Ben Macintyre, author of For Your Eyes Only, thinks the James Bond series will go on forever.
“There’s no reason why they’ll ever stop,” the 44 year-old says, “I think it’s a permanent part of the cultural landscape now.
“Every generation gets its’ own Bond.”
The author sees Bond as a very British fantasy, what every man would secretly like to be, and puts the success of the movies down to this.
Even though his favourite film is Dr No – “partly as it set the ball rolling” – Mr Macintyre prefers the more recent style to the array of gadgets and quips.
“They’re closer to what Ian Fleming had in mind for Bond, because the Bond in the books is intended to be a sinister, tough, rather empty character.
“That’s why I think Daniel Craig does him so well.”
The author was surprised to find how much of the Bond books had been taken from real-life, particularly the spy himself.
For example, the most likely influence for Bond was Patrick Dalyel Job - a “mad, incredibly brave commando” who could ski backwards.
And his favourite Bond actor?
“I think Daniel Craig is the best, but I’m a bit of a purist on that as I think his films are the closest to Ian Fleming’s original character.
“But, for sheer acting ability it’s very hard to beat Sean Connery”
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Al Potts: From Show Business to Spiritualism
The president of Bournemouth Spiritualist Church talks to Jenny Ross about his incredibly varied life.
· “I think I learned more when I left school - having travelled a lot around the world you learn a lot”
· “A few times we’ve had people standing outside, young people, telling people not to go in here because we worship the devil. But what is the devil? We don’t believe in that nonsense.”
The congregation sit on rows of chairs inside the colourful interior of the church. At the front is a raised platform, the wall behind it is decorated with plaster mouldings of flowers and lions’ heads. The carved wooden altar is covered in a flowing arrangement of scarlet poppies – it is, after all, Remembrance Sunday.
Al Potts, the 67-year-old president of Bournemouth Spiritualist Church, steps up to speak, dressed in a smart black suit with a pin in the lapel. He talks animatedly and, smiling the whole time, refers warmly to his congregation as ‘friends’. Then he steps lightly off the stage to play the organ accompaniment to a hymn. It is immediately clear that the president enjoys his work.
Just over a week later I meet him at the church. A short, softly spoken man with white hair and glasses, Mr Potts is dressed casually in grey trousers and a red anorak – “Sorry, I dress smart for services, but not outside,” he smiles apologetically.
Though Mr Potts’ parents endeavoured to bring their children up in the Church of England, he was soon introduced to Spiritualism by one of his aunts.
“[She] was a deep-trance medium,” he says, “myself and my twin brother [Geoff] used to visit her and she used to talk to us about Spiritualism.”
The brothers often went to sit in her Development Circle. This, Mr Potts explains, is a meeting which people attend to develop any 'spiritual gifts' they may have, such as healing or mediumship. His aunt’s circle was aimed at ‘deep-trance mediumship’, in which a spirit entity is believed to speak through the medium.
“So, for example, if your grandfather wished to give you a message, you could recognise his voice through her. It’s a gift that takes many years to develop. My aunt had the same people with her for 30 years – you don’t get that now, there’s too many distractions.”
After leaving school in 1961, he and his brother went straight into a career in show-business, singing along with dance bands in ballrooms.
“I don’t consider myself extremely well educated, but I think I learned more when I left school,” Mr Potts says, “having travelled a lot around the world you learn a lot.”
The twins toured Europe, as well as visiting America and Africa. They once performed at the Golden Rose Television Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland, as well as making appearances on shows such as Dick Emery’s. The brothers still perform at the church’s Christmas show each year.
“He’s a very good leader, very conscientious,” Zena Sinsbury, the 78 year-old treasurer of the church tells me, “he gets on well with all of us - very spiritual, very religious.”
One of the president’s main roles is to advise the committee on matters of finance - all decisions here are made as a group – but in reality Mr Potts does just about everything from checking on the welfare of the buildings to sweeping up leaves.
“I even do the flower arrangements as well at times,” he laughs, “but not these ones here today.”
A short while ago the Church’s minister fell ill and is now in a care home, “so I do the job of the minister as well – weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals etc.”
Councillor Mrs Anne Rey, aged 52, chose Mr Potts to be her chaplain during her term as Major of Bournemouth from 2003 to 2004.
"He was always at all the functions, always very reliable and a very good speaker," she says, "I've known him for a while as a friend too, he gets on well with everyone.
The president recalls an incident that occurred at the start of Councillor Rey’s term when some of the local Church of England members were invited to one of the Spiritualist church’s meetings. Afterwards, one of the church leaders came up to him and said that he could identify with the majority of the service, apart from how they “speak to the dead”.
“Programmes like Most Haunted which scare people [give the wrong impression],” he says, “we’re all about living life now.”
He continues, “our worst enemies are - how can I say it?”
Mr Potts thinks for a moment, glancing around the church, “religious fanatics. We’ve had people come into the service and shout to disrupt it. But we haven’t had that for a while, touch wood.
“A few times we’ve had people standing outside, young people, telling people not to go in here because we worship the devil. But what is the devil? We don’t believe in that nonsense. Spiritualism is all about how you treat people.”
Indeed, Mr Potts and his brother have both volunteered in an AIDs sanctuary - painting rooms, caring for people and laying out the dead. The church, itself a registered charity, is run entirely by volunteers - mainly retirees.
“I couldn’t do this if I had a job – my phone never stops ringing,” the president says, “that’s why I don’t have a mobile: I’d never get any rest.” •
· “I think I learned more when I left school - having travelled a lot around the world you learn a lot”
· “A few times we’ve had people standing outside, young people, telling people not to go in here because we worship the devil. But what is the devil? We don’t believe in that nonsense.”
The congregation sit on rows of chairs inside the colourful interior of the church. At the front is a raised platform, the wall behind it is decorated with plaster mouldings of flowers and lions’ heads. The carved wooden altar is covered in a flowing arrangement of scarlet poppies – it is, after all, Remembrance Sunday.
Al Potts, the 67-year-old president of Bournemouth Spiritualist Church, steps up to speak, dressed in a smart black suit with a pin in the lapel. He talks animatedly and, smiling the whole time, refers warmly to his congregation as ‘friends’. Then he steps lightly off the stage to play the organ accompaniment to a hymn. It is immediately clear that the president enjoys his work.
Just over a week later I meet him at the church. A short, softly spoken man with white hair and glasses, Mr Potts is dressed casually in grey trousers and a red anorak – “Sorry, I dress smart for services, but not outside,” he smiles apologetically.
Though Mr Potts’ parents endeavoured to bring their children up in the Church of England, he was soon introduced to Spiritualism by one of his aunts.
“[She] was a deep-trance medium,” he says, “myself and my twin brother [Geoff] used to visit her and she used to talk to us about Spiritualism.”
The brothers often went to sit in her Development Circle. This, Mr Potts explains, is a meeting which people attend to develop any 'spiritual gifts' they may have, such as healing or mediumship. His aunt’s circle was aimed at ‘deep-trance mediumship’, in which a spirit entity is believed to speak through the medium.
“So, for example, if your grandfather wished to give you a message, you could recognise his voice through her. It’s a gift that takes many years to develop. My aunt had the same people with her for 30 years – you don’t get that now, there’s too many distractions.”
After leaving school in 1961, he and his brother went straight into a career in show-business, singing along with dance bands in ballrooms.
“I don’t consider myself extremely well educated, but I think I learned more when I left school,” Mr Potts says, “having travelled a lot around the world you learn a lot.”
The twins toured Europe, as well as visiting America and Africa. They once performed at the Golden Rose Television Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland, as well as making appearances on shows such as Dick Emery’s. The brothers still perform at the church’s Christmas show each year.
“He’s a very good leader, very conscientious,” Zena Sinsbury, the 78 year-old treasurer of the church tells me, “he gets on well with all of us - very spiritual, very religious.”
One of the president’s main roles is to advise the committee on matters of finance - all decisions here are made as a group – but in reality Mr Potts does just about everything from checking on the welfare of the buildings to sweeping up leaves.
“I even do the flower arrangements as well at times,” he laughs, “but not these ones here today.”
A short while ago the Church’s minister fell ill and is now in a care home, “so I do the job of the minister as well – weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals etc.”
Councillor Mrs Anne Rey, aged 52, chose Mr Potts to be her chaplain during her term as Major of Bournemouth from 2003 to 2004.
"He was always at all the functions, always very reliable and a very good speaker," she says, "I've known him for a while as a friend too, he gets on well with everyone.
The president recalls an incident that occurred at the start of Councillor Rey’s term when some of the local Church of England members were invited to one of the Spiritualist church’s meetings. Afterwards, one of the church leaders came up to him and said that he could identify with the majority of the service, apart from how they “speak to the dead”.
“Programmes like Most Haunted which scare people [give the wrong impression],” he says, “we’re all about living life now.”
He continues, “our worst enemies are - how can I say it?”
Mr Potts thinks for a moment, glancing around the church, “religious fanatics. We’ve had people come into the service and shout to disrupt it. But we haven’t had that for a while, touch wood.
“A few times we’ve had people standing outside, young people, telling people not to go in here because we worship the devil. But what is the devil? We don’t believe in that nonsense. Spiritualism is all about how you treat people.”
Indeed, Mr Potts and his brother have both volunteered in an AIDs sanctuary - painting rooms, caring for people and laying out the dead. The church, itself a registered charity, is run entirely by volunteers - mainly retirees.
“I couldn’t do this if I had a job – my phone never stops ringing,” the president says, “that’s why I don’t have a mobile: I’d never get any rest.” •
Thursday, 20 November 2008
A Monster Read
Bournemouth libraries are setting themselves the challenge of encouraging everyone in the town to read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
The novel, chosen because the author is buried in Bournemouth, was written by Shelley was she was just nineteen.
Having been written in 1818 – a year before the coronation of Queen Victoria - 2008 is also Frankenstein’s 190th anniversary.
“Even though it’s a small book it’s very challenging and the issues in it are still relevant today,” said Vicki Goldie, the area manager for Bournemouth libraries, “for example: the exclusion from society of those who look different.
“So - diversity, disability, even those who have plastic surgery to make themselves look different.”
The event, dubbed ‘The Big Bournemouth Read’, has included a Gothic-themed launch party, a candlelit reading on Halloween and a series of coffee mornings.
In addition, the library has run lectures by John Walker, who conducts literary walks around Bournemouth, and Diane Roberts, who designed the sign for the Mary Shelley pub in Bournemouth town centre.
The novel, chosen because the author is buried in Bournemouth, was written by Shelley was she was just nineteen.
Having been written in 1818 – a year before the coronation of Queen Victoria - 2008 is also Frankenstein’s 190th anniversary.
“Even though it’s a small book it’s very challenging and the issues in it are still relevant today,” said Vicki Goldie, the area manager for Bournemouth libraries, “for example: the exclusion from society of those who look different.
“So - diversity, disability, even those who have plastic surgery to make themselves look different.”
The event, dubbed ‘The Big Bournemouth Read’, has included a Gothic-themed launch party, a candlelit reading on Halloween and a series of coffee mornings.
In addition, the library has run lectures by John Walker, who conducts literary walks around Bournemouth, and Diane Roberts, who designed the sign for the Mary Shelley pub in Bournemouth town centre.
So far The Big Bournemouth Read appears to have been a success, with people who would not have otherwise read Frankenstein enjoying coming to the coffee mornings and talking about the novel.
“It’s very different to the films,” said Ms. Goldie, “people have been surprised because they thought they were going to be reading a horror.”
The library hopes that the events will encourage more people to read, not just because high reading skills are necessary in terms of careers, but also because it is a very good way to relax.
The scheme, which has been launched as part of the National Year of Reading will run until December.
The library hopes that the events will encourage more people to read, not just because high reading skills are necessary in terms of careers, but also because it is a very good way to relax.
The scheme, which has been launched as part of the National Year of Reading will run until December.
The Mary Shelley pub and St Peter's Church, where the author is buried.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
What Makes a Good Reporter?
Daniel Owens, Deputy News Editor for Northampton’s Chronicle and Echo, thinks that all journalists need an eye for news.
Though he considers enthusiasm and a high standard of writing to be essential for journalism, the most important quality is an eye for a story.
“A good reporter is able to walk down the street and spot a story,” Mr Owens said, “for example if you see two shops next to each other both closing - that could be a story on the effects of the credit crunch on the local area. It’s something most people won’t notice.”
The 29 year-old started working for the newspaper as a junior reporter after completing a journalism degree at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.
Whilst on his course Mr Owens had come to the paper for work experience on a number of occasions, as well as attending placements at Sport First and the Watford Observer.
“It seemed like a natural transition to make,” he said, “I don’t live in Northampton itself, I live just outside, but this is still my local paper.”
Out of the 18 daily newspapers owned by Johnston’s press the Chronicle and Echo is one of the highest in terms of internet growth.
Unfortunately this means that with the industry suffering the effects of the credit crunch, there are fewer journalists to write material and so the workload has increased dramatically.
Despite the intensive conditions Mr Owens says he still enjoys “being at the centre of breaking news in Northampton and being able to break news to the public.”
Though he considers enthusiasm and a high standard of writing to be essential for journalism, the most important quality is an eye for a story.
“A good reporter is able to walk down the street and spot a story,” Mr Owens said, “for example if you see two shops next to each other both closing - that could be a story on the effects of the credit crunch on the local area. It’s something most people won’t notice.”
The 29 year-old started working for the newspaper as a junior reporter after completing a journalism degree at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.
Whilst on his course Mr Owens had come to the paper for work experience on a number of occasions, as well as attending placements at Sport First and the Watford Observer.
“It seemed like a natural transition to make,” he said, “I don’t live in Northampton itself, I live just outside, but this is still my local paper.”
Out of the 18 daily newspapers owned by Johnston’s press the Chronicle and Echo is one of the highest in terms of internet growth.
Unfortunately this means that with the industry suffering the effects of the credit crunch, there are fewer journalists to write material and so the workload has increased dramatically.
Despite the intensive conditions Mr Owens says he still enjoys “being at the centre of breaking news in Northampton and being able to break news to the public.”
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
War Sirens and Carbolic Soap - Gillian Woodward's Earliest Memories
Born in the midst of the Second World War, 66 year-old Gillian Woodward’s earliest memories are of the Blitz.
“I remember sirens going off,” she said, “and I was frightened because I think I thought they were going to drop bombs. Someone was saying, ‘don’t worry it’s just the war sirens’.I was born in forty-two, in the middle of the war, so I must have only been three or four.”
One of five children, Mrs Woodward grew up in Leamington Spa, where her father worked in a factory.
After the war she attended her local school.
Teaching methods were strict, with any child caught swearing being made to stand in the corner and wash their mouth out with carbolic soap.
Unable to afford further education, Mrs Woodward left school at the age of fifteen.
“You went to work at fifteen then, I was a librarian. In those times you were just glad to get a job,” she said, “it’s getting like that again now.”
In 1996 she retired from her work in a plant hire company in Milton Keynes and retired to Poole along with her husband, whom she has known since she was 9.
Much of their time is now devoted to fishing, sailing and travelling, particularly to Italy, where they have visited such cultural sites as Sorrento, Venice and Pisa.
The couple have one daughter, who lives in Warwick, and three grandchildren, one of whom has recently gone to Kingston University to study fashion design.
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