Devon Eccentric Colin Shaddick (no it’s official – he came third in this year’s competition), dropped us a poetic line to explain a bit about the origins of his award-winning eccentricity. You could get more of an insight at the Salon del Eccentrica, an Eccentric evening at the Broomhill Art Hotel, Barnstaple on Thursday, June 18 at 7.30pm.

Eccentric! Who, Me?

Maybe this is how it all started?

Imagined kazoo solo.
One hooded and very blue day
when I was at a most sensitive stage,
I was struggling
to wring some temperate words

from the chilly language

that shot to-and-fro,

above my rattling head.

I decided to try out

a few investigational expressions of my own.

I needed to make my mark:

draw a line in the sand.

I waited for a fleeting lull

in the daily hubbub

that continually clanged

from the pots and pans

in the steamy kitchen.

I made my entrance

and Mother turned towards me,

her arms now motionless

and her reddened elbows quivered

just above the popping soapsuds

and waited for the off.

I smiled, and determined to show off my verbal skills,

began my tirade…

They were not well-received words.

I was not allowed to continue with my experiment.

My father hurriedly interjected

and promised he would give me a thick ear…

in a minute.

I had no memory of him giving me anything, before.

I was totally flabbergasted

when he said he’d give me something -

and so speedily too.

I so wanted him to give me something.

I then pictured myself with one thick ear…

and decided it would look quite daft.

I told him that I thought it would look daft,

but he took no notice

and he up and gave me one anyway.

But it wasn’t within the minute!

No.

He said he’d give me one…

in a minute.

It took much longer than a minute.

By the time my thick ear arrived,

a good twenty minutes or so had passed!

Can incidents like the one I’ve just described above,

have a lasting affect on a person’s life?

Time moved on and I slipped inaudibly along with it…

Then, one day it happened –

I think I said something like,

Eccentric…Eccentric!

Who, me?

I’d never given much thought to eccentricity, really…

that is until they said I was eccentric.

They, were the British Broadcasting Corporation.

An eccentric was the last thing I’d contemplated being.

After all, as far as I was concerned

it wasn’t me who was heading in the wrong direction!

Vivid pictures then began to flow through my mind:

eccentrics as mad, frizzy-haired inventors,

or mumbling white-coated professors

ensconced in leaded-light, oak-panelled lodgings …

Stereotype images like that.

So, how did I get into this situation?
I vividly remember my dad treating me like an outsider,
but my mum often said she thought I was an artist

and that poetry was the most noble art.

So, when I left school and flew the uncomfortable nest,

I knuckled-down and made a new start.

I bought myself a Moleskine notebook… in black.

The sort that all the best poets

painters and composers are said to use.

It had an elastic band to hold it tightly shut…

(for when I wasn’t ready for the muse.)

With tried and tested equipment like that

how on earth could any decent publisher refuse?

But I’d get this recurring dream.
“Oh,” I’d be saying out loud.
“If I held the post of ‘Chair of Professor of Poetry’

at a famous old university,

I’d kiss goodbye to adversity.”

I’d be repeating this phrase over and over.

But, I’d be as happy as old Larry.

What a great way

to spend each and every busy-buzzing day.

I’d just tarry… there,

reading piles of good books, (and my guitar mags)

and every so often, quietly gaze down

from my dusty old window

at the pigeons pecking and puffing themselves up

on a perfectly manicured lawn,

in the quaint and quiet quadrangle.

I’d chat to the poetry students

in a fatherly-like way.

(They have scant knowledge

about anything in the real world,

you know.)

“This is the way poetry’s done,”

I would say to each one,

then show them a selection of

my very popular

self-published pamphlets.

They would probably pipe-up and say,

“Caw that’s brilliant, that is, sir.”

Then I’d rock back on my heels

and say to them: “Off you go then.

Order yourselves some copies from Mr Jenkins,

in the lovely old library downstairs,

and give ’em a good read.

But, no cheating though.

Make up some of your own stuff.”

They would then say,

“Oh, sir, pleeease!”

Then I’d relent and say:

“Well, go on then,

but change the words about a bit.”

I’d tap out my pipe on the pitted stone window ledge

and chuckle to myself, muttering quietly:

“Huh, bloody kids, who’d ’ave ’em?”

Then I’d sing a little song.
Who drew

the very thin line

between sanity and madness? (X3)

Who drew,
who… drew… it?

‘Aren’t all eccentrics bonkers, though,

and think of nothing other than their pet subjects,

and even if they attempted to repair the most simple of things

they’d turn out to be bodgings?

‘Their heads are in the clouds.’

That’s what people say.

Then again,

I do tend to engage my brain before my mouth

and some people have to wait ages

to get an answer.

Sometimes it can be as long as…

say, a goose would take

to complete its hazardous journey south.

I don’t always mean to be rude,

but you should understand

that I like a lot of solitude.

It’s not that I’m particularly shy,

it’s just because…that’s why.

‘An eccentric slice of a British way of life’,

that’s how I was described…

and all because I wrote Japanese-type verse

called haiku.

They thought it rather strange that I sometimes compose

when I’m riding on my baiku.

They wanted me on Radio 4.

I was to talk to Clare Balding about my poetic style,

and while I was explaining it, she would interject a bit.

It was something new for their programme, Ramblings.

Ramblings is a broadcast where everything depends

on supposedly interesting folk and their amblings.

That’s how the final die was cast.

Normality, for me, had breathed its last.

I was now officially ‘Eccentric’

and the BBC had nailed me to their mast.

Whatever happens in the future

as a result of this whirl of eccentricity…

will be secondary.

But that crowning moment

at the ‘Eccentric Club’ will always remain

with me and be the best,

because it’s where I got my title:

‘The Great British Eccentric 2009.’

I’d passed their test.

It now gives me the opportunity

to get so many dark secrets off my chest.
And did you know that…

If you say the word

kazoo, backwards,

it reads, oozak?

It then sounds more

like a question:

‘Oozak?’

That’s probably why

they never called

it that.

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Totnes, you know the constituency of everyone’s favourite mansion-owning MP, Anthony Steen, will be the setting a protest against the BNP’s Euro Election gains today (June 13).

There is no rise in the BNP, they have the same share of the bigoted and ignorant vote they have ever had.

Doesn’t mean we should ever be complacent in exposing and opposing the ‘BNP or any organisation which promotes racial, sexual orientation or religious intolerance’, as they say in the letter they want people to sign.

The problem is the rise of antipathy towards politicians – the active opting out and not voting that took place during the elections.

The Totnes MP was a big part of that pre-election atmosphere of political dislocation with his expenses claims, his offer to pay back 10 per cent and his assertion that the way he spent public money was nothing to do with anyone but him, what with us all being jealous of his lifestyle.

Sure, poor old Anthony Steen wasn’t the only MP caught out, and at least he wasn’t ‘flipping’ – the act of switching a nominated second home to maximise financial benefits. Steeny-boy was just chancing his arm when he supposed protecting his trees from rabbits in Totnes was fundamental in his representing the Totnes people in Parliament.

Totnes town councillor and former Totnes mayor David Horsburgh, told thisissouthdevon: “We must take a stand against the BNP and any form of racism.

“If not, we could sleepwalk into a Nazi-style state, as happened in Germany in the 1930s. We must take action, and take it now.”

We would add to ensure people are engaged in the political process, at least the letter they are sending to the ‘local press and media’ and all the councils will urge support of more affordable housing, improvements to schools, employment initiatives, ‘all of which reduce the climate that breeds ugly, divided communities and which give a security instead,’

Let’s wait and see what’s in store from the new Conservative-led county council on June 25 when they officially announce what they’ll be up to.

Meanwhile, the town council has a vacancy.

The protest takes place in the town between 10am and noon.

posted by Cptn

• We’re pulling together some questions for new Totnes Rural County Councillor Paula Black from the Green Party. If you’d like to join in, pop on over the People’s Republic of South Devon crowd sourcing site to offer your views.

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A few things over on D+CFilm have caught our eye this week, not least South West Screen’s notion that naming something after a Devon myth alienates people from up-country.

Exeter filmmaker Ashley Thorpe has funding for the latest in his Penny Dreadful series The Hairy Hands from the regional champion (that’s a reference to South West Screen, by the way), but they want to change the title to something, well, a little less Devon.

“I think they’re missing the point and the source of the appeal,” says writer, director and independent filmmaker of the year award winner, who’s recently had his films shown at Cannes, Ashley.

We say it sounds like the thin edge of the culturally homogenized wedge. Have your say over on D+CFilm.

Also on the site is a behind the scenes of the latest Ashley Wing film Robbing Peter, a darkly humorous tale from what we can gather (and a bit of a who’s who in the South Devon filmmaking scene).

Other stories include the announcement of a screenwriter talk at the Exeter Phoenix and a documentary filmmaking course as part of the Dartmoor Arts Summer School.

Got films or film stories, get in touch with D+CFilm on info@devon-cornwall-film.co.uk

posted by Cptn

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Are you talented Tenor? Dartington International Summer School is looked for one to be the dastard Pinkerton in Madam Buterfly.

The role is part of the summer school’s Advanced Opera course, which runs from August 15 to August 30. According to them it’s aninvaluable opportunity for singers on the threshold of their professional careers.

Plus there’s a 100% bursary available for this position, which includes all accommodation, food and course fees are included, plus access to concerts.

If you’re interested, you’ve got to at least prove you can carry a tune in a bucket and send a short recording and a CV to summerschool@dartington.org

posted by Cptn

For more arts stories, visit arts+culture

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Just two days to go for the European and the county election and we’ve got more election messages that could fit in a Tweet, and some evidence that the Devon election is simmering up nicely.

Sure evidence that the campaign is hotting up is that mover shaker and (Labour PPC for South Devon) Luke Pollard has continued the campaign in Woolwell, Ivybridge: “We’ve delivered 4,000 of these this weekend http://twitpic.com/6ct4k,” he Tweeted.

Only to be followed by: “Boo. Being out numbered by Tory canvassers in Woolwell. Encouragement not to give up!”

And: “Just met lib dem candidate who said labour were doing a great job in ivybridge, with more leaflets than LDs ”

All good stuff.

Now to the election words

East Devon
Stuart Hughes: To ensure your money is spent wisely and protect services in Sidmouth, keep council tax down, support local economy and jobs
Conservative candidate for Sidmouth Sidford

Teignbridge
Sally Morgan: Hard working and effective. Mum and primary school teacher. We change the world by education-just not the way we’re doing it!
Lib Dem candidate for Bovey Tracey Rural

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Animated Exeter is more than just watching cartoons, there’s a whole programme of workshops and development to ‘increase the awareness of animation and the digital moving image’. Plus it’s a whole lotta fun. Now the festival is after an education and training officer to assist in its work with schools, colleges and young people in the South West.

With a full fee of £4,500 (that’s £150 a day for 30 days), the project should start in July (the deadline for applications is June 8).

For more on the job, pop over to D+CFilm.

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It’s day two of Walk to School Week, and this year’s theme, Walk ‘n’ Talk, is giving rise to a Devon County Council competition to design a cartoon journey to school which features a speech bubble conversation. It all sounds like a great photo-story opportunity to the former ‘Jackie’ readers in the PRSD offices.

Most Devon schools have a Travel Plan, through which they promote sustainable school travel, include the TravelWise award for the school and the Walk the Wizard Way for students.

With air quality is creeping up the political agenda, sustainable travel, especially to school, could well feature more heavily in campaigns.

posted by Cptn

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Devon is set to become greener with the prospect of a new learning centre at Royal Horticultural Society’s Rosemoor garden.

Planning permission has been granted for the new centre, and half the £1 million has been met from Devon County Council’s Investing in Devon fund, while the garden’s education team get set to increase the number of primary school children they teach each year from 3,500 to 6,000.

The building, designed by Devon-based ecological architects Gale and Snowdon, will link the main garden with the woodland area. It will contain two indoor classrooms, educational facilities, an outdoor covered area for activities and a teaching garden in the woodland clearing.

The ecologically friendly design includes natural ventilation and lighting and wood fuelled heating. Construction is scheduled to begin in July with completion due in early 2010.

posted by Cptn

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The Devon Arts in Schools Initiative (that’s DAISI to you) is after a project manager with a hieroglyphic salary of 0.8 FTE @ £19,801 p.a. pro rata, which could sound like a lot – we haven’t been able to work it out.

The job as a project manager is based in Exeter to promote and stimulate in the range of projects they have on offer.

For more details visit the PRSD jobs page.

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There will be a compost giveaway in Victoria Woodholme car park in Buckfastleigh on Saturday, April 25 – but get there early, apparently it goes like… something… off a shovel.

The event is due to start at 10am and runs until 1pm, or until stocks run out – up to five bags of compost can be claimed per person.

Also in attendance will be Go Green, a not-for-profit recycling and composting company promoting their green waste collection service, which puts money back into children’s projects, such as helping local schools by providing compost.

And Buck the Trend, an environmental group from Buckfastleigh, will be running a plant/seed swap on the day.

Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge Executive spokesperson for environmental services, told the PRSD: “Our free compost giveaways always prove popular, and I’d encourage anyone who’d like to claim some to come along early in the day. It’s a big help if people bring their own bags, but we will have a limited supply available too.

“Teignbridge residents do a superb job making the district one of the best recyclers in the entire country, and we’re now fourth in the national top-ten. As a thank you we’re offering top quality compost absolutely free – all you have to do is come along and claim it!”

• There will be more free compost giveaways in June. Check out the Teignbridge recycling page for more.

posted by Cptn

(Image: members of Teignbridge’s recycling team at a previous giveaway – Belinda Ayres, Pete White and Tracey Fey.)

.

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The parade’s on!

A parade, which will also celebrate Lammas, will mark the start of Exeter Summer Festival, and incorporate large-scale sculptures, banners, masks and music from schools and communities throughout the city.

The parade, and workshops, are available because the city council managed to pick up a Grants for the Arts Award, which Exeter City Council.

The themes of big colourful things made by the community will run throughout the parade and  the free evening party on the Quay.

The itinerary for the event reads thusly (notice the proclamation type langauge):

At midday on Friday, June 12, The Lord Mayor of Exeter, accompanied by a colourful circus-themed parade, will be escorted from Paris Street, along the High Street to the Guildhall to read the Lammas proclamation.

Once the parade leaves the Guildhall it will pass through Cathedral Green and the Exeter Craft festival and through Princesshay back to Southernhay.

And the party on the Quay will be rounded off with a firework display.

posted by Cptn

• A parade and party are always good for morale. Any more tips for Summer Festivals? Leave a comment

(image: Exeter Quay, scene of the free party on June 2)

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Fancy a career as a vet, in a zoo? Paignton Zoo is running the Zoo Vet Experience on Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16.

The day is aimed at young people between the ages of 11 and 15 to give them a chance to experience life as a zoo vet.

Zoo educator Katy Barton told the PRSD what to expect: “Young people will be able to examine x-rays, learn about micro-chipping, discover how and why zoos train animals, see the post-mortem room and examine samples of real animal poo and hair under the microscope.”

Ghislaine Sayers, Head of Veterinary Services at Paignton Zoo, said: “The aim is to give them a real sense of what it is like to be a vet or vet nurse. I didn’t get the chance to do anything like this when I was at school. I was inspired to go into veterinary science by working on farms and having lots of pets.”

But if you haven’t bagged your place, you won’t be able to get a chance, either. The Zoo Vet Experience day is fully booked this time round. But maybe next time? The days are organised by the Paignton Zoo Education Department.

• It’s not uncommon to hear of animals changing zoos, but Paignton zoo has gone one step further and is exchanging zoo keepers.

Mammal keeper at Paignton Zoo, Nicky Jago, is changing places with a keeper at the primate section of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo from April 18.

Nicky is also swapping large parts of her life – including home, car and job – with Laura Fidler from Taronga’s primate team, who will spend three months working at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park.

Nicky works on Paignton Zoo’s monkey section, caring for Diana monkeys, Sulawesi crested black macaques and colobus monkeys, among others. “I think I will miss the monkeys on my section, my colleagues – and spring in the zoo,” she said.

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