Roy Stannard's Blog

When you think you know it all, ask the next question

  • The next stage for Worthing Theatres?

    What’s in a logo? In this case, a great deal. In a previous post I have outlined the fate that awaits the three historic theatres of Worthing if we don’t act now. A group of people who care about the future of arts, theatre and culture in Worthing have got together to set up a… Read more

  • Songs to make you cry

    More Indie love songs, but this time the emotional dial has been turned up to maximum. Here are 35 songs that will make you cry. It’s time to reflect on life, death, the loves you lost and the fast cars you drove past the people and the places you’ve left behind. Nick Clegg has used… Read more

  • Hey, I made a film today

    The days are passing quickly before the political event of the Millenium – the Referendum on the new voting system. Two contemporary characters sit in a clean white office in Hoxton debating the issues of the day. They represent the Zeitgeist. He really wants her vote. She really wants him to disappear. They could be… Read more

  • Why saving theatres is great theatre

    Since Christmas something rather remarkable has been happening in Worthing. Because of the cuts in Central Government spending, the Town has been looking under its moth-eaten bed to see what obsolete pieces of social detritus it can afford to get rid of. The Town Council has decided in its wisdom that Theatre is the defunct… Read more

  • Henry Olonga – Today a good man stood up

    Henry Olonga is an impressive man. Clear of voice, clear of purpose. He stands tall and today he won over a crowd of Sussex business people with his simple honesty and sincere beliefs. He had made a decision a few years ago to not tolerate corruption, oppression and intimidation. He had stood up and been… Read more

  • Fair Trade in Football?

    Football has become about big money and small characters. Even the ball itself has become a metaphor for big business and exploitation. Major brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Mitre (UK) have recently discovered a conscience in these matters because links with child labour are not a great platform for sales in the hothouse supersales arena… Read more

  • Walter Tull. Why have you never heard of him?

    The 25th March marks a lonely anniversary. There should be parades, bunting, crowds. But there will not be a single Reveille. On that day ninety-three years ago an authentic hero died in the Second Battle of the Somme. A Boys Own hero, a sporting legend who had played for Spurs, a leader of men who… Read more

  • A Place in the Sun – my love affair with Tracey Thorn

    I first stumbled across Tracey Thorn on the Cherry Red compilation ‘Pillow and Prayers’ in 1983. She had three songs on the album under her own name, The Marine Girls and Everything but the Girl. I was astounded by the maturity, magical resonance and mellifluous marshmellowness of her voice. I also loved the feeling of… Read more

  • As in Photography, so in Life.

    In Minimalist Photography the technique is the palette. The palette informs the technique. It speaks of space. The image on the canvas is the art in itself. It doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. If you can read messages, meanings and morality into the creation, then that is your mind’s neurological pathways conspiring together… Read more

  • The Hirsch SB-1 guitar makes its debut – and ‘The Messiah will come again’

    Jon Hirsch is a dreamer, inventor, perfectionist and musician. He combines all these qualities in the form of his life’s obsession. Creating his own guitar. Like me, he’s listened to all the greats, wondered at the strange blend of spiritual transcendence and sheer down to earth sweat and toil involved in making a guitar sing.… Read more