Archive for June, 2008
posted by Jess Sains
There has been considerable strife over the last few months,as we live in a mainly rural community with many older people in its demographic, about the closure of post offices. Now the Royal Mail has announced which offices will be closing in Devon, the strife is reaching fever pitch in some areas.
The new ‘mobile’ units will not save much money, they say. The community will be destroyed in my village, they cry. I have to get three uses and cross a deadly 60 mile per-hour limit road in order to get my pension, they bleat. Now, I could say this is what comes of making things that are essentially state business in to businesses, but that is not the question I am posing this week; the thing I am interested in is the politics of ’smaller’ things. The things that people seem to really care about, the things that effect them on a daily basis.
Ireland has caused all kind of trouble in Europe, because the people of the Republic have thrown a spanner in the works b voting ‘no’ to the Lisbon Treaty. Ooops. But, by all accounts this is more because the two camps of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ were split on the issue of abortion and neutrality, rather than European consolidation. Now, this all leads in to European consolidation, I know, because it is about Europe having the power to remove Ireland’s archaic attitudes to abortion (don’t get me started, but I have lived in Ireland for ten years and I am half Irish, so I am allowed an opinion).
So, essentially, the Irish are now thinking like those in the UK. I like European money, just not their interference! Margaret Thatcher saw her party crumble all around her on the question of Europe, she left John Major standing atop the last shaky pieces which eventually fell down, too. Macro-politics, Europe, isn’t it? The big questions: sovereignty, economy, neutrality, rights. The United Kingdom has stood solidly against anyone but us having the final say over any of those things for many years. And yet, with the exception of the Iraq war (when we all thought America was making the decision for us…) we as a people rarely get worked up over the macro-political. We are micro-thinkers, seeing mainly what effects you and yours in the immediate. Petrol prices, strikes, post offices.
And yet, we are still reserved. The French would be out there, with the infamous burning squirrels, whilst we were fussing round signing nicely worded petitions for Gordon Brown.
This is because we are all so divorced from decision making now. The Tories tearing themselves apart gave way to New Labour and they have made government more and more centralised, basically, whilst giving piecemeal offerings of autonomy to Scotland, Wales and the North. We all think the real power still lies in Westminster, which it does. Tony Blair has followed in Thatcher’s footsteps in his own Prime Ministerial leadership, making the office more powerful than ever in British politics. Essentially, giving a little bit of power out to ‘the regions’ and to Europe has been an act Edmund Burke would have approved of; it has meant that by giving away a little power the centralised government has retained more for itself, and looked good in the process.
How can little old me, living in Northern Devon, do anything about what goes on in government? So we sign the petitions and feel like we’ve ‘made our voice heard’ by the powers that be, we don’t vote to show how annoyed we are. And then the powers that be say ‘well, you didn’t vote so you’ve got no right to an opinion’. And so it goes round and round… We, the people, cling to the little things that we feel we can effect, whilst government gets bigger and bigger.
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June 21st, 2008
The weekly technology column from those good people at Plymouth’s
Orange Crate
I wasn’t planning to do another story on robots this week, but I came across this and was forced to change my mind. Meet the teddy bear who will finally put an end to those age-old arguments between driver and navigator. The days when romantic weekend breaks in the countryside could be ruined by wrong turns and upside down maps (all before you even arrive at the hotel) may well be a thing of the past thanks to this fluffy little fellah.
The monotonous and often infuriating vocal orders from your satnav will be nothing but a painful memory of the past – let’s give a warm welcome to the disturbingly friendly navigator of tomorrow…
Developed by the iXs Research Corporation in (you guessed it) Japan, the 12-inch tall bear is designed with six movable joints in its arm and neck, enabling it to verbally direct a driver while making motioning gestures at the same time. In addition, stroke its head and it will give you information about local landmarks.
But it doesn’t stop there. Oh no. Picture this: Friday afternoon after work. You stop for half a pint with a couple of the guys from the office. After finishing said half you make your way into the car park to your car, complete with bearNav (it doesn’t have an official name yet, but BearNav works for me). After switching bearNav on (one can only wonder where the ‘on switch’ is…) a second of silence is followed by a friendly voice saying: “You haven’t been drinking, have you?” That’s right folks, he’s fitted with an alcohol detection sensor.
Embedded in its neck, the sensor is supposed to be a deterrent against drink driving. Also included is a sensor that detects reckless driving - harsh stops and wild cornering will result in the bear crying: “Watch out!” Sounds to me as if many of these bears are going to end up with a lot more than sensors embedded in their necks…
iXs Research have also talked of developing various shapes and sizes of these systems, not just sticking to the bear design but creating other characters too. With a release planned for as early as 2009, the bearNav is already in quite a developed state and could be seen in the UK by the end of next year. So how long until we see mutilated teddy bears strewn at the roadside whilst still pointing out directions? Not long, I would guess.
So stick to driving your taxi Rupert, it’s better for everyone that way.
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June 20th, 2008
posted by Cptn
[myspacetv 35828269]
Mounting the Scaffold - The Weaver Twins. Directed by Darren Jones
As Mounting the Scaffold, the lastest Weaver Twins music video, is hot off the press and still a little moist, those film fanatics over at D+CFilm decided to get in touch with the pop video power house that is Monkey Zombie – that’s Mr Monkey Zombie to you (or Darren Jones) to find out what’s what in him movie-making mind.
Find out more, read the interview on D+CFilm.
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June 19th, 2008
Sarah Clarke of The Torbay Bookshop reviews the latest releases.
Frances Osbourne’s great grandmother, Idina Sackville, is the subject of The Bolter, and is the story of her scandalous life in the 1920s. Part of high society at the time, and the inspiration for Nancy Mitford’s character also known as The Bolter, she gained a truly terrible reputation after running off to Africa, living it up amongst the Happy Valley Set, and marrying and divorcing a total of five times. Using family letters and diaries, it is an entertaining and fascinating read.
The Bolter, Frances Osborne, Little Brown, £18.99
• The Torbay Bookshop is one of the leading independent booksellers - visit it online.
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June 19th, 2008
posted by Cptn
We got in touch with South West MEP Giles Chichester last week. With shadow frontbencher David Davis falling on Britannia’s sword of justice forged in the fire of a magma crater (of course we mean Magna Carter) over the issue of 48 days detention, we wondered where that left the Tory European Parliamentarian and his expenses.
Take it away Giles:
“I have used my family company as a service provider to support my parliamentary work since I was elected to the European Parliament in 1994. The activities of the company have been openly logged with Companies House in the UK, and it has an official contract formally registered with the European Parliament. It has been my understanding that this arrangement has, at all times, been fully compatible with the parliamentary rules.
“Eighteen months ago, I received a letter from the Quaestors’ office suggesting there might be a conflict of interest regarding the company.
“I replied to this letter setting out my belief that the arrangements were fully in compliance with the rules of Parliament. I received no response from the Parliament authorities.
“Following recent press reports regarding the use of my parliamentary allowances, I personally sought a meeting yesterday with the European parliamentary services to clarify the situation. At this meeting I was informed that there had been a change in the rules relating to service providers, a change that took effect in 2003. This had not been brought to my attention when I renewed the contract in 2004, again registering it with the Parliament. As a result of this information, I immediately cancelled the contract with the company.
“I will now work with the Parliament services to provide a detailed breakdown of all monies received and expended since 2003 which will demonstrate they are fully accounted for. In addition, I will set out in detail the circumstances surrounding the technical breach of the rules to the Party Chairman, and make available to her a full statement of my parliamentary expenses as requested.
“At all times, I have acted in good faith within the original parliamentary rules, and what I believed the current rules of the European Parliament still to be. I recognise that it was my responsibility to have learned about the change in rules. I confirm that there has been no misappropriation of any funds.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all colleagues for the adverse publicity that this has understandably created.”
Thanks for that Giles – and we’re sure you mean to apologise to your constituents, too. Bureaucracy, ehh?
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June 19th, 2008
posted by Cptn
Keep on eye out and join in what sounds like a thrilling combination of dance, music hall, daring feats and swimming lessons, which is Inhale and Hold – an endurance event which will splash its way through Devon from north to south between July 10 and 14.
Plopping between all kinds of waterside locations – lido, riverbank, moat and shore (and possibly even puddle) – an intrepid group of four dancing men, plus lifeguard’s tower, will be accompanied by a miniature band, for their dancing take on the water courses of the county.
It’s all part of the Big Dance, and this element, which is called Ripples: Inhale and Hold is led by Sarah Shorten, who is renowed for creating dance in unusual spaces and places.
With nose plugs, swimming caps and flippers (not to mention aqua-lung) at the ready, we here at the PRSD will be following their progress through the eight locations. Everyone is invited, but be sure not to eat for at least an hour before the event… p’raps.
Follow the action at
Thursday July 10, 12.30 pm - The Manor, Lynmouth,
Thursday July 10, 5.30 pm - Landmark Beach, Ilfracombe
Friday July 11, 1.30 pm - Grand Western Canal Country Park, Canal Basin, Tiverton
Friday July 11, 7.00 pm - Hatherleigh Community Centre (river)
Saturday July 12, 12.30 pm - Roadford Lake, Okehampton
Saturday July 12, 7.00pm - Dartington Hall (riverside)
Sunday July 13, 2.00 pm - Moretonhampstead Swimming Pool
Sunday July 13, 5.30 pm - Tinside Pool, Plymouth
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June 18th, 2008
posted by Cptn
Devon water inspires creativity, and those up in a corner of north Dartmoor imbibe deep and long from their own brand of Adam’s ale. So it makes sense that they share the water, the air and some of their expertise in the form of Dartmoor Arts Summer School, an eight-day project with an array of art courses with tutors who are at the top of their game.
They got in touch to explain a bit more about the phenomenon – and to get you to take part.
“The little village of Drewsteignton on the north-east edge of Dartmoor was treated to the influx of over a hundred lively art students last summer as the Dartmoor Arts Project was launched and a new art summer school began. The visitors in turn had the chance to spend their days involved in courses in and around the village in some of the most lovely Devon landscape, doing anything from iron-casting, cob sculpture or poetry, to documentary film-making, stone-carving or experimental ceramics. In the evening the students made their way to the back room of the local pub for supper and artists’ talks or music, stand up comedy, a drink or two and a bit of dancing.
“Of course, nowadays there are a lot of art courses on offer but this set up is a little bit unique. The organisers are primarily artists themselves who want to create a buzz of excitement about making art and sharing the experience with others. They want it to allow the people who take part to be learning and discussing without fear, refreshing their enthusiasm and, if they wish, engaging in some good open critical debate. Too often hands and head are considered alternatives but this school is committed to the idea that being good with your hands and your eyes and being able to think critically can and should go together.
“So despite what many people think, doing something in a small rural environment does not mean it has to be woolly or second-rate. In fact, in the same way as The Dartington Music Summer School brings to South Devon students of all age groups and ability levels to mix with top-level performers, so Dartmoor Arts is aiming high. Last year, Anthony Gormley and David Mach came to Drewsteignton and both gave sell-out public talks.
“The tutors too are a varied and interesting collection of artists, most with huge experience and some big international reputations and others young and keen -hand-picked from a big collection of hopefuls.
“Alan Lee, the reknowned illustrator and Oscar-winning creative designer on ‘The Lord of the Rings’ film trilogy, gave an illustrated lecture but also taught the course which he called ‘Drawing for Design’. He opened his own garden and drawing studio to his group of students and they enjoyed three days of really focused and stretching sessions with the gentle maestro.
“Andy Brown who ran a course on bird poetry, is the acclaimed Director of Creative Writing at Exeter University and this year he is going to be joined by John Burnside who is widely acknowledged as Britain’s foremost ecopoet.
“Digital photography was taught by Chris Chapman, loved particularly in the South West for his television programmes about Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Somerset levels, but famous and respected for his beautiful black and white photographs documenting the changing life of moorland farming communities.
“The cob sculpture tutors, Jackie Abey and Jill Smallcombe are a dynamic and enthusiastic twosome who have arrived at their work with cob via painting and sculpture respectively. Invited to lecture in India and just recently to do a stand at the Earl’s Court exhibition, Ecobuild, they have become real authorities in their field doing projects which range from small buildings to sculptural installations. Their course merges a great mixture of muddy, messy experience with a real willingness to try anything. One young student last year was determined, despite gravity, to make hanging cob sculptures and, with their help, succeed she did.
“Danny Adams on the other hand is a quiet and serious young painter who amazingly managed to happily sustain a two-week course of outdoor landscape painting despite rainy English weather through endless in-depth attention to his individual students’ work. During the worst of the weather, he arranged to take his students off to make visits to other artists’ studios in the area which turned out in fact to be a very popular element of the whole experience.
“In sharp contrast is the course run by Andy Griffiths, seriously experienced iron foundryman and sculptor. His course is something of an event/performance starting with mould-making and culminating in a bravura iron pour with all the students clad in visors and massive protective gear taking part in the dramatic finale.
“Students on the stone carving course were primarily taught by Peter Randall-Page, who is one the instigators of the summer school, and Simon Thomas both successful and passionate sculptors. Such is their enthusiasm for the whole pursuit, their students benefitted from a constant stream of their friends and fellow sculptors who dropped by and joined in as extra visiting tutors.
“This year Simon and Peter’s enthusiasm has led them to come up with a new idea for a course they want to teach together, focusing on their shared passion for natural form. Last year shortly before the summer school, Peter completed the monumental granite sculpture ‘Seed’ which was installed at the Eden Project and whose form was entirely based on plant geometries whilst Simon’s work has for a long time been concerned with fundamental principles underlying structures in nature. He has had long and fruitful associations with the Maths and Physics departments at Bristol University working precisely with this focus. They are calling their new course ‘Pattern and Structure’.
“The summer school aims itself at emerging artists and people of all ages and experience who are genuinely interested in making art. So the people who participated last year were enormously varied. There were students from art schools who wanted a week with fresh, unpressurised input -some from Glasgow School of Art, The Royal College, Brighton and Falmouth. Others were just looking to try their hand at something different. An experienced furniture designer who usually works in wood enrolled on the stone carving course and found the whole process so exciting and reinvigorating he has since been seen buying blocks of stone and tools. Some will just have signed up to get together with other artists and have a fresh eye on their work. Robin Dutson, one of the main organisers appreciates that it is not only the tangible take-home result but also the whole experience which is important.
“He said: ‘The summer school has been set up to create an environment which allows experimental and playful approaches to art-making.’ Robin was a student on the drawing class and its interesting and characteristic of the project that many of the tutors and organisers participated in courses as students themselves.
• The Dartmoor Arts Project Summer School runs from Saturday July 26 to Saturday August 2. Visit the Dartmoor Arts Project website to book.
• Read more about the Queens of Cob, on the PRSD
• Read more about Peter Randall-Page, on the PRSD
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June 18th, 2008
Regular readers of the republic will have noticed that we’ve been banging on about Devon’s connection to Yeats. We got in touch with artist Michael Buckland, Yeats aficionado and resident artist at the Farringdon Society of Arts, to give us the low-down.
The Theban Chorus – Antigone Condemed by Michael Buckland, part of the FSA’s cultural offering on the Yeats tour
The Irish painter Jack Butler Yeats is less well known outside Ireland than his brother, the poet W B Yeats. However, Yeats can claim to be Ireland’s greatest artist of the 20th century. His distinctive oil paintings, romantic and expressionist in tone, draw upon the land and seascape of the west of Ireland. He also painted the circus, horse racing, fleeting moments of daily life and the streets and bars of Dublin.
This most Irish of artists was in fact born in London in 1871. He spent much of his childhood living with his grand parents in Sligo, but then moved back to London where he married. In 1897 he moved to Strete in Devon. During this period he worked in watercolour, having his first exhibition in London in the same year. This consisted of mostly Devon subjects. His mother’s ancestors, the Pollexfens, had lived at Kitley House, near Plymouth, which is now a hotel. Yeats’s grandfather, William Pollexfen was born in Brixham in 1811, the son of a Cornishman.
In 1910 Yeats moved to Ireland for good, first to County Wicklow then to Dublin. His painting became looser and broader in treatment as he grew older, often drawing on memory and recollection. He exhibited regularly in Dublin and abroad, his work selling well.
I came to know his work about 35 years ago and travelled to Ireland in search of the ‘Yeats spirit’. I painted watercolours in Galway, but did not make it to Sligo, although I saw his work in Dublin. His energy of drawing and fluid colours have stayed with me since then. I now paint in Devon where Jack B started his career over a hundred years ago.
• Read Stella Mew (chief exec of the Yeats Society) interview with the PRSD.
• As part of the Yeats cultural trail, the Farringdon Society of Arts put on a performance of Seamus Heaney’s Burial at Thebes Sample, listen to the actors behind the stage during the rehearsals and check out the of the programme from Phig Billy (who will be holding a comic workshop on Saturday June 21)
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June 18th, 2008
posted by Cptn
If you’ve been a little curious about what people are on about when they put ‘Humanist’ in the spot for religion on their Facebook profile, then pop along to Birdwood House in Totnes on Thursday June 26 at 7.30pm.
Local celebrants, Jonathan Taylor, Stephen Peckham and Ann Mitchell will talk about their role in naming ceremonies, weddings and funerals (the picture is John Opie’s protrait of Mary Wollstonecraft - humanist and mother for Frankstein’s mother, so to speak).Further more information, telephone local Humanist contact Hazel Fuller on 01803 864156 or visit the Devon Humanists website.
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June 17th, 2008
posted by Cptn
Equality South West has got in touch with information about a publication which highlights human rights issues for those with learning difficulties.
The guide uses examples from the everyday situations, ‘from work, supported housing, day services and dealing with the local council to illustrate how human rights apply to people’s everyday lives’.
In the blurb Justice Minister Michael Wills said: ‘Human rights are for everyone, especially the most vulnerable in our society. This easily accessible booklet sets out the purpose of the Human Rights Act and the protections it affords.’
Download the guide.
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June 17th, 2008
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