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The National
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Musician records album in Highland oil tank with world's longest reverb
The complex fuelled warships at the Royal Navy's base until 1987, when they were drained, decommissioned, and left dormant for more than 30 years. In 2014 Trevor Cox, a professor of acoustics at the University of Salford, went to Inchindown and measured the length of the reverberation from a starting pistol fired in Tank 1, which came in at an outstanding 112 seconds, smashing the previous world-title of for the longest echo in a man-made structure of 15 seconds. READ MORE: Palestinian jazz singer to share rich heritage through music at Scottish festival Brighton-based artist Thom Isaacs discovered the underground fuel depot by accident while he was studying music performance and production at university and became 'completely enamored with them'. Isaacs said he had a 'simmering desire' to visit the structures and to record inside them ever since he learned about their incredible reverb. He applied for a master's degree and pitched his thesis to record inside them, and once his application was accepted, there was no turning back for the 27-year-old. Isaacs said he reached out to the people who look after the tanks, saying: 'I've been obsessed with this place for ages, I'd really love to record music in it.' He added: 'They were like, 'sure', because they had suspended tours because of the pandemic, so they had a lot of like availability, and they were like, 'as long as you wear a mask' and that's fine with us. 'I think they get a lot of requests like that, and I was the only person to actually follow through on it because within a couple of weeks, I was on a plane to Inverness.' (Image: Thom Isaacs) Issac first travelled to the tanks in 2021, where he described his first experience 'interesting but also kind of terrifying' as he had hauled his equipment up a hillside and across an overgrown path just to reach the entrance. From there, he travelled through a long, dark access shaft to get to the tanks, while having to lug his equipment and himself through a 45cm diameter pipe, which was the only ingress or egress from the facility. 'That was kind of terrifying the first time,' Isaacs said. 'When I tell people about it, that turns them off and they're like 'I could never do this in the pipe'.' He added: 'It's one of those things where I never felt unsafe, but it's objectively kind of scary and also just a logistical nightmare.' Once inside, Issac described the experience as 'unbelievable' and that the recording 'doesn't even do it justice'. There is no natural light in the tanks, which each measure 237 meters (778 feet) long, nine meters (30 feet) wide, and 13.5 meters (44 feet) high, so are in complete darkness. (Image: Thom Isaacs) Isaacs had to cover his equipment, which included a guitar, synthesizer, amplifier and microphones with tarp and plastic as the tanks were covered in residual oil. 'I tried to do it justice on the album, but there's nothing that can kind of really compare to it,' Isaacs said. 'It's all encompassing, any sound you make in there stretches out for almost two minutes and it's unlike anything else in the world.' Isaacs said the recording experience was nothing like he had ever experienced before, as when he was singing, it was like a 'duet with himself' due to the long-lasting echo effect. He added that as a singer, he is used to only being able to sing one note at a time, but the tank 'unlocked the superpower' to be able to play chords. 'It felt like it turned my voice into like a whole choir, which was a really, really powerful experience that I'd only ever really experienced in a digital simulation before,' he said. The musician spent the first visit experimenting with the sounds in the tank, but later returned twice in 2022 to record his full album, once with a friend and a second time by himself. He explained the brief moments of fear when he was 'locked in' the tank for hours at a time so he could record his music. Isaacs said he also at one point turned off all the lights and torches he had taken with him so he could be completely engulfed in the darkness to 'see what it felt like'. 'Unless you've got a full lighting rig, you can't completely light the tanks, so any torch that you take in there is just swallowed up by all the empty space,' he said. Isaacs added: 'There was one point where our torches almost ran out of battery and that was really scary.' The recordings were part of his master's project, which he admitted he rushed to hand in but decided to take more time to fully release his album, You and Your Absence, which came out officially last month. He said he felt 'overwhelmed' with the feeling of accomplishment when he finally released his album and admitted he felt a little apprehensive about what people would think once it was released. However, despite his feeling of anxiousness, Isaacs's album has been widely well-received as videos of him playing in the tanks on Instagram have already surpassed a million and a half views on social media. (Image: Thom Isaacs) Isaacs (above) said that he has more projects like the Inchindown oil tanks lined up in the future, as he would like to experiment more with environments and sound. 'I want to see about doing some screenings up in Inverness,' he said.
Pembrokeshire Herald
13-05-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Young people transform Haverfordwest underpass with vibrant mural
JYLE was just seven years old when, during the summer holidays, he stayed with his foster carer Gavin for the first time. In unfamiliar surroundings, he was unable to sleep one night so at about 3am Gavin put a children's film on for them to watch together, patiently keeping him company through a night of anxiety and worry. Although he only stayed with Gavin for a few nights on that occasion, that simple act of kindness and compassion stayed with Kyle. Ten years later, when Kyle's circumstances changed, Gavin became his foster carer again with this short-term stay quickly becoming permanent. Now aged 22, Kyle says he considers Gavin to be his dad and has thrived as part of an extended found family of foster 'brothers and sisters'. 'When they go into this scenario, young people will be scared and will just think it's over for them, like I definitely did,' Kyle said. 'I felt like there was no support, but there was. 'I don't call him dad, but whenever I talk about him I'm just like, yeah, he's my dad. He's there for any support, emotional, financial, just anything.' This Foster Care Fortnight, taking place between May 12 and May 25, 2025, the fostering community in the UK is celebrating the power of relationships. In Wales, there are more than 7,000 children in care, with around half as many foster families. Foster Wales is appealing to recruit an additional 800 local authority foster carers by 2028 to address this need. Kyle said Gavin helped him greatly by listening, giving him options rather than dictating his choices, and providing consistency that continued into adulthood. With Gavin's assistance finding the right support for his exams, Kyle left college with a double merit in media studies and went on to begin studying at the University of Salford. But after eight months, like many young people, it became clear to Kyle that the course wasn't the right choice for him. 'I was worried that once I go off to uni, then when I come back I'll have to move out and get a place,' Kyle said. 'But Gav instantly welcomed me back in and he was like, yeah, you can stay here until you're ready to move on. It's fine.' Kyle said the continuity of a safe home allowed him to find his feet again. He now lives independently and has been successful in finding full time work on the IT service desk at the council. Gavin, and the family of what he calls foster 'brothers and sisters', are still an active part of his life. They live close together, and Kyle regularly visits and is always on hand to help with technical support for younger children's gaming needs. 'I'm so impressed with Kyle and where he's at given his start in life,' Gavin said. 'The positive changes he's made has put him where he is really. It's the greatest satisfaction of fostering. When it works and they have the sort of life you'd want for yourself and they're on that path. I don't think it could be beaten. 'Some people think when you go into fostering you can solve everything. But it's very much a journey. You need to establish that relationship, that trust, and be that person in their lives that is reliable, does what they say, and that they know they can come back to.' Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales, said: 'Foster Care Fortnight always offers a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the people who create lasting change in the lives of so many children in Wales. 'Every fostering journey relies on strong, trusting relationships to create the stability within a loving home that all children deserve. Whether between a foster carer and a child, a child with their foster siblings, or between a family and their social worker, these relationships open up new possibilities for a child's future and help support them into successful independent lives.' To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Wales visit
Pembrokeshire Herald
13-05-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Community radio receives £600,000 boost to support growth and sustainability
JYLE was just seven years old when, during the summer holidays, he stayed with his foster carer Gavin for the first time. In unfamiliar surroundings, he was unable to sleep one night so at about 3am Gavin put a children's film on for them to watch together, patiently keeping him company through a night of anxiety and worry. Although he only stayed with Gavin for a few nights on that occasion, that simple act of kindness and compassion stayed with Kyle. Ten years later, when Kyle's circumstances changed, Gavin became his foster carer again with this short-term stay quickly becoming permanent. Now aged 22, Kyle says he considers Gavin to be his dad and has thrived as part of an extended found family of foster 'brothers and sisters'. 'When they go into this scenario, young people will be scared and will just think it's over for them, like I definitely did,' Kyle said. 'I felt like there was no support, but there was. 'I don't call him dad, but whenever I talk about him I'm just like, yeah, he's my dad. He's there for any support, emotional, financial, just anything.' This Foster Care Fortnight, taking place between May 12 and May 25, 2025, the fostering community in the UK is celebrating the power of relationships. In Wales, there are more than 7,000 children in care, with around half as many foster families. Foster Wales is appealing to recruit an additional 800 local authority foster carers by 2028 to address this need. Kyle said Gavin helped him greatly by listening, giving him options rather than dictating his choices, and providing consistency that continued into adulthood. With Gavin's assistance finding the right support for his exams, Kyle left college with a double merit in media studies and went on to begin studying at the University of Salford. But after eight months, like many young people, it became clear to Kyle that the course wasn't the right choice for him. 'I was worried that once I go off to uni, then when I come back I'll have to move out and get a place,' Kyle said. 'But Gav instantly welcomed me back in and he was like, yeah, you can stay here until you're ready to move on. It's fine.' Kyle said the continuity of a safe home allowed him to find his feet again. He now lives independently and has been successful in finding full time work on the IT service desk at the council. Gavin, and the family of what he calls foster 'brothers and sisters', are still an active part of his life. They live close together, and Kyle regularly visits and is always on hand to help with technical support for younger children's gaming needs. 'I'm so impressed with Kyle and where he's at given his start in life,' Gavin said. 'The positive changes he's made has put him where he is really. It's the greatest satisfaction of fostering. When it works and they have the sort of life you'd want for yourself and they're on that path. I don't think it could be beaten. 'Some people think when you go into fostering you can solve everything. But it's very much a journey. You need to establish that relationship, that trust, and be that person in their lives that is reliable, does what they say, and that they know they can come back to.' Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales, said: 'Foster Care Fortnight always offers a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the people who create lasting change in the lives of so many children in Wales. 'Every fostering journey relies on strong, trusting relationships to create the stability within a loving home that all children deserve. Whether between a foster carer and a child, a child with their foster siblings, or between a family and their social worker, these relationships open up new possibilities for a child's future and help support them into successful independent lives.' To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Wales visit
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Julia Bradbury has daily shot of one thing after quitting alcohol
The ex-Countryfile host, 54, takes a quick swig of one kitchen ingredient every day - it'll probably surprise you Julia Bradbury swears by a surprising trick to support her long-term health. The ex-Countryfile host, 54, takes a quick swig of one kitchen ingredient every day and claimed even her children can't get enough of it. You may be surprised to hear the ingredient in question is none other than extra virgin olive oil. Julia favours cold-pressed, mono-varietal and organic types. "I don't drink alcohol anymore, but I do still have shots," she explained in an Instagram post last month. "Of extra virgin olive oil or EVOO for short. LOOK FOR COLD PRESSED. And my kids like to gulp it down too, as you can see (using it for salad dressings and drizzled over food works just as well)." Julia was motivated to adopt various healthy habits, including this one, after her cancer diagnosis in 2021. Although she doesn't blame herself for the cancer, she previously told The Sun that her life wasn't exactly healthy day by day. So, even after getting the all-clear, she's sought to change her lifestyle for the better. "My health reset in 2021 (a breast cancer diagnosis) meant an overhaul of my high sugar, alcohol-rich diet," she continued on Instagram. "Since then, I've spoken to experts around the world to teach myself and learn as much as I can about healthy living good nutrition, and how to spend as much time on planet earth here with my beautiful children. "As a half-Greek, I have grown up with olive oil, but who knew about all the benefits?! It doesn't just taste great." Julia then went on to highlight the various benefits of olive oil, including its potential cholesterol-lowering perks. She explained: "A diet rich in EVOO can help lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol (there's a bigger story to this, for another time) and raise 'good' HDL cholesterol. It also supports healthy blood pressure and improves overall heart function. Think of it as a loving gift to your arteries - delicious and life-affirming." Crucially, Julia isn't alone in her views either. Dr Gareth Nye, a Biomedical Science lecturer at the University of Salford (@ told the Mirror that they are backed by a wealth of evidence. "According to one recent study, people who regularly consume more than half a tablespoon of olive oil per day have, on average, a 19% lower chance of dying from heart disease than those who rarely or never have olive oil," he said. "There are strong suggestions that it improves risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes and may lead to better cognitive function." Dr Nye said that virgin olive oil is preferable for daily consumption as it hasn't gone through 'extra heating processes' that can impact its beneficial components. However, nothing suggests that taking a daily shot is better than eating it with salads or other meals. He added: "Ultimately, olive oil will bring with it extra calories, and the benefits of the oil can be easily offset by a poor diet and lack of exercise elsewhere. "In summary, as a part of a healthy diet and lifestyle, olive oil can provide a boost to the body, but taken in isolation as a quick fix, a shot of olive oil will not be tremendously useful to you." Both Dr Nye and Julia also agree that olive oil may boast some 'brain-boosting' benefits. Last year, another study found that people who consumed more than 7g of olive oil per day had a 28% lower risk of dying from dementia than other participants. "Although this isn't a cure, it shines some light on the underlying mechanisms behind dementia and may provide us with a better understanding to help future therapies develop," Dr Nye added.
Pembrokeshire Herald
13-05-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Foster Care Fortnight: ‘I worried I was on my own but my foster carer welcomed me back'
JYLE was just seven years old when, during the summer holidays, he stayed with his foster carer Gavin for the first time. In unfamiliar surroundings, he was unable to sleep one night so at about 3am Gavin put a children's film on for them to watch together, patiently keeping him company through a night of anxiety and worry. Although he only stayed with Gavin for a few nights on that occasion, that simple act of kindness and compassion stayed with Kyle. Ten years later, when Kyle's circumstances changed, Gavin became his foster carer again with this short-term stay quickly becoming permanent. Now aged 22, Kyle says he considers Gavin to be his dad and has thrived as part of an extended found family of foster 'brothers and sisters'. 'When they go into this scenario, young people will be scared and will just think it's over for them, like I definitely did,' Kyle said. 'I felt like there was no support, but there was. 'I don't call him dad, but whenever I talk about him I'm just like, yeah, he's my dad. He's there for any support, emotional, financial, just anything.' This Foster Care Fortnight, taking place between May 12 and May 25, 2025, the fostering community in the UK is celebrating the power of relationships. In Wales, there are more than 7,000 children in care, with around half as many foster families. Foster Wales is appealing to recruit an additional 800 local authority foster carers by 2028 to address this need. Kyle said Gavin helped him greatly by listening, giving him options rather than dictating his choices, and providing consistency that continued into adulthood. With Gavin's assistance finding the right support for his exams, Kyle left college with a double merit in media studies and went on to begin studying at the University of Salford. But after eight months, like many young people, it became clear to Kyle that the course wasn't the right choice for him. 'I was worried that once I go off to uni, then when I come back I'll have to move out and get a place,' Kyle said. 'But Gav instantly welcomed me back in and he was like, yeah, you can stay here until you're ready to move on. It's fine.' Kyle said the continuity of a safe home allowed him to find his feet again. He now lives independently and has been successful in finding full time work on the IT service desk at the council. Gavin, and the family of what he calls foster 'brothers and sisters', are still an active part of his life. They live close together, and Kyle regularly visits and is always on hand to help with technical support for younger children's gaming needs. 'I'm so impressed with Kyle and where he's at given his start in life,' Gavin said. 'The positive changes he's made has put him where he is really. It's the greatest satisfaction of fostering. When it works and they have the sort of life you'd want for yourself and they're on that path. I don't think it could be beaten. 'Some people think when you go into fostering you can solve everything. But it's very much a journey. You need to establish that relationship, that trust, and be that person in their lives that is reliable, does what they say, and that they know they can come back to.' Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales, said: 'Foster Care Fortnight always offers a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the people who create lasting change in the lives of so many children in Wales. 'Every fostering journey relies on strong, trusting relationships to create the stability within a loving home that all children deserve. Whether between a foster carer and a child, a child with their foster siblings, or between a family and their social worker, these relationships open up new possibilities for a child's future and help support them into successful independent lives.' To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Wales visit
