| Tigers at Layer Road 21:11 - Sep 23 with 49082 views | SparkfilmsTV |
In a strange twist of events l found myself in conversation with a young lady who had attended Layer Road for a match against Hull City in our first season in The Championship. The 5-1 encounter.
We were attending a promo evening for a band called The Datsuns in North London in 2008.
During the evening she explained that she had been present at a party that made the national news due to the tragic death of someone by the name of Mark Blanco.
The incident occurred in December 2006.
This incident will be shown on Channel 4 on Monday night at 22.00 in an hour long documentary and several people known to me have made contributions.
It may be of interest to some.
I am very much hoping that the police will reinvestigate the death of Mark Blanco as a result of what will be included in the content.
I know that what l was told by this young lady 15 years ago has been instrumental in the making of this documentary.
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 12:36 - Nov 24 with 646 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Was in my loft this morning and bought down the original single by Vince Taylor and His Playboy's - 'Brand New Cadillac'. This was released in '59 or '60 and l acquired it a few years ago.
Joe Moretti is on lead guitar and also played lead on 'Shaking All Over' by Johnny Kidd and The Pirates.
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust character was based on Vince Taylor.
I wasn't aware of that. Had a quick look at Vince Taylor on Wiki and that popped up.
I also played Telstar by The Tornados this morning!
My god!
It still has the Joe Meek production magic! [Post edited 24 Nov 15:12]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 15:33 - Nov 24 with 603 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I was driving to Frinton around 1984. Had the car radio on.
A song comes on. Hadn't heard it before.
I'm thinking ....xxxxxxx hell! This is fantastic!
It was by an artist that almost everyone would be aware of at the time. This release was heavenly.
'Orchard Road' - Words by Leo Sayer. Music by Alan Carney who also produced and arranged the song.
I grabbed a bundle of 45's mid morning and put this on the turntable.
I think all of us have had our own Orchard Road experience in our lifetime.
Here are a few lines from Leo Sayer's masterpiece....
It's twelve o'clock and the curtains are drawn
They're counting sheep down in Orchard Road
And you're hanging on the telephone line tonight
And l wish l could be - in Orchard Road
It's twelve ten when l put down the phone
The moon's shining down on Orchard Road
And I'm feeling like a schoolboy again
And tonight I'll see you in my dreams
Of Orchard Road
It's eight o'clock and the dawn's arrived
In Orchard Road it's breakfast time
I climb in the car and l turn the key
And I'm gone -
I am coming home - to Orchard Road
( Wish l had written that - glorious work! ). | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:30 - Nov 24 with 588 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Sparkfilms HQ on a Sunday afternoon.
I am upstairs watching the snooker on TV.
My dog is asleep on me.
He was my daughter's dog until he was very naughty.
Another daughter and a couple of grandkids have just visited.
The view around the room.
A Cream poster to the eastern elevation.
Television showing Mark Allen concentrating.
A group of sculptured heads.
A cupboard with LP records inside.
Some street art to the North.
A signed photo from members of Lush.
Pictures including friends l have worked with down the years.
Several hundred LP records in a storage area.
To the West, a collage l made about ten years ago.
An acrylic screen with an image shot from a book release in 2006.
A hoover in the corner.
A radio plugged into the wall.
A few dog toys scattered around.
To the South.
A window overlooking Durham Square.
There is a large green area outside and l have been clearing up the leaves again that are shed from several trees.
It's getting dark.
Dog has woken and is wagging his tale.
I bought him a coat on Wednesday and it hasn't been off him since. [Post edited 24 Nov 16:36]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:43 - Nov 25 with 518 views | SparkfilmsTV |
This poetic stuff.
As l never had any ambition to go out on the road and read poetry to people l decided against it ( for the most part ) when the opportunity arose.
What l found far more interesting was to explain to an audience the process of getting a poetry collection you have released onto shelves in retail outlets across the country.
As soon as l began to explain this l had people who were very intent on learning what you had to do ( 1999 - 2005 ).
Just about everyone who attends a poetry event writes themselves and there were very few people around ( l can't think of anyone else ) who would be able to give them any guidance.
By 2005 things had changed in publishing and my mode of operation was becoming less relevant.
I'm not sure if what l will add in this little sequence will be worth reading in 2024, but just in case it helps anyone l will add to this accordingly.
TBC. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:47 - Nov 25 with 503 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I was employed full time in advertising in 1999 and based in Chelsea, just off The King's Road.
I managed to get the first book written, designed and printed ( by Jenner Print in Tiptree ) in my spare time, evenings, weekends, holidays etc.
One of the most important aspects to the book production was to have an ISBN number and a Barcode. That made it visible to any bookseller in the world. Without that it would be pretty much invisible to anyone.
Being in advertising l suppose l had something of a head start in marketing procedures. I took on a PR company to do a Press Release and acquired a list of every bookshop in the UK.
I think there were 4,300 of them at the time.
I organised direct mail to most of them.
Waterstones had around 220 branches across the UK and a few in Europe. I spoke to most branches ( asking for the poetry buyer ). Telephone sales is not a skill or technique that l possessed but you learn how to short cut conversation as you go.
The budget l set aside for the book production, marketing, advertising and Tele sales was £25,000.
Every last penny of that was spent. And more.
When you give an ISBN number to a bookshop you can inform them that the product is available through
- wholesalers, namely, at that time, the two biggest in the UK.
Those being, Bertrams in Norwich and Gardners in Eastbourne. Both of which were within driving distance from London or Colchester when delivering box's containing hundreds of books.
Getting a poetry title into Waterstones in 1999 was quite a difficult proposition. Bit by bit l was getting orders in London. Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and most major cities. Then big towns. And small towns.
But would anyone buy the xxxxxxx thing?
My initial ambition was - if l can sell a single copy that would be some kind of success.
Waterstones in Notting Hill Gate sold the first ever copy on a Saturday morning and the Manager was so pleased that she phoned me at home!
A few days later l learned of a couple of copies being bought in Manchester and from that point there was a decent flow of sales.
The Tele sales got easier. I could speak to Ottakars, Borders, Books etc, Foyles, Blackwells etc and use Waterstones as a prompt.
Books etc ordered a stack of the things and some branches ( Canary Wharf ) were making window displays.
Being on the road. I travelled across the country to a number of different venues promoting the book in my own mode. That being - if anyone wanted a copy l insisted on giving it to them free of charge. And signing it should they prefer.
I hate the idea of taking cash from anyone who might turn up for an event, so as far as l can recall, l never did.
If people bought the item from a bookshop or via Amazon that represented ( to me ) a natural sale.
A big audience turned up at Norwich. They weren't just there for me. There were some big names in attendance.
One in particular was none too keen on my marketing ploy of giving the product away.
We had quite a row as there was a little bit of previous history.
I watch her regularly now on television and have the utmost respect for her views. I apologised to her about 15 years after our conflict via email - though she didn't respond.
Either way, l still stand by the viewpoint l held in 2004 that almost landed the pair of us in a court of law. 😳😳 [Post edited 25 Nov 17:51]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:19 - Nov 25 with 479 views | SparkfilmsTV |
To try and make a bit more sense of the Norwich appearance - that was in 2004 and coincided with the third book release. Most of the leading publishers were there for the event.
The organisers phoned me on the Monday following the seminar and asked if they could pass my phone number onto a few people who wanted to do interviews.
That was fun.
Some were done over the phone and a few in person.
One of the most interesting was by a young lady who drove down from Norwich. We actually met outside of Colchester Castle.
She had an expense account for a three course lunch for two, l told her to keep hold of it and we would go for a burger, chips and coffee should she agree. Which she did.
( Expense accounts caused the conflict l had with The Independent newspaper and created internal conflict there for a few days ).
During the interview with my visitor from Norwich we discussed Norwich Art School where she had been tutored by one of my favourite vocalists - Jess Roden ( Alan Bown Set / Jess Roden Band ).
There were many interviews over the years with magazines and newspapers around the country. I insisted on cafes as opposed to restaurants and would either pay for it myself or go 50 / 50. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:40 - Nov 25 with 474 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I did an event in Brighton. '05.
Was within a few miles of the venue.
There was a car crash about 70 metres in front of me.
A bad one.
I remember the dust from both cars making a cloud that hung in the air over the mangled vehicles.
I saw that as something of a warning that by driving hundreds of miles a week there was always an element of danger and from that moment curtailed some of the travelling.
Concentrated on London after that.
Easier to manage and much of it in the Shoreditch area.
Hence the association with individuals who appear at the beginning of this year long thread. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:04 - Nov 26 with 437 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Behind the scenes in bookworld....
Us writers were usually allocated the staff rooms at branches of Waterstones with a 'rider' of sandwiches, tea, coffee and Perrier Water and the like.
In football terms l was probably around Conference South level ( as it was in '04 ).
It was a bit like been drawn against a Premier League Club in the 3rd Round of The F.A. Cup when l drew Nigella Lawson. I was looking forward to seeing her and listening to her velvet voice up close and personal.
Well, she oozed charm and we shared the same spoon at one point.
STOP PRESS - Wonder shot by Judd Trump up in York! [Post edited 26 Nov 17:06]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:41 - Nov 27 with 378 views | SparkfilmsTV |
This memory thing l was sifting through took me back into the loft, and bit by bit l am bringing down single records that l began collecting when l was eleven years old.
Only my absolute favourites made it through the past sixty years. I played Lightning Strikes by Lou Christie on the MGM label this morning and gave it a couple of repeat plays.
I have collected multiple genres over time and a Dion single could find itself next to one by the KLF in a box. Or, a Jimmy Ruffin alongside The Inspiral Carpets.
Jackie Wilson and Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine.
Barry Ryan's epic 'Eloise' together with Technotronic.
Barry McGuire's 'Eve of Destruction' and Lisa Stansfield's 'All around the World'.
TBC | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 19:58 - Nov 27 with 353 views | SparkfilmsTV |
1969. Driving a column gear Austin Cambridge on a provisional licence coming out of Gidea Park.
The car radio is on. The Four Tops version of 'Do what you gotta do'.....with Levi Stubbs on lead vocals and for several minutes l am lost in it.
Jimmy Webb wrote this classic.
I watched the people. Pushing their babies in prams. Walking home with shopping bags.
There's a large green area there with trees that created a backdrop for a music video shot in real time.
It's 55 years! But clear as crystal. Etched in memory.
Driving down the M1. 3am. 2005?
Nena Cherry - 'Woman'. Just perfect in the early hours.
NB. I revisited the imagery from Gidea Park in 1969 and replicated it to a point while filming on St. Michael's Estate in Colchester during early 2008.
I used a track by Absent Kid as a musical backdrop.
I drove around St Michael's and my cameraman shot the footage from the passenger seat. We did some fades on it and it came out ok ( l think ). | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:35 - Nov 27 with 346 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Kayleigh - Marillion
The original official video that was shot for this had a face and body double resembling an ex girlfriend.
Not only that, some of the shots behind railings and in open paving areas were virtually the same as had been experienced by us in Rotterdam during 1979.
Kayleigh includes a tapestry of visual imagery. It places the listener in Belsize Park. 'Dancing in stilettoes in the snow' - heavenly words that never fail to resonate.
I played 'Private Number' tonight by Judy Clay and William Bell....and followed it with 'Devotion' by Nomad.
STOP PRESS
'Chalk hearts melting on a playground wall' taken from 'Kayleigh' by Marillion.
That is some line!
ADDITIONAL INFO
The female in the video was Tamara Nowy and 'Fish' married her. The video was shot in West Berlin where the song was recorded.
As l thought may have been the case ( 'cause I do it ) 'Kayleigh' is a composite of several relationships and the imagery for 'Stilettoes in the snow' was a memory from an occurrence in Scotland.
[Post edited 27 Nov 21:21]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 22:04 - Nov 27 with 323 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I have 'Angels' by Robbie Williams on CD albums.
The first time l heard this l just thought - what a fantastic piece of work!
I was told he was leaving Take That before the media were aware. A work colleagues girlfriend was in touch with him.
I loved it when he won over the Glastonbury audience with a super show!
Dedicated my first book to him.
In my opinion some of his single releases stand up against anything in the past fifty years.
An associate of mine went on tour with him and reported back to me over the phone aspects of the demands of performing.
I don't like the term 'superstar' but Robbie Williams is all of that and more.
Big respect for Robbie Williams!
NB. I dedicated my second book release in 2001 to yachts woman Ellen MacArthur and her written response is a cherished possession. [Post edited 27 Nov 22:52]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 22:44 - Nov 27 with 316 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Another step back into bookland.
I have been writing tonight's offerings while being entertained by some scintillating snooker.
Jack Lisowski!
And well played Ali Carter too!
Wu coming back to take four frames against Mark Allen!
Anyway, l think the venue for the following was Bishops Stortford in '04 which is nicely within range of Colchester, and is a very pleasant place to wander around for a while.
I am greeted with sandwiches and coffee while awaiting my compatriots for the evening.
Enter Alan Titchmarsh.
His coat draped over his shoulders and if l am not mistaken, he is expecting one of the bookshop staff to remove it and hang it on a peg.
Maybe l got him wrong. His lifetime achievements are considerable but l don't think there was ever a prospect of he and l starting up a band together.
Waterstone's Piccadilly. 2004.
JK Rowling. Very impressive!
Much respect. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:16 - Nov 29 with 260 views | SparkfilmsTV |
About an hour ago l was walking along Barrack Street in Colchester.
Saw a sign in a window.
I think the establishment is Afro Unisex.
It said 'Barber Wanted'
I have been considering a career change since around 11 o'clock this morning.
I walked into the premises
Said - 'I would like to apply for the position of barber'.
An African woman looked back at me.
She didn't say anything.
I said 'Give me a pair of scissors and I'll show you what l can do'.
She phoned the police.
I walked out of the shop.
TBC | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:57 - Nov 29 with 243 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I continued my walk up Barrack Street and took a right.
Could hear the police sirens around the corner.
I was thinking - what would Subway Sid do?
Subway Sid used to walk the streets of Colchester looking for unlocked doors.
He was on Riverside Estate last year.
He got into a property through the back door and entered the kitchen.
Helped himself to a biscuit and put the kettle on.
Then the woman who lived there saw him waiting for the kettle to boil.
She said 'What are you doing in my home?'
He said 'I'm making a coffee'.
She said 'You have no right to be here, l am calling the police'.
Sid said, 'Sorry, must be the wrong house'.
He left by the back door.
Sid was a serial offender. But he never forced entry.
Pleaded insanity.
Sometimes he would sit and watch television for an hour or so in a strangers house.
Use the toilet.
Take a bath or shower.
Go to bed and take a nap.
Because Subway Sid lived in an underpass he didn't have the requirement for a hoover and had been known to do house work in properties to get a sense of what it was like to live a relatively normal life.
Sid loved to look in fridges.
Make a sandwich
Eat a bit of chocolate cake.
He was fond of animals.
Cats would go to sleep on his lap
Purr.
TBC | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 21:31 - Nov 29 with 231 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Claire worked part time in the One Stop in North Station Road, Colchester.
Sometimes she would notice Subway Sid creeping around the store late at night putting sandwiches under his coat.
She never said anything.
Felt sorry for him.
One night when she finished her shift she passed Sid who was sitting on a bench in Kings Head Meadow.
He was eating the crusts of the sandwiches.
He had given the fillers to a fox who sat beside him. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 23:00 - Nov 29 with 201 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Colchester Public Library, December, 2023
There was a gallery area with a few tables and chairs on the first floor.
Some people were going there to keep warm.
It's currently closed for a year or so due to a refurbishment.
Subway Sid is sitting at a table with a few belongings.
We make eye contact.
My instinct tells me that Sid has a story.
We converse.
I ask Sid what is in the bag.
He puts the stuff out on the table in front of me.
An array of Military medals of the highest order - the like of which l had never seen. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 09:10 - Nov 30 with 175 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Summer Saturday around ten years ago....Colchester Castle Park cricket ground.
Colchester first team are playing Shenfield.
I am there with three dogs.
One is mine and l am looking after the other two for an associate who has just threatened to kill someone.
He said 'Can you look after the dogs for a while'.
I obliged. They were big dogs and scared most folk.
As it turned out they were lovely natured beasts and used to fall asleep on me.
I could hear police sirens in the distance.
There was a police helicopter hovering above the cricket match and the players were somewhat distracted by it.
My associate came running through the gate and joined me on a bench on the boundary edge.
I said 'Is that copter looking for you?'
He said 'Probably'.
There was a rain shower and the players came off for a while.
We sheltered under a willow tree.
My friend said 'Thanks for taking care of Alf and Dudley for me....l didn't want them to see what l just did'.
I didn't like to ask. I had seen what he was capable of when a cyclist collided with Dudley a week or so earlier.
TBC | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 09:59 - Nov 30 with 158 views | SparkfilmsTV |
The rain stopped and the players came out.
There was a police car approaching the ground and a pizza delivery rider following behind.
The police car circled in the car park area outside and headed back towards the fire station.
The Dominoes delivery arrived on our bench and we tucked in to two large pizzas.
The helicopter that had been around for half an hour or so veered off towards Turner Rise and the sound of the sirens disappeared into this distance.
My friend looked across at me and smiled.
There are quite a few incidents going off in Colchester at any one time and threats to kill were no big deal back then it seems. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:32 - Dec 1 with 78 views | SparkfilmsTV |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:57 - Nov 29 by SparkfilmsTV |
I continued my walk up Barrack Street and took a right.
Could hear the police sirens around the corner.
I was thinking - what would Subway Sid do?
Subway Sid used to walk the streets of Colchester looking for unlocked doors.
He was on Riverside Estate last year.
He got into a property through the back door and entered the kitchen.
Helped himself to a biscuit and put the kettle on.
Then the woman who lived there saw him waiting for the kettle to boil.
She said 'What are you doing in my home?'
He said 'I'm making a coffee'.
She said 'You have no right to be here, l am calling the police'.
Sid said, 'Sorry, must be the wrong house'.
He left by the back door.
Sid was a serial offender. But he never forced entry.
Pleaded insanity.
Sometimes he would sit and watch television for an hour or so in a strangers house.
Use the toilet.
Take a bath or shower.
Go to bed and take a nap.
Because Subway Sid lived in an underpass he didn't have the requirement for a hoover and had been known to do house work in properties to get a sense of what it was like to live a relatively normal life.
Sid loved to look in fridges.
Make a sandwich
Eat a bit of chocolate cake.
He was fond of animals.
Cats would go to sleep on his lap
Purr.
TBC |
I have introduced a character called 'Subway Sid'.
The pieces about him are as personally observed or relayed to me by third parties but his name is not Sid.
His Christian name does begin with an 'S' however, 'Sid' seemed more apt for his 'adventures'.
It's a folklore cameo from an area around North and Central Colchester.
On a dog walk from around six years ago l came into contact with another individual who was possibly the most wanted man in Britain at one time.
He served his time and relayed some of the background to his activities over the years.
I won't be writing about it on here - l doubt anyone would believe it anyway ...but it did all happen! | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 23:19 - Dec 1 with 62 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, August 2022
Helen and Reg went to see friends in West Bergholt for a few hours.
When they returned Helen noticed that the lawn in the back garden had been cut and several of the shrubs and bushes had been trimmed.
The white garden refuge sack was almost full and had been left by the shed door.
Helen asked the neighbours if they had seen or heard anything.....they said they saw Reg cutting the grass in an orange jump suit and wearing a red baseball cap.
Reg has dementia so Helen assumed he had cut the grass before they went out but couldn't account for him having a jump suit or baseball cap.
Reg is 83. [Post edited 1 Dec 23:22]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:54 - Dec 2 with 21 views | SparkfilmsTV |
North Station Road, Colchester, early sixties.
Mad Ernie Brett.
They called him mad because at the sound of a motorbike approaching he would run for cover....down by the side of the Railway Mission, into the doorway of Durand's Fish & Chip shop, behind a dust bin at the top of Causton Road.
He would be crouched down and shaking.
My Dad used to say 'I think Ernie got shell shock in the war'.
Sometimes the local Teddy Boys would set off bangers in the street in November.
They would laugh as Ernie ran for cover.
Dogs used to roam around on their own back then. Sometimes in a pack.
We used to walk to the paper shop on a Saturday night, the Green 'Un would be delivered just after 6.30.
My Dad would also purchase 10 Woodbines and a couple of bags of crisps to take home.
We would return to Margaret Road and have toast on a coal fire and with only two TV Channels back then the preferred choice was BBC.
It was a black and white TV with a twelve inch screen that had a habit of going up and down on occasion.
The best way to rectify that was to throw something at it.
A slipper usually did the trick.
We think poor Ernie passed away in the 1970's.
Dogs don't roam around on their own anymore.
There is no Green 'Un.
The Teddy Boys - all gone.
I cannot recall anyone doing toast on a coal fire since those days.
Around 1967 we got a telephone.
It didn't ring much.
The odd call from an aunt in Smethwick or Romford.
No cold calls back then.
But you did get the occasional nutter.
Some of these calls were highly sexualised.
We didn't get any of those but the woman across the road was receiving them from time to time.
I heard about some of these.
They seem much funnier now that they did then somehow.
The caller would say -
'Is that Mrs xxxxx'
And she would say -
'Yes, Mrs xxxxx speaking'
And he would say -
'I've got a big xxxx and l want to put it in your xxxxx'.
Then he would hang up. Mrs xxxxx said this had gone on for months.
It would not have been reported to the police or anyone back then.
Just part of life at the time. | | | |
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