Live Music Bill is Good News for Bands

Posted on January 21, 2012 by editor

17:50 Friday 21st January 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridge

CHRIS MANN: A Private Members’ Bill which could radically change the live music scene in the county passed through the House of Commons successfully today. The Live Music Bill proposes relaxation of the licensing rules around small scale live music events, making it easier for grass roots gigs to happen. Many argue that new bureaucracy put in place by the 2003 Licensing Act has made staging such events so tricky that many pubs and small venues that previously staged live music have stopped doing so, to the detriment of the grass roots music community. Earlier I spoke to Richard Brown, a lecturer at Comberton Village College, and Chair of Cambridgeshire’s Strawberry Fair event. Continue reading →

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Cambridge Camera Club

Posted on January 19, 2012 by editor

17:52 Thursday 19th January 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: A story now that may have taken many of you by surprise. Kodak, the company that invented the hand-held camera, has filed for bankruptcy protection in America. Although Kodak was one of the original inventors of digital photography, it failed to compete with the likes of Nikon and Canon, and now the digital camera business is on the decline, as people are moving to smartphones with built in cameras. Ann Miles, who runs the Cambridge Camera Club, joined me earlier to remember how Kodak was the camera of choice for amateurs. Continue reading →

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Full Marks for a Good Answer

Posted on January 18, 2012 by editor

08:25 Wednesday 18th January 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridge

PAUL STAINTON: Much talk about your salary Malcom. Are you worth £1000 a day?
MALCOLM NEWSAM: I would be the last person to be able to comment on that. I hope I am, but you’ll have to ask Cllr. Sheila Scott, and the Chief Executive and the Leader as we go on through this year. And I hope that I will be able to demonstrate that. What I do bring I think is experience of having done this in a number of troubled authorities. And we have been successful. I have to say that’s primarily not about me, it’s about the people who are inspired and engaged to deliver improvements, and there are already many many people in Peterborough who want to deliver that improvement, and have just been crying out for the leadership to actually deliver that improvement.

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The Fear of Silence

Posted on January 18, 2012 by editor

08:46 Wednesday 18th January 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

(SPORT BULLETIN)
(6 SECOND SILENCE)
PAUL STAINTON: You’ve stopped.
PETER SWANN: I’m done.
(LAUGHTER)
PETER SWAN: That was a very long pause. I thought I’d pressed the wrong button.
PAUL STAINTON: I was waiting for the emergency tape to kick in.
PETER SWAN: Not too much longer.
PAUL STAINTON: I wonder how long we could sit before it did.
PETER SWAN: I’ve been told .. because apparently when we have a minute’s silence at football matches we have to tap the mike to stop it tripping out. And I’m told that it’s 20 seconds before it trips.
PAUL STAINTON: 20 seconds. So at the minute it’s eight forty seven and fifteen seconds
(4 SECOND SILENCE)
(LAUGHTER)
(JINGLE)
PAUL STAINTON: Producer Ben bottled it. He bottled it. Here’s Justin.
JUSTIN PETERSEN: You bottled it after ten. I thought, is he going to do it.? Is he really going to do it? Right. Where were we?
(TRAVEL)

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MP Jackson Wins Extra Cash for Peterborough Schools

Posted on January 16, 2012 by editor

17:12 Monday 16th January 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: As you’ve just heard in the news, it looks like schools in Peterborough will be given money to help with the growing number of pupils who don’t have English as the first language. The city and its surrounding areas has become a mecca for many Pakistani families, and a growing number of Eastern European families, looking to settle down. It’s made the city one of the most multi-cultural in East Anglia, but has led to pressures in the classroom, with many teachers unavailable to offer extra help to children. So, how badly is this money required? Well joining me now is John Holdich, the Cabinet Member for Schools at Peterborough City Council. John, good evening to you.
JOHN HOLDICH: Good evening.
CHRIS MANN: So this is something you’ve been asking for for a while. Continue reading →

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Stargazing at Flag Fen

Posted on January 15, 2012 by editor

PAUL STAINTON: Now, as you’ve been hearing all week, Stargazing Live takes place on Monday night, and one of the places that the night will focus on is Flag Fen, right here in Peterborough. But why go to the site of an ancient civilisation, when so much modern technology is used in stargazing? Well, with us is Dr Francis Pryor, archaeologist at Flag Fen. Morning.
FRANCIS PRYOR: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: So we’ve got all this huge expensive technology these days, and we’re going to plant it right in the middle of one of the oldest places in Peterborough. Why? Continue reading →

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Astronavigation and Stargazing

Posted on January 12, 2012 by editor

(STARTREK MUSIC)
PAUL STAINTON: This week we’re looking to the skies. It’s all part of Stargazing Live, which returns for a second three night series on BBC2. Events have been organised right across the country, while the main one here will be in our very own Flag Fen. Boldly looking where no-one has looked before. And this morning we’re talking to someone who uses the starts quite a lot to navigate from one place to another. A very good morning to Lt. Cdr Roy Malkin from the Royal Naval Reserve. Continue reading →

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Local Chamber Pledges Council Support For Inward Investors

Posted on January 11, 2012 by editor

CHRIS MANN: The good news of 400 new jobs being created at Babraham Institute where the Government has put in £44 million to the research campus, and we have to contrast that with the bad news, particularly in Peterborough, where 1,500 temporary winter contracts have come to an end, and people there are seeking new work. Let’s put it in perspective now. The Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce John Bridge joins me live. John, good evening to you.
JOHN BRIDGE: Yes. Good evening Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Quite sharp, isn’t it, the contrast between the top end where skilled workers are very much wanted in this county, and the bottom end where others, well, their work comes and goes? Continue reading →

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