AUGUST BRINGS ANDREW GRAVES

After a 4 hour drive from Nottingham, Our August Guest, Andrew Graves, appeared in a 'tight' 4 buttom red and blue striped jacket and trousers, along with his charming wife Ann – he seemed so serious, I did wonder what Write Angle was in for – but, contrary to appearances, when he took over the stage, a star was born! The audience laughed from start to finish. He got straight into it and showed what a pro can do! 'I'm 45, an entertainer, teacher, preacher, etc, and have managed in all that time, to clock up an impressive 9 ½ seconds on Nat'l television. My body can't cope with that breakneck speed of my rise to fame and fortune'. Then, 'Dear Jeremy Clarkson ...It's only four wheels and a roof, a vehicle and not the truth, you can't caress an oil stain or fall in love with a traffic lane, ..a car is money and petrol smell, combustion engine motor hell, traffic jamming dents and prangs, insurance cons and joy ride gangs. A car might get you there real quick, but a car cannot extend your…(you got it)!'

Andrew worked as a pot washer, youth worker, stacking shelves in supermarkets – his wife tells him he's 'brilliant brilliant brilliant...at always choosing careers guaranteed to make no money'. His first job was with ASDA. He was on the 'YTS 'Youth Training Scheme' for 5 days a week; he thinks it really meant 'You're Totally Stupid'. He returned to the dole office begging for anything else than shelf stacking…. said he loved animals ...a few days later they put him in butchery (be careful what you wish for). Brought up in Mansfield, he's now living in Nottingham City, which the press now calls 'Shottingham'. Andrew wanted to put right that places like that and other small towns are ignored (and shouldn't be), except for the bad things that happen. He had researched Petersfield and was impressed that John Wyndham came from here. He referred to a book John had written, turned into a film called 'The Village of the Damned'. Walking around town, Andrew said he could see where John's inspiration came from'! 'I warm myself to your poverty'. A lot of his poems were from his latest book, 'Light at the End of the Tenner'.

'He's a writer, mod and regular face on the performance poetry scene and has been cited 'the hardest working poet in the East Midlands. We can believe that – although, like good ice skating, his work and stories flow out effortlessly! Very into football, he told of...'Something Brave and Ridiculous'. 'The referee calls silent victory prayer. The spirit of '77 fully realised. The referee calls time on this game of man and gods.' He played out the story of a particular game dedicated to old bighead Brian Clough, one of the Football League's highest goalscorers.

Andrew's favourite comic is Superman, the creation of two Jewish immigrants, Siegal and Schuster. The original Superman was on the side of the working classes. Fighting corporations, supporting striking workers - he feels we could use the original Superman now. Super Power to the People...'a sign of mankinds epic fail'….'If he existed now, the media would call him a terrorist. He'll rip up every palace door and share the crown jewels with the poor….He'll round up all the CEOs. He'll tear up loans and build new homes.' A definite theme to Andrew's work is those living in squalor and poverty. Sees how Romeo and Juliette clashes with the council estate. Andrew's now working on a new show, - 'God Saves a Teen', an hour long narrative, soon to be produced.

Open Miker, Bruce Parry played some lovely songs on the hammer dulcimer including Oriental tunes, followed by a story of some 52 different gnomes 'found in a sock in a box' in the attic. How they 'sat, stood, fell over in the wind – on guard in darker storms'. (That box, week by week, is becoming more exciting as it reveals its 'inner sanctum'). He then talked and read his poem, 'I was a London Tram'. Lovely lilting memories for those who remembered!

Colin Eveleigh read a very visual account of 'Seaside Dip English Summer' describing 'Gliding, Swaying...a step by step description of what it feels like to go seaside dipping. 'Floating, skirting, somewhat hurting….' back on the beach shivering….good imagery! Then, with planes flying that day to commemorate 'The Battle of Britain' , he read 'Missing Man' about 'Spitfire and Hurricane wings'….'wait! he's going to crash...in September 1940 you could understand it. But not now in Shoreham, at an air display….stunned, disbelieving...they were told they'd be updated…' Very moving.

John Meriton and guitar joined us with some new songs he's written...Two relate to Thailand - his daughter lives there, on a river boat in a town called Pai, one of the many places hippies now inhabit....from all over the world. It's also a 'great music scene' . His first song was for his grandson, called 'Little Dylan' . 'Every passing week he sees the world in a different way'. 'Little Dyl is growing strong'…..high spirited song from a talented and very happy grandad. Really caught the emotions John has for this boy.

Then, a song, 'Walking in Berlin', about his trip to Berlin. 'Struck by its centre which had all cultural things. Now a magnet for young people. Ancient and modern. From a crumbling city to a shining metropolis. It contained memories, all the pain's within...future lies for all together...'Freedom to think of joy and sin'...bound in time for worse or better…' Very emotional song, sad and yet, a feeling of promise. Lastly, another song about Thailand, a place 'where love grows. They never grow old...a very special place'. John was in 'top form'

Caroline Blackburn, with her very special talent for performance, did 'The depth of the water doesn't matter when you're drowning'. 'One day my heart fell asleep. Purity is dressed in squalor. Naivete has raped wisdom and knowledge was not aware. ...'What do I represent to you?' What string would you tie around my fingers….' dedicated to a very dear friend…(hope to see more of Caroline's work).

David Robert did 'Butterflies' – 'better to watch those in the garden than have them in your tummy. Then, 'Stardust Memories', those moments of joy, now changed – money is gone, career on the rocks, Wife has gone'…..Where are those moments now?' 'Whatever Works, followed, 'Do whatever works – learn from the university of life'. Lastly, 'Ashes', the first sports poem he ever wrote. About cricket: 'the English regain their noble name'.

Jake Claret, compère, spoke of his father, a businessman who always failed and when he did, went back to the stall in the marketplace. 'Something to be proud of' - Jake went to posh schools, never laughed, was diligent - did all the things expected of him. Then a poem chosen for the book of Portsmouth, 'Where are they now' All those brave sailors. Who are their sons in the present day. Are we better off or do we look back to the days when we were brave but we were poor?'

Finally, 'That's My Girl'. About his daughter, Sabra playing, getting hurt and being rushed off to A&E, with a possible concussion. Then, going home, she ran straight out the back door into the garden and got on the same swing! Yours truly did a few poems including, 'I stole a skirt' because of a short story she read called 'The Poker Game'.

Another good evening ended. A smaller crowd than usual but a high spirit throughout! Here's to next month when, due to renovation at The Square Brewery, the gig, starring the fabulously funny and talented Sarah Hirsch, we'll be at the 'Fork Handles Kitchen, Petersfield. More to follow. Put the 15thSeptember (gosh, is it almost September already???) in your diaries! You won't want to miss it!