John Barry RIP

John Barry was always one of my heroes, so it was a sad day today when I heard he had died. He first rose to fame when his band, the John Barry Seven provided the sole instrumental spot on our favourite TV programme "The Six Five Special" in the late fifties. Unfortunately the clip on YouTube features John singing, we now know why he stuck to composing. When the BBC commissioned "Juke Box Jury", he wrote the theme music "Hit & Miss". It was good to hear it again on YouTube after all these years.

In 1962 he gained international fame when he composed the music for the first James Bond film "Dr No" and the rest is history. Apart from scoring eleven of the next fourteen Bond movies, his compositions for numerous films (it lists 86 on Wikipedia) earned him five Oscars and another two nominations. But the highlight for me was when he was the night he was awarded the BAFTA fellowship in 2005. For me, that was a highly deserved and emotional event.

127 Hours, The Next Three Days and The King's Speech

Would I have gone to see "127 Hours" if it had not been directed by Danny Boyle? Perhaps not. And perhaps only his name on the credits was enough for it to have the huge number of screens on it's release. Especially for such a low budget movie. All I can say is that it was an interesting 90 minutes. And it was a two hander: Danny Boyle and James Franco as Aron Ralston. Knowing the ending did dampen the expected tension, and he was not the most sympathetic of hero's, it was basically all his own fault. But to tell this gripping story in the confines of a crevice is a testament to Danny Boyle.

Not as good as the French original "Anything For Her", the Paul Haggis scripted and directed "The Next Three Days" would have been better if I had waited another couple of years and watched it on DVD. Russell Crowe could not muster the heart wrenching aches displayed by Vincent Lindon when his wife (Elizabeth Banks is nearly as convincing as Diane Kruger) is jailed for murder. Many of the scenes are exact replicas of the original, although Haggis has spent more cash and film time on the action scenes which, if anything lose the tension of the French version. But maybe I just knew the story too well.

Alison joined me for an afternoon screening of "The King's Speech", her annual visit to the cinema. And we both agreed what a terrific movie it was. Just a little slow in the first half, and a little troubling watching the second heir to the the throne struggling with his stammer. But the second half is marvellous. The acting is superb throughout. Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush all deserve Oscars. And the supporting cast are equally brilliant. I just preferred Guy Pearce's outstanding performance as Edward VIII to Timothy Spall's Winston Churchill or Derek Jacobi's Archbishop. Tom Hooper directs with great sympathy and panache, conjuring up a great look of late thirties England. It will probably be beaten to best film at the Oscars by the undeserving "The Social Network". Although, for me, "Inception" was my favourite film of the year. And for Christopher Nolan not even being nominated for best director is a complete travesty.

Tring Book Club - Headlong by Michael Frayn

There were five of us who met up at the newly refurbished Bell in Aston Clinton. I was very glad that the three missing from last time also want to keep our group going. And we had a very pleasant evening.

I found "Headlong" to be a strange mix of farce (Michael Frayn famous for his very funny play "Noises Off") and a highly academic thesis on the appreciation of the Dutch master Bruegel and the history of 16th Century Netherlands. I have to say that I did find the art appreciation passages quite a struggle, especially the detailed descriptions of Bruegel's paintings that had nothing to do with the story. But it has given me an idea of what to look for the next time I look at an old master. Although I don't really want to know about Iconolgy and Iconography. I never did manage to work out what they are.

Apart from that I thought the book was an exhilarating read as our unsympathetic, intelligent but idiotic hero digs himself an ever deeper hole. There are, typically, many twists and turns along the way. The general consensus from the book club is that it is a very good read, and if anything we did learn a lot about the incredible history of 16th Century Netherlands and their harsh rule by Spain. I would never have known.

131 Songs - Numbers 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 and 81

MORE SONGS FROM MOVIES

Number 71 - Earth Angel by Marvin Berry and The Starlighters

My all time favourite piece of editing in a movie is in "Back to the Future". The band who are to play at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance tell Marty that they cannot go on (so thwarting the plan to get his father and mother to fall in love on the dance floor) as their lead guitarist had injured his hand. "Unless you know anyone who can play the guitar". Cut to Marty playing the first chords of "Earth Angel", a piece of editing so sharp, it never ceases to thrill. The song is only just OK, the original and superior version was by The Penguins, but it has been covered by many artists since. You can see Marty and the band play "Earth Angel" on YouTube, but not the edit.

Number 72 - Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

The only number one hit for the Steve Harley penned classic was in my opinion the best thing about "The Full Monty". Harping back to the scene in "A Hard Days Night" where the boys run around to the tune of "Can't Buy Me Love", Robert Carlyle and his mates kick a football around while we listen to this great song. It has been covered countless times, but Steve Harley's original version cannot be beaten. It doesn't get any better than this. Search for "Full Monty Football" on YouTube.

Number 73 - The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel

Perhaps not my favourite Simon and Garfunkel song, but it is so good as the opening and closing track to "The Graduate", I had to include it here. I still remember when I saw the movie on it's release in 1967, how I was struck by the picture of Dustin Hoffman riding the airport travellator while this song played over the opening credits, (see YouTube) and again on the bus with Katherine Ross at the end. And not a word said. The song says it all. It also features in the film "Bobby" when the Robert Kennedy makes his victory speech at The Ambassador Hotel, just before his assassination. Equally effective.

Number 74 - Don't Worry Baby by The Beach Boys

This is my favourite Beach Boys track, so when it plays during the movie "Deja Vu", I was immediately impressed. Written in 1964 by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, it was picked as the B-side to The Beach Boys single "I Get Around". To which it is far superior.

Number 75 - Time After Time by Cyndie Lauper

The film is Baz Luhmann's wonderful "Strictly Ballroom". And a piece of movie genius as our two young lovers dance on a rooftop to this song that is so right for the moment. There are times you are grateful you watched the movie on the big screen, and this was one of those. OK, it didn't use the original Cyndie Lauper version that I prefer (well she did co-write it with Rob Hyman). Baz almost replicated the rooftop scene in "Moulin Rouge". It was that good. Find it on YouTube.

Number 76 - Cat People (Putting Out The Fire) by David Bowie

Another brilliant piece of movie making, this time by Quentin Tarantino in his film "Inglourious Basterds". It was a David Bowie song that was new to me when I watched the film in the cinema. But what a knockout sequence it made with Shosanna (Melanie Laurent) preparing for the premiere. Since it came on Sky Movies, I must have watched this dozens of times. David Bowie wrote the song with Giorgio Moroder in 1982. Just watch the first two minutes of the clip from the film on YouTube - "David Bowie - Cat People (putting Out the Fire)". The intro is just fantastic.

Number 77 - Hold Tight by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich

And while we are on Quentin Tarantino, here is a track used in the movie n"Deathproof". A very average piece of film making for Tarantino, but it did remind me of this super song. And the feel of impending disaster against this happy upbeat music is really unsettling, in an interesting way. Released in 1966, it reached number 4 on the UK single chart. Would I have chosen the song if was not for the movie? Probably not. A clip on YouTube but not for the faint hearted.

Number 78 - Love on the Rocks by Neil Diamond

What am I doing including this mush? Well it is my favourite Neil Diamond song and it still gives me shivers when I see the clip (also on YouTube) from the movie "The Jazz Singer" when Neil is in the studio recording the song. What more can I say?

Number 79 - In the Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett

The song is a highlight of the movie "The Commitments". Here it is sung by their lead singer Andrew Strong. Although the band and backing group are superb, unfortunately Andrew is no Wilson Pickett. I remember this was one of the few singles I bought in the 60's, but this was always a great piece of soul. Composed by Pickett and Steve Cropper, it has now become a classic. The Commitments' version is on YouTube.

Number 80 - Slipping through my Fingers by Abba

My favourite Abba song? So many to choose from but as this was one song that I enjoyed in the film "Mama Mia", it rose to the top of my list. Not on our Abba compilation CD, so I had to buy the album "The Visitors". This also includes such classics as "The Day Before You Came" that will appear on my favourite covers.

Number 81 - Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles

To wrap up songs from movies, I could not ignore this classic from "A Hard Day's Night". The aerial shots of the boys just messing about to this upbeat song was way ahead of it's time as a pop video. Again on YouTube.

Two foreign songs that did not quite make my list:

Ca Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Betrand from the film 127 Hours and Woo Hoo by the 5678's from the film Kill Bill 1.

The Five Eldest Askew Sisters

On the 5th July 2000, quite early on in my family history researches, I visited The Family Record Centre in Islington. One of my huge breakthroughs there was finding the 1891 Census record for the family of George and Jane Askew on microfiche. This was well before all Census records were searchable from your own computer. It looked like they had five children at the time, but there started a great mystery.

When I went to see my Aunt Iris (mother's sister) she had never heard of the four sisters (her and mother's aunts). She only knew of the youngest child, Thomas, and all his younger brothers and sisters. So why had nothing ever been said about the elder children?

I then found another sister, Eleanor, the eldest who was living next door with her maternal grandparents (Thomas and Eleanor Cuthbertson) at the time of the 1891 Census. So what happened to these mystery sisters. We know that Eleanor married a Ralph Harrison and by the 1911 Census they had five children. Lilly was 20 by the 1901 Census and probably had married as there is no record under her maiden name. Mary was 18 and may also have married.
Isabella was 17 in 1901 and was in the employ of a Publican, Walter Holloway and his wife Annie, as a General Domestic Servant at The Miner's Arms in Rotherham. The same year Jane was only 14 but already in employment as a Kitchen Maid to another Publican, Arthur Berwick and his wife Mary at Handsworth in Sheffield.

There is one sad postscript and that is the five sisters had a brother James, the second eldest of the eleven children to George and Jane. He was born in 1879 but does not appear on the 1891 Census or on any future such records, so probably had died as a child. But only one infant death out of eleven was better than average for such a family at that time.

The Story of George Askew and Jane Cuthbertson

George and Jane are my maternal great grandparents. George was born on 27th December 1852 in the tiny village of Toynton St Peter in Lincolnshire. His parents were James Askew and Lucy Sharpe who married in nearby Wainfleet St Mary on 20th September 1833. On George's birth certificate, his father's occupation is given as labourer.

Sometime in his twenties, George travelled to Rotherham to find work as a coal miner and was here he met Jane Cuthbertson. Jane was born on 30th November 1836 in Westoe, East Jarrow, Durham. Her parents were Thomas Cuthbertson and Eleanor (Ellen) Serowther. On Jane's birth certificate, her father's occupation is given as Joiner.

We know from the Census of 1871 that Jane, her parents and two brothers had moved from Durham after 1861 and were living at Rabbit Burrow, Masbrough in Rotherham. Jane was 14 years old. Her father was still a Carpenter, possibly working in the mines.

How did George and Jane meet? Were they living close by, or did George work with her father at the pit? However it happened, by the 1881 Census George and Jane had started a family and were living on College Road in Masbrough, close to Jane's parents. The 1881 Census (and every future Census) records George and Jane a being married, but despite exhaustive searches, there is no record of this event. What we do know is that their eldest child, Eleanor, was born in 1877 and was living at the age of 4 with Jane's parents, possibly because Jane had just given birth to her third child Lilly, a sister to their second child James. However Eleanor was again living with her grandparents ten years later according to the 1891 Census.

The 1891 Census is quite interesting in that the Askews and Cuthbertsons live next door to each other at 22 and 20 College Road, Masbrough. The Askew family had grown considerably. Apart from the eldest child Eleanor (14) living with, and probably helping her mother's parents, Thomas and Eleanor Cuthbertson, there are now five other children of George and Jane: Lily (10), Mary (8), Isabella (6), Jane (4) and Thomas (one month). But where is James. He would have been 12 but he is not recorded, nor can he be found on any future Census. So he may have died.

On to the 1901 Census. George and Jane have had more children. Thomas (11) is still living with his parents, but all his five elder sisters, except one, have left home. But that is another story. The new children are Lucy (9), George (6), my grandfather Ralph (5) and Rose, the last of their eleven children, (3). They are now living at 46 Chemist Lane in Rotherham. The exception noted above is the eldest daughter Eleanor. She had married a Ralph Harrison a few years before and they have moved in with her parents, together with their own three children: Lilly (5), George (2) and Blanche (4 Months). That makes twelve living together. Thomas Cuthbertson (now 68 and still a Joiner) and his wife Eleanor (64) are still living at 20 College Road.

 Finally to the 1911 Census. George is now 57 and is still a miner and Jane is 54. They live at House 2, Court 3 Mary Street, Masbrough, Rotherham, the area they have made home for over 30 years. Sons Thomas (21), George (17) and my grandfather Ralph (15) are living with them. Thomas is a miner and the other two sons are Pit Boys (Underground). Rose is also there aged 13, and so is her grandmother Eleanor Cuthbertson now 75, Thomas her husband had probably died.

The only other record after this date is the marriage of Ralph Askew and Edith Agnes Leather (my maternal grandparents) on 1st August 1921. George Askew is recorded as Ralph's father, living at 29 Mary Street, Masbrough, and still a miner at 67. George died on 7th February 1926 at 29 Mary Street of cerebral thrombosis at the age of 73. He must have been some tough guy. He and Jane, though never officially married, had eleven children. The story of the eldest five daughters comes next.

P.S. 13th November 2015. I said that there was no record of the marriage of George Askew and Lucy Cuthbertson. That was because I was yet again defeated by the surname. George Ascough (not Askew) was married to Jane on 23rd November 1873 and below is the marriage certificate. But on every entry of a child's birth and every Census from 1881, the surname is Askew. 

Harry Potter 7, Monsters and Love and Other Drugs

They weren't children anymore ,and I guess that's why I found Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 to be superior to all the previous films in the series. The acting from the three friends was possibly a little less wooden than before, or is it that they compare so poorly with the string of British actors who grace these movies. The direction by David Yates is as sharp as ever and mostly the pace fills the 2hours 20 minutes so we are never bored. If there is one flaw for me it is that it takes forever to find a way to destroy the locket that is one of the Horcruxes. But all in all the movie does well to set up the final episode.

Monsters was a bit of a disappointment after the rave reviews. Made on a shoestring by British writer/director Gareth Edwards, I found it could not overcome it's feeling of cheapness. I wish I had not known that he used locals instead of proper actors as the lead couple travel across Central America to escape the aliens. There are some exciting moments and occasional dramatic twists that would not have disgraced a Hollywood blockbuster. It will be interesting to see what Edwards can do with a proper budget.

I only went to see Love and Other Drugs as it was the only grown up movie on show since I last visited the cinema THREE weeks ago. However I was pleasantly surprised. A very modern romantic drama for grown ups, it was more than a vehicle for leads Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. It was good to see that director and part writer Edward Zwick has matured from blockbuster thrillers to more intelligent movies such as Blood Diamond, Defiance and now this. It was surprisingly explicit in the first half for this type of movie, but so many relationships start this way, that it was almost refreshing to get that over with and to then explore the trials and tribulations of what is a difficult love story. The participation of Josh Gad as Jake's brother almost ruins the film, but it is rescued by the two stars, some reasonable dialogue and a great soundtrack. Regina Spektor sings "Fidelity" over the closing credits. What a great choice.

Afternoon Tea at Hartwell House

Although Hartwell House is situated near Aylesbury and only fifteen minutes away, we had never been there. So when one of our neighbours made Alison a present for her fiftieth birthday of afternoon tea, we saved it for the Christmas holiday. So on Sunday we found ourselves turning off the main road and having to announce ourselves at the security barrier before entering the grand estate just before 4.30pm. A short walk from the car park to the main hotel entrance and we were welcomed at reception and guided to our table in the vast drawing room.

The tea was excellent. Sandwiches with no crusts on a tired stand that also included two sorts of scone and numerous little cakes. The service was very good and the ambiance very pleasant if (but only thought by me) a little stuffy. The time went so quickly that we only noticed it was 5.45pm when we were drinking our last of many cups of real tea from a teapot. A very enjoyable experience and a fine way to start the new year.