Clacton Arts & Literary Society

Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Caledon-The Princes theatre-Arts and Lits 5/3/2012.

What an absolutely super conclusion to a very successful season!The sheer
magic weaved by these sensational entertainers and their extraordinary
accompanist who thrilled us also with a solo version of the recently deceased
Jerry Rafferty`s song-Baker Street.

This was entertainment at it’s finest and the packed audience were rewarded
for making the trip to the theatre on a miserable, cold winter’s night were it
rained all day and was still doing so when we all left- `washed out` inside
(and out!) by the experience! The programme was composed of traditional tunes
expertly proffered (with so much enthusiasm) and `stamping ` their individual
style on the arrangements.

`A Thousand miles` was the second `encore`(we just did not want them to
finish)-this had the audience totally mesmerised and on their feet-clapping. A
very varied evening of music proving yet again that  `live `entertainment` is
far superior to anything the other media have to offer.

Jennifer Kersey.

Making a living from the land isn’t, nor has ever been, straightforward and a
guaranteed way of becoming financially secure.

Many still have the image of the farmer as the local squire who roams around
his estate in a luxurious car, surveying his `empire with a sort of regal
stance. Not so! It`s jolly hard work(just look at the current statistics of
suicides in this section of the community?) and for the lowly farmer it is a
daily cycle of `mucking out`, milking, herding, ploughing, picking and to say
nothing of the constant need to repair/renew  all the implements that go `hand
in hand` with farming, past and present.

Where I originate (I’m now an established `Essex girl`-and proud of it)there
used to be a saying-“you’ll never see a farmer on a pushbike”-implying that they
were all monetarily secure-maybe so for some, but not without tremendous effort
and long, hard working days.

This was made very apparent by the fascinating talk given by  Alex
Langlands and Peter Ginn, presenters of the `Edwardian farm` a
documentary programme currently running on BBC television.

The talk was interspersed with beautiful, nature video clips and many
photographs. Throughout the talk they were ever keen to emphasize that this was
a `hands on project` and they had to engage in all activities, in every type of
weather- from building outhouses for pigs, thatching, to ploughing fields with
traditional farm implements and digging out cesspits!

Anecdotes abounded -there were lighter moments, for example, when Alex told
us how he managed to defeat the sometimes insane and sometimes ludicrous `health  and safety `laws (which seem to abound in every aspect of life)“I just keep
schtum”(Jewish-`tight lipped`) so not telling the commissioning company(who have  their own team of `experts`, looking into all areas of `potential danger`) thus  avoiding  the resultant `forbidden` clause and the mountains of paperwork
which may ensue if he revealed that he was climbing on a high roof without his
shoes on, or eating strawberries grown on land that has a minute trace of
arsenic in the ground!!

A well presented evening, with ease of speaking and plenty of humorous
`banter`from both presenters.

Ruth Goodman (fellow presenter) could not be with us because of family
commitments.

Jennifer Kersey

The members of the Arts and Literary Society were delighted to receive the best wishes of HRH the Prince of Wales when Ian Skelly came to the Society to tell us about the work of the Prince and the philosophy behind it.

Ian Skelly, a broadcaster and writer, who has worked with the Prince for many years, gave a very erudite talk with many illustrations.  When considering any project, be it to do with farming, nature, architecture etc he emphasised the need to acknowledge the wisdom of the past and to complete everything in such a way that ensures a sustainable future.   This was a thought provoking and interesting glimpse into the way the Prince of Wales sees  his role.

The evening was sponsored by an anonymous donor in recognition of all the work done by volunteers and charity trustees in the community

Audrey Owens
Press Officer

For years the media and some rather `unfunny` contemporary `comedians`
(most of them are pathetic and without expletives and hurtful humour would
have no act at all!!) have parodied and ridiculed Prince Charles for his
somewhat un-orthodox views on many and varied subjects.

I have most definitely not been one of those happy with this opinion expressed
and neither (I suspect) are the many others in the society, in attendance for the
talk given by his close associate and adviser-Ian Skelly.
This very articulate person proceeded to tell us with minute detail about how
we used to understand and conserve the planet’s `fruits` in all areas and how,
over recent years, much has been lost by those who would advocate that
because it`s `old fashioned` then it must be no good and therefore needs to be
pulled down or got rid of!

The `replacements`, in many and vast area, have created their own problems
for the environment and now we are reaping the results of this mass lunacy!
His very articulate and engrossing speech gave us an insight into the invaluable
work the Prince undertakes-he is not a man without vision, but very caring
and is genuinely interested in conservation.

He does not advocate that we go back to `living in caves` but that all our
actions should be well thought out beforehand and the results must outweigh
the initial input and be environmentally friendly-we, rightly, are being pressed
to think more about the waste and rape of this earth ,where we all are
`caretakers` for future generations.

Wanton wastage (whilst many can hardly survive on meagre daily
consumption) the cutting down of rain forests at alarming rate, the subsequent
damage they do to the soil (to say nothing of the loss of CO2 to O2 conversion
they do) bland architecture, that can have a devastating effect on communities,
and chemical treatment of the land-these are all part of the Prince’s plan to
obliterate or at least reduce this trend and he is trying desperately to get
`uncaring man` to realise this must now happen, regardless of the financial
cost!

The questions asked by the audience towards the end of the presentation were
answered economically, thoughtfully and truthfully.
Another thoroughly fascinating evening-just where will we go next-Cindy
Hardy has the answer to that question?

Jennifer Kersey(painted lady)

The members of the Arts and Literary Society experienced an evening of delightful political nonsense as Michael Portillo portrayed his life in politics and after.There were non-stop jokes about various happenings in parliament to start his lecture, which was followed by his life history. This started with his father who escaped from Spain when General Franco won the civil war as he was on the opposite side whilst his brothers fought for General Franco. Apparently his father was impressed by British democracy.

Michael was an extremely interesting and lively speaker who told his life story in a very frank and amusing way. He answered many varied questions from the audience for nearly an hour, was never lost for words or honest answers to questions on politics, his various journeys on the railway for the BBC and almost anything else the members could throw at him.

The evening was attended by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Tendring District Council and was sponsored by Thompson, Smith and Puxon, Solicitors

Audrey Owens
Press Officer