My 5 Sports-People of the Summer

by Tim MacBain

 

This summer has not been an enormous let down as some of us expected, being the summer after the Olympics. Although not reaching the heady heights of 2012, 2013 has still been a year to remember for British sport. There have been a few stand-out people which have caught my eye. Honourable mentions go to Gareth Bale for becoming the most expensive footballer ever bought (and, in the process, ruining his career), to Laura Robson for continuing her brilliant rise up the tennis rankings, and to Adam Gemili for breaking the 20 second barrier in the 200m (and showing great maturity in his post-race interview), but here are the people who have defined this summer’s British sport.

5. Stuart Broad

Love him or hate him, Stuart Broad demonstrated this summer just what a fantastic sportsman he is. Adding runs with the bat stylishly (I believe Geoffrey Boycott compares him to the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers regularly) and when needed, his performance with the ball in the later Tests of this summer’s Ashes showed just how destructive he can be. I know I’ve said this before, but he has the potential to completely changes matches, and has demonstrated that twice this season, once against New Zealand and once against the Australians. Some criticised him for not walking at Trent Bridge; they’re incorrect in their criticism. Not that I’m opinionated at all…

4. Christine Ohuruogu

Athletics isn’t watched or participated in anywhere near as it should be. Maybe people have an aversion to watch athletes run round a track for (sometimes) upward of ten minutes. That said, Christine Ohuruogu’s performance at the World Championships in Moscow was stunning. As the captain of, to be frank, a rather weak British team, she delivered exactly what was needed; a composed, exceptionally run gold medal, beating her Botswanian rival, Amantle Montsho, simply by wanting it more. She was also thoughtful and clear when interviewed, and held the team together from the beginning with a well-executed speech before the championships began. She is now, incidentally, the most successful British female athlete. And what an athlete she is.

3. Ian Bell

The sheer weight of the statistic of Ian Bell’s average, 56.2, during the Ashes series easily puts him as England’s best player. Anderson was fantastic but lost his vip towards the end of the series, Swann was good but not at his best, and none of the other batsmen got anywhere near Bell’s form or reliability. This, when combined with the fact that he has never really performed at his best against Australia (I still shudder when I think of Warne and McGrath utterly flummoxing him in 2005), and the persistent criticism of his inability to make significant runs under pressure, makes his match-saving hundred at Trent Bridge and innings-saving ton at Lord’s easily worthy of enormous merit. I hope this form continues Down Under later this year.

2. Mo Farah

As one of the faces of London 2012, Mo Farah was already flying pretty high. Then, at the Moscow World Championships, he entered the pantheon of greats of distance running. He did what only one man had ever done before; hold the Olympic and World titles at both 5,000 and 10,000 metres. He was already a British all-time great. Now his place on the world stage is secured. He works hard, having relocated to the United States a few years ago to train with a man named Salazar (what a fantastic name?!?), and is so easy to like when you see him on camera and in interviews, he is a wonderful advert for his sport. Alright, the Mobot is a little cringy. But we can forgive that, can’t we?

1. Andy Murray

And finally. Call me common and I wouldn’t care. Andy Murray has had the year of his life, but this summer he decided to go and win Wimbledon. And not just eek it out. Oh no, he beat Djokovic in straight sets. He has come on so far since the young teenager that lost to David Nalbandian after being two sets up. Some people I know don’t like him, thinking him grumpy and lacking in personality. I point you to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, two men who could be perceived as ‘lacking personality’. Please note the conditional tense, I don’t actually think that. In addition, a great sportsperson does not need a riveting personality. Watch the documentary the BBC broadcast this year; it’s a real eye-opener. I hope he finds even more happiness than he already has – he is a great British sportsman. Simple as.

 

So, who disagrees? Have I missed anyone out? Leave your comments below…

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Squirrel in the Classroom

by Tony Hicks

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Poem: By The Sea: A War’s Tale

Max Lancaster's poem, 'By The Sea: A War's Tale' won the Year 7 Leonardo Prize, 2013

The stars shone on the water

As I thudded up the beach

In green and black,

A solitary spirit.

The peaceful silence was broken,

Often by the sound of cannons,

The tranquil waters, once azure,

Were now tainted with a crimson haze.

The blades of the cold

Stabbed the unfortunate

As they drowned,

A gloomy end.

Sunlight danced along the rippling waves,

Like diamond eagles on a sunny day,

But battleships in navy blue

Blotted out the sun as they came in droves.

A bloodshot trail followed me,

Like parasites on their host,

The swarm of landing craft overwhelmed me,

A completely heart-stopping sight.

They showed no mercy, just brutality,

Slaughtering us by hand and gun.

I am now frozen in time on this decimated battlefield

As I lie dead on the sand.

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Photographs: 5 Summer Beaches

by Emma Bell

Coniston Water, Lake District, July 

Eastney Beach August 

Branscombe, East Devon, August

Lyme Regis, August 

Moraira, Spain, August 

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PGS at the International Theatre Festival, Avignon

by Charlie Albuery

This summer, instead of the conventional trip to Edinburgh, Mr McCrohon, Mrs Filho and Miss Bustard accompanied a group of ten pupils to the international theatre festival in Avignon – We were performing an abridged version of the internationally renowned verbatim play ‘The Exonerated’.  Our two performances in the Round Tower in Old Portsmouth had received positive reviews, and we were all mightily anticipating our first performance overseas - so we boarded the overnight ferry to France with much excitement.

Several games of Mario Kart, a bowl of frites, a few hours of less than blissful sleep and a possible sighting of Dwayne Johnson later, we arrived in France.

We performed in the ‘Théâtre du Centre’ a fifty-seat theatre just off of one of Avignon’s many bustling squares, in the hope of attracting an audience to our show we engaged in some serious flyering – for those of you unaware as to what that means – flyering is the act of hassling passing strangers into taking a flyer for your show, with the assumption that a small number of people who take a flier will proceed to come to the show itself. So we all busted out our best Franglais and hit the streets. I personally had reactions ranging from great interest and rampant pleasantry to just generic profanities, but it’s this variety in the tourists and locals, much like the variety in the shows that makes a theatre festival such as Avignon’s such a unique experience. The atmosphere is simply indescribable: try to imagine something between a football match and the closing night of the proms and you’re getting there.

We performed three shows in Avignon – despite less than packed houses we always had an attentive audience and even mustered a standing ovation on the final night!  As I knew I was writing this article I noted down the words of a woman who saw our opening night as she bumped into to us the next day, bearing in mind we were performing a particularly wordy play in English to a largely French-speaking audience this is (certainly for me) some truly uplifting feedback: ‘I’m sorry to bother you, but I saw your show last night – and I don’t speak English very well, but you made me weep. Thank you so much'. It’s moments like that, not a packed house, that show you that you are doing something right as far as theatre goes.

Aside from performing the show, the festival itself is an amazing experience. As a group we saw everything from a physical theatre piece about an alcoholic water demon to a musical in nearly every European language about a broken down caravan which it turns out (spoiler alert) runs on bubbles – go figure. Although a vast majority of plays were in French and largely dialogue-based, there was a category of shows for those who were not fluent French speakers, and these were the shows that entertained us for the week – with Miss Bustard’s aficionado skill level at play-picking proven following her suggestion of a full-length retelling of Pyramus and Thisbe (in which I played the role of the lion, rather well if I do say so myself) she led us on a swathe through all beautiful and bizarre that Avignon had to offer.

Huge thanks on behalf of me and the rest of the cast go to all members of staff involved in making this trip a reality. I will end by saying that anyone who ever has a chance to go on a trip similar to this, grab it with both hands! You will have a truly memorable week, and one that I highly doubt you’ll ever forget.

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Photography: The Belt of Venus

by Tony Hicks

When the sun goes down on a clear night, you might be able to spot a pink and purple band above the horizon opposite the sunset. This beautiful atmospheric phenomenon is known as The Belt of Venus, which I captured about 20.45 -21.00 on Sunday.

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Favourite Album: 'OK Computer' by Radiohead

The fifth of a series of articles (originally published in the ‘Fight Club’ issue of Portsmouth Point magazine) exploring favourite music albums. Today, Ben Wallis explains why Radiohead's 'OK Computer' is his favourite album.

Radiohead are a band who will always divide opinion, comparisons with Marmite come to mind. Having released their first album twenty years ago in 1993 and remaining active to this day, the band have explored a wide range of styles through 8 albums, any of which are worthy of praise and critical analysis, but it is the third album 1997's 'OK Computer' that just manages to stand above the rest, defining Radiohead as one of the most innovative bands of the modern era. The album's brilliance comes from the combination of musical excellence, artistic commentary on modern life and cultural significance. Through his lyrics, Thom Yorke explores themes of consumerism, social alienation and modern isolation, with a penetrating degree of emotional honesty that makes OK Computer a stark and unforgiving commentary on the state of modern life, that is as meaningful now as it was 16 years ago.

Ok Computer is an album that refuses to abide by convention, in contrast to the simplicity of britpop at the time, the album is ambitious using unconventional song structures, such as the six minute long 'Paranoid Android' and focusing on irregular chord progressions. Similarly the guitar work of Jonny Greenwood is exceptional; solos are innovative and aggressive in defiance of tradition and tear songs apart and build them up again. Guitar is also used to express the emotions of particular songs, for example in 'Subterrarian Homesick Alien' the guitar takes on an airy and otherworldly feel that perfectly reflects the subject matter of the song. Usually instrumentation is also seen in 'Climbing Up The Walls' where strings are used to create a dark and tense atmosphere, rather than their typical use in a pop song. Showing once again the album's adventurous and experimental nature, that it pulls off so convincingly.

Lyrically OK Computer is the Radiohead album when singer Thom Yorke was at the height of his powers. It's full of striking, beautiful and thought provoking imagery, an example that stands out is found on 'No Surprises' where Yorke sings, "A heart that's full up like a landfill" comparing the centre of the human body and emotion with a place for disposing waste is a tragic image and is an example of the imagery that fills the album.

Significantly, the album is a commentary on the modern lifestyle, track 7 'Fitter Happier' is not technically a song, as there's no singing, instead a computerised voice reads a series of goals for modern life, "Fitter, happier, more productive, comfortable, not drinking too much" and so on. As the list progresses contradictions and ironies emerge, "Concerned, but powerless. An empowered and informed member of society." The whole piece is worthy of analysis equal in length to this article; it is a criticism of the ideal lifestyle presented to us and the conformity that Thom Yorke feels so oppressed by.

Often described as 'The first 21st centaury album' OK Computer stands as a great album due to it's far reaching influence. It signalled the end of the Britpop era ruled by Blur and Oasis by being something completely different and sounding truly cutting edge. After this Radiohead spawned a host of imitators and they have been cited as influence by many of the most successful bands of the next decade, such as Muse, Coldplay and Bloc Party. The calm and moody characteristics of much modern 'indie rock' can be attributed to the impact of Radiohead on the music industry.

So what makes an album the greatest ever? In my opinion: musical excellence, innovation, lyrical depth and influence; OK Computer does all of these. It is an album of an exceptional band at their best; experimental enough to be interesting and not scared to take risks, but still a commercial success, charting at number one in the UK, and with a depth of meaning that sadly absent in much of the music industry. 

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