the revamp has made Reading Station more spacious and much cleaner, and, most importantly, more commuter-friendly, with new sets of escalators and more ticket barriers.

New platforms will help to ease train traffic and delays since trains will no longer need to queue to access the station. This means that if a train breaks down on the track, then others can bypass them and continue their usual service.

The station has noted on its website that it was the complicated layout of the original platforms that prompted this rearrangement.

As well as this, one of the new tracks will provide space for six extra freight trains each day, which could take up to 200 lorries off the roads every day.

Not only is a new bridge being built, but the current railway bridges over Cow Lane will be widened to reduce traffic, and to allow for double-decker buses. Commuting will be even easier with brand new pavements and cycle lanes on the bridge too.

This will be the second time the Queen has opened Reading Station after an upgrade, with her last visit being in April 1989 to officially unveil a £20 million redevelopment.

Rob Wilson, Conservative MP for Reading East, said: “I can see this being a very big day for Reading.

Reading Station is part of securing a bright economic future for the town, so it is only fitting that Her Majesty the Queen should officially open it 25 years after she visited to open the previous station.

“When I met the Duke of Edinburgh at a Buckingham Palace reception last year I did ask him whether he would be coming back for a return visit after all the intervening years, to which he jokingly replied ‘You don’t want us again!’.”

The Queen will visit the station on the 17th July.

Network Rail said they would not comment on the visit at this stage.

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

news.spark@reading.ac.uk

Reading roads to become 20mph zones ABBIE WEAVING

Signs have recently been posted throughout the East of Reading calling for speed limits to be reduced to 20mph.

Due to an overwhelming amount of support, final legal consultations are now underway to put these plans into action.

The signs have been posted on many studentpopulated streets. Indeed, they include London Road, Wokingham Road, Holmes Road, Whiteknights Road, Upper Redlands Road, Elmhurst Road and Kendrick Road, as well as a small portion of Allcroft Road.

The project has been designed by the Eastern Area Study, which has been concerned with congestion and parking management in the densely populated area between the University of

Reading and Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Councillor Tony Page at Reading Borough Council confirmed that the latest legal plans are being held, and that there has been ‘overwhelming support for the 20mph speed limit in the area concerned.’

NUS to launch alcohol impact scheme ROBIN WILLIAMS

The National Union of Students (NUS) has launched a programme, backed by a £90,000 Home Office commitment, to promote responsible drinking throughout universities across the UK via students’ unions.

This pilot scheme will last for 12 months with eight universities taking part – Loughborough, Nottingham, Swansea, Brighton, Manchester Met, Liverpool John Moores, Royal Holloway and with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) acting as a control for the scheme.

If the scheme proves successful at these universities, they will be awarded with an accreditation mark to display their commitment to fostering an environment for safe and responsible drinking.

The NUS states that it hopes to “create a social norm of responsible alcohol consumption by students” by scoring the institutions against certain criteria, with some criteria being mandatory whereas others being optional to implement. Partnering institutions must score 90 points out of a possible 177 to achieve accreditation.

The mandatory criteria includes numerous conditions, such as forbidding student unions from running irresponsible drinks promotions, which is worth two points. To

gain six points, and to comply with the Key Performance Indicators, student unions must make sure that students consume responsible amounts of alcohol, and finally, for seven points, student unions must pilot one or more innovative interventions on responsible alcohol consumption.

Optional criteria includes student unions running non-alcoholic events during welcome weeks, as well as demonstrating the positive impacts that the scheme has had on their students.

Liberal Democrat Minister of State, Norman Baker, responsible for crime prevention and antisocial behaviour reduction, said: “Some students find themselves encouraged to participate in alcohol fuelled activities which can damage health and in some cases spill over into disorder and antisocial behaviour” with the scheme “leading to safer and more productive places to study and live.”

NUS Vice-President (Welfare) Colum McGuire corroborates the Minister of State by stating that they hope to “chang[e] attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol, leading to safer and more productive places to study and live” also.

However, some detractors of the scheme believe the £90,000 to be a waste of money for an impotent

scheme that will do little to curtail the imbedded drinking culture found in the country.

In a survey of second years at ten UK universities taken in the last decade, 89% of those asked considered themselves “drinkers”, with 61% of those “drinking” men and 48% of those “drinking” women regularly exceeding recommended limits of alcoholic units. If the pilot scheme proves to be a success at the partnering universities, the hope is to implement it as a permanent feature and expand it across the country.

comment Russell Brand and Dizzee Rascal should be studied for A-Level Danielle Nicole Paglionico

The idea of an English A-Level course usually elicits thoughts of Shakespeare, the Romantics, the Bronte’s, Blake…in other words, the classics, and, therefore, texts that have become antiquated.

Of course they still have great relevance to the study of English, allowing one to explore just how the use of English has changed historically in comparison to how it is used now. However, they do not allow one to study specifically how English is being used today.

This begs the question: why should students be bound to studying classics, without also being able to consider the use of contemporary English to the same degree?

Certainly, the classics are extremely interesting, with most

English students remaining eager to study them. However, surely bringing modern users of English – such as Brand and Rascal – into the curriculum will attract more people to want to study the subject? Those who may never have considered studying English beforehand may suddenly feel inspired to do so if it were given new, contemporary elements.

The study of more modern English use would also make the course more diverse, allowing students to compare language used in the classics with how language is used today. And thus, with a broader range of texts, this will result in a wider variety of intriguing essays to write. Surely essays comparing Chaucer and Rascal

News 7

would be far more appealing than merely being bound to the classics, and not being able to consider any texts with which they can relate?

For many students of English, future aspirations involve going into diverse careers, such as journalism, marketing or teaching.

Therefore, the study of contemporary language alongside the classics will also encourage students to become more versatile within their studies. This will allow students to become more adaptable in considering things from different perspectives – including that with which (like contemporary English), they are familiar, as well as language

such as that of the classics, with which they may be unfamiliar.

And so it seems that the study of contemporary English use, such as that of Brand and Rascal, should not be regarded as a possibility, but a necessity. Why? Well, evidently the study of classics is essential for students to be able explore language used in the past.

However, the study of modern English will also allow students to engage with that with which they can easily identify, and thus make the course more enjoyable, which consequently may even improve examination results.

8 ENTERTAINMENT - MUSIC,FILM&TV

Tuesday 24 June Spark*

film.spark@reading.ac.uk

Entertainment

Live Review: McBusted Lindsay Coles

Entering the stage in a Back to the Future DeLorean time machine, throwing mammoth-sized sports balls over a charmed and overjoyed crowd and hovering across the stage on a silver UFO, McBusted did not fail to amaze, astound and astonish the audience when they performed at Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena.

The much-talked about ‘ultimate supergroup’ which consists of all four McFly band members

and two Busted members, James Bourne and Matt Willis, certainly put on a storm of a show last month. Together, they seemed to be a marriage made in boy band heaven. This point was actually played on as the group performed the song Crashed the Wedding and the sensational six-piece were showered by raining confetti.

The budget certainly hadn’t been spared in planning this performance. McBusted treated fans to

an energetic and dynamic performance with highly skilled pyrotechnics, smooth staging and refined screen work lavishly adorning the stage everywhere you turned.

Nevertheless, the McBusted spectacle was mainly powered by the five wild guitarists leaping around making the concert so high-spirited, and Harry who pounded on the drums at consistently remarkable high speeds.

The concert started with footage of Busted’s press release announcing their heart-breaking breakup in 2005. Afterwards newly shot scenes showed James and Matt announcing that they must save McFly from becoming a future hair-metal band.

The Busted members then climb into a DeLorean and the footage cuts off. Suddenly the pictured DeLorean descends onto the stage to the Back to the Future theme tune. As James and Matt emerge from the car, girls scream and the audience spring to their feet.

Setting the tone for a thrilling and exhilarating show, more screams rise around the arena when McFly

spring onto the stage floor from below.

The six-piece boy band then get the concert going with Air Hostess and maintain their bouncy poppunk style throughout the concert by performing songs such as You Said No, Five Colours in Her Hair and Who’s David?. All-in-all, an engaging myriad of music sensations embellishes the set list as a massive eight number ones are played during the concert.

Halfway through the evening the screens lit up again to reveal reports of an alien invasion. This cleverly distracted the audience as the six-headed conglomerate ran in the rafters above to the UFO which introduced Star Girl.

It was a great opportunity to give audience members at the back the chance to see McBusted up close, which added a very thoughtful and credible touch.

Between McBusted’s upbeat and laudable songs, the band offers comedy capers, such as Dougie’s ‘slug’ dance instead of the ‘worm’, and idiosyncratic amusement as they communicate with the audience and each other. This made it appear like the whole arena was having a real party. But just when you thought the comedic elements had finished, the band brought out huge sports balls for What I Go to School For and Matt wore a huge white wedding dress for Crashed

the Wedding. The concert then closed with the momentous Year 3000 which pounded around the arena as McBusted said farewell and jumped into a pit at the bottom of the stage.

Seeing as McBusted were only meant to do 11 tour dates and then extended this to 35, they certainly delivered by leaving every person in the audience wanting more from the famous supergroup. This extremely watchable, entertaining and exhilarating spectacle left you feeling as though you had just been transported back in time to the best school disco ever. I’ll be honest, it was a real shame that it had to end. Luckily there are plans for an album, as Harry revealed, “it will happen after the tour. We’ll be writing on the road and hopefully soon after the tour we’ll get in the studio.” So folks, I can happily say that the McBusted spectacle is not over yet! Hurrah!

The photos are courtesy of Jo Pullinger, a friend who went with the writer.

Feature: Globe on Screen Siobhan Whitebread

William Shakespeare is undoubtedly the most famous name in English Literature. Everyone has heard of him, from the loftiest English Professor to the kid who quite likes throwing rocks at people. There have been films, TV productions and even manga adaptations of Shakespeare’s works.

You may not personally enjoy his plays, though I will proudly confess to being a Shakespeare fan who has actually got the T-shirt, you cannot deny that their impact has stretched worldwide.

The most popular form of Shakespeare’s canon, however, is perhaps the original one. The plays were written down 450-odd years ago but are still being performed today. Every actor wants to star in a Shakespeare play onstage and every theatre company, that’s worth their salt, will put on at least one Shakespeare play every

ten years or so. What springs to mind when you consider one of the most popular and important companies to make their business in Shakespeare? The aptly named Shakespeare’s Globe of course!

It’s loved by tourists and students everywhere.

Having been reconstructed almost 20 years ago by the pioneering Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare’s Globe is situated very close to the Globe theatre’s original site – in Southwark, the home of all things arty. It can be easily reached by train, underground and bus. The theatre makes for an extremely pleasant day out for all the family (providing that you turn phones off and silence babies).

Shakespeare’s Globe itself is reasonably large, there is a choice between the traditional option of sitting and the Early Modern experience of being a Groundling,

which involves standing for up to three hours; but is a lot cheaper with tickets starting from just £5!

If you still don’t fancy A) shelling out for a seat, B) standing up for three hours or C) only experiencing either of those things once, there is, however, a third option! Globe on Screen is another pioneering innovation from The Globe. A recorded copy of Shakespeare productions from The Globe theatre are being shown in cinemas nationwide. This gives people who don’t entirely enjoy the theatre a chance to experience some truly excellent Shakespeare, while it also gives people who enjoyed certain productions the chance to relive the action.

So, without further ado, here are the three productions that are getting the Globe on Screen treatment this year!:

The Tempest: When Prospero (Roger Allam), the Duke of Milan, is exiled with his young daughter he spends fourteen years plotting revenge on those who wronged him. While they are shipwrecked on his island, in a mysterious magical storm, Prospero sets out to wreak his revenge with the aid of his daughter (Jessie Buckley) and the island spirit, Ariel (Colin Morgan). But will the terrible Caliban (James Garnon) get in his way…?

Macbeth: Macbeth (Joseph Milson) is a strong warrior and loyal subject to the King of Scotland.

That is until he meets three witches who speak of the great power in his future. Spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth (Samantha Spiro), Macbeth commits an act that alters the course of his life forever and in doing so damns himself and everyone around him.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Hermia and Lysander are in love, but problems arise as Hermia is engaged to Demetrius, while Hermia’s best friend is in love with Demetrius… When Hermia and Lysander decide to run off together they unwittingly trigger a chain of events that leads to heartbreak and confusion for all.

And then fairies get involved.

All three are great productions, having seen all of them I can confirm this full-heartedly and all three are most definitely a part of the Globe on Screen project!

Showing soon in a theatre near you, these three great plays represent some of Shakespeare’s best work and give a unique glimpse into one of the most innovative theatres in the world.

Spark* Tuesday 24 June

music.spark@reading.ac.uk

ENTERTAINMENT - MUSIC 9

Reading Festival Preview Gabrielle Linnett

While finalists are dreading graduation, and first years are finishing exams, here at Spark* we’re counting down to the event of the summer: Reading Festival.

Situated in Richfield avenue, just 3 miles from campus, the festival is a must attend event. Announced headliners Arctic Monkeys, Blink182, plus Queens Of The Stone Age and Paramore will be sharing the first night spotlight. With 6 stages and three days of entertainment, there is much to look forward to and things are just starting to warm up.

Reading Festival is joined at the hip with Leeds Festival, but here in Reading we will get the first performance from joint headliners Queens Of The Stone Age and Paramore. Hits like No One Knows and I Sat By The Ocean from Queens Of The Stone Age’s Number Two UK album …Like Clockwork will certainly rock crowds at Friday’s Main Stage. The American rock band will play at Reading Festival amidst their …

Like Clockwork tour, but expect a wide repertoire from the Queens Of The Stone Age’s 18 years in the business. The second Friday headliner, Paramore, have a different style to their partners with high energy shining through tracks such as Still Into You and Misery Business featured in the group’s Number One album. This trio have been nominated for a Best Live Band award, so expect an electric headlining performance at Reading Festival 2014 - one of Paramore’s UK exclusives (they are only playing at Reading and Leeds festival!).

Over on the Dance Stage our RUSU Summer Ball act Wilkinson will perform, followed by the pumping DJ Annie Mac and finally Netsky Live. Those lucky enough to attend will be running rings around the site, trying to see all stages, as London act Palma Violets will lure fans to the Festival Republic Stage. What’s that we hear? TGIF at Reading Festival on August 22nd!

Saturday night brings the festival to its feet with the much celebrated Arctic Monkeys on Main Stage.

The English band has seen much success in the 8 years since their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, including a record setting 5 consecutive UK Number One albums. The group performed their well-known hit I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor at the Olympic Opening ceremony; let’s hope they play such classics among newer tracks from latest album AM this summer. Arctic Monkeys may have been at Glastonbury last year, but now it’s their time at Reading

Festival and they’re set to go down a storm!

Reading Festival enforces a Sunday Pass Out System from 8pm on the last night, meaning that leaving the festival without a stamp keeps you out. In the midst of Reading mania, do remember to get stamped and don’t miss out on the final sets!

The show goes out with a bang as Blink-182 take the Main Stage Sunday night, supported by international sensations Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and You Me At Six. The pop-punk group Blink182 have been making waves since they released popular hit All the Small Things, which still has RUSU Flirt-goers jumping as if it was 1999 again. This year’s summer festival will be the 4th at which the band has performed, and their second headliner slot. Armed with a new album, Blink-182’s Reading Festival appearance will be fully charged and energised, ready to power through the final show of the festival.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis achieved greatness with their hit Can’t Hold Us last summerSpotify even announced it as their ‘Most Streamed Song of 2013’. The hip-hop pair is sure to entertain crowds with critically acclaimed debut album, The Heist, featuring the thought provoking Same Love which will please free spirited festival-goers. Whether or not you’ve ‘only got 20$ in your pocket’, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are an act you won’t want to miss at this year’s Reading Festival.

Another unmissable Reading Festival set will be You Me At Six. The group is having an astounding year, being nominated for this year’s Best Single, Best Album, Best Live Band and Best British Band awards by Kerrang! Between all of these accolades, You Me At Six has high expectations to live up to, but with songs like Fresh Start Fever and The Swarm (as seen in the video) their return to the festival is something to watch out for.

If the Main Stage line-up isn’t what you’re looking for, head to the NME Stage where The Horrors and The Kooks will warm crowds in preparation for Disclosure, who are returning to Reading Festival this year. You’ll also find Augustines playing on the Festival Republic Stage. Sunday night will be packed with incredible sets, meaning that managing your time at the festival may well be harder than sorting your revision schedule.

Festivals are infamous for their toilets and wash facilities, but as locals, our University of Reading students should have a couple of tricks up their sleeves. Firstly, you can avoid festival toilet mishaps

by heading over to the Rivermead Centre. Here festival-goers can enjoy a hangover breakfast in the café or simple things like a shower. There is a small charge but we’ll let you decide if cleanliness is worth it, or whether you’ll pack industrial sized babywipes instead. There are also facilities on the festival site; hot water showers will be available in White and Yellow camps. Queues for the free showers build quickly, so get to the nearest camp in plenty of time. If you’re lucky, you could hop in just after a cleaning break. Now where can we find that schedule….

In the heights of festival fun, it can be easy to lose track of everything. One very important thing to remember is that bars at Reading Festival will only work with cash.

You’ll either join the ATM line a few times or have to carry more money than you trust yourself with, even if that’s back to your pocket money allowance. Fortunately, there are cashpoints near the festival, but you may find yourself distracted as one is located near a large Tesco. Party animals really work up an appetite and thirst, so a quick supermarket trip could result in buying more than expected. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of fellow festival-goers to help you get it back to camp.

If you feel too delicate for the Tesco run, there are handy supermarkets on site that do take card, but you’ll have to remember PIN codes yourself, they can’t do everything for you! However they can supply all the essentials, including fresh bread. Reassure loved ones that you won’t starve, but don’t let that stop you bringing food as you’ll pay a transaction fee for indulging with plastic.

Can’t wait for it either? We still have a little while to go. The festival is always during the August bank holiday weekend and this year that’s August 22nd – 24th. In the mean time you can procrastinate by going over every detail online at www.readingfestival.com and drool over the the full Reading Festival Line Up online. There’s also an official ‘Reading and Leeds 2014 So Far’ Spotify playlist which will get you in the mood to rock out, so try not to play it in the library.

If Reading Festival sounds like somewhere you want to be this summer, tickets are still available.

Don’t wait too long as the Wednesday Early Entry permits are no longer available and it’s a matter of time before other tickets become scarce. You can buy tickets from a number of online retailers, many are linked to the official Reading Festival website including See Tickets and Ticketmaster.

There’s a light at the end of the exam tunnel and it ignites an

80,000 people festival. See you there!

10 ENTERTAINMENT - MUSIC music.spark@reading.ac.uk

The Black Keys – Turn Blue Rachel Price

It was a struggle for some The Black Keys fans to adapt to their new sound. Ditching explosive, raw guitar and drum blues in favour of bass guitars and backing singers for their Brothers (2010) and El Camino (2011) albums made The Black Keys far more popular in the mainstream than ever before. A return to dirty-blues music did not look promising as the group went into the studio with producer Danger Mouse for the third time; but having been a few years since El Camino was released in 2011, expectations were high.

Turn Blue opens well. Weight of Love is a dreamy and bluesy track that, although almost spoilt by Dan Auerbach’s lazy vocals, is a welcome change from anything The

Black Keys have released in recent years. The dreaded backing singers still make an appearance, but the guitar riffs are intricate, soulful and uplifting.

Unfortunately the album goes downhill from there. The title track features a familiar riff that the eager listener may recognise from pop giants The Zutons’ second album and that’s all it’s got going for it. The first single to be released from this record, Fever, has a relatively catchy synth hook but the lyrics are shoddy and unimaginative “Fever ‘cause I’m breaking/Fever got me aching…”.

It is also very difficult to hear any instrument that resembles a guitar, especially in the tracks Fever, Year in Review and 10 Lovers, which seem to layer umpteen instruments in an attempt to distract the listeners from a lacklustre display of songwriting.

The album tails off around the halfway point into a vague attempt at psychedelic drivel, much like the album artwork. But then the final track, Gotta Get Away hits you suddenly with a country and western vibe; it’s a strange choice

of song, and stranger still to be chosen to end the album.

Singer and guitarist Auerbach has never been known for his lyricism, but rather as a gutsy and gravelly vocalist who slurs words and bluesy mutterings into a microphone- only just complementing the angry sound of his home-made guitar booming from the home-made amplification. Likewise, drummer Patrick Carney has never been known as a great drummer, yet he would bash the skins of a real drum kit into oblivion. There is no evidence of those musicians left on Turn Blue, an album lacking any kind of punch, melody or even acoustic drumming; it definitely won’t blow you away. In its defense, Turn Blue sounds very little like any Black Keys’ album that precedes it, but in an attempt to create a smooth and soulful collection of songs, the result is dull.

It would be foolish for anyone to consider The Black Keys returning to their Thickfreakness days, seeing as over-production has propelled them into mega-stardom, but a girl can dream…

Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

We Cut Corners - Think Nothing Gabrielle Linnett

Think Nothing is an album that resonates a melancholic mood, drawing you in with soft tones and then pulling you out with rock songs. We Cut Corners received high praise for their 2011 debut album Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards and have proceeded by sticking to their strengths while exploring multiple sounds. The first track of the album, Wallflowers, does well to introduce listeners to the band’s softer side. Featuring dulcet tones, Wallflowers is simple for the most part, allowing lyrics to flow without distraction until the crescendo and sudden end.

However this makes the transition between the delicate track and next song, Blue, feel abrupt.

With this second track, We Cut Corners performs much more dynamically, merging prominent guitar playing with vocals that sound almost in despair. The affect is a feeling not dissimilar to teenage angst, yet the band maintains strength in the chorus that bounds listeners. These songs reflect the We Cut Corners’ two shades that continue and ro-

tate through the album. Although drastic changes- as heard between thoughtful Maybe In The Future and the edgier This Is Then- may be unsettling, they make the album seem longer than its 27 minutes.

The Dublin band produces a variety of sounds considering it is only guitarist John Duignan and drummer Conall O’Breachain performing. Best Friend showcases the duo’s vocal, guitar and percussion talents, while other tracks such as Every Thief concentrate on the band’s haunted feel. The final song of the album, Hunger, is a reminder of the band’s skill and style.

Once again listeners are treated to delicate vocals and complimentary instrumentals echoing the song’s tender mood. As one of the album’s highlights, it leaves you wanting more, which is exactly how an album should make you feel; instead of switching to another CD you’ll want to listen to Think Nothing again, letting the lyrics and melody sink in a little further.

If you’re looking for an uplifting album, We Cut Corners’ Think Nothing is not it; but for a thoughtful deep relaxant it fares well.

Songs that define the 90s, the 00s and the 10s so far Lindsay Coles

Some ingenious music has come from the 90s, the 00s and this decade so far. I’d like to transport you back through the past 24 years as celebrate and review some of the most iconic, cheesy and famous songs that we’ve listened to since 1990. So, without further ado, let’s start.

Taking you back to the 90s…

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991) This iconic, punk teen revolution track was the song that made Nirvana a household name. The song was derived from Cobain’s friend spray painting ‘Kurt smells like Teen Spirit’- a woman’s deodorant from the time- on his bedroom wall. Kurt liked the way it sounded and created a song from it.

Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time (1998) At 17 years old, Britney released one of the best-selling singles of all time with over 10 million copies sold. …Baby One More Time reached number one in at least 21 countries and was originally titled ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ but the song’s releasers, Jive Records,

were concerned that this title would condone domestic violence.

and the song sold 630,000 copies in the UK.

one and at the end of 2007 it was the most downloaded song ever.

Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca (1999) Ricky Martin’s signature numberone song, Livin’ La Vida Loca, means ‘The Crazy Life’ in English.

As it mixed Latin sounds with mainstream pop, it gained worldwide success. Livin’ La Vida Loca was so successful that it got nominated for five Grammy Awards, proving its popularity.

The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army (2003) Surprisingly this rock/punk track has been heavily associated with football. It became the theme for Italy’s World Cup 2006 win, then it was used when teams walked onto the pitch at Euro 2008 and it was played when someone scored a goal at Euro 2012. Now the song is known throughout parts of Europe as the ‘The Po Po Po Po Po Po Song’.

Getting back to the present with the 10s…

Katy Perry – Firework (2010) Firework is an inspirational, uplifting song which expresses the need not to be afraid of expressing who you really are and not letting your flaws stop you from living to the full. 6 million people in the USA purchased this song, proving that it has oodles of popularity.

Shania Twain – Man! I Feel Like a Woman (1999) A popular yet cheesy song, this female empowerment track brings to life the country genre and is undeniably contagious, even now!

Let’s blast it back to the past and land in the 00s…

S Club 7 – Never Had a Dream Come True (2000) This popular love song is about the aftermath of losing someone you love. The protagonist sings that she will always love her former boyfriend. This was the only S Club 7 single to chart in the US

Nickelback – Rockstar (2005) The song Rockstar is often interpreted in two ways; the parody of celebrity lifestyle or as the biography of Nickelback’s success.

Rockstar is the band’s best-selling digital single to date in the US, with digital sales totalling over 4 million as of July 2013.

Gnarls Barkley – Crazy (2006) Crazy is a song about diving into insanity, which Gnarls Barkley finds is not all bad. In the UK, Crazy was the best-selling single of 2006; it spent 9 weeks at number

Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – We Found Love (2011) Calvin Harris admitted that the lyrics of Rihanna’s arguably most famous and ground-breaking song have no meaning. He said “I was just playing the song and doing nonsense singing to see if the syllables fitted the song”. Despite this, We Found Love was Rihanna’s sixth British number one in five years which is a record unequalled by any other female solo artist.

Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe (2012) Remarkably, it was Justin Bieber’s tweet ‘Call me maybe by

Carly Rae Jepsen is possibly the catchiest song I’ve ever heard’, which made Call Me Maybe a global success. The song went on to reach number one in 19 countries and sold more than 6.7 million copies in the United States alone!

Pharrell Williams – Happy (2014) “You can’t ruin my happiness” encompasses the main message of Happy. The recent track has obviously put a smile on many faces in the UK because it has sold over 1 million copies in the UK, giving it a firm place as one of the most definable songs of 2014 so far.

From listening to these 15 songs, it can easily be seen that the last 24 years have delivered some brilliant music. These songs will always be paired with their decades; from Shania in the 90s, to S Club 7 in the 00s and Rihanna in the 10s, this only leaves us with the question of what is to come next?

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

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ENTERTAINMENT - FILM&TV 11

TV Roundup: Game of Thrones Gina Toor

Continue with caution, there may be unintentional spoilers below.

Game of Thrones. When you read the name you can almost hear the theme tune playing in your ears.

Season 4 has officially finished and now we have to wait another year for our next fix of Westeros madness. It is clear to see that this season has a theme: vengeance.

But, another theme appeared to be tossing the book into the fire of Rh’llor.

It is difficult to write a short and concise review on a series which has so many correlating and interconnecting storylines. The standout storylines this season have to be those which took place in King’s Landing; they’re far more engaging and constantly keep up a good pace throughout the season.

There were some season highlights with Arya and the Hound, but all the storylines occurring in the North were slow moving, however they did have good climaxes. The storylines concerning the Mother of Dragons paled in comparison to the rest.

As a book reader, I have been awaiting the entrance of the only

great house to have not appeared in the show yet: House Martell.

Season 4 was the eventual and eventful arrival of the Dornish.

Most viewers were introduced to the greatness that is Oberyn Martell with his arrival in King’s Landing for the wedding of Joffrey and Margaery, but he also arrived in the hope of his long awaited vengeance for his sister Elia.

Oberyn’s arrival set the running theme in this season as vengeance.

But in the world of Game of Thrones a thirst for vengeance is no strange feeling. In the second episode of the series, The Lion and the Rose, we were treated to the ‘Purple Wedding’, an event that left many fans cheering at the end of the episode rather than in a state of shock and terror as the ‘Red Wedding’ had. But, if I were from Westeros, I certainly wouldn’t attend any weddings; characters seem more likely to die at a wedding than in the battlefields.

The ‘Purple Wedding’ also left fan-favourite and dwarf lord among men, Tyrion Lannister, in chains. Many soon questioned whether Tyrion would survive the

season, because Game of Thrones leaves everyone vulnerable to the claws of death, regardless of how important they are deemed to the story. The trial of Tyrion Lannister, in which he finally erupts in response to the mistreatment he suffered his whole life, is a must see. Tyrion’s trial provides greater insight into his relationship with the rest of his family, especially with his brother Jaime, who has returned following his imprisonment under Stark without his sword hand. Ouch.

Whilst madness grips us in the capital, there are threats from white walkers and a wilding army in the North. The entire season flaunts a flawed logic in that the dangers of an undead army are ignored or forgotten by most characters when their own interests are not concerned.

Game of Thrones is known for its violence, and this season certainly did not disappoint. Most of the violence this season occurred in the North as Jon Snow returns to the Night’s Watch in a war against the wildings, who want to break through the wall. The trial by combat in The Viper and the Moun-

tain will certainly be hard to forget for most viewers. Yet, some say the Game of Thrones violence has become too much, creating conflict unheard of in the books in order to make the show more edgy and gruesome.

This applies especially to the women in the show, as violence towards female characters seemed to have been noticeably increased, which left many people feeling uncomfortable.

The part of the season you struggle to recall follows the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen. Excluding the freeing of slaves from their chains, Danny spent most of the season sitting on a throne or thoughtfully pacing around a table with her advisors. If anything

Film Review: Dans La Maison leah isaac richards

Directed By: Francois Ozon Starring: Fabrice Luchini, Vincent Schmitt, Ernst Umhauer Running Time: 105mins Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery Dans La Maison, or ‘In The House’ as it is translated is a sophisticated French film directed

by Francois Ozon. I could focus on all things cliché and discuss the brilliant acting on display, or emphasise the captivating storyline.

But, although these things are true, Dans La Maison is so much more than this.

Without wanting to give too much away, the film centres around Claude, a 16-year-old school student portrayed by Ernest Umhauer who seeks advice on fiction writing from his teacher, Germain.

Claude becomes a voyeur, in a creepy yet forgiving way. He becomes fascinated by and obsessed with observing and writing about his school friend Rapha’s family;

Claude takes particular interest in Rapha’s mother. At first Claude watches the family from afar, but is eventually invited into the house, thus giving the film its title Dans La Maison.

Claude is unusually memorising. You can’t take your eyes off of him, just as he can’t take his eyes off Rapha’s family.

Throughout the film Germain and his wife Jeanne, played by Kristin Scott Thomas, fall victim to the power of Claude’s storytelling, and the line between reality and fiction becomes exceedingly thin. The teacher realises that Claude has a gift, the kind of literary talent he himself lacks. Germain begins to live vicariously through Claude and Germain’s personal life suffers as a result. We, like Claude and his

teacher become captivated by the lives that make up Rapha’s family.

In a complicated chain we watch Jeanne, who watches Germain, who watches Claude watch the family. Dans La Maison is darkly comic and almost falls into the most absurd of comedy categories.

You come out of the cinema unsure about the nature of fiction, but certain of its brilliance and power.

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could have been removed from the show, this could have been it.

The season finale is particularly important as it sets the trend for the next season. But as much as I loved the final episode, the epilogue of the book was absent, which I believed would have been The way for the season to the better end. Being a book fan, I don’t even know what is going on with the show anymore. All I know is that someone should help Sansa and take her 1000 miles away from Littlefinger. Game of Thrones always hurts us, yet we always come back for more. Here’s to season 4, and the following seasons which will probably be just as painful.

12 ENTERTAINMENT - FILM

Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

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Film Review: X-Men: Days of Future Past lindsay coles

Directed By:Bryan Singer Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman Running Time: 131mins Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi X-Men: Days of Future Past is a star-studded movie that explores the complexities of time travel. It became the highest-grossing XMen movie in its second weekend and has impressively crossed the £600 million mark. X-Men: Days of Future Past’s proven popularity shows that it is in high demand.

For me, the latest X-Men franchise installment was mightily impressive and although it had flaws, Bryan Singer has directed a movie that is engaging, inventive and on-form.

The film starts in the future and jumps between this period and the past, offering a fast paced storyline with strong momentum. Although this means the film has two time periods to deal with, the story does not confuse audiences. Singer kept it simple by focusing on three very distinctive X-Men characters: Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender).

Despite its flaws, Days of Future Past is an engaging and inventive film The story begins with the benevolent Xavier (‘Professor X’) and his ‘frenemy’, Magneto, leading their mutants against the killer robot Sentinels in an attempt to save humans and mutantkind.

These Sentinels have become dangerously powerful, after initially being used by the government to murder mutants, they are now trying to wipe out life itself. By using Shadowcat and her mind powers, the group sends Wolverine back to 1973 with the objective of preventing the Sentinels from becoming government-owned, destructive weapons. Wolverine’s task is, more specifically, to stop Mystique, also known as Raven, from assassinating the Sentinels’ creator, Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), who wants to destroy mutants. It was Mystique’s deed that resulted in the Sentinels gaining power and potential global extinction. In the process of completing this task, Wolverine faces having to moti-

vate and re-unite Raven, Xavier and Magneto. Other obstacles include Wolverine’s claws not being metal, Xavier being a depressive who refuses to utilise his mind powers to help stop Raven and Magneto turning in to his usual rebellious, villainous self, preventing Wolverine from saving humans and mutantkind.

However, as with all Marvel films, we know how this one will end. Wolverine, after his many trials and the X-Men team nearly losing to the Sentinels, which causes much heartbreak and suspense, manages to successfully stop Raven from murdering Trask. This changes the future and means the Sentinels no longer gain power as Raven proves mutants are saviors instead of humankind’s enemies.

Together, humanity and mutantkind unite.

Peter Dinklage, star of HBO’s Game of Thrones, debuts in the X-Men series One criticism the movie attracts is underdevelopment; Wolverine facing a large amount of complications, along with the fast paced storyline, resulted in some aspects of the film not being explored entirely. However, the fast momentum of the storyline also comes as a blessing because it keeps the audience engaged. Yet Xavier’s underdeveloped key flaw, which is his need to take drugs to remove his powers and enable him to walk, is a disappointing feature of the movie. For such a fundamental, prominent and key character in X-Men, it is a shame that we don’t get to know more. Also, Quicksilver (Evan Peters) comes and goes too quickly, leaving us in suspense because we want more from him.

The X-Men film series, having begun in 2000, shows no sign of going away As a character who offers entertainment, audiences could have benefitted from Quicksilver’s presence to break up all the seriousness. Nevertheless, although the plot is serious and there are few scenes that take the audience away from a dystopian world, Simon Kinberg’s script, which adopts Terminator references, quips and in-jokes, allows the audience to step away from the solemn atmo-

Magneto is portrayed by veteran actors Ian Mckellen and Michael Fassbender. sphere that threatens to pervade the movie.

What’s great about this particular X-Men film is that we are introduced to new characters as well as being able to learn and explore more about our old favourites. The most surprising new character is Quicksilver, who did not inspire much confidence in marketing materials, but seems to be the only character to offer the main comedic elements in the film. His sequence, in which he leisurely takes out a squad of lawmen while stopping to taste soup, is particularly funny. However, it’s the more recognisable superheroes in the movie such as Storm, Xavier, Magneto and Raven, who provide us with the Marvel magic we are so

used to and have come to expect.

They remind all of us of how much we love the X-Men franchise.

Although none of the cast starring in this movie got nearly enough time to show off (we want to learn more about Storm and there’s definitely not enough of Ian McKellen), all-in-all X-Men: Days of Future Past leaves you wanting more from the Marvel superheroes we all know and love, which is why X-Men: Days of Future Past is such a gripping movie and one that I thoroughly recommend. The enthralling action, the comedic elements, the iconic characters and the astounding effects make this a movie that is well worth going to the cinema to see. Just as The Wolverine helped set the stage

for what to expect in X-Men: Days of Future Past with its post-credits scene, a similar tease in X-Men: Days of Future Past gives insight into the next film, X-Men: Apocalypse. The chance to see ensuing formidable villain, Apocalypse, will make X-Man fans, and casual viewers alike, highly excited for some more action!

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Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

technology.spark@reading.ac.uk

ENTERTAINMENT - TECHNOLOGY 13

The Digital Diet: Fitbit Flex gabrielle linnett

As someone who wanted to lose a bit of weight, I was faced with an infinite number of different options. Alongside the traditional schemes, nowadays a digital diet is becoming more popular, with lifestyle apps appearing in every app store search. However, the device that I chose was the Fitbit Flex- a wristband that monitors your movement. The piece of equipment arrived in a little green box as an empty wristband and what looked like a plastic bullet; the technology helping people manage their weight is crammed into a tiny object you could easily lose in your bag.

When wearing the FitBit Flex, your steps are tracked as they would be by a pedometer. There are 5 lights on the miniature display screen on the Flex ; each one being a goalpost in your aim of walking 10,000 steps a day, as I have it set up. But there are other objectives you can set the lights to represent too. The main difference between this device and a pedometer is that the Flex tracks all of your movements and also records when those movements were made. On its own, the Flex can’t tell you this information; it is thus coupled with an app that Fitbit users need to download. The app

receives the information from the Flex and translates it into data that is easily comprehendible. Looking at the app you can see how many steps you’ve taken, how many ‘active minutes’ you have had and how many calories you have burnt.

Here lies the beauty of the Flex.

By recording your body movements, the Flex can calculate how many calories you’ve burnt through the course of the day once you tell it your gender, weight and height. For those following a diet, this is an invaluable source because you can see what difference going for that 30 minute walk made and therefore be more motivated to do it in future. Thanks to the technology behind the Fitbit Flex, I can have my cake and eat it within my allowance, so long as I’ve burnt enough calories for it.

The Fitbit app also provides users the option of entering the nutritional value of the food they eat, to show you how your consumption compares with your exertions. The app is linked to a database to make this easier: you simply type in the name of the food and it will find the equivalent version on the database. Sadly however, the FitBit app doesn’t utilize a UK database at the moment so some foods, such as crisps and chips might be a little

trickier to enter. Despite this, the app is perfectly usable. People have to download the app onto their smartphone and use the Internet to access the database in the first place, so if the correct food isn’t present they can easily search the Internet browser for an alternative information source and manually enter the data into the app instead.

Nevertheless, at a costly £79.99 you don’t expect gaps that will take your time to overcome.

With a range of colours to choose from, the Flex is easy to integrate into everyday life and having its collected information present on my phone whenever I check it for messages, calls or Facebook makes this diet product a powerful weapon in the battle of the bulge. Yet, having found it personally useful, I do wonder whether monitoring our diets with technology is just providing the internet with even more unnecessary information that could, in time, be used for customised advertising; undoing the product’s work in order to keep consumers from achieving their goals too quickly.

Amazon releases a smartphone gabrielle linnett

They’ve always been known as an online based distributer of products and you can find almost anything on their comprehensive website. In recent times, however, we’ve seen Amazon step out of their comfort zone and produce their own products instead. We’ve already had the Kindle and its evolutions, there is Fire TV in the United States. But now the company is setting their sights on something that hopes to stand up to the likes of Apple and Samsung: Amazon is launching the Fire Phone.

The Fire Phone is Amazon’s first smartphone and they are already aiming high. The new smartphone, expected to be released July 25th in the USA, is said to have a 3D screen and unlimited cloud storage for the photos taken with it. Apparently that will be a lot as Amazon claim that the Fire Phone will take better pictures with its camera than both the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S3. The two current smartphone leaders are immensely

popular at the moment, so the notion of a rookie smartphone producer like Amazon attempting to knock them off their pillar is a little difficult to believe.

In keeping with its competitors, the Fire Phone will have the capability to send video to TV’s and enable you to give commands vocally. Nevertheless Amazon hasn’t forgotten its roots as a sales company. One of the leading features is Firefly, which is designed to recognise everything your phone can detect and enable you to buy it through the Internet.

Whether you’re listening to a song, watching a film or checking out the weird food your housemate bought home last week, the Fire Phone will direct you towards buying it, if you have activated the Firefly feature.

It will be a while until we’re able to test out the Fire Phone for ourselves in the UK though.

The announced price of Amazon’s Fire Phone was $199, if buyers got it with a two-year contract.

It can be expected, and understood, that the company may want to wait until they’re sure of the Fire Phone’s success in America

before shipping it overseas. The issues for smartphone procurers are what Apple and Samsung will produce while we wait for Amazon to open to the public and whether Amazon’s vision fully come to light. The details announced thus far sound impressive, but, as with every announcement made, they have to present the most impressive features with the best functionality first. When investing in a new piece of technology, there is always a fear that a product isn’t as good as it seems. Yet, while Apple and Samsung have experience and loyal customers, Amazon is entering the race a little too freshly and a little too confidently make such big claims.

This week at the RFT...

This is the last week of term for Reading Film Theatre’s summer season. It concludes with two films: one widely-released film starring Scarlett Johansen, and a French-language drama. Keep an eye out for what’s on for RFT’s autumn season by checking their Facebook page or registering for their mailing list at their website.

Tuesday 24 June (20.00), Palmer Building:

Under the Skin (18) Scarlett Johansen stars as an alien, abducting men in Glasgow under false pretenses for reasons unknown.

Thursday 26th June (20.00), Palmer Building:

Before the Winter Chill (Avant l’hiver) (15) A French language drama concerning a troubled neurosurgeon, whose marriage becomes increasingly strained.

Prices: Members + students £5.50 Non-members £7.50

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The hub from Endsleigh, your guide to graduating

On the hub you’ll ďŹ nd useful help and advice, as well as competitions, quizzes, news and tips on everything you need to know after university.

Our graduate blogs cover issues to support you in your graduate life, including managing your money, employability and new technology.

To learn more visit hub.endsleigh.co.uk /endsleigh

@EndsleighAtUni

Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting its website www.fca.org.uk/register Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited, Company No.856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.

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Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

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16 LIFESTYLE - FASHION&BEAUTY

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Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

lifestyle

Sizzle this summer season with these affordable and on-trend summer dresses Rebecca McArdle

Summer has arrived and you may be looking for some new outfits to add to your wardrobe. To give you a helping hand, here are a few of my favourite floral dresses which are perfect for the long days and evenings ahead.

This red–rose flippy style dress is sprouting up all over the high street this season. The combination of a flattering ‘V’ neckline, shoulder swathing sleeves and the pretty pansy print is any vintage fashion lover’s dream. As this number falls on the casual

side, you will definitely get your money’s worth throughout the sunny summer days ahead.

If you want to add the illusion of curves to a slim frame, then this flattering tulip skirted dress is for you! Clinching in at the waist, flaring out over the hips and taper-

ing in at the hemline will give you a silhouette to rival the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Beyonce – the epitomes of the much sought-after hourglass figure. This scattered floral print is a perfect way to welcome the good weather with the

sprinklings of sunny yellow and bright pink.

Fancy treating yourself to celebrate the end of exams? Then look no further! Sure, it’s a bit of a splurge compared to what you’d pay for your ‘Monday Night Q’ outfit – but this dress is worth its price tag for any upcoming special summer events! The combination of blues, greens and pinks on this super summery shift is ideal for flaunting your femininity. With an all-over pattern which boasts the on-trend tropical print, this dress will definitely leave you looking like the said climate- HOT!

Summer Accessories The Glamour of Italian Fashion Abbie Weaving

With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to stock-up on those handy seasonal accessories for an ultra-glam, ontrend look.

Not only are floppy, widebrimmed hats super stylish, but functional too. Whether you treat yourself to a plain or patterned one, these are great for keeping the sun out of your eyes, while still ensuring you look fashion-forward on the beach. Cream floppy hats are the safest bet for a fresh summer look; they are easy to pair with most outfits, and the light colour will keep you from feeling overheated. Add a chain, ribbon or some charms to the base of the hat for an extra glamorous look.

As well as summer headwear, kimonos tops are perfect for those lazy beach days. These are a great choice because they are so versatile: pair them with a tank top and shorts, or wear them over your bikini to protect your shoulders from the sun. They work as the ideal statement piece too, just pop on a white top with jeans or shorts and your bright kimono will do the talking.

Forget jelly shoes trying to make a comeback, sophisticated

gladiator sandals are the best choice for the summery season.

Not only can they be worn on the beach and by the pool, but they also work for a night-time look.

Whether you’re out partying on holiday or going for an evening stroll, the embellishments on high-street gladiators will add a pop of glitz and glam to any outfit.

As well as letting you show off those pristinely painted toenails, they will keep your feet cool all day long!

Caitlin McClinchy

Fashion exhibitions are hard to come by- especially those that encompass plenty of pieces to yearn for and still have the perfect balance between history and storytelling. The Glamour of Italian Fashion exhibition 19452014 which is currently being displayed at The Victoria and Albert Museum manages to deliver on all accounts.

The visit begins by introducing how Italian fashion has a reputation for high quality and individual designs. The first room has cabinets full of beautiful ball gowns, such as an understated tulle number. These striking designs originate from the foundations of the Italian fashion industry with pieces including the bamboo handle of the Gucci handbag.

During the Second World War, despite the rise of fascism in Italy, the fashion industry flourished. We see how following this, Italian fashion became popular with actresses and housewives alike. A white dress with puffed sleeves worn by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday is on show; a pink palazzo pyjama style suit, which is said to have inspired

the style of Jackie Kennedy when entertaining at home also stands out in a glass cabinet. There is also a beach scene to be viewed with displays one of the first batches of fifty Vespas to be imported to the UK along with Pucci desirables: a poodle adorned playsuit, a classic turquoise toned bikini, and a psychedelic printed shirt were all on show.

A section is dedicated to tailoring which reveals male fashions such as mismatching jackets and trousers. Interestingly, the suits are mainly in brown tones. A women’s cape in leopard print is also displayed; this was notably more understated than the animal print we are greeted with on today’s high street.

The growth of international fashion meant that Italy catered for individual women whilst creating classic styles suitable for all. An example is the chic MaxMara camel trench coat that was originally a comfortable style for the elite international woman. I hear a woman say how ‘noughties’ the heavily jewel adorned pointy Dolce and Gabbana boots are, but for me, the quality and distinctiveness of these boots makes them timeless; timelessness being a

promise on which Italian fashion never fails to deliver.

The exhibition ends with a video which displays designers such as Angela Missoni discussing what the future holds for the Italian fashion industry: the general consensus being that luxurious Italian pieces are, and will continue to be second to none. The government sees the fashion industry as a real asset to the country, thus it is likely it will continue to flourish and uphold its high quality status.

The display runs until the 27th July and is truly worth a visit.

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

fashion.spark@reading.ac.uk

LIFESTYLE - FASHION&BEAUTY 17

Stress-free natural Beauty Review: James summer beauty tips Read’s Sleep Mask Tan ABBIE WEAVING

With sweltering days and warm nights fast approaching, most women refrain from following their usual make-up routine in order to achieve a lighter, more delicate look.

If you’re stuck with trying to decide on what to make-up to wear this summer, or are simply seeking a stress-free natural look for your holiday, then look no further.

Whether you’re on the beach or enjoying a family BBQ, these simple beauty tips will have you covered.

Take advantage of the fresh summer air by refraining from applying foundation, and while making sure to use UV protection, let your face soak in some precious Vitamin D. Rather than relying on foundation, stick to concealer and tinted moisturiser to achieve a healthy, natural summer glow.

Try Nivea Tinted Moisturising Day Cream available at Boots to get you started.

For pale beauties, taking full advantage of the sun can be a bit of a challenge. Adding colour to your face, however, brightens your complexion and bronzer is the perfect solution for mimicking where the sun would usually hit your face. Be sure, however,

to pick a bronzer with a pink or peach undertone. If it is too dark it won’t look natural. On holiday you want to turn heads for the right reasons, not because you resemble the colour of your glass of Fanta.

Waterproof mascara is every girl’s holiday must-have. Whether you’re spending the day in the sea or relaxing by the pool, there is nothing worse than emerging from the waves and being mistaken for a panda. Make sure to pick up a reliable wand, such as the Maybelline The Rocket Volum’ Express Waterproof Mascara, which lasts all day long, giving you thick and volumous lashes with complete security.

Whatever you are up to this holiday, make sure to give your skin some summer lovin’ by using plenty of sun protection and nourishing moisturisers.

robyn england

Like most girls nowadays, I love having a tan and have recently found myself striving for the perfect summer glow in preparation for festivals and holidays.

Yet obviously with the unreliable English weather it’s not always possible to achieve a healthy glow through natural means. And even when the weather is a little better, realistically how much time do us students have to lay out in the sun when the alternative is drinking with friends in Park Bar? And that’s exactly why I have discovered a new found love for selftanning products.

The James Read Sleep Mask Tan (£18.50/50ml) is a self-tanner that you apply only to the face and neck. It claims to leave you with a ‘subtle golden glow’. Having tried this product, I have some thoughts of my own.

So, first, how to use it? This was one of my main issues with the product, as neither the text on the bottle nor the packaging provided very detailed instructions for use.

The bottle has a pump dispenser and I found that roughly two pumps allowed me to cover both my face and neck sufficiently. It is extremely lightweight, so perfect to wear when sleeping or even under makeup during the day.

However, I would suggest leaving it to dry for half an hour before as it does remain slightly tacky up until this point.

On my first application, I wore the mask for approximately four hours and already noticed a ‘subtle golden glow’, as the bottle had suggested I would see. It looked as though it had done the job and I felt happy with how the product had performed. I simply had a natural and healthy looking glow to my face and people complimented me on my ‘tan’.

The second time I used it, I slept in the mask as the name ‘Sleep

Your Guide to Festival Pale and Proud Fashion Lindsay Coles

Lindsay Coles

The warm, sunny season brings with it one of everyone’s favorite summer pastimes: festivals!

Whether you’re going to Reading, Leeds, Glastonbury or the Isle of Wight, you’re going to need a stylish, festival-ready wardrobe. Follow this guide to become a festival fashionista.

The hot (well, that’s the hope) weather means that mini shorts are great for festivals. If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, then Primark have an absolutely brilliant range of mini shorts that start at £3!

High waist mini shorts are in fashion and can very simply be paired with a top hat’s worn tucked inside for extra sassy style.

So you’re going to a festival? Then you need a pair of wellies! Rain or shine, wellington boots are great at festivals. These boots from ASOS are an eye-catching chic pastel colour, and at £18.00 they are a real bargain.

Go boho with a crochet cover up.

Crochet is really popular right now.

A crochet cover up will add that extra bit of trendy, hippy festival style.

This beautiful, cream one from New Look can be purchased at a respect-

able price of £22.99.

Primark also have similar sleeveless ones for £10.00.

Pretty up your hair with a hair garland. Go the extra boho mile with this daisy hair garland from ASOS which fashions feminine butterflies. At only £8.00, it’s simple style at a great price. Or look really stylish with a woven hat.

To keep the sun from your head and look fashionable, pick up a hat from New Look for only £9.99.

Floaty, floral dresses are really popular at festivals because they are easy to wear, they look gorgeous and can be picked up cheaply. This striking floral tea dress from New Look will look great paired with your wellies and hair garland.

These are staple clothing items for your festival wardrobe and will help you become a festival fashion guru in no time. Now all we just need is for the weather to hold out!

Now summer is well and truly here, that only means the pressure to be tanned kicks up a notch.

Slapping on the tan seems like a rite of passage nowadays for most women. But what if we stepped back from the bottle on the shelf and loved the skin colour we were blessed with? Here are some celebrity ‘pale princesses’ who have embraced their au naturel look.

Emma Stone We love her for being unashamedly proud of her gorgeous milky skin tone. When Emma wore her Prada dress at the ‘Amazing Spiderman 2’ premier, she showed us that paler skin can still go well with nude colour dresses which is something many girls with porcelain-coloured skin tend to shy away from.

Taylor Swift Taylor Swift, with her signature red lipstick, black winged liner and blonde hair always achieves major Hollywood glam. This is helped by her fair skin which, allin-all, results in a majorly polished

look. To achieve Taylor’s signature red lipstick look, I recommend MAC’s Ruby Woo Lipstick (£15.00).

Perrie Edwards The Little Mix singer has recently been criticised on Twitter, for apparently being ‘too pale’. You cannot help but admire Perrie for this fiery rebuttal to her critics: “I’m an English Rose thank you very much. I’m not going to dye my skin orange - I’m working too hard taking America by storm to fake tan.” You go, Perrie! It’s great to see popstars like Perrie going against the grain with their own unique style. To get Perrie’s dazzling complexion, remember to exfoliate once a week to remove all the dead cells and damaged skin.

Scarlett Johansson Scarlett’s dark eye make-up emphasises her pale skin tone, making her really stand out. Her sex symbol status proves that pale can certainly be beautiful! If you have paler skin and want to attain Scarlett’s flawlessly smooth skin, ensure that you use a good moisturiser daily and remember to keep applying an SPF. Amanda Seyfried

Mask Tan’ suggests that you do and was not so happy with the look I received. The results were certainly visible and this was the problem. I didn’t look so much like an oompa-loompa but my friend did make reference to a ‘cheesy puff’, when I asked for her opinion. This is obviously not ideal and something all girls strive to avoid when using tanning products.

All in all, I think this is a good product for someone with a warm skin tone (versus my own light to medium one) who is only in seek of an added healthy glow to their natural complexion. The product name is somewhat inaccurate, for me personally, as the results came best from an application period of two to four hours. The price is also a little steep but if you’re looking for a summer glow that can be bought in a bottle rather than with a plane ticket, there really is no comparison. And hey, I think everyone would agree that we all deserve a little treat after those exams!

Film star, Amanda Seyfried, is a prime example of how to rock the paler look. Amanda teaches girls that they should not be afraid to bring out their untanned legs!

Simply adding a little colour to a more porcelain complexion can add structure to your make-up. A pop of bright lipstick or a strong smokey eye creates the perfect contrast to a lighter complexion.

These women are inspirational as they show us that we should embrace the skin that we are in. So if you’re like me and the lightest fake tan makes you look, admittedly, a bit orange, ditch the bottle and be original, be proud and pale!

18 LIFESTYLE -TRAVEL

Tuesday 24 June 2014 Spark*

travel.spark@reading.ac.uk

‘Reading University Making History’ goes to Germany Jess Freeland

Earlier this year, I went with Reading University Making History to Germany. We tried our best, but the History Society was well and truly gobbled up by Berlin, and spat right back out.

After arriving fresh faced and raring to go, we quickly took headed off to a club called Tresor.

It is an abandoned Nazi factory (which did make us feel that we were doing something vaguely historical) and I felt that I had walked straight into a Saw film.

The main club was in the basement with old cells for toilets, and the bar and the DJ surrounded by prison bars. It was certainly an experience.

The following day we headed to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Brandenburg Gate and visited the Holocaust Memorial. A field of concrete blocks faces you that looks quite ordered from the outside. As you enter you notice the undulating floor as well as the assorted sizes of the blocks. According to the creator, the blocks were designed to produce an, “uneasy, confusing atmosphere, and the whole sculpture aims to represent a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason”.

We visited Checkpoint Charlie (one of the breaks in the Berlin Wall, separating East and West Berlin) which was somewhat ruined by the men in uniform exploiting tourists who wanted photos. Amusingly we discovered that immediately after entering the American side, you are faced with a huge McDonalds. Capitalism at its finest. Close to the site is a small, public exhibition on the Berlin Wall which is really insightful. It is completely free and is well worth a visit if you don’t know too much about the history of the divide.

After walking around in circles for a little while, we found the Topography of Terror. This museum has been built upon the site of the former Gestapo headquarters.

There are limited remains of the actual headquarters but the site does house a large section of the Berlin Wall in its original location.

The museum was fantastic. It had a brilliant mix of text, images, videos, and sound clips, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.

A few of us then headed to Museum Island which, like the name suggests, is an island with lots of Museums. It had a very Oxfordesque feel about it. We discovered the German Historical Museum

A Weekend in Nice Holly Postings

Photo copyright to Harriet Barber Bursting full of markets and shops just waiting for greedy eyes, it is the perfect place for a relaxed and relatively cheap, long weekend.

Book yourself into the Hotel Campanile, a simple and comfy place to chuck your bags and in stumbling distance of Place Garibaldi: an open plaza with countless bars to lounge around until gone dark and only a few stops from the airport on the shuttle bus.

On a Saturday, get up early and stroll down to the Cours Saleya: a

fresh local market that runs just behind shore line. With a crispy chocolate croissant in hand, find the Pl. du Palais de Justice just a little further on. This is full of mismatched tables holding second hand books and gorgeous old movie posters.

If you’re up for a bit of an adrenaline rush, wander left along the sea front just beyond the market until you hit the end of the rocky beach. Climb the rusty stairway cont on page 17

and I was blown away by the quality and the wide range of all of the artefacts on display. The museum covered the history of Germany from the Middle Ages to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

I had a brilliant time in Berlin but found it to be a strange city. It was quiet but not really in a good way.

It felt as if nothing was going on, and it’s the hustle and bustle that makes me love cities. It was by far the company that made this trip memorable. We suffered from food poisoning, throwing up on the underground, and fines, but somehow we made it out alive.

Do you fancy being involved? Whether you study History or are just interested in it, join Reading University Making History to meet great people and enjoy endless historical antics.

Travelling Abroad with a Difference Pip Duployen

Travelling abroad on a budget can be very difficult and near impossible for students. There are, however, different ways to gain an invaluable experience this summer if you haven’t already planned anything. Couch surfing and volunteering are just two ways that can guarantee a very different experience travelling abroad without the expensive costs of accommodation and, in some cases, food.

Founded in 2003, Couchsurfing. com is a popular organisation that enables you to get in touch with people across the world and stay for free in their homes or vice versa. By creating an online profile, you can contact people with similar interests and choose to stay with them. If not, become a host and offer your own couch or spare bed for visitors. Couch surfing would be a unique way to travel around a foreign place with the insider knowledge that would not be included in the travel guidebooks and help you avoid those tourist traps. You would be fully immersed in the culture, learning various customs and have close

interaction with the language. It would also be a great idea for solo travellers as you would meet new friends and likeminded people, meaning that you wouldn’t be completely on your own.

Workaways is another organisation that works similarly to Couchsurfing.com, but instead of travelling for pleasure, you work for someone in exchange for free accommodation and food. Many may think that work and a holiday should not go together. However, the types of jobs that are offered are very different to a standard office job. There are lots of work experiences provided by the ‘Hosts’ that you could choose from: whether it is working on an organic tea farm in Nepal, a surfing school in Australia, teaching English in Indonesia or working on an Alpaca farm in France. Generally, you would also have the opportunity to do some travelling around the chosen area in the spare time.

This arrangement allows you to try your hand at working for some-

thing that you would otherwise never pursue.

Of course, both these options of travel are not without their risks and you do have to be very careful in choosing where to go and who to stay with. The people who you will be staying with are strangers, so do some research and take some precautions. That is not to say that they should be avoided altogether.

Reputable hosts have references, whereby you can get in contact with people who have stayed with them and ask your own questions directly before agreeing to board with them. Without the expensive costs of a usual holiday, these experiences guarantee a truly unique holiday.

Spark* Tuesday June 24 2014

travel.spark@reading.ac.uk

LIFESTYLE -TRAVEL

19

Visiting London: London’s Top Ten Sightseeing Attractions Lindsay Coles

Thinking about a day out in our very own capital, London, but you don’t know what to do? Here is a list of my top ten sightseeing attractions to visit in London!

1. Buckingham Palace The Queen is one of the most iconic people in Britain, so no wonder her beautiful and elegant gaff counts as one of the top attractions. Only ten minutes away from London Underground’s Victoria station and straight down The Mall, Buckingham Palace allows you to marvel at the Queen’s London residence and see her famous guards marching perfectly outside.

2. National Gallery Artists such as Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Renoir and da Vinci all have art exhibited here, making it a very attractive place to visit.

Five million people walk through the doors of this gallery every year! It’s free all year round and it is recommended that you visit in the morning to avoid busy times.

3. Tate Modern Founded in 2000, the Tate Modern houses modern and contemporary art from worldwide artists such as Picasso, Warhol, Dali, Matisse and Cezanne. Sound good? What’s more, like almost all museums and galleries in London, it is free entry. Situated at Bankside, the Tate Modern has become increasingly popular and the four themed groups, ‘Still Life’, ‘The Nude’, ‘History’ and ‘Landscape’ are well worth taking a look at.

4. Science Museum London is proudly able to boast that its science and technology museum is the most visited of its kind in Europe. Housing a screen bigger than four double-decker buses in the IMAX 3D Cinema, world-famous objects to view such as the Apollo 10 command capsule and the opportunity to experience what it’s like to fly a Red Arrow, London’s Science Museum offers free entry and interactive fun for all!

5. London Eye The London Eye,situated near Waterloo Station, offers the very best views of London. Standing at a height of 135 metres and presenting a 25-mile panoramic view of London on clear days, the tickets for the London Eye are £19.10 for adults. Additionally, this includes a 4D experience where you get to experience the world famous London Eye New Year fireworks and feel the snow falling at your feet!

6. Tower of London One of the oldest buildings in London, the Tower is famous for its reputation as a place of imprisonment and execution. Once used as a royal residence and as a prison, it is now currently home to the Crown Jewels. Tickets for adults are £20.00 and make sure you join an iconic beefeater on a tour to hear their bloody, but interesting, tales.

7. Madame Tussauds This is how you get to meet all those famous people who you’ve

always wanted to meet, in wax form. Situated at Baker Street, Madame Tussauds allows you to strike a pose with Kate Winslet, have a selfie with Kate and Wills and see your sports stars such as David Beckham up close and personal.

Tickets start at £28.00.

8. Victoria and Albert Museum Home to the applied arts and design, the V&A has Islamic, Japanese, Chinese and Korean art. Furthermore, works by Raphael and Constable, collections of Samurai swords and the explanation of the history of Britain through the nation’s art and design means that it offers something for everyone.

9. Trafalgar Square It is one of London’s most iconic places to visit so it is definitely worth a look. You can see Nelson’s column, which stands at 167 metres high, as well as the four lions who guard the column. Furthermore, visiting Trafalgar Square is a wise move as Buckingham

Palace, the National Gallery and the Houses of Parliament are all easily accessible from here.

10. Palace of Westminster In addition to being the home of Big Ben, this is where where British laws are debated and enacted.

The ticket price, which starts at £17.50 for adults, includes the chance to see the Queen’s Robing Room, the Commons and the Lords Chambers as well as the 900 year old Westminster Hall.

London offers so many things for people to do that you are sure not to be bored. This top ten list showcases just some of the many, many things on offer for you to do.

So, without further ado, enjoy your day out in the capital!

In Bruges Gary Gordon

Anyone who has seen the film In Bruges will no doubt be in awe of how beautiful the Belgian city is.

To those who have not seen the film, I recommend both the film and the city from which it gets its title and setting.

The first thing most notice about Bruges is its architecture. The buildings are beautifully designed; the streets look like they’ve come straight out of the pages of a fairy tale. If I knew anything about buildings I could tell you more, but I don’t, so I’ll settle with how they are just really nice to look at (like, really nice). The city skyline is jewelled with the famous Belfry.

This bell-tower is accessible to the public, for a reasonable price, and can be climbed for a rewarding view of Bruges.

The food in Bruges can be pricey - especially if you want to sample the local delicacy of Moules-frites (which average around €24 in the city square). There are, however, a diverse range of restaurants in the city centre and the peripherals are all value for money, tasty and authentically local.

Of course, Belgium and students have the same infamous reputation: alcoholism. There are numerous bars in Bruges which

sell traditional Belgian beer. They sell most other things, but you seriously have to try the beer.

Whilst the prices are lower than you would typically find in the UK, the percentages can be double or even triple your average larger.

Bruges, therefore, is an undoubtedly cheap night. But, the Britabroad stereotyped lash won’t fit in so well in this city, so save that for Amsterdam.

As well as beer, Belgium is the home of chocolate and there is plenty to try. There is a Chocolate Museum (Choco-Story) which is a short walk from the city centre.

I chose to go to this one over the Frietmuseum, or chip museum.

The museum I would recommend most highly is the Historium. This interactive and imaginative museum gives an accessible amount of information in a tour of Bruges’ history. You tour through different thematic rooms using models and LED screens. History is, pardon the pun, brought to life through an inventive narrative.

Bruges is in the northern part of Belgium and is very close to the Belgian-French border, meaning Bruges is easily accessible by car or train. There are many hotels and hostels in Bruges for afford-

able prices, I recommend the Ibis which is a short picturesque walk from the centre.

I can’t express enough how brilliant a place Bruges is to visit. It is perfect for a long weekend away.

A charming, friendly and affordable city, Bruges is nothing short of fantastical.

Photo copyright to Harriet Barber cont from page 16

Photo copyright to Harriet Barber

that winds up the side of the cliff face and then throw yourself off one of the landings into the sea.

It’s pretty bracing so make sure you have someone ready and waiting with a towel!

Late afternoon, amble back up the alleyways and you’ll find an innumerable amount of antique shops, crêperies and incense shops. Get lost, find yourself a gelato shop and try a watermelon ice-cream (it’s a revelation, I promise you). Finally, circle back and around again until you eventually find your way back to the Place Garibaldi where you can settle down to even more food (every mushroom risotto in France is a God-send, I swear).

With Monaco only twenty minutes away by train, take a day to

visit and walk around its harbour busting with ridiculously expensive yachts (resist the temptation to lob your ice cream at the smug middle-aged bloke who saunters onto one). Weave your way up the garden walkways until you get to the hill-top Jardins de Saint-Martin and laze around on the spongy green grass with some of the best views in Europe. When you head back to Nice on the train, stop off in a little village (Eze is lovely), find a cheap café with cheap beer and watch all the locals mill around for a few hours.

The South of France is a beautiful place and Nice, with its cobbled streets and countless places to get lost, will leave you dying to go back before you’ve even left.

20 LIFESTYLE - TRAVEL

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

travel.spark@reading.ac.uk

Bristol: A Vibrant City NATHALIE SIAH

Artistic Sculpture found on the streets of Bristol Photo copyright to Nathalie Siah Bristol is a vibrant city which embraces art, education and lively culture. Friendly to travel for students, Bristol is beautiful and a location for a summer vacation adventure.

From Reading, Bristol is a train ride just under a one hour. Tickets can be quite expensive is planned late however so remember to book at least a week early to shave off almost 50% of the original price.

There are two arrival destinations in Bristol so make sure that you choose the right one. If you are looking for the city centre, choose Bristol Temple Meads instead of Bristol Parkway, a bit of a distance to go on the local bus before getting into the city.

To satisfy your cravings, try delicious and fun restaurant Pieminister. The menu includes individualsized pies with a range and variety of fillings. Popular pies include the ‘free ranger’, ‘heidi’ and ‘chicken of aragon’. Inspired by the FIFA World Cup season, a pie aptly named the ‘Brazilian’ has become popular as well complete with free range British chicken, chorizo, black beans and sweet potato in a rich tomato sauce. These pies make a delightful lunch especially with their signature gravy.

Bristol is well-known for its beautiful Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning Avon Gorge and the River Avon linking Clifton to Bristol. This bridge is free for pedestrians to walk across however if you are riding across by motorcycle, the toll is £1. Free guided tours are also available on weekends as well as Bank Holidays at 3 pm. The journey from each end of the Clifton Suspension Bridge is a short walk and beautiful on all angles. The view during the day as well as at sundown is most recommended for camerafriendly photos.

Nearby is St. Mary Redcliffe Cathedral, a charming Gothic architecture dedicated to the Church of England constructed more than 900 years ago. A landmark seen throughout English history in many maps of plans of the town, it has been classified as a Grade 1 listed building by English Heritage. The building is free to enter and is well known for its tall spire.

A blend of religion and science can also be seen in its interior with the St. Mary Redcliffe Chaotic Pendulum, a pendulum created of metal and water symbolizing the uncertainty of basing one’s life around science.

Clifton Suspension Bridge in the evening

The University of Bristol has been named amongst the world’s top 30 universities and has a gorgeous sight to visit. Built in the 1800s, the beautiful Georgianstyled buildings of the campus are spread out amongst a large area around University Road and to have a good look, one must be willing to take a walk around the academic institutions.

St Mary Redcliffe Catheral

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

travel.spark@reading.ac.uk

LIFESTYLE - TRAVEL 21

Bath: A Trip to the Past NATHALIE SIAH

Photo copyright to Nathalie Siah Visiting Bath in my opinion, is an incredibly tourist-oriented experience and one can fully understand the scope of the city fairly quickly in about a day. It is still beautiful however and has fully embraced its Roman heritage adopting its Latin name ‘Aquae Sulis’ in many of the shops and streets.

Well known for its archaeological findings and preservation of a Roman bath. In order to enter the baths, there is a fee of £11.75 for students and £13.50 for adults.

Tickets cannot be purchased online however the line to purchase them on-site is not long. The baths include many features such as the Sacred Spring, the Temple, changing rooms and saunas as well as heated rooms and plunge pools.

The site can be described as much more of a museum displaying bits and pieces of what remains rather than a complete structure still, parts exist in its entirety. The display of the Great Bath is the main attraction, which is impossible to miss.

When in Bath, a visit to teaand eating house ‘Sally Lunn’s’ is a delight. The menu offers the historic brioche-styled Sally Lunn bun based on the historical original recipe Sally Lunn created.

Today her kitchen is exhibited as a museum on the lower floor of the

building and is a delightful space to be in. No reservations can be made however tables spread along three floors offer visitors to find a place to sit quiet easily during the day. There are several toppings alongside clotted cream that are available for the bun, however strawberry jam is the recommended and traditional sweet for the topping.

The Royal Crescent, a short walk away from the city center as well as Victoria Park, and is a point of interest for travellers today.

Designed by architect John Wood the Younger in the 18th century, it is an arc of terraced houses in the Georgian style which can be appreciated by the whole family.

Today, it includes a hotel as well as a Georgian house museum.

The Royal Crescent, an arc of terraced houses in the Georgian style

A Sally Lunn bun paired with butter, strawberry jam and clotted cream

22 LIFESTYLE - TRAVEL

Spark* Tuesday 24 June 2014

travel.spark@reading.ac.uk

Oui to Paris nathalie siah

Notre Dame Cathedral in the French Gothic style, centuries old Photo copyright to Nathalie Siah If you’re looking for a quick getaway, Paris is just a short flight away. Here are some helpful tips to make your trip in the ‘city of love’ as smooth as possible.

The Plug-Inn Hostel is a funky hidden gem Finding a place to rest your feet can be incredibly expensive in Paris, so I would recommend the Plug-Inn Hostel. This funky hidden gem is equipped with tidy bunk beds with a private shower, towels, hair dryer and free wifi which I managed to book for only £35 per night. Your stay also includes a complimentary breakfast consisting of juices, hot drinks and lovely croissants. What is notable about this hostel, is it is particularly clean despite its low prices. You may choose between rooms for two or four depending on who’s travelling with you. The Plug-Inn Hostel is also located in a lovely niche filled with restaurants, cheese shops, fruit stores as well as wineries. However, just a quick walk to the main street will allow you to get to the well-known Moulin Rouge.

Many tourists fall into a trap of buying an expensive day pass to travel around on the Metro

What most don’t know about travelling in Paris is that a lot of the city is walkable, especially if you’re young students. Many tourists fall into the trap of buying an expensive day pass to travel around on the Metro. This is completely unnecessary. If you are travelling around the city center (zones 1-3), you may be able to purchase a ‘cachet’, a bundle of ten single-use tickets. These tickets will get you where you need to go letting your savings last a little longer. Walking on the street level will also make your journey a lot more fruitful. By finding your way above ground, roads will become far more familiar while being able to enjoy the charms of Paris. In the city center, signs and maps are located in the corners of main streets and may point you to a place you had not heard of but might be interested in.

The line-up at the front of the glass pyramid is infamous for being notoriously long The Louvre Museum is a must see in Paris for all art lovers and anyone who hasn’t lived in a cave all their life. However, the line-up at the front of the glass pyramid is infamous for being notoriously slow and long. Avoid the line-up by purchasing your ticket on-line or in

The underground mall, Le Carrousel with the pyramid facing downward the underground shopping centre named Le Carrousel. There are machines as well as small shops that sell tickets to the museum as well as other tourist packages that have far shorter lines than the queue above. When inside be sure to make time for art works such as the ‘Venus de Milo’ as well as the internationally admired ‘Mona Lisa’. On the other hand, do not hesitate to enjoy many of the other exhibits that showcase Eugene Delacroix’s well-known paintings, historical exhibitions, which contain ‘Hammurabi’s Code’, and Michelangelo’s ‘Tortured Slave’.

Make sure you set aside about two hours to fully appreciate the history

Duck Confit at a nearby restaurant from Plug-Inn Hostel

The Notre-Dame Cathedral is also a landmark of beauty and a timeless classic. A perfect example of French Gothic architecture, it is worth the time to take a look. Lineup to get inside the Cathedral is free and short if you were to lineup early in the day. The interior is incredibly large so make sure you set aside about two hours to be able to fully appreciate the history and sophisticated artwork in the interior.

Arc de Triomphe marking the end of the Champs-Elysees

Spark* Tuesday June 24 2014

health.spark@reading.ac.uk

LIFESTYLE - HEALTH&FOOD 23

Quinoa, spinach and sweet potato patties

The shady side to the summer body

Ellen North-Row

Danielle Nicole Paglionico

Ingredients

With summer already here, many are on the hunt for the best ways to attain a ‘summer body’.

From daily ab crunches to thirtyday work out plans, people are attempting every solution in the book to gain those desired, high definition abs. Although the idea of a ‘summer body’ may sound appealing, whether or not people are going about it the right way is questionable.

In their attempt to gain this body shape, many people correctly follow a regular exercise routine, as well as eating healthily, with the odd slice of cake now and again.

However, some believe that they require a quick fix in order to achieve this physique. And thus, whilst summer may sound appealing to most, for some there is a dark side to the upcoming summer, involving starvation and exhilarating exercise from which they believe will lead to this figure.

With celebrities such as Beyoncé trying out diets such as detoxing, others are also inspired to try this in an attempt to quickly lose those few pounds gained during their junk food binge. According to Fitness Magazine, these diets can ultimately affect electrolyte and blood sugar balance. This therefore means that one may experience harmful side effects such as fainting and dizziness, owing to the extreme changes to their diet.

And so it appears that some people are ready to try just about

1 cup quinoa 2 cups water 3 tbsp ground almonds 1 tsp bouillon vegetarian stock 3 blocks fresh/frozen spinach 2 small sweet potatoes 1 clove garlic, chopped splash of coconut oil (to fry)

Method 1. Pop your quinoa and water in a pan, bring to the boil and then simmer on a medium heat.

2.

Meanwhile, put your spinach/ chopped sweet potatoes in the microwave for three minutes on high heat until soft.

3. Once the veg has cooked, add some garlic and blend until it is a smooth consistency.

4.

Once the quinoa has cooked, remove from the heat and place the lid on top of the pan to allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes.

5. Once the quinoa has had a chance to develop its tex ture, take the vegetable puree and slowly fold it into the mix.

Now add the ground almonds and slowly fold until combined.

Photographed by Ellen North-Row

6. Get a baking tray ready lined with tin foil and set aside.

7.

Place 1 tbsp of coconut oil into a pan on a hot heat. Take a handful of the mixture and mould roughly into patty shapes - place into the pan and fry gently.

them onto the baking tray and pop them into a 180 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

9.

Once cooked, serve on a bed of salad, with some butter nut squash or some simply mixed roasted vegetables.

YUM.

8. Once the patties have become golden on each side, place

Party Food: Brazil World Cup Lindsay Coles

So, the World Cup may be a great excuse to watch some footy, but it is also brilliant for those who need an excuse to have a party!

But what’s a party without food?

Here are some ideas for a football themed, la fiesta de Brazil style World Cup party!

For nibbles, Brazilian-themed M&M’s and Maoam’s Tropical Pinballs are a brilliant addition to your party and will easily add some much-needed Brazilian spirit and colour to your table.

To add something savoury, Pringles’ Brazilian Zest Chilli Style crisps have a real kick to them with their unique Brazilian chilli and lime style flavor.

For the meat lovers amongst us, why not liven up your meat and get some Schwartz Grill Mates Brazilian BBQ Smokey & Zesty Marinade Mix. Throw it on the BBQ and it tastes even better.

However, for those who rather the tastes of the ocean, Harbour and Co.’s Brazilian moqueca flavour salmon fillets are a brilliant alter-

native and still have the fundamental taste of Brazil.

Easybrazilianrecipe.com’s super healthy and nutritious Brazilian Kale and Mango salad can be made extremely easily to go with your meat and fish. It also contains kale, mango, lemon juice, and pine nut, so why not give it a try?

Brazilian cheese bread is also easy to make and tastes delicious.

Simplyrecipe.com shows that all you need is: tapioca flour, one egg, milk, grated cheese and olive oil to make this delightful treat!

For the much awaited desert dish, try allrecipe.com’s Brazilianstyle chocolate pudding. Its quick and easy to make recipe involves blending coconut, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and hot chocolate powder together before putting it in the microwave to produce a delicious Brazilia-style pudding!

It’s cocktail o’clock and Brazil’s signature cocktail is the Caipirinha. Jamie Oliver’s recipe involves a blend of Cachaça, ginger, sugar, lime and mint. This is definitely the essential addition for any Brazilian-style party. When we

think Brazil, we think exotic, lively and tropical. Make a simple fruit cocktail with fruit associated with Brazil such as grapes, star fruit, mangoes, bananas and watermelon. Also, these types of juices will be great for those who prefer soft drinks. If this does not take your fancy however, Brahma is a brilliant Brazilian alternative for lager lovers.

With these Brazil World Cup party food ideas, you will kick-off your party in style – and there will no red cards in sight!

anything – even if it means risking their own health. Ironically, many of these methods (such as starvation) cause bloating, and thus drive one further and further away from their target appearance.

For many, attaining this body shape becomes an obsession, results with many people forming eating disorders. A study by Rader Programmes found that 75% of women consider themselves overweight, when in reality, only 25% were. This proves how people have distorted perceptions of what the body should look like within society. The search for a ‘summer body’ results in a number of Twitter and Instagram accounts that promote this body, giving tips on just how to achieve it, despite some of these ways remaining unhealthy.

With social media promoting this summer body’, this therefore encourages people to regard this body type as an ideal. However, social media cannot be solely to blame for this distorted idea of an ideal summer body. Perhaps if we were educated more via school lessons, and on television about how to maintain a healthy body, there would be a significant change in the amount of eating disorders and warped perceptions about the body that currently exist.

Chicken and chorizo paella Katie Falcon-Uff

Treat your housemates or some friends with this simple but delicious recipe for chicken and chorizo paella! Serves four.

Ingredients 3–4 diced chicken breasts 150g peeled chorizo sausage 1 finely chopped large onion 2 crushed garlic cloves 1 tsp ground turmeric 225g paella rice or long grain rice 500ml chicken stock 150g frozen peas 4 diced, big tomatoes 100ml crème fraiche

Method

Slice the chorizo and fry in a non-stick pan until the oil starts to be released. Add the chicken to the pan and cook until white all over.

Add the onion, garlic and turmeric and cook for a few minutes until the onion begins to soften. Now add the rice and stock, cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes without stirring. Time to stir in the peas, tomatoes and crème fraiche!

Re-cover and simmer gently for another 10–15 minutes without stirring until the stock has all been absorbed.

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SPORT Reading University (RUCC) Old Boys Weekend 2014 Joseff Rees

The first weekend of June saw a selection from the current club take on an Old Boys XI comprised of graduates who had previously represented RUCC. The fun began when the ‘old boys’ took a jaunt down memory lane and attended ‘Saturday Union’, but it was on the Sunday that the old stars competed against the current crop of talent that the University has to offer at the Sportspark, for what turned out to be a memorable occasion for all involved.

Following a ceremonial toss, Old Boys captain James Kidson, a Real Estate graduate elected to bat. The former 1st XI captain may have lamented this decision as Steve Barnard sent former 2nd XI Captain Bradley Hurn back to the pavilion for 0 after he gloved his second ball to Billy Oliver behind the stumps. Following a 12 ball over by Louis Kift, Barnard was back into the attack and took his second wicket of the day, with Hugh Thomas, Real Estate graduate, edging to Ethan Wright at second slip. George Greed, former club President and agriculture

graduate, now entered the fold and would produce a man of the match performance. Greed and Morris formed a steady third-wicket partnership, surviving Barnard’s vicious bowling, and Edward Price, current club vice-President’s riproaring pace, before Ben Owens was clean bowled by Wright for 28.

Following the drinks break, Club Captain – and Captain for today’s game – Joseff Rees, and 3rd XI Captain Elliot Marks came into the bowling attack. Marks soon took effect, dismissing Kidson for a mere 5 taking the middle stump out of the ground in the process. Kidson will surely hope for a rematch, for this was the first time he left the Sportspark square not reaching double figures. Former Club Captain Rory Knox, from Northern Ireland, came to the crease and built a solid partnership with Greed under the pressure of Rees’ deadly lineand-length bowling and Marks’ attacks, followed by Sam Tilbey from the tennis court end. Knox cleared the boundary, clubbing Price over mid-off for a massive 6. Barnard and Price re-entered the attack, but the highlight of the

first innings was Greed’s 82 not out, batting almost the entirety of the innings proving his class. His beautiful cover drives and tenacity throughout the innings ensured the Old Boys secured a total of 177 in 40 overs. Barnard took 3 wickets for only 19 runs in 8 overs.

Following tea, Caleb Rowe and current President, Andrew Carson opened the batting for the current RUCC. Following several beautiful cover drives, Rowe was caught behind for 12. A strong partnership developed between Carson and Wright, before the President clipped the ball to Tom Coleby at mid-wicket for a hard-fought 33. Jim Cooper walked out onto the square, and a match-winning partnership developed between him and Wright. The right-handleft-combination of the pair proved too much for the opposition. Following a massive six by Wright, he was clean bowled scoring a solid 64. Barnard walked onto the square, only to find himself walking back to the pavilion two balls later scoring 1. Billy Oliver entered the frame, and with Cooper, ensured victory, reaching 177 with

9 overs spare and only 4 wickets down, Cooper scoring 40.

Whatever the result, the ultimate victor on the day was RUCC, which was evident in the post-match presentation as both sides thanked each other for the occasion. Thanks must be given to Greed for arranging the Old Boys team, and also to all the Old Boys who had come from as far afield as Newcastle to play. Considering the success and enjoyment had by all, hopefully the weekend and fixture will become an honoured tradition of RUCC.

New Zealand vs England Unquestionably, the stand out game of the weekend was England facing the All Blacks in the second test of the series. In the glamour tie of this weekend, Stuart Lancaster rolled the dice and put Manu Tualagi on the wing. While he did not perform to his best ability in this position, he did have an opportunity late on to run in a try from his own goal line- an opportunity that a more adept winger might have finished. Although the final score line of 28-27 came to show that England only lost by one point, this margin somewhat flattered the English side. At times during the second half, the All Blacks played some great rugby, but did not capitalise on these opportunities. However, although the All Blacks continue to dust off the cobwebs since the start of their season, they have already won a series.

South Africa vs Wales Wales travelled to South Africa with the hope of winning the series. That ship has now sailed as they were dismantled in a 38-16 defeat in Durban. It was a poor performance by the Welsh side, which lost by five tries to one.

Although, credit must be awarded to the one try that the Welsh did score; a counterattacking run by Alex Cuthbert from his own goal line resulted in a much-needed boost to the welsh scoreline.

However, by then the game was lost, and man of the match Willie Le Roux had taken Wales apart.

It is now up to Warren Gatland to put the team back together ready for the second test this coming weekend.

Argentina vs Ireland Six Nations champions, Ireland add another trophy to their cabinet as they successfully claimed their series victory over Argentina.

They edged out an inexperienced

Argentine outfit 23-17. This series, the Argentines are without their European players, which account for the vast majority of their regular squad. They are playing very much at half –strength, but have run Ireland close in two games now; there is strength in depth in Los Pumas ranks. For Ireland, it is a good series win, but one that they would have expected.

The main positives to take away are the new faces that have been added to the side, with several debutants being able to exercise their muscles on this tour. Add to this that they have maintained their winning momentum from the Six Nations, Ireland have proven victorious in maintaining their show of strength; an invaluable commodity in sport.

Canada vs Scotland Scotland continued their globetrotting trip, which sees them take on the USA, Argentina and South Africa. This week it was the turn

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Summer Tour Reviews Ellis Lane

WRITER

of Canada to welcome the Scots.

Having already beaten the USA in the searing Texas heat, the Scots were ready for the challenge of facing the Canadians who are ranked sixteenth in the world. It did not start well as Ospreys wing Jeff Hassler crossed the whitewash first for Canada. The Scots fought back however, and a try from Grant Gilchrist and penalties from Laidlaw and Hogg settled the game at 19-17 in favour of Scotland. The Vern Cotter regime is up and running with two wins, but neither have been convincing.

Next week’s game against Argentina should give us a better indication of at what level Scotland are truly capable of playing.

Spark* Tuesday June 24 2014

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SPORT 27

Knights Football President Interview Ashling Ling

RUFC has just won RUSU Club of the Year 2013/4. How were you successful?

The club has done a huge amount of work over recent years to build up relations with the union, and the Club of the Year Award saw all our efforts rewarded. The club has a fantastic working relationship with the union and it will be one of my aims over the next year to improve this relationship further.

After gaining 3 promotions and RUSU Club of the Year, do you think it will be difficult to replicate that success this season?

Will it be difficult?

Of course. However, this won’t stop us. The club is currently firing on all cylinders and as a result, our aim for the season is to get all four teams promoted. Our club is a particularly strong one due to our members and the existing structure we have in place. With the right help from the union and another year of unfaltering commitment from our members, I don’t see the upcoming season being anything other than a success for RUFC. With the BUCS season being so short, are there any other opportunities for RUFC players and Reading Students?

There is a wealth of opportunity for people with a passion and desire to play football at the university. RUFC has made strides towards reaching out to the local community, and as a result has made a link with the local Semiprofessional team, Highmoor Ibis.

Not only do the better players at RUFC have the chance to play semi-professionally on a Saturday (an opportunity not even considered by football clubs at other universities) but we also have a Saturday team of our own, ‘Highmoor Ibis B’. The purpose of this team is to give players the chance to build up their match fitness and confidence, and to offer regular Saturday football to anyone desperate to get involved – and that isn’t just RUFC players.

Last year saw the success of the student-ticket deal between local professional club Reading FC and the University of Reading, facilitated in no small part by RUFC. Is there anything in the pipeline for this season?

The club has been in talks with Reading FC over a potential sponsorship deal. I won’t say too much on the details, but there are certainly great benefits for both sides. I want RUFC to continue the good work we have been doing reaching out to the local Reading community - and an improved re-

lationship with Reading FC would be a superb way of doing this. That being said, the deal, while promising, is not completed and until that point, I will be assessing the best direction for RUFC to take.

What is the key to RUFC’s success?

Our people. The club is extremely lucky in that it is populated by people who are not only talented, but are also driven and determined to see the club succeed. At RUFC, we have a unique atmosphere, one that is focussed on success but also on creating a social atmosphere. The atmosphere at the club is overwhelmingly supportive, meaning that team chemistry in all four teams is strong. The fact that freshers are given the opportunity to not only play for the 1st and 2nd teams, but also influence the team dynamic is testament to the encouraging, nurturing culture of the club. However, a huge aim for this upcoming season is to focus more on integrating freshers in the fourth team into the club - getting them out to the union on a Wednesday when the whole club is out, and getting freshers along to the socials. I think once we have done this, the club will have everything in place to sustain the success we have enjoyed for years to come.

Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup: Three key players for the Red Devils LUKE FRY

Marc Wilmots, Belgium’s manager and highest World Cup scorer.

Image copyright to Delval Loïc

With the recent influx of Belgian players into the Premier League, England and the world have become obsessed with the Belgian national team. Brazil 2014 marks the biggest challenge for this gifted squad of players to date: their first world cup match since 2002.

The only player in the squad who featured at their last World Cup is veteran centre half Daniel Van Buyten, highlighting how much of a new experience this is for a generation of Belgian players and fans. The question is, will this new wave of Belgian stars live up to their billing on the greatest stage of them all? For me, the answer is a resounding yes, across the pitch they don’t just have potential, they have established European players.

I’ve highlighted three players which will be vital to the success of their World Cup campaign, starting with their La Liga winning keeper Thibaut Courtois.

The former Genk man has been in imperious form since his arrival at the Vicente Calderon in 2011.

He was brought in to replace the Manchester United bound David De Gea, and if anything he has surpassed the Spanish international with his consistent performances for Atleti. He excels at shot stopping, commanding his area, coming for crosses and, for such a young keeper, he exudes calmness.

These qualities have given Chelsea food for thought with Petr Cech coming to the later stages of his career.

This is a World Cup debut for most Belgian players For a Belgian team that is expected to dominate games, they’ll need a keeper who can stay alert even if he isn’t overly busy during a game.

Courtois fits the bill.

Next on my list is Manchester City centre half Vincent Kompany.

It has been a meteoric rise for a player who, in the early years of his City career, was deployed by Mark Hughes as a defensive midfielder. In recent seasons he has

developed into a beast of a defender, one who can dominate in the air and on the deck. He also possesses the ability to inspire those around him, as we have seen on numerous occasions for City. When they are seemingly out of games he drags his team mates through kicking, screaming and onto victory.

With all the midfield talent in the squad, my final choice may come as a surprise to some. Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku. Despite his differences with Jose Mourhino, (which may stem from off the field problems rather than Jose doubting his ability) you cannot argue with his record at Anderlecht, West Brom and Everton, three clubs that all play different styles and yet Lukaku has been prolific at each of them. His unique mix of pace and power makes me confident that he will explode all over this tournament, and with the service he will receive from Hazard and co, he is a dark horse for top scorer. It’s a simple adage but every team needs a goal scorer, and I believe Lukaku is the man for the job.

28 SPORT

tuesday June 24 2014 Spark*

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Reading University Cricket Club Tour to Torquay

Back row left to right; W. Fox. C. Rowe. E. Wright. H. Walker. B. Leale-Green. (1st XI Captain). W. Taylor.

G. Tiwari. S. Amin. J. Fowle.

Front row left to right; J. Hart. (2nd XI Captain). J. Rees. (Club Captain). A. Carson. (President). E. Price. (Vice President). M. Davies. A. Fahy.

Last Monday, 15 members of RUCC left Reading for Torquay as part of the club’s first ever tour.

Driven to the English Riviera by Vice-President Edward Price, the first of 3 games was a T20 match against Chudleigh CC. Price was captain for the night and, after winning the toss, elected to bat.

Fresher’s Govinda Tiwari and Sanjay Amin opened the batting, but both were out within the first three overs. In came second years Ethan Wright and Henry Walker. Both proved to be in fine form, smashing the pink ball in all directions, including 27 in a single over off of club treasurer, Dan Le Marquand, who was playing for his home club. Walker was eventually caught on the boundary, after having scored 89 runs in less than 30 balls, including five sixes and nine fours; his innings was wasurely the highlight of the evening. Following several attempted reverse sweeps, Wright eventually reached the half century mark and duly retired. Club president Andrew Carson and Price concluded the innings, with RUCC reaching 232-3; a club T20 record.

Needing almost 20 runs each over, Chudleigh faced an uphill struggle. The task was made impossible by the accurate line and length of opening bowlers Joseff

Rees, Club Captain, and third year Anthony Fahy. The pressure created by the opening pair led wickets to tumble in the middle overs to the bowling of Will Taylor, James Fowle, Matt Davies and Tiwari. Le Marquand walked to the crease, Chudleigh’s only hope of gaining some pride. Being as plum as possible on his first ball, every RUCC started celebrating, but the umpire, obviously feeling some sort of pity for the batsman, declared “Not Out”. Carson altered the field the following over, inserting three slips, a leg slip and a short mid-off to increase the pressure on the treasurer. His gamble paid off; with his head in the sky and bat in the air, the bails fell to the ground. Price’s off-spin bamboozled Le Marquand who was clean bowled. With the game already won, Price allowed Carson to conclude proceedings with an over of what can be called some sort of medium paced bowling. Chudleigh reached 142 meaning that RUCC won by 90 runs.

Chudleigh reached 142 meaning that RUCC won by 90 runs

Bowling figures were as follows; Rees 4 overs, 1 maiden for 11 runs; Fahy 3 overs for 17 runs; Fowle 3 overs, 15 runs and a wicket; Taylor 4 overs for 25 runs and 2 wickets; Davies 3 overs for 32 runs; Price 1 over for 10 runs and 1 wicket and Tiwari 1 over for 2 runs and 2 wickets.

RUCC’s first ever tour proved to be a monumental success Following a round of crazy golf, the second game of the tour was played against Barton CC. With captain Joseff Rees losing the toss, RUCC had to bowl. Barton got off to a flying start and carried the momentum for the remaining of their innings reaching 206 in 20 overs, their overseas professional scoring 115.

Caleb Rowe and Carson opened the batting; unfortunately Rowe was caught at backward point in the second over. In his cranberry red helmet, Carson battled on, first with Wright and then Walker before being caught and bowled just four short of the half century mark. Walker was again in fine form, proving his class scoring 79 before being caught on the boundary at long-on. Price scampered a

quick 16, but the total proved unreachable as RUCC reached 183-7 in the 20 overs. The highlights of the game were James Hart’s marvellous spell of off-spin bowling and Will Fox’s reintroduction to the game of cricket.

The third and final day was spent at Paignton which involved another round of crazy golf before the final game against Torquay CC. With President Carson captaining the team for his last game, he won the toss and decided to bat on what seemed a decent batting track.

With fellow opener Tiwari getting out in the first over, in came 1st XI Captain Ben Leale-Green for his first game of the tour. With some beautiful shots being played by both batsmen, a solid partnership appeared to be forming. Unfortunately, Carson smashed the ball back towards the bowler who deflected the ball onto the stumps.

With Leale-Green out of his crease, he was out in the most unfortunate of ways for a mere 22. Carson lasted a little while longer before getting out, scoring 37 runs. It was left to Wright to ensure a decent total and the future 1st XV rugby captain proved his worth scoring 70 runs in an innings which included some mesmerising reverse sweeps and scoops that Dilshan would be proud of.

RUCC eventually reached 170-7 following several swoops to long on by Fowle and Taylor.

Due to his brilliant spell the previous evening, Hart was allowed to open the bowling with Price but unfortunately the opposition got off to a strong start. All seven bowlers gave their all, but the opposition reached with the total with almost four overs to spare, with Hart and Davies taking the only wickets.

Nevertheless, RUCC’s first ever tour proved to be a monumental success. Walker top scored with 190 runs in 3 games, something the second year can be proud of. Thanks must be given to Le Marquand and future president Hart for organising the fixtures and accommodation. Thanks must also be given to Carson for his organisational skills throughout the year and during the tour, ensuring everybody remained awake and on time, and to Price for driving the minibus for 4 days.

Alongside the rekindling of other RUCC traditions such as the Old Boys fixture and Social 6s tournament, hopefully a tour will become an honoured tradition of RUCC as the club continues to grow from strength to strength. Onwards and upwards RUCC!

Spark* Friday 2011

sports.spark@reading.ac.uk

SPORT 29

Why I Still Hope for England Gareth thomas

Some would say disastrous, some would say promising, but if there is anything England’s World Cup campaign has been thus far, it’s been heart-breaking. Following Uruguay’s 2-1 victory over England in the pair’s second group game, the nation’s fans have been left to dwell on what might have been, peering anxiously over the Brazilian horizon at the final group game with Costa Rica.

With Italy edging a well contested affair 2-1 in the opener, and a brace from the seemingly superhuman Luis Suarez sinking Roy Hodgson’s men second time out, the three lions’ chances of progression to the tournament’s latter stages were left incredulously slim. The factors needed for such progression required the Italians to pick up a staggering total of nine points by beating Costa Rica and Uruguay, and for England to round off the proceedings with a win against Costa Rica by a margin large enough to seal qualification on goal difference.

This chance quickly disappeared, as Italy sunk to another astonishing Costa Rican win, courtesy of Bryan Ruiz’s first half header.

There are still reasons to be hopeful of further English success Despite both defeats, and the resulting castigation from British media, there are still reasons to be hopeful of further English success, if not in this tournament, but for future tournaments and their respective qualifications.

Following the decision of much of the British media to switch optimism to a now almost ritual lambasting of the national side, it would appear that anger and sadness have clouded the memory of such opinion writers over the potential that England displayed in both games.

Criticism of the defence and the shameful pleading for the recall of former England captain John Terry has somewhat undermined the job that England has done.

Gary Cahill has surely silenced whatever doubters may still be out there with his commanding performances at centre-back, proving that he is indeed a world class defender. Beaten at the back post

by Mario Balotelli for Italy’s second goal was an incident beyond Cahill’s control; a perfect ball and Balotelli’s exceptional positioning didn’t allow the Chelsea man a chance. At 28, it remains to be seen whether he will still be first choice for captain come Russia 2018, but reliance on his quality

Inside

Features Reading University Cricket Club Tour to Torquay

On the other hand, despite a very good season with Everton, and the forming of an excellent partnership with Cahill throughout qualification, it would appear Phil Jagielka may be out of his depth on the international stage. At times, Jagielka has been assured and made crucial tackles, but his slight lapse of concentration for Suarez’s first goal (albeit combined with a sensational assist from Edison Cavani) may just highlight the breadth of class between himself, and the world’s best. Although Jagielfka is a hardworking and good defender, it doesn’t seem like he is playing at the same level as Cahill.

Leighton Baines and Glen Johnson were heavily criticised for their performances in the Italy game; Johnson for his lack of efficiency in passing, and Baines for his defending, namely in the build up to Italy’s second goal. However Johnson gained an assist for Wayne Rooney’s first World Cup finals goal following a strong passage of play (arguably England’s finest this World Cup) and he dealt well with Uruguay’s threat on the wings despite his failure to close down Cavani for the first goal.

Baines was vilified for his defending against Italy, but he was left totally exposed on the left flank for the duration of the game, mainly due to Rooney’s lack of defensive awareness and positioning in a supposedly unfamiliar left-wing role.

With the security of the far more positionally disciplined Danny Welbeck against Uruguay, Baines was allowed to roam deep into the South Americans’ half, and supplied dangerous crosses into the box, although not as frequently as desired. At times his ball into the final third was lacking, but his pace and threat on the wings caused

problems, and he was defensively sound throughout both games.

Against Italy, the England midfield were allowed time on the ball unlike in the Uruguay game, and with it showed a fantastic rage of passes and a high intensity, off the ball work rate. Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling showed the world why he is such a highly rated prospect when attacking, but when it came to closing down Andrea Pirlo, he never quite seemed to be within reach. Against Uruguay, Sterling started brightly but faded as the game progressed, eventually making way for Ross Barkley. Both him and Barkley, however, showed great promise for what England can work with in the future. Jordan Henderson’s energetic box-to-box role provided the perfect tonic to Steven Gerrard’s holding position, and one hopes that his footballing education at Liverpool alongside the England captain continues to improve him as a versatile midfielder. Perhaps overawed by the pressure and occasion against Uruguay, there is nothing to suggest that this young crop of midfielders. with the addition of Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and others, can’t develop to become potential world beaters.

For a player of his quality, it was difficult to understand how and why he was found to be so lacking in the first game Lastly, there is the role that Rooney played. Virtually ineffectual against Italy, he was found out of position on far too many occa-

Reading FC annouce sions. For a player of his quality, it another ticket was difficult to understand how and why he was found to be so lacking offer in the first game. Nevertheless, if ever the was a time for redemption, the Uruguay game provided Rooney with the perfect platform.

Albeit not a perfect performance, the Manchester United forward showed the hunger and desire England fans have been craving for three tournaments, and was justly rewarded with his first ever World Cup finals goal.

Rooney finally showed that he can convert his domestic quality into big performances for his country Rooney found the space in the opposition defence he finds weekly for his club, but despite missing a golden opportunity to equalise on his left foot just yards from the goal, he could have had a hat-trick.

Hitting the bar with a header and narrowly missing the upright with a free kick, Rooney finally showed that he can convert his domestic quality into big performances for his country.

If this tournament and England’s performances has been a sign of things to come, then surely it can only get better. We hope.

Uni sport Knights Football President Interview Reading University Cricket Club Old Boys Weekend 2014

World sport Belgium at the 2014 FIFA

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