News and information about North Poole – Alderney, Rossmore, Wallisdown, Upper Parkstone, Branksome & Bourne Valley

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Poole Music Web Site established 1998 - Alderney News established 1999

Current time and temperature at Bournemouth (Hurn) Airport – about 5 miles from Alderney, Poole

FIGHT GOES ON FOR PLAY FUNDING...

Back in early 2009 the Government gave Poole over £1 Million to upgrade 22 play areas. A two year program was developed (11 in each year) and the first batch were delivered. Back in the Summer of 2010 the Government initially removed the ring fence and then the funding (£602,000) for year two. This happened throughout the country and sparked a National campaign to restore the funding. Local Councillor Tony Trent set up a Facebook Group for Poole which was supported by 163 other local residents. There was some intense lobbying of Government Ministers and local MPs.

This campaigning resulted in a limited success. £370,000 was won back, though it was no longer ring fenced. The Council could use it for whatever it wanted – though in a letter from the Department of Education it was made clear that it should be spent on local play. To date (Feb 2011) the Council has refused to confirm that the money in question will be used to complete the remaining 11 schemes (including 3 in the Alderney Ward). Local campaigners including Cllr. Trent believe it would be immoral for this money to be used for anything other than the completion of the outstanding Playbuilder schemes. Cllr. Trent said “We have offered savings to help the Council work within its modified grant. This money would not be in the hands of Poole Council had it not been for the resident’s effort. It was fought for to benefit the children. We need to get on and deliver the remaining schemes within the new deadline of June.”

If you would like to find out what is happening, or how you can help, there is a link to the Facebook Group below. MORE

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134533629915338

NEW!!! Local History Links (this will be built up as interesting sites giving historical and background information about the Branksome & North Poole areas are found. Please let us know about any that you find that may be of interest – site editor)

ALDERNEY NEWS PAGE 1 - PAGE 2

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WATCH OUT FOR...

James Dean, a talented young pianist who plays complex classical music BY EAR. We are supporting efforts to get James the formal tuition he needs to become a professional musician. There is more information here on the Alderney News page.

Left, James playing in the foyer of The Lighthouse, Poole at the 2010 Youth Conference.

WHY DO WE NOT CELEBRATE LOCAL SUCCESS?

This site has banged on for 12 years about talent that originated from this area not being widely known or celebrated. Most recently we have been reminding you of former Rossmore lad Kevin Macklin (known to the world as Eddie Argos) travelling the World fronting the band he formed, Art Brut. The site editor himself was not aware of ex Kemp Welch pupil Robert Hart, who recently enjoyed a prolonged spell in the US charts, as frontman for The Jones Gang (also featuring ex Small Faces and Who member Kenny Jones) with singles “Angel” and “Gypsy Lane”.

Thankfully of late, supported by the site editor, there have been more efforts made to nurture local talent. The Bourne Valley Youth Club offers rehearsal space, and is looking to add a recording studio. There are a number of projects in local schools and youth services that recognise the need to help youngsters develop their musical skills. It’s a far cry from the mid 90s when everybody seemed to be afraid of encouraging such activities. The children of the 60s might have made good music, but they seem to behave nowadays more like their parents did back then.

Site Ed (also a child of the 60s and 70s).

Pictured, the cover of ex Poole (& Rossmore’s) Eddie Argos (Kevin Macklin) with partner Dyan Valdes’s 2010 album “Fixin’ the Charts” under the name “Everybody was in the French Resistance Now!”. A new Art Brut album is anticipated sometime in 2011.

A BIT OF HISTORY... This site was created in 1998 to provide information about Poole Music Festival (1997 – 2001), and was maintained afterwards to celebrate locally sourced music talent and provide useful links for budding young musicians and music fans. Things have moved on quite a bit since 1998. The music festival seemed to have made more people aware of the potential of music making, and far more support is now available in the area. We will leave it to others to be “on the ball”, but hopefully we will highlight some of the talent that lurks within the BH12 area of Poole.

Check this link out...

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=56414118694&h=kiCIP&u=ZeHSJ

A whole new take on Branksome!

POOLE’S OWN COMMUNITY RADIO. Poole has its own community radio station. The Bay 102.8 serves the Bournemouth and Poole area with a mixture of music and local information. Unlike the other local commercial stations it is not part of a National chain of stations which presents a “brand” that exists to sell commercials to target consumers. The Bay is a genuine community radio station and, amongst other things, provides a radio version of the classified ads. The Site Editor (who tends mostly to listen to the National BBC stations) tuned in and found The Bay sounding remarkably professional, and less musically restricted and repetitive than most local radio. Give The Bay a listen on 102.8 FM, or on line at www.thebayradio.com.

Click here for a page of useful information on current climate science.

NEW!!! “A Sustainable Future?” c/w dedicated feedback facility – click here! & Local History Links (also new)

OTHER MEDIA…

The Independent | NME | Bournemouth Echo | About My Area (local site) | The Guardian

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