The four Handsel sisters were of Danish origin who had moved to Wilton, Wiltshire at the same time of an outbreak of smallpox in 1737 killed 132 people. The local people became convinced that the sisters were responsible for the deaths and accused them of witchcraft and an alliance with the devil. Without an official hearing the sisters were taken to Grovely Wood, murdered by being bludgeoned over the head, and buried a little way apart from each other so that they could not conspire against their murderers. There are four gnarled beech trees associated with the sisters; because either the trees were planted to mark their graves or they mysteriously grew on top of the unmarked graves to remind the locals of their dreadful deed. Sightings of the sisters have been reported over the years. There is a hollow at the back of the largest tree where people leave offerings. Grovely Wood is one of the largest woodlands in southern Wiltshire. It is situated on a chalk ridge above the River Wylye to the south of the village of Great Wishford, within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
I first came across Tom Waits in the early 80s. Some corny Saturday evening pop quiz was polluting the airwaves on TV. A giggling teenage wanna be pop star panelist was shown a snippet of Waits and asked a question. The lost expression was magnificently matched with Waits who sounded like a saw mill misfiring. Its was an interesting time to be introduced to Waits who had recently married Kathleen Patricia Brennan. Waits would later describe his relationship with Brennan as a paradigm shift in his musical development. After releasing the Heartattack and Vine album in 1980 Waits would release Swordfishtrombones in 1983. Swordfishtrombones marked a sharp turn in Waits musical direction. Not only was it the first album he produced for himself, but the paradigm shift Brennan had brought started to bear fruit with abstract musical structures replacing his hallmark piano. The track playing that Saturday evening was In the Neighbourhood. It was the start of a musical journey, which has stayed with me to this day.
RECLAIM exists to challenge the homogeneity that exists in the leadership profiles across UK society. In politics, economics, media, culture and sport, a recognisable working-class presence is rapidly disappearing. For more information just click here
A Winged Victory for the Sullen are a duo consisting of Dustin O’Halloran and Adam Wiltzie who have released two studio albums. The 2011 self titled album and 2014’s Atomos, which is a dance score commissioned for contemporary choreographer Wayne McGregor’s company Random Dance. It premiered at Sadler’s Wells, London, on 9 October 2013.
Pink Floyd’s legendary guitarist David Gilmour will be performing a handful of dates at the iconic Albert Hall during October 2015. Two tickets are up for grabs for these sold out shows with proceeds going to the Liberty Choir, a prison rehabilitation project. The project brings together current and former Wandsworth Prison inmates with singers from MJ’s Choirs. In the prison, weekly sessions are available to inmates in 8-week programmes, and all participants are encouraged to continue singing with the choirs after their release. The project is run by MJ Paranzino, singer, composer and choir director, and her partner, the journalist and writer, Ginny Dougary. “It gives real hope and optimism … they don’t just come out of prison into a vacuum and the same temptations. This gives them at least one night a week with something to do where they feel valued, and they can join in with something artistic that is uplifting.” David Gilmour.
If you would like to bid for one of these tickets then click here
If you would like more information or would like to make a donation to the amazing work of the Liberty Choir then click here
MJ’s Liberty Choir programme is managed by a Community Interest Company called MJ’s Community Choirs. All income is used to benefit the community by delivering programmes in the prison and extending and developing the Liberty Choirs. (company number 8323037). One 8-week program costs £6500. £39,000 a year to enable continuous weekly sessions
Irregular Frequencies 