FREE-please take one A FREE publication, written and produced by St Mark’s and The Valley Schools
the
larKhall news issue 27
School Reports
A Doubly Thankful Village From Student to Teacher & The Larkhall Friendship Circle
Larkhall Festival 2015
Our su pe r-dupe r
Competition!
Win tickets to the egg this Christmas
Enquiries
in this iSSue St Mark’s School News
Welcome
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. For St Mark’s School, The Larkhall News is a vital part of our involvement and interaction with our local community; an ethos that is at the heart of everything we do. It is a voice for the students and staff to communicate all of the exciting and wonderful things that happen every day at our school. This issue is no exception and our student reporters have been busy, once again, writing about their experiences for your reading pleasure.
St Saviour’s Infants Friendship Circle Radio Waves A Doubly Thankful Village Our super-duper Competiton! The Larkhall News is a not-for-profit enterprise published by St Mark’s School, Bath. Our next issue will be out Spring 2015. Editorial: Contact us on 01225 478416 or at St Mark’s School on 01225 312661. Advertising: Contact Paula Hawkins, St Mark’s School, Bay Tree Road, Larkhall, Bath, BA1 6ND Tel: 01225 312661 or email, hawkinsp@st-marks.org.uk The Larkhall News is available online at: www.st-marks.org.uk Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or errors in content. Whilst every reasonable care is taken, the publisher shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by the failure of an advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions or misprints.
This month, we honour those who have fallen in two World Wars and our students have been to Woolley to discover an astonishing story of survival against tremendous adversity. One hundred years on, we are all still connected to the First World War either through our own family history or the heritage of our local communities. The history of Woolley is one such community and we are grateful for their time to share it with us. One little known affair that has reached another marked anniversary is our annual Community Christmas Party. Every year the students and staff at St Mark’s School, host the local senior citizens of Larkhall for a festive afternoon. The party this year is particularly special as the annual event reaches its 45th year. Since the event began in 1969, St Mark’s School has played host to in excess of 5,000 local elderly residents by providing refreshments, entertainment, free raffles and a ‘surprise’ visit from Father Christmas. Everyone in the school gets involved in the event from fundraising, catering, singing and serving to table decoration, making invitations and thank you cards. Larkhall and Fairfield Park businesses also help to make the festivities go off in style through their kind donation of raffle prizes and a Christmas gift for everyone attending. It is a strong tradition of the school and one that we hope to continue for a further 45 years! Wishing you festive fun and frivolity!
Paula Tel: 01225 312661 or email, hawkinsp@st-marks.org.uk
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St Mark’s school by Barnaby Ash, Headteacher
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What has struck me about St Mark’s School is the desire of local people to have a local school on their door-step to which they can entrust the education of their children. Those who visited at our recent Open Events were so positive about what they saw and heard and were full of praise for the work of the school. Indeed, many of their thoughts echoed those of some of our current parents who see St Mark's as Bath's ‘best kept secret’.
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The 1st September 2014 has been a long-time coming for me. Having been appointed to the headship of St Mark's School in November 2013, the start of September felt like an eternity away. Finishing a headship in a school that you know you are leaving, whilst at the same time thinking ahead to the challenges and excitement of a new headship ensured a constant mix of emotions for me last year. But, I am delighted to finally be at St Mark’s and I have really enjoyed the first eight weeks of my career at the school. Since starting work at the school at the beginning of September I have had the opportunity of meeting many members of the St Mark’s School community. I’ve met our wonderful students and have had the privilege of witnessing at first hand the vast array of talents and qualities they possess; the deeply committed and caring staff team; the passionate team of governors and our supportive and proactive cohort of parents. I have been taken aback by the welcome I have received and feel really privileged to be leading a school with so many strengths, yet so much potential. I am extremely excited by the exciting times that lie ahead… It has been a pleasure to meet the many prospective families looking for a secondary place for 2015 who have visited the school during its recent open events. What has struck me about the school is the desire of local people to have a local school on their door-step to which they can entrust the education of their children. Those who visited were so positive about what they saw and heard and were full of praise for the work of the school. Many of their thoughts echoed those of some of our current parents who see St Mark's as Bath's “best kept secret.” Of course, it has been great to see all of the students settle back into the routine of school after the long summer holiday. What has struck me has been the confidence and self-assurance shown by our Year 7 students; it is hard to believe that they started their secondary education only 8 weeks ago! This bodes very well for the future and makes me
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feel excited by the prospect of them contributing to taking St Mark’s School to another level. When I talk to local families, primary school colleagues, councillors and politicians about St Mark's School, they all ask me what I think it is that makes St Mark's School so special. Having worked at the school now for eight weeks and having worked at four other very different secondary schools and spent 12 months supporting 14 secondary schools I feel that I am now just about able to give a view. What I think makes the school so unique is the relationships that exist at the school between the students and the adults, based on a mixture of mutual respect and trust; the high level of pastoral care shown by the staff members to the children, which helps to ensure the students learn and make progress; the atmosphere in the school is calm and orderly, without being too stilted and suppressed; the teachers' expectations are challenging but achievable; the Christian ethos ensures an inclusive and caring environment, helping the children to fulfil their talents and flourish, and above all, the school is very much ‘a community’ and has a real sense of togetherness and cohesion. And, all of this equates to the school being unique in character and ensures that the students are happy and fulfilled; the staff enjoy working at the school and why it is our parents are so supportive and protective over the school. In a sense, this is why I feel so proud to be leading the school into the next phase of its future. Although the open events for September 2015 are now officially over, I am always very happy to show prospective parents around the school or indeed local people who are just interested in what their local secondary school is like. Should you wish to visit the school, please contact the Headteacher’s Personal Assistant, Mrs Barbara Chambers, on chambersb@st-marks.org.uk or telephone, (01225) 312661.
Valley Added Business Partnership Scheme launched in enterprising style
On Friday 26th September, the Valley Added Project, based in Larkhall and surrounding areas, was taken to the next level at the Business Partnership Scheme Launch Event held at The New Oriel Hall. Scores of local businesses were invited to attend the event to find out more about how the scheme benefits both the businesses themselves and the subscribing schools. The event was supported by two of the existing Business Partners of the project, Tony Hickman from Parklife (Alice Park Café) and Norland College, who supported the creation of a mini student-led “Catering Enterprise” at St Mark’s School. A team of enterprising students from Year 11 and Year 7 designed a menu, sourced and purchased the supplies and prepared a delicious spread to rival a professional catering service, selling it to the project itself and generating income for the school. This mini enterprise is just one of a number of similar enterprises being established in the local schools as part of the Valley Added Project. Merryl Elias, Project Manager for Valley Added, commented, “both the businesses and Headteachers who attended the event and I were enormously impressed by the standard of the catering provided by the
The New Sixth
birthday celebrations Governors, staff, students and guests have celebrated the first birthday of Bath’s newest sixth form provision, The New Sixth. The £2.8 million facility for students at St Mark’s Church of England School and Saint Gregory’s, Bath opened in September 2013 and now provides more than 25 A Level and BTEC courses to students across Years 12 and 13. The party was held on Friday 17th October with guests of honour including the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Cherry Beath, Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Crossley, People and Communities Strategic Director for B&NES, Ashley Ayre, together with representatives from both the Clifton Diocese and the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The event was hosted by the Headteachers from both schools to celebrate their collaboration one year on. Mr Ash thanked guests, staff and students for making him feel so welcome to both schools and spoke of his ambitions to further improve the opportunities for students through shared facilities and teaching. “The New Sixth is a very impressive facility and I am looking forward to developing the offer for our students even further in the coming months and years. Mr Friel and I have already had a number of very positive conversations regarding our vision for The New Sixth and how it will continue to grow as an outstanding sixth form facility in Bath and North East Somerset.”
Pictured:The organising team at the recent Business Partnership Scheme launch for the Valley Added Project
St Mark’s students, and the contextual learning process which resulted from the enterprise is a shining example of how the partnership between the local businesses and schools can inspire young people, raise the profile of the businesses and help ensure a future motivated and skilled workforce in the community.” Look out for more Valley Added events taking place over the course of the next few months. If you run a business and have an interest in supporting the local schools, and would like to find out more about how the Business Partnership Scheme can benefit you, please contact Merryl Elias, Valley Added Project Manager, on 07914 920248 or email merryl_elias@bathnes.gov.uk.
From Student... . . . To Teacher
Pictured:Mrs Wilson at St Mark’s School in 1989 and (right) 2014
After nearly 30 years of dedicated service to St Mark’s School, art teacher Ms Lever retired, being replaced by one of her former students, Mrs Wilson. Students, Miguel and Joe interviewed her about her experiences as a studentcome-teacher, and what it was like replacing her former teacher.
Q: As a student, did you ever think you would return? I didn’t initially plan to become a teacher, instead I pursued my love for art by studying fine art to MA level at Chelsea College of Art. After that I started my own specialist decorating business with my husband, offering bespoke paint finishes and gilding. It was in more recent years that I decided that I wanted to work with young people and become a teacher. However I am absolutely delighted to now be back at St Mark’s! Q: When you were at school, was art your favourite subject? Yes, always! I am sure Ms Lever would have told you that. I particularly love contemporary art and drawing, which I focused on as part of my MA course. Q: How does school life differ from being a student to being a teacher? Obviously, as an adult you have a different view of things and being a teacher is definitely harder than being a student! Having said that though, it is so rewarding and I particularly enjoy watching the students develop in confidence and ability as they learn new skills. Q: How would you say the school has changed or improved since your time here? I left in 1989, so things have changed and improved a lot. Mr Ash is definitely a great asset to the school.
Q: How did you feel about taking over the role of art teacher from the person who taught you? It’s nice to follow in my old teacher’s footsteps, and I think Ms Lever was pleased that I got the job, knowing how much I had enjoyed art in her lessons. Q: You’ve been here for nearly a term, how do you feel it’s gone? I think the term has gone well, I am certainly enjoying teaching at St Mark’s where the small class sizes allow me to give one-to-one attention to students. I am lucky to have such a great art room with fantastic views across the valley, which can be inspiring for the students. Q: What do you think of the local area? Well I grew up here so obviously I know the area really well. I love Larkhall, there’s a great community and I think it’s a perfect location for a secondary school. Q: What are your ambitions for the future? I’d love to stay here for as long as possible as it’s a great school. I’d like to make the art department very successful, and link it to the local community to really grow the structure of art at St Mark’s School. Well, the students certainly have a high opinion of her. One head student in year 11 said, “She allows us to grow and develop, she’s really nice.” Clearly, Mrs Wilson has made a good start and a good impression in her new role. We wish her the best of luck for the future.
(Opposite St Saviour’s Church)
St Saviour’s Infants & Nursery
Crochet Club Crossing safely St Saviour’s Infants and Juniors have, this term, been rallying support for a new school crossing between the schools on the junction between Eldon Place and Spring Lane. The high volume of traffic commuting through Larkhall at peak times is placing the safety of local children, their parents and carers, and local residents at risk. The schools are petitioning Bath & North East Somerset Council for a range of safety measures, including a pedestrian crossing patrolled by a crossing patrol officer, to enable people to cross safely between St Saviour’s Infant and Junior schools. They are hoping to reach 1,000 signatories to ensure that the petition will be referred to the full council for debate.
It’s
poetry
This year children at St Saviour’s Infants have been enjoying a lunchtime crochet club, led by Melanie Green from ‘Hey Hey Crochet’, and known to her friends as “the crochet lady”. Charlotte (pictured) says, “I love crochet because you learn to make things. We’ve already made bookmarks and friendship bracelets, and now we’re making a Father Christmas.” Harry, “You have to put the wool over the loop. And then the loop over the wool. The hook’s for pulling the wool round. It’s quite tricky, but it’s fun!” Melanie says, “I think the interest in crochet has really grown from the Loom Band craze. There’s also a real resurgence in homemade crafts, and crochet is one of the more unusual ones. It’s hard to self-teach, but the children pick it up so fast!”
at St Mark’s
For six weeks during early October, ten students from Year 8 at St Mark’s School, were chosen to take part in a poetry course with two spoken word artists called Hibbz and Rebecca. Here is what two of those lucky students, Eliza and Ella, have to say about the experience. “We both thoroughly enjoyed being able to express ourselves in a different way. During our normal English lessons we have not had many chances to write a lot of poetry as we are reading it instead. These sessions have given us the opportunity to learn all about poetry, write lots of our own and perform it! Rebecca and Hibbz played a big role in this visiting every week and helping us to write our creations to the best of our ability and learn new ways of expressing our opinions in different forms.” “On Friday 3rd October the ten of us ‘trainee’ poets went to the Guildhall in Bath to perform the first poem we created on the Subject of ‘being young’. Our performance was part of Bath’s Children’s Literature Festival – which was why we were on stage in the Guildhall. We shared the stage with Rebecca and Hibbz who both delivered one of their poems which gave us great inspiration. After us Steve Camden (aka Polar Bear) did an interactive writing exercise with the audience and talked about his new novel. We really enjoyed taking part in the festival even though it was really nerve racking at first.” “We are delighted to have been given this opportunity and it really made us feel like we have learnt a lot about writing and performing. Thank you to Hibbz and Rebecca for helping us write great poetry and to St Mark’s School for making it happen.”
B is for brutal
by Estelle
The brutality of our nation and generation, When 13 year-olds have forgotten about their education And care more about foundation That covers up their spots and flaws. Being beautiful isn’t about being the same It’s about exiting through different doors. Don’t worry about your different flaws – Because we, we are all perfect.
E is the energy
by Ella
The energy when we are young. It sometimes overcomes us, Makes us just want to run into the sun. We cannot control that energy That makes us want to jump so high. We love that energy That can go all the way up to the sky. We should embrace that energy That makes us want to play. We love being FREE! . . .
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Radio
waves
Broadcasting veteran and Lambridge Councillor, Bryan Chalker’s weekly Somer Valley FM radio show, ‘Same Roots, Different Fruits’, is now shared with six other internet stations around the world and its success is due to a unique format. Bryan explains . . .
I have always loved radio since the early days when twiddling the tuning dial of a wooden-bodied Alba valve wireless set and listening to stations such as Luxembourg, Hilversum, AFN (American Forces Network) and, of course, the BBC. This naturally dates me, as I am referring to the late 1940s and ‘50s, when announcers’ delivery was precise, clipped and straight to the point.
As a child born into a musical family, I quickly developed catholic tastes in music, which included the blues, jazz, folk, Hawaiian, calypso, country and the Classics but could never find one programme anywhere in the world catering for my listening needs. I often wondered why it wasn’t possible to listen to Brahms and Beethoven, alongside Bing Crosby and Johnny Cash, or hear a John Lee Hooker blues lament on the same show as a Strauss waltz. Fast-forward to the 1960s and ‘70s, when I had become a free-lance contributor to a number of national music publications, including Melody Maker and Record & Show Mirror, I began harbouring a dream of becoming a radio presenter with my own show. That dream began to morph into reality following a stint with London’s Capital Radio, as a researcher and occasional contributor with Dave Cash’s Saturday lunchtime programme, ‘Cash Country’. It was then that I realised I possessed a good microphone voice, although somewhat limited due to its bass tones. In 1982, Dave Cash offered me a full-time slot with the soon-to-be-launched Radio West in Bristol and the following year I upped sticks, moved to Bristol and hosted the station’s ‘Afternoon Show’ and weekly ‘Chalker’s Country’, until Radio West’s fortunes took a turn for the worse and I, along with several others, was made redundant. Over the next few years I moved from station to station but became increasingly frustrated at the limitations placed upon me regarding musical output and the dogged belief of programme controllers and heads of music in heavy rotation (the same few songs played over and over) and playlisting (approved songs only allowed to be played). In those days I rarely, if ever, heard bluegrass, Cajun, Tex-Mex, western-swing – all variants of country music – or ceilidh on the radio and when, in 1993, I was invited to join London’s first-ever 24-hour country music station, Country 1035, I thought my dream, in part at least, was about to be realised. How wrong I was and even the station’s so-called Head of Music didn’t know the difference between Louisiana Cajun music and Irish ceilidh! I was eventually sacked from Country 1035 for deviating from its tedious playlist during my overnight show but was quickly offered the job of Programme Controller of a new Astra satellite station, CMR – Country Music Radio for Europe. Here was a heavensent opportunity to experiment and the seeds of ‘Same Roots, Different Fruits’ were quickly sown and received hugely encouraging listener feedback.
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‘Same Roots, Different Roots’ is a waffle-free zone specialising in great music.
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MAKING WAVES
RADIO
CMR was doomed to failure due to lack of advertising and much of this was down to the fact that certain advertising agencies actually dictated music policy and anything related to country music, or ‘country ‘n ‘western’, as they were prone to describing the genre, simply did not fit their client requirements. During my years with CMR I did encourage my presenters to ‘go out on a limb’ and reject playlists in favour of musical freedom within certain boundaries and this, of course, precluded grunge, garage, heavy-metal, hip-hop, rap and acid rock but did let them try blending other styles within the general format of country and country-related music. When CMR finally bit the proverbial dust during the late 1990s, I was fortunate enough to join the legendary Radio Caroline as a volunteer presenter and broadcast each week from its Maidstone studios. By then I had relocated to Bath and the weekly trek back and forth became extremely tiring and expensive, particularly as my income had nosedived from a fairly good salary to virtually zero, but I was able to finally launch my ‘Same Roots, Different Fruits’ show and give it a healthy trial run to gauge audience response. They loved it from the minute it went on air until my official retirement from broadcasting in 2002, which finally brought it to an end – or so I thought. In September 2012, at the invitation of Dom Chambers, station manager of Midsomer Norton’s Somer Valley 97.5FM, I re-launched ‘Same Roots, Different Fruits’ as an hour-long Monday evening ‘live’ presentation, which quickly expanded to a regular two-hour slot between 7pm – 9pm, repeated every Sunday at the same time and there is also a ‘Listen Again’ option. Dom Chambers was more than happy to let me do my ‘thing’ and mix any style of music if it worked cohesively. If you don’t mind the concept of ‘Mozart Concerto No.21’ played on piano and didgeridoo and an 1899 wax cylinder banjo instrumental played in the same hour as Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Ward Thomas and the Charles River Valley Boys playing ‘Ticket To Ride’ in true Appalachian bluegrass style, then ‘Same Roots, Different Fruits’ might be right up your street.
Other internet stations have now come on board to share my show on a weekly basis and they are: UK Country Radio.com, Countrykanalen.se (Sweden), TLC Radio Northland (New Zealand), Radio St. Florian am Inn (Austria), Countrymusic24.com (Berlin) and www.nbrn.fm (Nashville, Tennessee). One station boss recently commented, “This guy is making radio waves, ‘cause we’ve never heard anything like his show before”! SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS I do my level best to support West Country artists and anyone from Larkhall can send me their CDs for consideration. The likes of The Carravick Sisters, Savvy, Out Of The Brew and Kevin Brown have all received exposure on my show. As senior broadcaster on Somer Valley FM, I receive a lot of goodnatured banter from the younger volunteers, particularly in view of my anti touch-screen computer and downloading stance and preference for toting a bag of CDs each week and working from them. As a left-hander, I am ever-so slightly cack-handed when it comes to working the desk and frequently open the wrong fader, a trait which has now become something of a trademark, as has my weekly comment, “And now for something completely different”, which usually heralds a bizarre musical instrument, such as the psaltery, table dulcimer, mouth-bow or didgeridoo, or a truly archaic piece of music from the earliest days of broadcasting – and then it’s back into the modern age with Johnny Cash, UB 40, Taylor Swift, Bob Marley, Buffalo Gals or Cerys Matthews. Yes, I do make mistakes on air but any blips are not edited out but left in as a reminder that my shows are usually ‘live’ but even when I do have to resort to airing a pre-recorded show, I do no editing and the blips and faux-pas remain to make it sound as natural as possible. I was taught many years ago by my mentor, Dave Cash, that “if you’ve got nothing to say, then don’t say it”. Solid advice and I like to pride myself that ‘Same Roots, Different Roots’ is a waffle-free zone specialising in great music. Another one of my trademarks is to avoid pre-announcing several tracks in a row and then playing them backto-back like so many mainstream stations tend to do. Please give the show a trial run, you might enjoy it. www.somervalleyfm.co.uk
The Larkhall
Village Kitchen
The column that puts creativity back into cooking with the majority of ingredients sourced from Larkhall shops, gardens or allotments.
CHORIZO STEW This recipe, using Spanish-style chorizo sausage, is the creation of Glenys Chalker, wife of Cllr. Bryan Chalker. Ingredients: 1 chorizo sausage (about 1ft long) – roughly diced 3-4 cloves of garlic - chopped 1 large onion – chopped 1 or 2 carrots – chopped 1 red or yellow pepper (capsicum) – de-seeded and chopped Small can of sweetcorn (or use fresh corn) 2 Oxo cubes 1 pint of hot water Dash of red wine (optional) 2 teaspoons of mixed herbs – rosemary, thyme and sage A sprinkle of chilli flakes (optional) 2 teaspoons of paprika 1 tablespoon of tomato puree 1 tablespoon of olive oil Method: Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pot or pan. Fry the onion and garlic on a low heat until soft and then add the chopped chorizo. Add all the herbs and spices and stir well. Cook a few minutes on a low heat and then add all the chopped vegetables, stir and cook for a further 5-minutes. Dissolve the Oxo cubes in hot water and add to the pot. You can also add a dash of red wine at this stage. Mix in the tomato puree and cook on a medium heat on top of the stove for about half-hour until cooked. Serve hot with crusty bread. SERVES 4
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Doubly
thankful by estelle and dylan Woolley, a beautiful hamlet on the outskirts of Bath, is usually known for its delicious Strawberry Tea event held each year on the first Sunday of July. But, behind the teacups and bunting, there is a little bit of history that we feel is very important . . . Woolley has more to it than the beautiful hills and scenery that meets the eye – it is a ‘Doubly Thankful’ village, which means all the soldiers that were sent to serve in both World Wars returned. There are 51 settlements in England and Wales where all the soldiers from the First World War came back but only 13 villages that didn’t lose anyone in the Second World War as well. Last summer, a troop of bikers arrived bearing a gift – a plaque – to commemorate Woolley’s fortunate status as a Doubly Thankful place. The visit was organised by Medwyn Parry and Dougie Bancroft who rode Triumph Trophy motorbikes to every single one of the "Thankful Villages" in the United Kingdom to give them plaques as these villages have no war memorials marking their involvement in the wars. We, two Year 8 pupils from St Mark’s School in Larkhall, were fortunate enough to be invited to visit Woolley and dig a little deeper into the history of the hamlet. We met three local ladies, the Reverend Joyce Williams, Margaret Foster and Julie Bleathman. Over hot chocolate and shortbread we interviewed them about being a thankful village. Margaret Foster, who has lived in Woolley all her life, told us how she remembered all the soldiers coming home and seeing the happiness glow throughout the area. We asked what they were going to do for Remembrance Day as all of the 26 people who served returned. They replied that although they were a thankful village their sister parish of Swainswick was not so lucky as it lost 17 people and a service will be held there to commemorate them. We asked ‘Were you there when the bikers arrived?’ and they told us that they were all there among a crowd of over a 100 people. Points West TV news and many others were also there to welcome them. The bikers gave them a plaque which says “Woolley. A Thankful Village”.
They feel privileged that they are a Thankful Village. The plaque has now been lovingly set into a large piece of stone, dug up from the neighbouring fields, by Tony Brown (a local stonemason) and can be seen in the peaceful garden near the church. All are welcome to come and visit - it is a place to sit and have quiet contemplation and remember our loved ones as well as those who have served and are serving in wartime and peacetime to keep our country safe. UPCOMING EVENTS AT WOOLLEY CHURCH Christingle Service 14th December at 3pm, fundraising for The Children’s Society. Christmas Service 25th December 9am. INFORMATION REQUEST Little is known about who went to fight from this village as there is no war memorial and no record of who served. If anyone has any information, please get in touch with the Reverand Joyce at Woolley Church by emailing: joyfulwilliams2004@yahoo.co.uk. For more information about the Triumph tour around the country please visit www.thankfulvillagesrun.com Pictured: The commemorative plaque and Rev Joyce and Margaret Foster
Larkhall Friendship Circle
Editor, Paula Hawkins, visited the Larkhall Friendship Circle in Hanover Court in September to meet local residents who are reaching out to one another and making new friends. Having an opportunity to make new friends or re-live memories with old ones can be difficult enough in today’s hustle and bustle of life. There is a longing for care-free days when people can just sit and enjoy one another’s company; linger over photographs, share memories and stories; laugh. We think that as we get older we will have more time but we rarely stop to consider how it would be if we had to do it alone, without a friend or companion. The Friendship Circle in Larkhall is a group of local elderly residents who come together on the last Tuesday of every month to do just that. The group, who meet at Hanover Court in Larkhall, was set up a year ago by Naomi Brown of New Oriel Hall, together with her parents Carolyne and John Samuel, as a way of enabling local elderly residents to make new friends and share stories and memories of their lives. Each month there is a focus for the group, from poetry and prose readings to meeting local historians and genealogists. The topics create a focus for the group, allowing members to talk of their own experiences and ideas. “The aim of the group is to stimulate conversation and to allow people to simply talk and listen to one another,” said Naomi. “So often, the only company that elderly people have is a pet or a television. They may not have access to daily adult conversations, particularly if mobility is an issue, and this can take its toll over time.” “Loneliness is a real problem for elderly people and the Friendship Circle is a way of creating opportunities for them to share their opinions, ideas and thoughts with one another.” Speaking at the September event were guest readers, Christine Curtis from local charity, Read Around Bath, and Andy Graham from B&NES Carers Centre. Christine and Andy read aloud to the group and encouraged members to talk about the books and poetry and the ideas
and thoughts that it inspired. “We often find, when attending groups like this, that many of the elderly people don’t really speak to one another, they feel that they have noone to talk to. By reading aloud to them, they often remember things that have been buried for a long time and this creates a topic for conversation to begin,” said Christine. “Elderly people often don’t believe that their stories or memories are of interest to anyone else so don’t willingly offer them, but they couldn’t be more wrong!” added Andy. “Friendship Circles, such as this one, are a fantastic way of getting people together so that they have a reason to express themselves and join in.” The group meets on the last Tuesday of every month at Hanover Court. Anyone interested in coming along can telephone Naomi at New Oriel Hall on 01225 466606.
Larkhall Athletic F.C. www.pitchero.com/clubs/larkhallathleticfc After promotion from the Western League this summer, Larkhall Athletic are relishing their first season in the Southern League Division One South & West (step 4 of the football pyramid, just two levels below Bath City). At the time of writing the Larks sit within the play-off zone in 5th place, which is a fantastic achievement given that expectations were for mid-table at best! The impressive league performance runs in tandem with a club record run in the FA Cup: the Larks got into the draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round after beating Truro City from the league above, and Merthyr Town, one of the strongest sides in their league. They then drew Conference side Gosport Borough at home and in front of a record crowd the Larks pulled back from a 2-0 deficit to end the game 3-3 and take it to a replay. The replay ended with an honourable defeat but the achievement (and the prize money!) was great news for the club. Off the pitch the club is also doing well. There's a new sponsor, Councillor Dave Laming, who has bequeathed the shirt sponsorship to local charity Project 28 who work with disadvantaged young people in Bath and Bristol. The club is very proud to be associated with such a good cause.
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As always, the club is keen to hear from anyone who is interested in sponsorship or in practical help with the ground improvements.
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Cllr Laming pledged the donation at a civic reception for Larkhall FC at the Guildhall in Bath. The reception was hosted by Chairman of the Council, Cllr Martin Veal and attended by Cllr Malcolm Lees, the recent Mayor of Bath. Cllr Laming was keen to promote a strong bond between the club and Project 28, recognising the work of the Larks with youth teams starting from the age of just six. “Project 28 is a wonderful organisation that cares for vulnerable youngsters from the age of seven to seventeen who have either been abused by drug and alcohol users, or by the use of the substances themselves.” Local recognition also extends to being nominated for two of the Bath Chronicle Sports Awards: Senior Sports Club of the Year and a nomination for Sports Personality of the Year for the first team manager Wayne Thorne. Playing in the Southern League requires yet more development work and if you were one of the average of 140 people to attend a game at Plain Ham so far this season you'd have seen many improvements. The latest is a new fence around the ground, which was kindly supported by local artist and Larks' supporter Steve Hall, who held an art sale for the club's benefit recently. The Larkhall Ladies were also promoted last season and now play in the FA Women's Premier League South West Division One. League results have been a bit patchy but the Ladies have just managed to get themselves into the 1st Round Proper of the FA Women's Cup: who knows, they might get to beat Tottenham Hotspur again! Finally, the Larkhall Athletic Reserves are having a sensational season so far. Second in the league, they also still feature in the league cup and they have now got to the 3rd round of the Somerset Senior Cup.
All the various teams’ fixtures can be viewed on the club website, www.pitchero.com/clubs/larkhallathleticfc/ and you can also follow the club on Twitter, @larkhallafc. But best of all, come along and see the Larks play!
LARKHALL SPORTS CLUB Charlcombe Lane, Larkhall FULLY EQUIPPED CLUBHOUSE AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE AT COMPETITIVE RATES Licensed for up to 100 guests Catering and disco facilities available For further information and booking enquiries, please contact:
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Clive Burge on 01225 311156 Special discounts to all Club Members
New Oriel Hall www.neworielhall.org.uk
The year is flying by. Alongside the tried and tested we always welcome new classes. There are a few slots available, so if you are thinking of setting up a course and would like to join us here at the Hall, now is an ideal time to give us a call on 01225 466606. NEW CLASSES Bop About Dance are exam-free Dance sessions for children aged 47 years in Ballet and Fun Dance (cheerleading, jazz, freestyle). www.bopaboutdance.com or contact Annette on: 07843 252265. Laughter Club has started at the Hall, the first in Bath. Laughter has scientifically proven benefits not only for the emotional and psychological mind, but also for our physical health. According to Dr William Fry ten minutes of hearty laughter is equal to 30 minutes on the rowing machine. The club is being run by Mara Kirk-Reynolds on Tuesdays, from 11am – 12noon. It is not a comedy club, there are no jokes or sketches and you will learn to laugh for no reason. Mara has been teaching Pilates at the hall since it opened in 2004 and the Laughter Club is a new venture. She has a great sense of humour and decided to put this to good use, qualifying earlier in the year as a Laughter Leader. The classes cost £20 for 4 consecutive weeks, and new members can join on any Tuesday. For further details call Mara on: 01225 464383. Belly Dancing is a great way to keep fit. Ladies of all ages enjoy this uplifting form of dancing, which is taught by Waafa, who grew up in Lebanon. She tells us: ‘Belly dancing gives you lots of confidence and a better, more relaxed body image’ . Classes are on Mondays, 11am – 12 noon. For more information call Wafaa on 01225 355072 or check our web site and turn up on the day. Early-Bird Workout is back! Stephanie Healey runs her Better Bootcamps in Alice Park during the summer months and has returned to New Oriel Hall for the winter. Classes run in the Main Hall every Tuesday and Thursday, from 6.45am to 7.30am. The sessions are dedicated to making you look and feel great about yourself inside and out! People of all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels are encouraged to come along and the catch phrase is: IT’S NOT WHAT WE DO IT’S HOW WE DO IT!
FUNDRAISING SUCCESS In the summer we decided to try and raise money for two great causes, the new Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospital and Life Foundation, a charity that supports vulnerable people home and abroad, such as Roma children in Romania. We organised a sale of original art work by well-known local artists, plus artists from further afield and a few celebrities. We gathered over 90 cards, signed only on the back, so no one knew whose work they were buying. All the cards were displayed in the Main Hall and the bidding opened. Alongside the art there was superb music by local musicians who gave their time for free, a raffle and an auction of donated prizes. Free glasses of bubbly and plenty of delicious finger food turned the evening into something very special. The £3,000 raised will be divided between the two chosen charities. This autumn we also held our third Community Coffee morning. Lots of local people enjoyed a relaxed morning, ‘café style’, with newspapers, bacon rolls, croissants and delicious homemade soup. Alongside the café there was a table top sale, packed with bargain treasures, a Halloween Art competition and Children’s Story-time in the new Community Library. The morning raised a healthy £344 pounds for Dorothy House Hospice. We would like to thank everyone who came along to support these events.
Friday 1st - Monday 4th May 2015
gearing up for
Larkhall Festival 2015
Following their AGM on 25th September, when seven new people joined the Larkhall Festival committee to make it the biggest one we’ve ever had, they are now planning how to make Larkhall Festival 2015 even better than last year’s event. Next year’s festival will run over the Bank Holiday weekend from Friday 1st to Monday 4th May 2015 and already the team have some new ideas for events and activities, including: Making more use of the Larkhall Recreation ground (or the Back Fields as it is commonly known) and Larkhall Sports Club at Plain Ham Creating a Larkhall Food Trail (to go alongside the popular Art Trail and Garden Trail) A Strictly Larkhall Dancing event Film screenings for children and adults Writing and performing a community play, together with other writing activities such as a Larkhall Limerick competition Reviving the photography competition we held in the initial years of the festival All these ideas will be churned through the creative mixer over the next few months to decide what activities and events will make up the programme alongside old favourites such as the Artists Open Studios, Garden Trail, live music and a range of competitions. This year the committee are looking to have a broader programme of music with rock, jazz, folk, classical, Indian and Blue Grass all being suggested. For this they are keen to develop a small music programming group and would be interested in hearing from anyone who could offer some time and experience in this area. One of the things that the committee are still looking for is a theme for the Larkhall Festival 2015 so if you have any ideas please let them know.
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There has also been talk of a Larkhall Flag! As ever, none of these ideas will come to fruition without input from local Larkhall folk. Although the festival committee is the hub that pulls everything together, each year brings more and more people into organising and supporting festival activities. This year, as ever, they would like to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in any way. For example: Joining an organising teams for a specific event Helping with publicity and communication Running fundraising events and activities Helping over the festival weekend with jobs such as stewarding, setting up venues, technical support etc.
Fundraising Last year’s calendar proved to be so popular that Larkhall Festival have decided to produce another for 2015, available from the end of October in Larkhall and Fairfield shops, pubs and cafes. There are many superb artists living and working in and around Larkhall, this calendar is a great way to find out about their work. Award winning local artist, Simon Hodges, has donated the original of his painting to the Festival and this will be auctioned during the Fish and Chip Quiz on Saturday 7th February. A date for the diary! All proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go to the Festival funds, helping to ensure that local people will, once again, be able to enjoy the best community festival in Bath. You can contact the Larkhall Festival group by:
E: festival@larkhall-festival.org.uk W: www.larkhall-festival.org.uk Twitter: @LarkhallFest Facebook: www.facebook.com/LarkhallFestival
Our supe r-d upe r
Competition! We’re spinning around with excitement. Why? Because we have four delicious tickets to the egg this Christmas and the tale they’ve woven for you is pure gold… Rumpelstiltskin brings a touch of West End magic to the egg stage in a brand new musical theatre show designed to bring light to the dark winter days ahead. In an evening filled with toe-tapping, finger-clicking songs we follow Emily’s plight as she tries night after night to spin enough gold to please the King. Will she outwit her foolish father? Will she guess the name of her sinister saviour in time to save the life of her first-born child? Come and find out amongst all the magic, mischief and menace in this thrilling take on a classic fairy tale. Rumpelstiltskin runs between Thursday 27th November and Sunday 4th January. For Nov 27th, all tickets are at the preview price of £10. After that, tickets are £17 for adults and £12 for children (suitable for the over-8s). Then there are party discounts and some matinee discounts. To book your visit, call the egg on 01225 823409, or the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 or go to www.theatreroyal.org.uk Rumpelstiltskin was commissioned by the egg with support from the Esmee Fairbairn foundation.
If you would like the chance to win a family ticket for 4 (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children) to watch Rumplestiltskin at the egg theatre on Thursday 27th November at 7pm, just enter our super-duper COMPETITION! All you have to do is answer this question:
What does Rumplestiltskin spin to turn into gold? Email your answer and name to The Editor at hawkinsp@st-marks.org.uk by midnight on Sunday 23rd November. The winning entrant will be chosen randomly and notified on Monday 24th November. Entrants must be aged 4 - 16 and have the permission of their parent or carer and must be available to attend the egg on Thursday 27th November.
Student Film Review INCEPTION by Ed
you go deeper, time becomes longer and longer and the effects become more and more zany and mind-boggling. Hoo. As you can imagine, the results are quite spectacular.
I neglected to review this film for a long time because I believe one must see it a great number of times before one can fully make sense of it. After seeing the film three times and theorizing for a great many hours, I finally feel ready to confront my worst nightmare, or dream.
The special effects and the action scenes are astounding and the musical score, spell binding. I wouldn't normally praise the soundtrack of a film seeing as how it really is only a thing on the side that merely contributes to a film's feel and mood, but Hans Zimmer has outdone himself with the soundtrack to “Inception”. Each and every song is unique, fitting, spine chilling, and most certainly makes the film even better.
“Inception” gives us a unique plot that does, granted, have elements of other blockbusters, however its framework is still utterly original. In a nutshell, Dom Cobb is the most skilled ‘extractor’ in the world. In layman’s terms, he is the best at going into people's dreams while they sleep and navigating these dreams in order to steal secrets. However, he and his team are offered an interesting job that may give Cobb a chance to finally return home to his children. The proposal is Inception: the act of planting an idea rather than removing one. From there it's up to Cobb and a number of charming or interesting characters to delve into the world of dreams and prevent a new superpower from arising. First off, this film’s biggest advantage is it's theorizing and presenting new complicated ideas. After seeing this film you will undoubtedly begin scratching your scalp in an effort to figure out what on earth it all meant. In order to go into depth on how confusing this film is, let me tell you what you're in store for. In order for inception to be possible, you must enter the subject's dream. Simple enough. Then someone within the dream must have another dream, creating a dream within a dream. Then, someone within that dream within a dream must have another dream, creating a dream within a dream within a dream. Each and every time
However, what almost took the top spot on this movie's excellent diorama of pros is the main character, Cobb. His character itself is nothing special, however throughout the film his past of being affiliated with extraction, inception, and a character called Mal, is hinted at and eventually explained at the end, and the explanation and how the ending plays out is something truly marvellous to behold. It is brilliant watching the story's hints and nudges come together into a delicious ending before the film makes its brilliant conclusion. One thing that I must touch on is the strength of the final ten seconds of the film. I won't spoil them, however this ending is what gave this film its rating. This ending is what gave everyone that last spot of fuel, that last little ounce of information to finally make the mind collapse in on itself and for you to turn to your film-going companions and go "WHAAAAAAAAAT!?" And this small difference is what makes “Inception” what it is. “Inception” is, probably, my new favourite film of all time, and a film like that deserves a score of 10/10.
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alice park nursery