Local children perform at Sadlers Wells!

36 children from Theatretrain’s school in Bracknell will be appearing at Sadlers Wells Theatre in London’s famous Rosebery Avenue on 13th June 2009 in a production of “Rhythm and Blues” to celebrate 50 years of Mowtown!

The production includes nearly 40 of the genres best known songs with a live 18-piece orchestra.

Theatretrain was established in 1992 and has 80 schools across the UK and Ireland. It concentrates on two processes – learning skills in the performing arts and performing those skills to an audience. Every year each child in Theatretrain’s schools’ has the opportunity to perform in a production either locally or in the West End.

In addition, part of Theatretrain’s ethos is about working together which is highlighted by International exchange, and there will be 18 pupils appearing in this performance from Czech Republic and 12 pupils from Denmark.

Kevin Dowsett, the Artistic Director and founder of Theatretrain, teaches at several London Drama Schools and is also UK Chair of the International Amateur Theatre Association and President of EDERED, a Europe-wide body organising annual drama encounters for young people.

The Musical Director, Robert Hyman, is an exclusive composer to Image Theatre Company and has conducted all over the world as well as for BBC radio and television.

Sue Colgrave, the Stage Director has been a theatre practitioner for nearly 30 years, working as an actress in theatre, television and radio and as a director of a wide range of materials from Shakespeare to contemporary opera.

Christine Hinton Centre Director of Bracknell Theatretrain quotes: ‘I am delighted that Theatretrain can give children the opportunity to perform such fantastic material in some of London’s most famous West End Theatre’s year on year. It really is great fun and an amazing achievement for them as well as an educational journey through time periods and genres; it is one of our best assets to be able to present these shows to the public!’

For more information on joining Bracknell Theatretrain contact:
Christine Hinton: 0118 9429400
Bracknell@theatretrain.co.uk

Alternatively look on their website www.theatretrain.co.uk

Builders fined for fire at Slough

A firm breached health and safety regulations after it failed to ensure subcontractor did not cut through live gas pipe

Construction firm Keltbray has been prosecuted after a breach of safety regulations caused a fire.

The south-west London firm pleaded guilty at Bracknell magistrates court, and was fined £18,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. It was also ordered to pay full costs of £20,469 and a victim surcharge of £15.

The prosecution came about after an incident in August 2006, when Keltbray was principal contractor for the refurbishment of a retail unit in the Queensmere shopping centre in Slough. Keltbray failed to ensure all services had been switched off before the subcontractor cut through a live gas pipe, causing a fire.

Karen Morris, a HSE inspector, said: “Companies need clear, manageable and reliable systems to ensure people are not put at risk in these situations. In this case, the subcontractor was given a document confirming that it was safe to carry out the pipe-cutting work, but reasonable checks had not been made and the pipe was, in fact, live.

“Fortunately nobody was injured, although the incident caused a significant risk to the safety of site workers and members of the public. The outcome could have been much more serious.”

Rock music strengthened on Radio Bracknell

STEVE PRICE is a long time stalwart of the music business and has a formidable knowledge of Rock music. He now joins the team at Radio Bracknell with a 3 hour rock show to be broadcast on Saturday at 6pm, with repeats on Friday morning and, for the American and Canadian audience, the early hours of Tuesday morning.

 

Steve’s first job upon leaving college was for a leading Guitar Amp manufacturer and on his first day at work he was taken to the Frankfurt Music Fair and ‘introduced’ to the social side of the music business (i.e. Hangovers!).

Steve started his professional career on Radio in 1983 and hosted his Essex based Rock show for a number of years (voted 5th in the ‘Kerrang!’ Readers Poll), he is a freelance Journalist (a founder member of Metal Forces, has written for the Japanese magazine Burrn and the UK’s Powerplay) and was co-promoter & production manager for American Dream Promotions, the company who first brought bands like Danger Danger, Lou Gramm’s Shadow King, Bang Tango, Tuff and XYZ to the UK. 

He has been a roadie, lighting techician and Tour Manager in his time. Steve was, with Barry Morgan, the club DJ at the infamous Ruskin Arms for many years.

 

Steve has over 20 years experience in radio, has worked in all facets of the music industry and has never lost his enthusiasm for Rock music. He said: “Rock music has always gone through cycles and it’s certainly true that modern Rock is very popular at the moment. However, traditional Rock and AOR gets pretty much ignored in the main, and yet there are a lot of us out there who still want to hear it!”

 

When quizzed about the aims of the show he said “We’ll certainly be playing all the classics from the 80’s and 90’s but also aim to give exposure to new bands who continue to fly the flag for this kind of music yet just don’t seem to get the attention they deserve. After all, these will become the future classics so why not support them now rather than in 20 years time!”

Tune into the Steve Price Rock Show every weekend and you can expect to hear a great mix of well thumbed classics, vintage album tracks you may have forgotten about and fresh new releases that you really ought to be discovering.

 

Steve said: “We want people to be able to reminisce over the old favourites but perhaps also go away with a couple of new favourites in their heads that they plan to track down too.”

 

Steve has regular guests in for interview and runs competitions as regularly as possible. “We want the listeners to feel involved and requests are always welcome” he adds.  Listeners can contact him via the Radio Bracknell website, www.radiobracknell.com, or e-mail him steve@radiobracknell.com.

 

Steve joins an international line-up of Presenters on Radio Bracknell, including Jackie Storrar, Lee Williams, Dominic Forbes, Brian Soundy and Chris Reardon who appear on other UK radio stations plus a prestigious line-up of US-based presenters.

 

With Dominic’s 2 hour Soft Rock show, Steve brings the station’s Rock offering to an impressive 15 hours a week!

How to avoid the swine flu

Get plenty of exercise because exercise helps build your immune system. Walk for at least hour a day, go for a swim, take the stairs instead of the lift, etc.

Wash your hands often. If you can’t wash them, keep a bottle of antibacterial stuff around. Wear a mask when out in public places and avoid going out in public as much as possible while the swine flu is spreading. Get lots of fresh air. Open windows whenever possible. Get plenty of rest. Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can.

OR …. You can take the doctor’s office approach. Think about it, when you go for a shot, what do they do first? Clean your arm with alcohol.. Why? Because alcohol kills germs.

So…… I put on my mask, walk to the liquor store (exercise), I put lime in my Corona (fruit), celery in my Bloody Mary (veggies), drink on the bar patio (fresh air), get drunk, tell jokes, and laugh (eliminate stress) and then pass out (rest). The way I see it, if you keep your alcohol levels up flu germs can’t get you!!!!

Reading Borough Council Offers Low Cost Business Accommodation For Local People

Competitively priced small business units are being offered to local businesses in a bid to buck the economic downturn.

The council has a number of light industrial units available for rent at reasonable rates at the Acre Business Park in South Reading.

The industrial units can be used for most business purposes so long as it doesn’t involve direct retail sales or trading that would cause a nuisance to other occupiers. They are let on flexible terms which allow occupiers to vacate if they get into financial difficulties.

Charges are inclusive of business rates, water rates, structural insurance and maintenance.

For people interested in a retail unit there are three lock up shops currently available on the council’s housing estates. Rental offers are invited for a seven year lease, again with the option for the tenant to vacate if they get into difficulties.

Reading Borough Council Leader Jo Lovelock (pictured) said: ‘This is a very good opportunity for people to either start up or expand a business, or to downsize to reasonably priced premises, with the benefit that they will not be signing up to a long term commitment if their business fails.’

Anyone interested in either a shop or industrial premises should contact the council on 0118 939 0594.

Pet roadshow comes to town

There will be howls of delight on Friday, May 1, when a roadshow to promote responsible pet ownership comes to Bracknell town centre.

The roadshow will be run by the council’s dog warden Andy Hill in conjunction with national pet month.

There will be free leaflets and advice on all pet issues. There will also be a competition, sponsored by Moor Cottage Veterinary Hospital – prizes include a tour of its facilities and dog treats.

Mr Hill said: “We always get a positive response from Bracknell town centre shoppers, which is what you expect from a nation of pet lovers.

“If you want advice on caring for your pet, or want to learn more about responsible ownership, please come along.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for public protection, said: “Not only do our pets add much joy to our lives they can also, particularly dogs, be a great source of exercise for we owners.

“The vast majority of people do look after their animals and treat them responsibly, but it is always good to help people to make their pets’ lives even better which is one of the aims of the roadshow.”

National pet month is an annual event aimed to promote responsible pet ownership and to raise awareness of services available from professionals who work with animals. For more information visit www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk.

To enter the competition, send a cute or funny picture of your dog and send it to Andy Hill, Bracknell Forest Council, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1JD.
Entries close on May 31.

Marnie freed at last – but justice remains to be done!

Marnie Pearce has been freed today but the battle now begins for her to regain custody of her two young sons.

Marnie was handed a three-month prison sentence after a Dubai court found she had cheated on her Egyptian ex-husband, Ihab El Labban.

Marnie served 69 days of her sentence and was freed early after friends, family and national media such as The Daily Mail pressured the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to press her case with the Saudi authorities.

An order for her immediate deportation has been suspended, a British official in Dubai said.
Marnie Pearce, with her sons Laith (above) and Ziad (below) is to be released
This will allow Miss Pearce to stay and fight her Egyptian ex-husband, Ihab El Labban, for custody of Laith, eight, and five-year-old Ziad.
Miss Pearce was told she would be freed, but up until last night was refusing to let her hopes rise. ‘She won’t believe she’s free until it actually happens,’ a friend said. ‘She’s desperate to see her sons.’
The teaching assistant from Bracknell, Berkshire, married her husband, a company executive, ten years ago.
The marriage broke down a few months before she was arrested in March last year after her husband accused her of committing adultery with a British man.
She denied the accusation, insisting that the man was only a friend. She also claimed her husband accused her to get custody of their children. He has denied framing her.
After Miss Pearce was convicted of adultery under Sharia law a court ordered her divorce from her husband and stripped her of all custody rights to their children.
It is understood that she will now appeal against that custody decision and, if unsuccessful, will pursue access and visiting rights to her sons.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES IN BRACKNELL

Radio Bracknell offers great volunteering opportunities for all ages – to give you extra interests, help make new friends, develop your skills and give you a fantastic talking point on your CV when you attend a job interview!

We are currently looking for a volunteer news co-ordinator to update our popular news website which receives hundreds of hits every day. It will take around 4 hours a week – more if you wish to attend events and report on them and/or take photographs.

You would need regular access to a computer and the internet – and have good command on the English language.

No previous experience is necessary as we will provide full training and support.

Help put Radio Bracknell at the heart of our local community!

E-mail: john@radiobracknell.com

Marnie Pearce may be out by Monday!

ITV report that Marnie may be released early – possibly Monday morning!

Streetfight Silence win Wokingham Battle of the Bands 2009

Bracknell’s popular band Valour, featured on Radio Bracknell in recent weeks, were beaten by fellow Bracknell band Streetfight Silence at the final of the popular annual Wokingham battle of the bands.

The Bracknell band’s mix of “pop/rock with an 80’s twist” won over the judges and the 400 people in the audience and the annual event organised by the Winnersh Neighbourhood Action Group.

Streetfight Silence took home the £200 prize money and a one-day recording session in a top studio.

Streetfight Silence members Russ Merry, Chris Penfold and Chris Cooley were, naturally, ecstatic!