New Thinkpiece from Howard
Thinkpiece 5 is an extract from 'The Howard Skempton Christmas Lecture' on Tuesday 9 December. It was the last of this term's Composers' Seminars at the Conservatoire.
The title "The Magic of Craft" is the first, formal half of the lecture which was just over 3000 words. Thinkpiece 5 is an extract - the first 500 words (approx.). It is published on the Thinkpiece page of this website.
"Hinterland": New Video created by Sam Skempton to Howard Skempton's music
Sam Skempton has directed a new music video to his father's organ piece, "Hinterland". The video was produced by American composer, writer, organist and pianist, Carson Cooman.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQOGGdzp6-8
Royal Hospital Chelsea - Carol Service
Major General Keith Skempton attended the carol service at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on 10 Dec. The Service also raises awareness and funds for the Army Benevolent Fund. Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Rowley Walker, gave a short address afterwards, highlighting the current situation for the British Army at this time.
Droppin Well Memorial
The
Ballykelly bombing occurred on 6 December 1982, when the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) detonated a time bomb at a disco in Ballykelly, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The disco, known as the Droppin Well, was targeted because it was frequented by British Army soldiers from nearby Shackleton Barracks. The bomb killed 17 people: eleven soldiers and six civilians, while dozens more were wounded. It was the deadliest attack during the INLA's paramilitary campaign and one of the deadliest bombings of The Troubles. There was a short service of remembrance, with wreath laying, at the Regimental Chapel in Chester Cathedral on Friday 5th December 2025.
The New Season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, started with hope!
Trevor and Helen were joined by Keith to watch the final build-up match against Roma in the new stadium. Football aside, it is an impressive stadium courtesy of architect, Dan Meis and construction company, Laing O'Rourke. Better still, they won their first Premier League match there against Brighton 2-1!
The walk from the Pier Head is not too bad but would improve greatly if Liverpool City Council finish the intended walkway along by the extended Liverpool-Leeds canal to the old docks!
Poster above is for the Folkestone Festival earlier this year
Richard Dunn Sports Centre - National Skateboarding Centre?
Trevor was the architect for the Sports Centre in Bradford. Built in 1974, it has recently been given Listed status. One of the proposals for its future use is by The Twentieth-Century Society, who are promoting the concept of a National Skateboarding Centre. Follow link below:
The Twentieth Century Society shop are advertising 'screen prints [Architect signed]':
http://shop.c20society.org.uk
Thinkpieces
Thinkpiece 5 is an extract from The Howard Skempton Christmas Lecture' on Tuesday 9 December 2925. It was the last of this term's Composers' Seminars at the Conservatoire. "Thinkpiece" (No 4) was produced by Howard and is on "Movement, Form and Meaning" and is an extract from a lecture given at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 17 December 2024. Check out our Thinkpiece Page.
Trevor produced Thinkpiece (No 3.) is about Bramley-Moore: "As good as it can be?" Have Everton got it right?
Trevor covers the background to how Everton have reached the point at which a new stadium is at last a reality, and draws attention to its size and shape in comparison with other major football stadia. Will Bramley-Moore deliver for the Club with its significant location on the historic Liverpool waterfront and its promise of excellent view, sound and atmosphere? Again, Check out our 'Thinkpiece' page.
Thinkpieces 1 & 2. The threat of war involving the UK increases. With war in Ukraine and the threat of escalation to the Nordic or Baltic States, NATO could easily be drawn in. The Israeli-Hamas/Gaza conflict is escalating with US and UK air strikes on Houthi installations in Yemen, a country already involved in civil war. International trade is affected and a broader middle east war involving Iran is a real possibility. Russia and China could take advantage of the situation.
"Twenty Days, What Now?"' is worth a review and has been joined by Thinkpiece 2: "Civil Defence and National Resilience" How prepared are we in the UK? Are we doing enough for our future defence?