Amazing Play at Middleton Street Party By Cilla

Local residents, their families and friends and anyone curious enough to investigate what was going on at the end of Middleton Street (Springbank) enjoyed a really lovely Sunday afternoon last weekend.

The Middleton Street School Site Action Group had organised the street party in aid of their campaign to prevent the site of the now derelict school being used to develop sheltered housing and instead to transform it into a much needed grassed play area for local children, to include raised beds built into a maze for a community herb garden and a seating area. The planned project has been named 'Amazing Play'.

This happens all the time. Something going on just up the road and I knew nothing about it until now. I visit Middleton Street a lot and was aware of the old school. My children sometimes play in the small play park at the bottom of the road beside the building. The school is fairly badly vandalised and home to characters and paraphernalia we would all rather keep our youngsters away from. So to hear that maybe something was to be done about it - even better, the children in the area were to be considered too, was music to my ears. So, it was the usual herding children into the car and off we went to see what was going on

The street was just about closed to traffic - children raced up and down on their bikes, free! Somewhere, further down the street, we could hear a larger than life rendition of some old Elvis and other Rock and Roll oldies. As I got closer, I recognised the man behind the big voice - someone whose path I hadn't crossed for 20 (or so) years - and in those days he was as punk as they came, in Hull. It was Pete Stitt. Good to see him still performing!

The street party was well under way - all sorts of stalls manned by enthusiastic residents, hoping to raise cash for the playground. Face painting, bric-a-brac, hot dogs and burgers, a splendid raffle (my friend won 4 bottles of wine! Cheers, Heather!) even a bouncy castle for the kids to enjoy.

Di Green's stall on hand painted glass and greeting cards was really impressive. Di is a medically retired computer consultant who exhibited her work in Hessle in the July Festival, at the Green Craft Fair (Princes Avenue Methodist Church) last November and is due to hold a stand at the Hull Show in East Park on Saturday 6th September.

For between six and seven years Di has been developing this self taught skill with terrific results. She paints the glass and places in her home oven at 160 degrees C, a different occasion for each colour otherwise it bleeds.

Music Works, a new social enterprise based at Riverside House which runs various skills workshops at Art Council rates, provided a Drum and Gamelan workshop. The workshop was taken by Music Works business co-ordinator, Alan Raw (also of Raw Talent, the award winning interactive radio show for BBC Radio Humberside and Tall Orders). I spoke to Alan about Music Works. He said 'Our remit is to make radio and film for the BBC. We are currently making a film 'The Real Malcolm in the Middle' for James Richard, BBC London director/producer.' continued below..

Amazing Play at Middleton Street Party continued By Cilla

Alan will be appearing as compere for the Grassroots festival this weekend (see advert immediately above). I had been chatting to Alan for a few moments before I noticed a young girl sitting behind him in the van, holding a guitar which she strummed occasionally. As she prepared to leave the van, Alan introduced me to Emma Rugg, the hottest young up-and-coming talented female since I don't know when, or so I'd read somewhere recently. I truly was impressed with the line-up of entertainment at this street party! And, wow, I can write about it, too, on www.thisisUll.com!

Well, what can I say? Emma sang and delighted us all, and carried on regardless when she was almost blown, gazebo and all, down the street by a freak 40mph gust of wind! Really it was such a thrill to see and hear her sing. You can tell immediately that she has something different. It's not just Emma and her guitar. I guess she really does have what you would call raw talent. She seemed so little; so shy and petite but with something more than determination in those eyes. An exceptional young lady.

I had a few words with her afterwards to wish her all the luck in the world - not that luck will come into it much, with a talent like that - and she told me she's going to play at the famous Vines restaurant in Oneonta, New York (part-owned by James Gandolfini, of The Sopranos) next month. This venue is a showcase for new musical talent and celebrated its first anniversary in May. She went to Michigan earlier this year where she recorded her first single. Emma has her own site www.emmarugg.com with lots more information about her.

Following Emma was a great jamming band - GrahamSouthwell (Guitar) Rob Golberg (Guitar/Vocals) Pete Sanderson (Bass) Paul Hewson (Drummer) (isn't that Bono's real name?) Jam sessions at the Tap and Spile 2nd Sunday every month. Polar Bear every Wednesday night. Polar Bear Blues/Usual Suspects

Amazing Play has its own brand new website, www.amazingplay.co.uk, set up by the project organisers, husband and wife Chris and Jenny. Do look at the site which gives details of coming fundraising events and lots of interesting background information. The project is really in its infancy and still needs a committee and a constitution to help it develop. Amazing Play has the opportunity to ensure the site becomes an asset to our community rather than a problem area. Contact Chris and Jenny by email: info@amazingplay.org.uk Helpers and supporters for all these events needed, PLEASE. Thursday 4th September - Coach trip to the Earth Centre at Doncaster I (9.30am - 6.00pm) Sunday 7th September - Coach trip to the Earth Centre at Doncaster II (9.30am - 6.00pm) Cilla, Author.

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