1 2 5 4 3 7 6 9 8 OLD HEREFORDIANS’ CLUB NEWSLETTER 2009 OH News Debut Novel for Matthew Hall TV screenwriter Matthew Hall (OH) has recently From the President Elect published his first novel, The Coroner. After three years at the helm of Drawing on his own experiences as a criminal barrister, the Old Herefordians’ Club the this debut novel is set in the Severn Vale and is the first of time has come for Mark Ellis to a series featuring a small-town lawyer turned coroner, step down. As incoming President, Jenny Cooper. Jenny, a complex character with her own before all else I really have to problems, exposes some controversial areas of the thank Mark for all his time criminal justice system. The Coroner has been critically and considerable hard acclaimed by other crime writers: ‘M R Hall has created a work in bringing the club wonderful heroine in a genre we haven't seen before.' – to where it is today and I look forward to his Lynda La Plante. Matthew’s second novel in the series, continuing support as a The Disappeared, is due to be published in January 2010. committee member. For many years Matthew has had a highly successful I left HCS in 2000 and I am a television screenwriting career and his TV credits include: relative newcomer to the OH Kavanagh QC (ITV) – Men of Substance; A Sense of Loss; Blood Committee, by which I mean there are members of the Money; Wing and a Prayer (C5) – BAFTA nominated original committee who have been involved with the Old series in 14 episodes; Dalziel and Pascoe (BBC1) – Above the Herefordians since before I was born! Law; Walls of Silence; Scarlet Pimpernel (BBC1) - Ennui; Loving The OH Committee meets regularly throughout the Yo u (ITV); New Street Law; year. Mark has, in the past three years, and Nick Bolt Judge John Deed. before him, kept the club heading in a strong direction Matthew has written about and I hope to continue to build on this success with the his career since leaving HCS in continued support of the great OH Committee we now OH Careers, see page 20. have. I am looking forward to the next three years as President, which I am certain will prove to be both a busy The Coroner is published in and progressive time for the club. paperback by PanMacmillan Through Helen Pearson, Development Secretary, and (2009) £6.99. Clare Adamson, Editor of the club magazine, we receive ISBN: 978-0330458368. regular updates from Old Herefordians. Contact comes The Disappeared will be available in from all over the world and I would encourage all OHs hardback in January 2010, published reading this – wherever you are – to keep in touch. Please keep sending your news, stories and pictures, either from by PanMacmillan, £12.99. school days or since leaving. It is your contributions which ISBN: 978-0230709850. help to make this a great club magazine, help to improve the ever-increasing database and help to build an Old Exit Pursued by a Badger! Herefordians’ archive for posterity. Shakespearian actor Nick Andrew Davies Asbury (OH) has been a blogger for some time. Last year his regular blog on the RSC’s website, which recorded daily life during the rehearsing and performing of Shakespeare’s history plays, became a massive success regularly receiving 6,000 hits a week from avid followers around the world. His enthusiasm for writing has led to the publication of his book based on his blog, Exit, Pursued by a Badger: One Actor's Journey Through History at the RSC. Read about what has inspired Nick to write in OH Careers, page 20. Mark Ellis and Andy Davies Oberon Books (2009) £9.99 ISBN: 9781840028928 2 OLD HEREFORDIANS’ CLUB NEWSLETTER 2009 Blue Letters from Tanganyika Nils Lofgren supports Charity tracks John Hardy (OH 1970-1975) has composed a new David Burgess (OH 1965-1972) has recently made piece of orchestral music called Blue Letters from a record for charity with American rock star Tanganyika which was released on CD on the 8th legend Nils Lofgren. Money raised will support of October 2009. two children’s hospice charities, Martin House in John Hardy is an acclaimed composer who writes Yorkshire and Cotlands in South Africa. original scores for film, television, theatre and other Martin House supported David and his media and is a four-times BAFTA Cymru winner. wife Jeannie through the long illness of their John’s music has been described as ‘utterly engrossing' and son Edward, and after their bereavement in ‘unique' by the Guardian, ‘witty' by the Independent and 2005. Jeannie asked Dave to sing at the ‘energetic, instinctive' by the Times. Martin House Remembrance He was commissioned by the Service, a service where bereaved BBC National Orchestra of families gather each year to Wales to compose remember their children. an accessible, Although David was a energetic piece for a choirster at Hereford Cathedral he series of concerts. His had not sung 'properly' since leaving inspiration for the music the choir at the age of 14. Before came from the stories his committing himself to a public mother had told of her performance, he consulted a voice coach to discover if he adventures in Africa: in the really could sing! Many people at the service approached 1950s, at the age of 26, she was Dave to say how moved they were by his rendition of sent to oversee teachers in East Africa, with a salary of Four Strong Winds, and so the idea of recording it to raise £30 and vast and wild terrain the size of England to cover funds for the charity was formed. on foot and by dugout canoe. Her letters sent back home For many years the family had been a fan of Nils Lofgren gave the piece its name: Blue Letters from Tanganyika. (of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band): “What I did was to take some of them and use them as the “So, feeling brave we decided to go for it – we emailed him. basis for a sort of tone poem,” explains John, “describing in A few days later we were more than a little surprised to hear music some of the colour and drama of her time there”. a message from Nils on our answer-phone. Jeannie rang him Conducted by Grant Llewellyn with the BBC National back and he was really enthusiastic about what we were Orchestra of Wales, Blue Letters from Tanganyika conjures doing. He agreed there and then to lay down some guitar an exotic world full of exuberant African colours and tracks as we'd asked, plus some vocals. Daring as ever, Jeannie asked if Nils would mind us recording ‘Shine Silently’ textures and the piece is rich with imagery and as well. Nils said he'd be honoured!” imagination. Anyone who likes classical, orchestral, The whole project has taken two years to complete – classical crossover and big film scores will be enchanted funded by Dave and Jeannie and with many people with this music. giving their services voluntarily – with much learnt along Find out more at www.johnhardymusic.net. the way about record producing. “I am not a professional The CD is available from www.ffinrecords.co.uk. singer and am not looking for a singing career. Similarly this is A donation from not an ego-trip, it is simply to raise money and to give something each sale will go to in return for the donation. Hopefully people will like the support the Hereford recording, but that isn't the main purpose”, said Dave. Muheza Link Society. For just 99p you can download one of three tracks, exclusively produced and recorded featuring one of the This is a small charity guitar 'greats', Nils Lofgren (and Dave), or order all three which supports tracks on CD. By buying the tracks you will get to hear Muheza Hospital in new music and give cash directly to the charities Tanzania; it raises funds involved. Martin House requires £3.9 million each year to for educational run and they have to raise over 90% of this amount by exchanges for medical their own efforts. This year has seen a decline in staff, training, hospice donations in line with the economic situation, but even in support and to send out the current climate 99p is not a lot of money and every containers of medical supplies. penny counts! 3 OLD HEREFORDIANS’ CLUB NEWSLETTER 2009 Dave would be grateful if Historical Biography Old Herefordians could Rev’d Dr. Jonathan Arnold (OH 1980-88) has support this cause and also published an acclaimed biography of John Colet, hopes that they can spread the leading humanist theologian in early Tudor the word. Your contribution England, Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral 1505-19 and is so valuable and all founder of St Paul’s School. proceeds will go to these two After reading Theology at Oxford charities and will help to University and studying at the Royal make a difference. Academy of Music, Jonathan embarked on The full story is on a career as a professional singer and www.daveandnils.com has enjoyed performing for nearly together with the link to the Sullivan © Mark R. Nils Lofgren two decades with many leading online music store to download the tracks, or e-mail British and European orchestras [email protected]. and vocal ensembles such as the Tallis Scholars and Hilliard “I'm honored to have played and sung on this home grown Ensemble. He recently featured in musical effort with Dave and friends.