Kate Atkinson: it's too late for me to read War and Peace
The Fortnight in September by RC Sherriff — a little gem of a novel from 1931 about a family taking their annual summer holiday. It's more of a character study than anything, because nothing really happens. In fact I found myself worrying that something would happen!
An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump by Joseph Wright of Derby. I like my paintings to tell a story. In this one, which is in the National Gallery, a group of people have gathered to witness a demonstration of the necessity of oxygen. The oxygen has already been removed from the air-pump and the bird in question — a white cockatoo — looks to be on the point of expiring. The date is 1768, a cataclysmic period of change is coming and science is about to take over from God, and we are in a rather lovely drawing room watching a bird being suffocated.
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BBC News
33 minutes ago
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Royal Norfolk Show: How can I get there and what is on?
Hailed as the largest two-day agricultural show in England, the Royal Norfolk Show is returning for another year. Dating back to the 1800s, the event hosts more than 3,000 animals and 700 trade stands. With at least 85,000 people preparing to descend on Costessey, how can you get there and what facilities are on offer? Organised by The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, the first Royal Norfolk Show at the Norfolk Showground was held at the site in 1954. Taking place across Wednesday and Thursday, the event - which celebrates farming in the county - has a range of food and drink, music, competitions and livestock. In previous years, the event has been visited by the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Edward, Prince William and the Princess Royal. Can I get a ticket on the day? Tickets for the two-day event can be booked in advance or on the day. For adults aged 17 to 64, tickets cost up to £38, while over-65s will have to pay up to £31, depending on whether they have been purchased prior to the event or on the for children aged 5 to 16 can be purchased for up to £17. Accessible, carer, student and family tickets are also available, while people working on farms qualify for a discounted "farm workers" advance entry price of £22.50. How do I get there? While there is free car parking for tickets purchased in advance, there are many other options besides you are travelling into the city by train, the nearest railway station is Norwich, which is seven miles (11km) from the showground. Bus services including by First and Konectbus are on offer for people travelling to the event. A shuttle service will operate every 20 minutes from Norwich Bus Station on both Wednesday and Thursday, taking visitors directly to the showground. While the gates open at 07:00 BST, the first bus will leave the city at 07:10 with later evening journeys returning to the city until 20:45 on Wednesday and 17:45 on Thursday. Konectbus will run hourly from Dereham, Yaxham, Mattishall and East Tuddenham with direct access to the show. Norwich City Council has a number of suggested cycle routes, with secure bike facilities near the King George VI gate on Dereham Road. How will it impact nearby roads? The Norfolk Showground is just off the A47 Norwich southern bypass at the A1074 by the Longwater Interchange Junction at Costessey. While there are no road closures in place because of the event, about 85,000 visitors are expected to be coming to the show, mostly by car. Organisers are encouraging people to make sure they follow the signs and set off early as gates open at 07:00. How accessible is the event? From disabled toilet facilities to a car park buggy service, organisers of the show have put things in place to make the event accessible. All toilet blocks on the showground are said to have disabled toilet facilities. On the south side of the Jack Read toilets, next to the Grand Ring, there is a changing facility with a the red, green, yellow and blue gates, the Rotary Club of Norwich is putting on a car park buggy service which will take visitors all the way to the main mobility scooters and wheelchairs are permitted on the site and can be hired in advance. However, e-scooters or any other form of motorised transport except a mobility scooter are not permitted on site. How can I follow the event from home? If you cannot attend the event, do not worry as BBC Radio Norfolk will be broadcasting live on both days. Chris Goreham and the breakfast team will be live on Wednesday from 06:00 to 10: Thursday, the daytime show with Kayleigh Poacher will be live between 10:00 and 14:00. The latest travel updates will also be available on both days. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BreakingNews.ie
35 minutes ago
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Bad Company's Mick Ralphs dies aged 81
Guitarist, songwriter and Bad Company co-founder Mick Ralphs has died at the age of 81, it has been announced. A message on the band's official website said Ralphs is 'survived by the love of his life, Susie Chavasse, his two children, three step-children', as well as his bandmates Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke. Advertisement Bad Company was formed in 1973 after the members of the bands Free, Mott The Hoople and King Crimson joined forces. A statement from singer Rodgers on the website said: 'Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground. He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humour. 'Our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh but it won't be our last. There are many memories of Mick that will create laughter. Condolences to everyone who loved him especially his one true love, Susie. I will see you in heaven.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bad Company (@officialbadco) Drummer Kirke said: 'He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply.' Advertisement Ralphs' final performance with Bad Company was in October 2016, with the musician suffering a stroke the following month. Free members Rodgers and Kirke had enjoyed success with their 1970s hit song All Right Now. Ralphs had been part of Mott The Hoople, famed for their 1972 song All The Young Dudes, which was penned by David Bowie. Vocalist and guitarist Raymond 'Boz' Burrell had been performing as part of rock band King Crimson. Advertisement Bad Company are due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year. The group rose to fame in 1974 with their self-titled debut album which included hits such as Can't Get Enough and Movin' On. The album reached number three in the UK albums chart and went five-times platinum. Bad Company later released Straight Shooter in 1975, followed by Run With The Pack, and both made it into the top five in the albums chart. Advertisement They were also known for rock anthems including Ready For Love, Rock Steady and the title track Bad Company. Among those paying tribute to the late guitarist was Joe Elliott, lead singer of the hard rock band Def Leppard, who shared a post on the group's X account saying: 'I just heard the news … totally heartbroken … Mick has been a constant companion through my musical journey & he was one of the kindest souls I ever met. The world is a poorer place today.' David Coverdale, lead singer of Deep Purple and then Whitesnake, said on X: 'Heartbreaking News…Loved Mick …Sweet, Sweet Man & Super Songwriter…My Sincere Condolences To His Family, Friends & Fans.' In another post, he added: 'Mick Ralphs was the first person I played the original song idea to Love Ain't No Stranger before I played it to the band…he was super encouraging…A total sweetheart.' Advertisement
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Tourette's no longer defines me' says Bedford singer Grace Cope
Just six months ago, musician Grace Cope, 19, was unable to perform in front of anyone. Now she is lead vocalist on a song to raise awareness of Tourette's syndrome and being mentored by a veteran producer who has worked with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Duran with Tourette's in 2021, Grace, of Bedford, has campaigned for three years on TikTok to reduce the stigma around her neurological over the same period, her own tics have worsened, derailing her A-level exams and forcing her to leave her job as a teaching assistant at a special educational needs and disabilities (Send) school. "I was in a big pit of depression," she says. "I'd lost all hope and I thought I wasn't going to ever be able to do anything."I was like, 'What is the point of leaving the house? What is the point of even getting up in the morning to do anything?'" Writing and playing music, alone in her room, offered Grace some rare moments of solace. "Music is really the thing that's saved me from my Tourette's," she says. "When I play, my tics calm down instantly. Music calms me down. I focus on the drumbeat or I work out which chords are being played. Music is a massive escape."That is why, despite some hesitancy, she auditioned to sing as part of a national awareness campaign organised by charity Tourettes Action. She led a choir, all of whom have Tourette's, on a cover version of Nina Simone's Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, recorded at London's Olympic song was described by the charity's chief executive Emma McNally as a "heartfelt plea for understanding and acceptance" from the Tourette's community. According to Tourettes Action, the condition affects one in 100 school-aged children and more than 300,000 people in the UK."Meeting people with Tourette's, being together in that space, it was so nice," says Grace."It's like taking a big deep breath and letting it all go when you're with other people with the condition."During the recording, Grace met veteran music producer Chris six decades, he has worked with some of the music industry's biggest names, including Marillion, INXS, Jimmy Cliff and Peter Frampton, as well as the Stones, Led Zeppelin and Duran Duran. After hearing Grace's own music, he vowed to help her. "Immediately, I went 'Oh my God, this woman's got so much talent,'" he says, recalling their meeting. "Not only does she have a beautiful voice but her lyrics were very good, her sense of melody was excellent but, above that, the production of what she did - her use of reverb and balance and instruments - was quite incredible." Kimsey is now mentoring Grace as she writes and records her own music. "What I can do is I can help introduce her to some other musicians; add an instrument or a string arrangement or a bass guitar," he says."She's got a very special talent and she needs help... it's a very exciting cause to be on board with." Grace released her first single Dead or Alive in March and it has since been streamed in more than 50 also been playing at open-mic nights across Bedford, attempting to conquer her fear of performing in is writing and recording new music and plans to release an EP in the coming says her dream is to tour, performing her music to live audiences and continuing to raise awareness about the condition she says no longer defines her. "I always saw Tourette's as me; like I was just Tourette's, and that's all I was," she says."I don't feel like that any more. I can now say I'm a singer-songwriter. I produce my own music and I can put it out to the world."
