TAXI SHOCKER

Local drivers welcomed the Council's move on the situation, but also called for them to get their own house in order and remove the restrictors from Council vehicles, which limit them at the moment to just 20 mph around town during the rush hours.

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:

There would be: 57 Asians - 21 Europeans - 14 Western Hemisphere, North & South & 8 Africans 53 would be female - 48 would be male 70 would be none white - 30 would be white

89 would be heterosexual - 11 would be homosexual 6 people would possess 59% of the entire worlds wealth and all 6 would be from the United States

80 would live in substandard housing - 70 would be unable to read - 50 would suffer from malnutrition - 1 would be near birth - 1 would be near death - 1 would have a college education - 1 would own a computer

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent.

TEAM

Graham Broughton

Garry Courtnell

Jennifer Linsel

John Winstanley

Fog on The Tyne: The Official History Of Lindisfarne

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: DAVE IAN HILL

`I never intended this to be a book' says Dave Ian Hill of Fog on The Tyne:
The Official History Of Lindisfarne. `I interviewed Ray Laidlaw as part of a series of pieces on the musicians and bands of the North East - and the next thing I knew he gave me several carrier bags of cuttings as "research". I soon realised that all he wanted was for me to get them in order. . .'

Born in Lemington, Newcastle On Tyne in December 1958, Dave's first introduction to music came via his parents' "small, but intriguing" LP collection. From his father came the jazz and big-band sounds of Glenn Miller, Dizzy Gillespie and George Shearing - and from his mother the voices of Peggy Lee, Lena Horne and Shirley Bassey.

At school, Dave embraced Glam and especially Marc Bolan: `The Slider' by T.Rex was the first LP he bought. Soon after Bolan, he fell for the be-denimed delights of Status Quo. Leaving school to join Newcastle City Council in 1975, he was drawn to the City Hall, where he began helping out with the stage crews at gigs.

Soon, he was helping set up the gear for Elton John, Wings, Genesis, Lynyrd Skynyrd and his beloved Quo. Stage Manager at the time was Colin Rowell, now at Zenith North, producers of The White Room. Sadly, Dave's `sensible' head took control and instead, his best mate at school went on to do all right for himself with Motorhead and Eurythmics (where are you now, Richie Armstrong?).

A move to Hartlepool with a new job towards the end of the 1970s seemed to put an end to any `music biz' aspirations, but in the early 1980s - following various sales jobs and some time with the first flush of cable TV - `door to door selling, actually' - Dave began managing a Virgin Retail store in Stockton. He had done some voluntary promotion work for Jonathan King in and around Newcastle and this had whetted his appetite. When management changed, Dave found himself out of work for almost three years, but spent time writing live reviews for the Hartlepool Mail, becoming involved with Durham Street Recording Studios (now The Studio) and helping set up a music collective.For a while he also managed a band; `Never again!' he now says. Finally working on the road for the Virgin record label, on his first day Dave succeeded in getting Lenny Kravitz lost in Swalwell after collecting him from a radio station. When the Thorn-EMI takeover of Virgin came, Dave was made redundant, although he had already begun co-ordinating several reissues of rare, ‘live’ and unreleased material for the label. Two titles were by Lindisfarne, whom he had known since 1988. Entitled ‘Buried Treasures Volumes I & II’, they received excellent reviews. Subsequently, Dave was invited to act as consultant for another Virgin company who were about to begin a reissue programme.

Continuing to collect material for the Lindisfarne project, it had soon become clear that no such publication had been attempted before and in 1993, Dave carried out dozens of interviews right across the UK, including musicians, producers and friends of the band. By the time of the Virgin reissues, Dave had become heavily involved with the band, accompanying them on live dates, contributing to tour programmes and working with founder member Rod Clements on his solo album and tour.

Following Alan Hull’s death in 1995, Dave was asked to become the band’s publicist; responsible for all their press and radio activity. He had been working with several other clients by this time, looking after publicity on behalf of several record labels, but the Lindisfarne offer came as a surprise: ‘It was a huge honour to be involved in the challenge of re establishing the band’s name after Alan’s death, but it was quite strange at first - especially as I was also looking after the press for Alan’s final solo album.’

Dave (who is currently running the National Diploma in Communications at Cleveland College of Art & Design) is delighted to be part of the regeneration the band is enjoying with a new studio album, ‘Here Comes The Neighbourhood’, on Park Records. At Christmas 1997, Northdown Publishing - who had also issued books on Ralph McTell, Dr. Feelgood and Man - stepped in with an offer of publishing what Dave had given the working title Can’t Kill The Spirit.

Released to coincide with the first leg of Lindisfarne’s 1998 winter tour, Dave believes that of Fog on The Tyne: The Official History Of Lindisfarne will appeal to more than just committed fans: ‘The book’s appeal is that, on the one hand, there is the detail that some fans expect; but there is also plenty for the lapsed fan or the casual buyer who simply wants to read what is, after all, simply just a great story...’

Fog on The Tyne: The Official History Of Lindisfarne was published on 16 November 1998, price £14.95, by Northdown Publishing.

LINDISFARNE In the early 1970’s the group Lindisfarne were one of the hottest and most popular folk/rock bands in Great Britain. They had a unique sound that blended folk melodies with well-sung harmonies, acoustic and electric accompaniments plus the highly competent drumming of Ray Laidlaw. Lindisfarne were poised for huge international success but a catalogue of misfortunes, which was followed by a split, left them bereft of the recognition they so richly deserved.

Lead vocalist Alan Hull, mandolin player Ray Jackson, guitarist Simon Cowe and drummer Ray Laidlaw all hailed from Tyneside and the surrounding areas. At one time the group were known as Downtown Faction then changed their name to Brethren. In 1968, after finding out that there was already an American group called Brethren, the group chose the name Lindisfarne which was fitting for both the times and their unique sound. In 1970 Lindisfarne signed to Charisma Records and they released their first album ’Nicely Out of Tune’. Surprisingly, the album and ‘Lady Eleanor’, the single taken from it, never entered the chart but the group’s live shows continued to be very popular. In 1971 both their second album’ Fog on the Tyne’ and the single ‘Meet Me on the Corner’ reached No.1 in the charts.

When the band had a major disagreement with producer Bob Johnston over their third album 'Dingly Dell’ they remixed it themselves and the end result was much more mainstream than their previous two albums.

In early ’73 Rod Clements, Ray Laidlaw and Simon Cowe left Lindisfarne to form new band Jack the Lad. Later that year a live Lindisfarne album was released which featured the original line-up and songs from the first three albums.

In late '73 Alan Hull and Ray Jackson were joined by Tommy Duffy, Ken Craddock, Charlie Harcourt and Paul Nichols for a new Lindisfarne line-up. ‘Roll On Ruby’, their first album together, was a failure and Alan Hull began a solo recording career. Lindisfarne signed to Warner Brothers for the album ‘Happy Daze' which was also a failure.

In 1977 Jack the Lad disbanded and Clements, Laidlaw and Cowe returned to Lindisfarne. Alan Hull recorded the album 'Isn't It Strange’ with Ken Craddock and Ray Laidlaw under the group name Radiator. When Lindisfarne changed labels again to Mercury they debuted with the live double-album ‘Magic in the Air’ They remained intact for two more LP’s ‘ Back and Fourth’ and 'The News’. The band continued to be a popular concert attraction into the early 1980’s and they recorded and reunited periodically in the following years.

On the 17th of November, 1995 fans were stunned by the untimely death of Alan Hull and the North-East lost one of its most prolific songwriters and vocalists. Jennifer Linsel

PRIZE WORD SEARCH

MEET ME ON THE CORNER

NO NEED TO TELL ME

BACK AND FOURTH

MAGIC IN THE AIR

FOG ON THE TYNE

JANUARY SONG

LADY ELEANOR

WARM FEELING

DINGLY DELL

RUN FOR HOME

HAPPY DAZE

CITY SONG

IN MY HEAD

TOMORROW

MUSIC TO CHEER THE HEART - 2001

Garry Baker lost his Grandfather-Arthur, a pianist and friend Peter through a heart attack. Like almost every adult in Britain in that we all know someone, a family or friend who have suffered as a result of circulatory disease. Because of the scale of heart disease which affects us either directly or indirectly. This was Garrys motivation, a 33 year old musician. To record a trio of songs to sell on behalf of the British Heart Foundation in their fight against the biggest killer in Britain. He recorded these songs with the help of a multitude of professional local talent. The songs were - HEY JUDE by the Beatles. HOLY MOTHER by Eric Clapton and I NEED TO BE LOVED by Jeff Healey.

As well as featuring Garry as lead vocalist and occasional guitar soloist, the backing group -THE ATTITUDES - include saxophone solos from Mick Donnelly and Bryn Collinson in music arranged by Garry. Ian Holdforth was the sound engineer and played acoustic rhythm and lead guitar solos. HEY JUDE is still popular with people of all generations but this version differs considerably from that of the Beatles in that it features violin, piano and reggae saxophone solos. HOLY MOTHER was originally dedicated to Eric Claptons Grandmother. Garry Sang it to his Grandmother before she died of a stroke and dedicates it for that reason I NEED TO BE LOVED originally by Jeff Healey, is included by Garry as a tribute to the guitarist who has been blind from an early age.

Like Jeff, Garry devotes most of his music and singing to the blues, another reason for including it. Once his project became known, Garry received help from many people in the Hartlepool area. For the front cover the Abbey Road style can best be described as eye catching and bizarre.

The other musicians were:-

Dave Sykes - piano. Michael Lee -violin. Stuart Ellington - drums. Andy Reay - percussion. Dave Coleman - synthesizer & transcription (violin) - Peter Gowland (MBE) - tambourine. Zoe Hetherington - intro speech. Gav Bell - bass guitar. Ronnie Thayne - photo.

All of the musicians gave up their time FREE OF CHARGE (many thanks). Reviews from various newspapers / magazines and record companies are welcome. Mail order available.

All proceeds from the sale of the recording will go to the British Heart Foundation and will be available from their stores and other good shops. Lookout in the future for the follow up album on compact disc -

Rise Like a Phoenix.

Press / Media enquiries to :- Garry Baker (01429) 295509

MIND BOGGLING

After all, everyone knows that the Internet is the post-modernist equivalent of religion; a device to lobotomise the uncapitalised classes, a tool to objectivise their pointless post-industrial life, to render their angst benign at being unable to justify their existence by paid, meaningful work.

Multi-channel TV, pizza-to go, six, eight, twelve and sixteen packs, all fail to pacify the populace..

Charlie Chalks, ten-pin bowling, countless cappuccini consumed on the Wingfield Castle, fail to inspire the indolent.

Insurgency and insurrection are prevented surreptitiously by superficial electronic interactivity. Humankind accesses information uncomfortably. Newspaper reading in a leather armchair. Film watching on TV. Listening to music in glorious Stereophonic delivered with élan through huge walnut speakers. These are banished to the technological hinterland of yesterday.

Joe Public, and Joe Junior now hunch over their computer screen, absorbing information and radiation. Popery at The Vatican; viewcam of rotund ladies about to squat on the toilet filmed from water level; tracks from any Massive Attack album; neo-fascist rally information. Joe is seamlessly united with this literary and sensual diaspora, unaware of contextual background, unable to exercise self-censorship, unable to stop the next "hit" of data that is only one self-gratifying click of the mouse away.

Time and space merge in cyber-space, where no one can hear you scream, no one can see your Glittering lechery , and no one, including your cyberbabe penpal, can see you're a dog. Lost minutes, hours, even days cumulate alarmingly whilst the "Surfer" gains a superficial sense of achievement, the thin patina of activity summated by his interminable clicking fooling his brain into thinking he wrote the music he heard, directed the pictures he saw, wrote the thesis on gravitation that he downloaded, and celebrated the mass in full regalia in La Piazza del. St. Pietro. Neuronically spent, senses fazed from the onslaught of electromedia, Joe drifts into a state of altered consciousness, the boundary between reality and fantasy, truth and justice, heaven and hell, as jumbled as the images on his VDU. This then is the opium of the people, a new drug for the millennium. Users are oblivious to what is creating the experience once they incessantly click as are those who've just ingested coke, heroin, speed, or LSD.

Prime Monster Blair has legalised the drug for prescription; a promise to give every child access to electronic reality is another subversive move by the subversive Premier. Bill Gates and he may yet rule the world. Elections are preordained, as Tone's list of the nation's favourite web sites tells him the individual state of mind. Manifest in his next manifesto, it becomes the mind of the state.

Become party to the tool of the Party, get Wired, get Webwise, Collectivise and Digitise. Technologically revolutionise. New Labour, Old Tories, Despise.

Charles Maggs, November 2000

What is a Pangolin?

The pangolin is a long-tailed, sticky-tongued tropical Old World (Asia and Africa) mammal. Most species feed at night, sleep during the day, and roll into an impenetrable ball when threatened.

The pangolin's body is covered with large imbricated horny scales; it somewhat resembles the New World armadillo in terms of its feeding habits and its employment of a curled up hedgehog-like defensive posture. It has a long sticky tongue which it uses to gather termites and ants. The pangolin is also called scaly anteater, any armoured placental mammals of the order Pholidota. Pangolin, from the Malayan meaning "rolling over," refers to this animal's habit of curling into a ball when threatened. About eight species of pangolins, usually considered to be of the genus Manis, family Manidae, are found in tropical Asia.

Description

Pangolins have a long tail, short powerful limbs, and a conical head. They are native to the regions of Southeast Asia and are found in parts of Africa. This reptile-like animal with large overlapping scales has often been spotted in the Kafue National Park, in dry woodland or scrub terrain. Some pangolins live in trees but most are ground dwellers. Ground dwelling pangolins have strong legs capable of digging into termite mounds for food. The arboreal pangolins have prehensile tails which they use both for balance and as a hook to hang from. Arboreal pangolins roll up in a ball in a tree hollow at night to sleep. Pangolins vary in size. The Long-Tailed Pangolin is smallest, at about 3 feet (1 meter) long and weighing 3-4 pounds (2 kg). The Giant Pangolin is almost 6 feet (2 meters) long and weighs 70 pounds (32 kg). The Giant Pangolin's tongue is about 2 feet (61 cm) long, and internally is anchored to the pangolin's hip bones.

Self-defence

Pangolins are well equipped for self defence. The pangolin usually rolls up into a ball when threatened. Pangolins can lash out with their razor sharp scales. Pangolins have scent glands similar to those of the skunk which they can use to spray enemies. Pangolins can amble along on all fours, but for speed they stand up on two feet using their long tail for support. They run at a speed of about 3 miles (5 km) per hour. Pangolins are endangered because their skin makes attractive leather for boots, similar to snakeskin or armadillo boots. Also, pangolins are eaten in some parts of the world.

Pangolins are also to be found hidden in the depths of Hartlepool, in the form of two wooden carvings (in place of the real thing) given to the town in 2000. Though sighting's as yet, have been scarce, when their whereabouts are located we will let you know.

Hazel O'Connor

A packed Studio welcomed classics from her early album 'Breaking Glass' including 'Eighth Day' 'Will You?' and 'If Only' also her hit 'Decadent Days' .

Her tour "Beyond the Breaking Glass" was billed as an acoustic journey of song and drama,

which revealed not only her exploitation in the music business but her struggle through life to the present day. After two sets and an encore of 'Will you?' with everyone encouraged to sing along, Hazel left the stage for an autograph signing session.

Jonathan Kalb

Jonathan Kalb played a storming set to a near empty Studio on the 10th May - probably the finest blues guitarists to grace the walls of the Studio if not Hartlepool. His guitar work at times reminiscent of the late great Albert King, resounded around the Studio in a way only a master can perfect. Jonathan has worked with the great names, who would only accept the best, artists such as Mike Bloomfield, Otis Rush and Bo Diddley as well as the Steve Miller Band.

Supported by Steve Dunning (bass) and Mike Hellier (drums) the trio stormed through some blues classics as well as some of Kalb's on compositions. A night that was not to be missed (but this is Hartlepool)

GET ON YER BIKE!.. North Sea Cycle Route-Linking seven countries together. In 1998, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Scotland and England joined forces to set up an international cycle route called the "North Sea Cycle Route".

This is an unbroken, sign posted cycle route that follows the entire coastline of the North Sea - a total distance of around 6,000 km.

Which incidently passes through HARTLEPOOL

The various sections of the route have existed for years, but the intention behind setting up a co-operative project across international borders was to create a unique route that would give cyclists the opportunity to experience the cultures and natural treasures of the different countries. This exciting project has involved county and municipal authorities, road planners, tourist associations, tour organisers, and others. Everyone involved agrees that the effort has paid off.

Along the route you will find a wide range of places to eat and sleep, and there are plenty of interesting sights and attractions to visit, no matter which stretch of the route you may be following.

The North Sea Cycle Route is a unique offer to cyclists. You are free to choose where to start and finish your trip - whatever you do not manage to see one year, you can always see the next, because the North Sea Cycle Route is here to stay.

There is something quite special about a cycling holiday with frequent breaks where the family can spend quality time together. You set the pace yourself. It is not about seeing how far you can cycle each day, but about assimilating all the wonderful sights and memories you find en route.

Study the map carefully when planning your family's cycling trip around the North Sea. There is plenty of useful information for you, as well as "tasters" of the natural and cultural attractions you will encounter along the way. If there is anything you cannot find on the map, you can certainly find it at www.northsea-cycle.com .

One result of the work done internationally on the North Sea Cycle Route is that conditions for cyclists have been given higher priority by public sector planners. You will find information boards at strategic points along the route, and you should have no trouble in finding practical information, either. As an added bonus, a range of different special events will be held close to the route at regular intervals.

Call in at www.northsea-cycle.com for additional information about the events on offer right now - wherever you may be on the route. As a cycle tourist, you will find that the physical and mental benefits from your holiday will influence your everyday cycling. Remember, cycling is still the most energy-efficient form of transport in the world. This online guide will provide you with all the information you will need before you start to pack your bags.

Naturally, you are also more than welcome to contact the local tourist information offices, which can Supply additional details of the events on offer in their respective areas.

Welcome to the Net - & welcome to a fantastic cycle tour around the North Sea.

JOINING Egyptian dance classes meant a lot more to one Hartlepool carer than just getting some exercise.

When Vanessa Fitzgerald, 44, started the lessons at the Town Hall, in Hartlepool, she embarked a on a very personal journey. The Milton Road resident began to discover her heritage and get in touch with her Yemeni roots.

And as she graduates from the course with an NCFE in Performing Art (dance), she says the course was a very emotional experience.

"It was the realisation that in my history there was probably someone doing the same sort of thing tribally as it started off in small villages. They could have been doing the same thing as I am in Hartlepool but many years ago and many miles away, " she said.

Vanessa, who also works as a New Deal for Communities volunteer, hopes to continue exploring her heritage with a trip to the Yemen to discover the country and culture. She says that the course also offered her the perfect opportunity to explore her love of Egypt and of dance.

"The course was amazing, it was more than I thought it would have been. I really enjoyed the theory part, doing all the history of the dance. We also made life long friends and the social aspect of the class was great ," she said.

Vanessa joins fellow students Dorothy Harker, Anita Greenfield and Sheila Hudson as they graduate from the course.

The class is run and adapted especially for Egyptian dance by Kay Taylor, 38, from East Boldon. "I'm really proud of the girls. They have worked really hard throughout the year and learnt the dance and it meant something special to each one," said Kay.

The intimate class of ten not only involves exercise but also explores the background and history of Egyptian dance and music.

It is not just an exercise class and I am not trying to produce the best belly dancers instead I try to give people an appreciation of the culture and history of the dance," said Kay.

Kay is hoping to run the course again at the Town Hall Theatre dance studio from 2pm-5pm on Tuesday afternoon from Tuesday, September 11.

For further information contact Kay on (0191) 510305.

Vanessa

HAVE YOU MISSED US!!!!!