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If planners had had their way in the
1960’s the A27 Lewes bypass would have been called
the Inner Relief Road and it would have gone right through
the centre of town, splitting us into North and South
Lewes, connected only by a bridge and a tunnel. If planners
had had their way, the Cuilfail Tunnel would not have
existed and all the buildings on the west side of South
Street (the Snowdrop side) would now have been part
of a dual carriageway. If planners had had their way,
the tunnel they finally agreed to would have gone under
Cliffe and come out in Morris Road. Luckily, planners
didn’t have their way. Thankfully the people in
Lewes (most importantly the Friends of Lewes Group)
got together and objected to these plans. They made
a fuss, they demonstrated, they won.
That was in the 60’s and 70’s. Are the people
of Lewes still politically pro-active? Will people still
get angry about plans that will adversely affect them?
Will we just watch as a vast incinerator is built down
the road in Newhaven, a new high-rise housing estate
goes up on the riverside area that is now the Phoenix
Industrial Estate, and Tesco doubles in size? Let’s
hope not. We shouldn’t be against change per se.
But we must be against change for the worse. If we don’t
do anything, this town will change out of all recognition
and our children will be asking us why we let it happen.
Now is the time for action. Enjoy the week.
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Above: Robert Tavener’s
Downs (page 15); Cover: Sue Barnes’
Ghost Cars courtesy of the Chalk Gallery
| To receive a free
edition of Viva Lewes in your inbox every week, please
click here. |
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Issue 12 |
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Art:
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Shape,
Pattern, Colour (15) |
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Bricks
& Mortar: |
St Michael-in-Lewes
(25) |
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Cinema: |
The Constant
Gardner (12); Crash
(8); March of the Penguins (18);
V for Vendetta (21) |
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Classical
Music: |
The Gaudier
Ensemble (9) |
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Folk:
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Martin
Carthy, Norma Waterson & Chris Parkinson
(5) |
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Gigs:
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The Kondoms
(13); Alvin Sawdust
(14) |
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Issues:
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Phoenix
Development (2, 23, 27) |
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Jazz: |
Paul Lacey
Quintet (6) |
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Kids:
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Jason &
the Argonauts (10); Pond dipping
(11); Wheels (7) |
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Live
Literature: |
Al Alvarez
(20) |
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Lunch: |
The Pelham
Arms (26) |
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Mother’s
Day: |
Do the
right thing (16) |
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My
Lewes: |
Ruth O’Keeffe
(24) |
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Nature: |
Pond dipping
(12) |
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Photography: |
Michael
Griffiths (28) |
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Racing:
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Plumpton
Countryside Meeting (19) |
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Talk: |
Chile -
a Long Thin Journey (4) |
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Theatre:
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Visible
(22); Jason & the Argonauts (10) |
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Walk: |
Jevington-Litlington
(17); The Phoenix Industrial
Estate (27) |
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It’s V for
Vendetta time, and Mr. Fawkes has a score to settle
with Lewes (page 21) |
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3 |
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Thursday
23rd March |
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Talk - Chile
- A Long Thin Journey
Retired Lewes vet David Lang, an enthusiastic botanist
and writer, was arrested by a Kalashnikov-toting soldier
the last time he went to his favourite haunt, Himalaya,
so last year he decided to try a trip to Chile instead.
He travelled from Santiago in Chile to Cape Horn with
a local guide, taking pictures of the local flora and
fauna. He is recounting adventures from his trip, with
the help of a slideshow, in a talk entitled Chile - a
Long, Thin Journey, at St. Anne’s Church in Lewes
tonight.
By the sound of the man on the phone it’s going
to be an interesting talk. “Chile is the most extraordinary
place,” he says. “It is 3,000 miles long and
never more than 150 miles wide, so there are vast climate
changes from one region to the other. In the South the
weather is similar to that which you’d expect in
the Falkland Islands. Winds can reach 100mph and there’s
only one clear day in 16. Also in the very south the birds
are unused to man, so they come right up to you. This
allows you to take very detailed pictures.” He was
highly impressed by the Andean condor (‘it’s
got a fourteen foot wingspan, it’s like a barn door
flying past’); and the purple-headed Magellanic
woodpecker. Several species of orchid also excited him,
including the Embothrium coccineum. And the natives
were very friendly: he left without a single machine gun
being pointed in his direction. |
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That Condor moment: David
Lang talks about Chile |
Where?
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St Anne’s Church, The High
St, Lewes |
| When? |
8pm |
| How Much? |
£8 (accompanied children free) |
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4 |
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Thursday
23rd March |
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Folk - Carthy,
Waterson and Parkinson
‘For four decades, Martin Carthy's
work has immeasurably enriched the British folk heritage.
He is regarded as one of the finest singers and interpreters
of traditional music of the British Isles, as well as
a highly influential and much-imitated guitarist. Awarded
the MBE for services to English folk music in 1998, his
drive and enthusiasm are undiminished and he continues
to be one of folk music's great innovators.’ This
accolade comes from the BBC Folk Music awards, 2005, when
Carthy, playing at the Royal Oak tonight, was voted best
folk singer of the year, as well as being awarded ‘Best
Traditional Track’ for his Famous Flower of Serving
Men from his Waiting for Angels LP.
Carthy’s wife Norma Waterson also has an MBE and
has won Radio 2 Folk Music awards for her compassionate,
emotive voice. The pair are widely respected worldwide,
particularly in the USA, where they have recently toured
with Peggy Seeger ‘The First Woman of Folk’.
Tonight they are appearing with squeezebox legend Chris
‘Parky’ Parkinson, a veteran on the scene
who has released two solo albums, seven albums with his
House Band, and has collaborated on a staggering total
of 46 albums with other artists. You could call Parkinson
versatile. He is also expert on piano, guitar, concertina,
tin whistle, melodeon, piano accordion, keyboards and
fiddle. |
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Song title: Martin Carthy
MBE at the Royal Oak |
Where?
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Royal Oak, Lewes |
| When? |
8pm |
| How Much? |
£4.50 |
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Folk
at the Oak
(w) Website
(t) 01273 478124 |
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Thursday
23rd March |
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Jazz - Paul
Lacey Quintet
Paul Lacey is a master of relaxed swing. He calls his
quintet ‘the Back to Basie Band’ after one
of his heroes, the great pianist Count Basie. However
his chief inspiration was a trumpeter, like himself, Harry
‘Sweets’ Edison. Clark Terry and Roy Eldridge,
who helped move swing into the be-bop age, are also cited
as being important influences. Lacey, a founder member
of the 100 Club All Stars, is an experienced and highly
sought-after jazzman. Next month he is playing in the
Royal Festival Hall. He has played with Acker Bilk as
well as the legendary likes of Terry Lightfoot, Don Lusher,
Al Casey and Allen Eager.
On piano, Stacey will be proud to introduce Nick Dawson.
On drums, Matt Home. On tenor sax and clarinet, Robert
Fowler. And on bass, Mr David Chamberlain. Together they
will transport you back to the swing era, with Lacey holding
notes like notes haven’t been held for seventy years.
“Ultra melodic and effortless, boy did this group
swing,” gushed Crescendo and Jazz International,
in a recent review. “Musically sublime.” LJC
would like to point out that free parking is available
in County Hall just up the road, and that in a fortnight
they are looking forward to world-class US jazz guitarist
Howard Alden, touring the UK to promote his LP, recorded
in the very same setting in 2004. |
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King of the swingers:
Paul Lacey blows his own trumpet
at the Jazz Club |
Where?
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139 The High St, Lewes |
| When? |
7.30pm for 8.15pm |
| How Much? |
£8.50 |
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Lewes
Jazz Club
(t) 01273 4767079
(w) Website |
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Friday 24th
March |
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Cinema -
Crash
Paul Haggis made his reputation as a TV director, so it
was quite a coup for him to win the blue riband ‘best
movie’ award at the Oscars earlier this month. Especially
with a film which was panned by many critics when it first
came out last year. Crash is an ensemble, set in LA, which
looks at race relations in that city, taking a number
of different strands introducing a number of different
characters, most of whom seem to be driven by simmering
racial prejudice. It is driven by coincidence, so that
all the strands tie up in unlikely ways. And the
characters keep meeting each other again and again in
the thirty-six hour period the film covers, as if they
were living in Lewes, rather than Los Angeles.
“It’s just our sense of touch. We miss that
touch so much that we crash into each other just to feel
something,” says one of the many characters towards
the end of the movie. Although there is some redemption
by the time the credits roll, its message is generally
rather negative. It makes for uncomfortable viewing. It
is not called ‘Harmony’. It was a surprise
winner, in a year full of surprises for Hollywood. Starring
Matt Dillon, Terrence Howard, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle
and Ludacris, the hip-hop singer, it is not a film which
you will necessarily ‘enjoy’ in the conventional
sense of the word. But it is a film you will talk about
afterwards. |
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Crash bang wallop: Paul
Haggis’ Oscar-winning film looks at racial
tensions in LA |
Where?
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All Saints Centre, Lewes |
| When? |
8.30pm (also Sat 8.30pm) |
| How Much? |
£4.50 |
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Lewes
Cinema
(t) 01903 523833
(w) Website |
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Friday 24th
March |
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Classical
Music - the Gaudier Ensemble
The Gaudier Ensemble, which formed in 1989, draw their
members from all over Europe, and have a great reputation
as being one of the most accomplished classical music
groups in the world. Five of them appear at the Sussex
Downs College tonight, including pianist Susan Tomes,
described recently by Piano Magazine as ‘one
of the brightest jewels in Britain’s cultural
crown’ (she’s a Guardian critic,
to boot), clarinetist Richard Hosford of the BBC Symphony
Orchestra, bassoon player Robin O’Neill of the
English Chamber Orchestra, horn player Jonathan Williams,
principal horn of the Teatro Lirico, Cagliari and the
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and renowned Swiss oboist
Emmanuel Abbuhl. Tonight they’re playing a mix
of classics and more contemporary works, sandwiching
20th century trios by Sandor Veress, Francis Poulenc
and Ibert with quintets by Mozart and Beethoven.
The Gaudier Ensemble are one of the most respected chamber
ensembles in the world, so we presume the latest offering
from the Nicholas Yonge Society’s 2006 season
pronounce their name in the French manner rather than
the English (i.e. ‘that kitsch sofa is even gaudier
than the one in Erica’s house’). |
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Key player: World-class
pianist Susan Tomes of the Gaudier Ensemble |
Where?
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Cliffe Building, Sussex Downs College |
| When? |
8.10pm |
| How Much? |
£12 on door (£6 concs) |
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The
Gaudier Ensemble
(w) Website |
Nicholas
Yonge Society
(w) Website
(t) 01273 476555 |
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Saturday
25th March |
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Theatre -
Jason & the Argonauts
The story of Jason’s fantastic journey
has been passed from generation to generation since the
first version of the Argonaut myth was penned by Apollonius
of Rhodes in his third century BC epic poem Argonautica.
Modern versions include Ray Harryhausens 1963 animation
classic and Nick Willing’s less highly rated turn
of the millennium effort. Even dubious 80’s rockers
XTC dedicated a song to it, for goodness sake. Apollonius’
wonderfully vivid tale follows Jason, son of Aeson, the
rightful king of Iolcos, as he attempts to win back his
kingdom from his usurping uncle Pelias. To do so he is
tasked with performing the apparently impossible feat
of retrieving the Golden Fleece from the winged ram Chrysomallos.
To help him succeed where all others have previously failed,
Jason gathers together an ancient Greek ‘dream team’
including the winged Boreads (Calais and Zetes), Heracles,
the son of Zeus, the wily Atalanta and Peleus.
Playwrights Carl Heap and Tom Morris have taken on the
equally challenging task of bringing the tale to life
on stage. By most accounts, they’ve succeeded, and
their much-praised production (“unreservedly recommended”
say the Sunday Times) shows tonight and tomorrow
at the Gardner. Look out for crashing rocks, fire-breathing
bulls and some hygienically challenged low-flying harpies.
Sounds a bit like a normal family day out to me. It’s
suitable for 7 years+, but be warned, if the words ‘audience
participation’ bring you out in a nervous rash or
a cold sweat, hide at the back… |
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A rock and a hard place:
Jason and the Argonauts at the Gardeners |
Where?
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Gardner Arts Centre, University
of Sussex |
| When? |
7.30pm (Saturday matinee 2pm) |
| How Much? |
£12.50/£10/£7 |
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Saturday
25th March |
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Wildlife
Watch - Pond Dipping
Less than a mile from the proposed Phoenix
redevelopment is an area offering an alternative vision
for inner city expansion. The Lewes Railway Land reserve
is an oasis of calm, an area returning to nature after
intensive use by the railways for much of the last century.
Development still occurs, but now it is the like of the
Heart of Reeds project, a reed bed designed by locally
based international artist Chris Drury. The double vortex
design, imitating the cross section of a heart, incorporates
water, reeds, islands and earth mounds. It is designed
to blend in to the surrounding reserve, and to provide
a myriad of housing options for our towns ever-increasing
numbers of frogs, insects and flies – (dragon, may
and caddis in particular).
Wildlife Watch is the junior arm of the Sussex Wildlife
Trust, an organisation dedicated to looking after (and
hopefully adding to) over 3,000 acres of Downland, woodland,
wetland and heath in Sussex. For a couple of hours James
and Kate, two of their volunteers, will help your kids
to have the time of their lives by showing them how to
find and identify the many creatures just below the surface
of the railway lands many ponds and ditches. All equipment
is provided; wellies and waterproofs are highly recommended,
and something warm in a flask will probably help you through
if the wind-chill is still Siberian. Your kids should
love it - it’s recommended for 6-12 year olds.
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Spawn to be wild: Pond
dipping with Lewes Wildlife Watch |
Where?
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Railway Land Gate, Lewes |
| When? |
2-4pm |
| How Much? |
£2 (free to members) |
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Sussex
Wildlife Trust
(t) 01273 494777
(w) Website |
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Saturday
25th March |
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Cover band
- The Kondoms
Lewes band the Kondoms have been pumping out tribute gigs
for over twenty-five years now: so long that, like the
Little River Band, there are no longer any of the original
members in the current line up. To see what shape they
were in I went to see them practicing, in a secret location
near Homebase, on Monday night. Notionally a five-piece,
Jim the guitarist hadn’t made it to the practice.
No matter – when I got there they were halfway through
their set and halfway through a crate of lager.
They launched into an upbeat version of Bowie’s
Jean Genie: dark serious Tim on bass (filling in
for Andy, who isn’t well); Rick on guitar-shaped
keyboards wearing a kilt and skull and crossbones socks;
Paul on drums, in drummer-like jeans and a t-shirt; Moose
on vocals (and vocal guitar for important riffs), cigarette
behind his ear: part Joe Strummer, part Suggsy, part,
well, Moose. After a word-perfect Down in the Tube Station
I attempted to photograph the song list, but was spotted,
and stopped. I clocked songs from the Jam, the Monkees,
the Undertones, the Buzzcocks. To bring us to the end
of last century, there was even one by Blur. Mission accomplished,
it was time to go. I fled into the night, an atmospheric
Won’t Get Fooled Again ringing in my ears.
If you like jumping up and down to old faves, these guys
are perfect. |
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60’s-80’s
rock? The Kondoms have got it covered... |
Where?
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St Mary’s Social Centre, Christie
Rd, Lewes |
| When? |
7.30pm |
| How Much? |
£2.50. Profits go to Neville Juvenile Bonfire
Society |
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Saturday
25th March |
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Glam Rock
- Alvin Sawdust
In 1972 Alvin Stardust, formerly Shane Fenton from Shane
Fenton and the Fentones, jumped on the glittery bandwagon
of glam rock with the song he is most remembered for:
‘My Coo-Ca-Choo’. It was perhaps the worst
thing that had happened to the genre: until Alvin came
along, glam rock was actually cool. Everyone was camping
it up and having a good time, sure, but the likes of
Slade, Sweet, Alice Cooper, Mud and even Gary Glitter
were making some seriously good tunes. Some of the music
- Bowie, T-Rex, Roxy Music - is still worth listening
to today. Then came this guy with the ridiculous bouffant
quiff and the leather gloves (which he had to wear on
Top of the Pops because he’s dyed his hands black
as well as his hair) pointing his ring-laden fingers
and snarling his written-in-five-minutes lines:
" Do! Do! You love me too?
Will I smile or will I be blue?
Am I mad? I'm hung up on you
Oh honey be my coo ca choo.”
Suddenly, when your parents did that ‘what the
hell does he think he’s doing?’ thing, you
secretly knew that they had a point. And somehow you
knew the glam rock game was up.
And now there’s Alvin Sawdust! A tribute to the
man who ruined glam rock! A pastiche of a pastiche,
playing in the Pelham Arms. Should be interesting. Unlikely
to ooze sophisticated urban cool, though. |
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Glam in wolf’s
clothing: Alvin Sawdust |
Where?
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The Pelham Arms |
| When? |
8pm |
| How Much? |
Free |
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14 |
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Saturday
25th March |
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Art - Shape,
Pattern, Colour
Living at the foot of the Downs was enough
to satisfy the aesthetic needs of Robert Tavener, one
of the most celebrated printmakers of his generation,
who made his name producing quintessentially English images
which were instantly recognisable as his own. He believed
that printing should never imitate drawing or painting,
but always display an awareness of the disciplines of
the printmaking process. Thus there is a stylised, slightly
primitivist look to his work. Tavener lived in the same
house in Eastbourne for most of his adult life saying
that the countryside around provided him with enough subject
matter to last him indefinitely. He died in 2004 and he
is one of three printers being exhibited at the Thebes
Gallery over the next three weeks.
The other two have both lived locally and are both contemporaries
to Tavener. Geoffrey Elliott lived in Brighton for a decade
in the swinging sixties – his colourful and slightly
psychedelic prints of the city’s idiosyncratic buildings
characterise the decade. Trevor Kemp, who like Tavener
settled in Eastbourne, used more rustic scenes as the
inspiration for a number of equally arresting and slightly
more mystical scenes. There are sheep bathing in a full
moon, and cows investigating a yellow strip of light.
The exhibition has been organised by Emma Mason, who deals
in local printmakers’ work. |
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Pop art printers: Elliott,
Kemp and Tavener at the Thebes |
Where?
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Thebes Gallery, Church Twitten,
Lewes |
| When? |
Tue - Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 12noon - 5pm |
| How Much? |
Free |
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Emma
Mason Prints
(w) Website |
Thebes
Gallery
(t) 01273 484214 / 484400 |
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15 |
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Sunday 26th
March |
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Mother's
Day
Mother's Day is definitely one of those Men are from
Mars, Women are from Venus occasions. He thinks,
"if I don't get something on Saturday, there is always
Tesco's on Sunday morning." Mothers, on the other
hand, are looking for deep-felt expressions of genuine
appreciation for all the care they give to their family.
Oh, so much can go wrong. But, with a little thought,
it can all so easily go right. Home-made cards and gifts
from children are best. If that’s not on the cards,
then go for presents with a home-made look and feel: little
embroidered cushions from Bright Ideas that say ‘Love’;
tiny hand-tied bunches of snowdrops that imply profound
feelings. High Street Florist Hilary Moore is running
workshops so you (or the kids) can choose flowers and
arrange them yourself - perfect. At Bruditz you can select
her favourite chocolates from their vast array, and the
box, message and ribbon.
Don’t go too far with personal taste though. Even
if mummy has a love of double malt, whisky is not the
ideal choice for this celebration. Similarly, keep well
away of anything mass-produced, practical or related to
maternal tasks. No matter how much she needs new Marigolds,
Veet wax strips, a new skin for her Djembe drum or a fuel
tank for her Harley Davidson, just save those treats for
another day. |
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It’s the mother of all
days: so think about it.
Painting by Mary Beaney (Chalk Gallery) |
Where?
|
A visit goes down well |
| When? |
It’s too late if you don’t know by now… |
| How Much? |
Splash out |
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Bruditz
(t) 01273 480734 |
Bright Ideas
(t) 01273 474395 |
Hilary Moore Flowers
(t) 01273 480822 |
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