Gary Speed remembered at Everton
Everton fans study the Gary Speed tributes at Goodison Park
The weekend ended with a trip to Goodison Park for the Everton tie against Stoke. Gary Speed had been a child fan of the Toffees, and eventually went on to play for them between 1996 and 1998. He recorded his only career hat trick with Everton in a 7-1 trouncing over Southampton, and went on to be voted Everton player of the year in his first season.
Dreary weather hadn’t stopped Evertonians leaving their tributes to the late Wales manager, though it did stop many from stopping to view others fond memories. Proof of the fans appreciation came inside the stadium, where the minutes applause was observed brilliantly, and his name chanted throughout. Gary’s father, Roger, entered the pitch with the players for the remembrance and was clearly moved by the efforts shown. He left with his own applause for the crowd.
Stoke went on to beat Everton with a 0-1 victory, courtesy of a first half goal from German Robert Huth.
Gary Speed tributes adorn the gates at Goodison Park
Gary Speed tributes adorn the gates at Goodison Park
Leeds remember Gary Speed
Leeds had been the career starting point for the young Welsh man, and played a pivotal role in developing him into the man appreciated and loved by most football fans. The first game to be played at Elland Road following his untimely death was always going to be a poignant one.
Outside, tributes had been left at the Billy Bremner statue from the first few hours of the story breaking. A week later, and the tributes were still pouring in. Inside Elland Road, his family had been welcomed to the club and were in the old directors box. As the players came out of the tunnel and the remembrance minute began, the emotion was clearly too much for many of his relatives.
The entire stadium rang to the sound of applause, and a chorus of ‘There’s only one Gary Speed’ soon followed. The match turned out to become a side event, with the crowd vocally active throughout the 90 minutes – indeed, ‘Ohhh Gary, Gary Gary Gary Gary Speed’ echoed heartrendingly around for a good constant 10 minutes. The atmosphere was respectful and emotionally charged, and served as an excellent reminder as to how much football can touch thousands of peoples’ lives. Money and scandal does not come into it on days like today, football for the love of football.
Fittingly, Robert Snodgrass scored a second half brace to seal a 2-0 victory over Millwall on this most sorrowful of days.
Fans crowd around the Billy Bremner statue at Elland Road, to remember the late Wales manager Gary Speed
The Billy Bremner statue at Elland Road is covered with flowers, shirts and dedications to the late Wales manager Gary Speed
The Billy Bremner statue at Elland Road is covered with flowers, shirts and dedications to the late Wales manager Gary Speed
Tearful fans pay their respects to the late Gary Speed with a silent vigil by the Billy Bremner statue at Elland Road
3rd Gee Cross Scout’s bonfire night
Rain greeted my arrival at the Gee Cross scout hut on the 4th November. It’d been a good ten years since my previous bonfire, but the memory of rain on that evening too was still vivid as ever. I must put a few quid on it raining over the next Guy Fawkes weekend too.
Thankfully however, the rain stopped just as the bonfire was due to be lit. Some luck at last! Visitors started to pile in to the field, with lovely hot soup, burgers and chips, tea and coffee from the refreshment tent just in time for the fireworks display to begin.
As the fireworks came to an end, the crowd moved on up to the bonfire, which was well underway by this point to warm their fingers and toes as the early November air began to chill. If there is one community in society that knows how to do a fire, it is the scouts. The safety barriers were left untested, as people stood back due to the intensity of the heat!
On-lookers enjoy the fireworks display
On-lookers enjoy the fireworks display
A firework explodes in the night sky
A scout member fuels the bonfire
Visitors enjoy the warmth of the bonfire
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, Croatia was my base during the trip out to Montenegro for England’s UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying game. Having a couple of days there beforehand, was always going to mean that I had some time for exploration, and normally I’d be all researched out before I’d even checked in for my flight. Alas, on this occasion I hadn’t found the time to even check out the city’s own Wikipedia page.
Upon arrival at the airport alone, I soon realised this had been a mistake. The drive in to the city was one of the most beautiful that I have ever had the fortune to make during my travels. Every turn of a corner, as I made my way along the snaking coast line, provided a new awe inspiring view. The fact it was touching 6pm, still in the late twenties and raining back home had little to no influence on this, what so ever.
My memory strained to remember the vivid descriptions of the history of Croatia that I had recently read in Andrew Eames’ 8:55 to Baghdad. I knew that war had ravaged much of the country, and in my own living memory – which is something quite unique. Will I be casually visiting Iraq in the next 5 to 10 years? I hasten to think not.
Much of the war damage has been lovingly restored, and it was only upon writing this entry that I stumbled across a useful hint to help visualise Dubrovnik following war. The brighter coloured roofing is the newer, and so is most likely to have been damaged through war. Looking at the patchwork of terracotta, it’s easy to see the impact that the dissolution of Yugoslavia had. In fact, it wasn’t until a visit to a memorial upon a hillside overlooking Dubrovnik that I came to find my first actual evidence of warfare. A battered communications fort still bore the scars of war, with gaping holes in it’s fortified (yet still incredibly pretty) walls, and the shrapnel damaged comms cable unit, pictured below.
I have visited many places damaged during World War 2, and very few of them show any signs of what had been. Visiting a place with such recent history, and the evidence to show was quite moving.
Dubrovnik is a city that has firmly taken it’s place in my memory and will certainly be revisited, when I have a better understanding of it’s history. Besides this, they do fantastic pizza!
An elevated view over Dubrovnik, Croatia
An elevated view over Dubrovnik, Croatia
An elevated view over Dubrovnik, Croatia
An elevated view over Dubrovnik, Croatia as a typhoon heads for the coast
A communications wiring cabinet bearing shrapnel wounds from the siege of Dubrovnik, 1991
The sun sets over the Adriatic Sea
The sun sets over the Adriatic Sea
Tameside civic mayor Susan Quinn launches AsOne campaign
Project manager Phil Loftus explains AsOne Design's work to civic mayor Susan Quinn and councillor Kieran Quinn
AsOne's Tracy Rush presents civic mayor Susan Quinn with a gift
AsOne's Joel Rush helps civic mayor Susan Quinn launch the Innovation Club
The AsOne team pose for a photograph with staff from Bradley's Bakery, civic mayor Susan Quinn and councillor Kieran Quinn
Teachers and civil servants strike in Manchester
Crowds gather as the protest begins on Oxford Road
Protesters make their way through Manchester
Protesters arrive at the Castlefield basin
New beginnings at 3rd Gee Cross scouts
Old uniform detail
Today was the first phase of the culmination of three years of blood, sweat and tears for the 3rd Gee Cross scouts. Back in 2007, their old hut – dating back to the 1960s – succumbed to the storms that wreaked havoc across the whole country.
The rebuild was designed to bring the beavers, cubs and scouts all back under one roof, having spent much of the last four years running out of separate venues around the area. With all equipment being stored in every nook and cranny in parents sheds, attics and under stairs, the activities of the scouts were naturally somewhat restricted and so completing phase one was paramount.
Fundraising for phase two will swiftly be under way, and completion of the entire project is a driven ambition. Phase two will add a larger hall, more storage and will replace the small kitchen with a larger one, and so free up more room in phase one. Once the full set of facilities are up and running, they will be offered by the scouts to the community for a wide range of uses.
Today itself, was one of those days that makes me glad to be doing this job. To see real people, go through real emotion is what drives me to capture better images with each and every click. With surprise dedications and gifts, as well as a rather special new addition to officially open the building, emotion was something that wasn’t in short supply! The leaders had taken it upon themselves to make their newest addition to the beavers, invested today, also the lucky one to cut the green ribbon – no mean feat when you’ve not long since started school! It was said that the work of today, was done for the scouts of tomorrow, and so doing this seemed entirely appropriate. I couldn’t have agreed more.
On a personal note, today’s experience took me back to my pre-teens, when I had been a cub and then scout. I lived right in between 3rd Gee Cross and 4th Hyde (St Georges), and knowing other members of the latter took me there. I understandably never realised it at the time, but speaking to the leaders today, it soon became clear what a massive operation the scouts are. Worldwide, there are millions of folk of all ages, colours and creeds united by the love and understanding of the great outdoors first taught by Robert Baden-Powell back in 1908 (yes, I did have to check the year!).
Now then, where’s my tent and neckerchief…?
The newest beaver in the world cuts the ribbon
Intruder fatally stabbed in Salford home
A police officer stands guard outside the scene of the incident on Ethel Avenue, Salford
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A police officer stands guard outside the scene of the incident on Ethel Avenue, Salford
Police vehicles form a road block at Ethel Avenue on the A666 in Salford
Big Red Cross Bus in Chester
An early morning trip down the M56 to Chester took me to a Caters News commission for the British Red Cross. Their ‘Big Red Cross Bus’ was in town, informing the lovely folk of volunteering opportunities and demonstrating basic first aid. Brief in hand, ideas were aplenty. Until I turned up. Old double decker buses just aren’t as big as I remember! None the less, a quick rethink and I was raring to go – bring on the punters!
Punters. Chester is pretty quiet on a Thursday morning. The first hour passed by with just the one single mother stopping off, with her daughter to pick up some child CPR tips. Business slowly picked up in the second hour thankfully – I’d only been booked for the two! The highlight was probably a visit from the official Chester town crier, whom certainly helped to drum up some interest with his rather magnificent appearance. Having lost out on a number of shots during the first hour, I stayed on for an extra thirty minutes to get a few more frames in the bag.
Next up for the day.. black tie in Leicester! Post coming soon!
Three young women are talked through volunteering opportunities onboard the Big Red Cross Bus
A volunteer in the driving seat aboard the Big Red Cross Bus in Chester
Judy Ward demonstrates basic first aid to Chester town crier, David Mitchell
A volunteer poses outside the Big Red Cross Bus
Manchester United Parade
As I closed in on Manchester, from the Sheffield direction over the A628 Woodhead Pass (which just happens to be my favourite road) I could see the weather deteriorating quickly. Welcome home, Phil! Compounded by the early morning drive back from London where I had been at the Champions League final (in which, United had been defeated by Barcelona) and London Legends over the weekend, my heart began to sink. I hadn’t been properly rained on all season, and was rather hoping that this would extend to the final day of my personal season. The Manchester United home coming parade, with the Premier League trophy. It wasn’t to be.
Would I turn up at the Cathedral starting point to find a few damp squibs of supporters, who had braved the rain and early bank holiday start? Would it be cancelled? Just a couple of the many fears I was facing. Thankfully, I needed not worry.
I parked up at Deansgate Locks, making use of the free bank holiday parking in the city centre. Arriving just under an hour before the start, I was a little worried at it being so easy to actually find a space, but I could spot a good number of fans piling out of Deansgate railway and Metrolink stations. I decided on following the majority of them right down Deansgate to the Cathedral so I could take some fan related shots and then the team on the bus in the first minute or so of their journey, where I thought they would be at their most boisterous. Needless to say, by the time I’d reached the start I was as wet as brave fans in the pictures below!
Manchester United fans brave the rain outside Manchester Cathedral on Deansgate, Manchester
Fans brave the rain on Deansgate, Manchester
Next to do, was to decide which side of Deansgate to get a spot on. The eastern side would give me the earliest shots of the team bus, whereas the western side would give me better backgrounds, with the Cathedral and prettier architectural delights of the route through the city. The western side it was. On the whole, a good decision, thought it did mean I was blocked by the curve in the road for the opening explosion of confetti.. alas, I was not the only one, having spotted colleagues on the same side.
Eventually however (how slow do those buses go?) the bus creeped into view and I was blessed with the view presented below. Enthusiasm had not dampened in the rain, and Rio Ferdinand was in full control of the mic! The crowd were being spurred on to sing and chant by each and every team member. Some were clearly enjoying it, whilst others found the direct attention every so slightly embarrassing!
Bebe, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Nani celebrate with the trophy on Deansgate, Manchester
I followed the bus and the crowd back down Deansgate. Partly to get more shots, and partly because I’d parked the car back down by the Beetham Tower and the Locks. Having done so proved to be fruitful, as Edwin van der Sar pretended to drop the trophy in true Sergio Ramos style, much to the shock of his team mates.. soon followed by the realisation of the prank!
Edwin van der Sar of Manchester United pretends to drop the trophy on Deansgate, Manchester
Javier Hernandez, Edwin Van Der Sar and Patrice Evra laugh on Deansgate, Manchester
As the bus passed under the railway bridge and onto Chester Road, I left the party for the relative dry and warmth of my car to edit and wire pictures out to newspapers. All this action and it was still only 10.30am! The rest of the day was spent as a bank holiday should, in front of the telly with good food, and good beer, but I could rest assured that my work was done.
Behind the scenes: Visitor video shoot
With my trip to Blackpool for the clash with Manchester United having been called off due to the weather, I was instead free to visit Video Ink’s shoot with local band Visitor. The location was Islington Mill, Salford. A fantastic centre of arts and crafts, and still under going regeneration. It was this that provided the excellent rustic attic setting. I didn’t quite get to grips with the narrative of the video.. but it looks interesting to say the least!
British Airways retire Boeing 757s in style
British Airways have been operating Boeing 757 aircraft for the last 28 years, however as of Saturday 30th October 2010, they were no more. Manchester was one of the last port of calls for this domestic work horse and painted in the old Negus & Negus colour scheme, the event was to be one worthy of recording for history.
Emirates A380 begins first regional service at Manchester
Today marked another land mark day for Manchester Airport, as Emirates began their daily service with the much famed, new Airbus A380 aircraft. Thousands were expected (and did not disappoint) and crammed into every nook and cranny around the airports perimeter fence, no doubt spurred on by the recent good weather. Excitement built as the flight called up on the approach to Manchester, and again once it was visible on the horizon. A brief stop for photographs, and then an official welcome from the fire service and that was it, then event over with. Many left, enthusiasts stayed for the departure, some three hours later. It was at this point that I moved position to the end of the runway, for that alternate angle on the departure.
Formby beach football freestyling… tester…
I’ve had an idea mulling around in my head for a while, about doing shoots with some freestyle footballers… lucky them… but naturally, it’s good to come up with and test an idea before you push ahead with it! One location I decided upon, was a beach, so myself and Gary Eddleston headed on over to Formby beach, just north of Liverpool on a gorgeous Friday evening to experiment and see what we could come up with.
Limited to 4 hands, 2 of which would be holding the camera, the other 2 balance.. the only plausible lighting solution was to be the softbox and/or naked lights. Seaside breezes don’t go down too well with unattended umbrellas! Yes, that is speaking from experience… Using the softbox meant light spread was severely limited, but I’ve a good idea of what to expect as a minimum should that be the adopted method.
We managed a good hour of shooting during what felt like the longest sunset ever, although that is no complaint, I could have sat there all night watching it if possible! (A trip to the Arctic Circle perhaps this Winter?)
England v Slovenia at Hyundai Manchester Fanzone
I spent the 3rd game of the England world cup campaigning working, much like the first two! However this time, it was not to be a wedding, but the fanzone set up by Manchester City Council and sponsered by Hyundai. The first game screened here, against the USA was marred with crowd troubles, but this afternoon was an atmosphere of jubilance, with England winning with a narrow 1-0 scoreline but crucially, securing their spot in the 2nd round.
Bronislaw Komorowski visits Krakow
Whilst waiting for the cycling event to be set up in the market square in Krakow (see this entry for my holiday news!) I noticed there were a small number of TV crews and photographers gathering opposite a stage set up outside St Mary’s Basilica.
Upon closer inspection, I spotted placards and posters featuring the acting president, and presidential candidate Bronis?aw Komorowski. The former president, was of course killed in widely documented plane crash on the 10th April 2010. The man himself, it appeared, would be in attendance the very same day as the second day of my ‘holiday’. You know what… he did too… and unlike the established Western world, where high ranking politicians are escorted around in Jaguars with blacked out windows, Mr Komorowski took to wandering Krakow on foot (albeit with a number of guards). This gave plenty of time to get a few shots in the bag…
BUPA Great Manchester Run – Press Conference
With the Great Manchester Run approaching, some of the stars of the show were put in front of the press to help build up the events profile. Jo Pavey, Derartu Tulu and Haile Gebreselassie were present to answer the presses questions, and pose for the cameras.
D.I.L.E – Skank for England
Tonight, along with the guys from VideoInk I shot the local Manchester band D.I.L.E filming their video for their World Cup song, Skank for England. The word skank, I was assured, is a style of dancing.. and not what you might have though. Truth be told, I kinda already knew that from my student days. Anyway, a cracking evenings entertainment for the local folk at Hyde United. A very catchy song too, look out for it on the TV and keep an ear open on the radio!
The finished video courtesy of VideoInk
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRN6K_s1wXo&hd=1]
Shaunna Thompson & England Lacrosse
A bit of a mixed up promo shoot with this one! Shaunna Thompson and England Lacrosse came together to promote both the Manchester 150 event (16th May 2010) and the FIL World Lacrosse Championships (Summer 2010), which are also being held in the city.
Many thanks to Gary Eddleston for his help!
A.DOT at Victoria Baths – Video shoot
As with my other entry today, I was at the Victoria Bath’s in central Manchester, to help out with a video shoot for some good friends. Aside the images in the other entry.. I also snapped these more ‘behind the scenes’ type shots.
Quick and dirty at Manchester’s Victoria Baths
A quick couple of shots taken at a music video shoot today. The location was Manchester’s very own Victoria Baths, winner of the BBC Restoration programme a few years back. The transformation which has taken place since my last visit – let alone since they won – is phenomenal! The chaps who work there cannot be commended enough for their hard work and toil. A big thumbs up from me.
