In Review: Haffner Players at Atkinson's Priory Hall Cafe

Haffner Players
at Atkinsons
Priory Hall, China St, Lancaster, LA1 1EX
Friday, 17 May 2013
Reviewed by Henry Prince


It wasn’t supposed to be a concert but that is how it turned out. As a patron of the orchestra, I went along to support the joint venture between a small group of Haffner Orchestra players and Atkinsons at the latter’s latest venue ‘The Hall’ on China Street, Lancaster. Expecting to enjoy a slice of cake and a cup of coffee in the company of live musicians providing wall paper sound from a corner of the room, we were surprised to discover that the usual daytime patrons had been replaced by a room full of serious concert goers who had no intention of coming and going. They were there from the first note to the last one two hours later and extra seating had to be brought in to accommodate the unanticipated demand.

Lancaster is not short of live music venues but there was only one place to be Friday night if you wanted to hear acoustic classical instruments being played at close quarters to a very high standard, including a standard quartet of strings, an oboe and a piano. The musical selections were obviously chosen for an audience with eclectic tastes. We were treated to Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, ragtime and tunes from the musicals. Moreover, the combinations of instruments were varied. Sometimes, the string quartet played without the others, sometimes they were joined by the oboe. Occasionally, the oboe combined with ‘cello and piano and more than once the pianist played alone.

It is impossible to single out any particular player as outstanding. They were all equally good and mostly had the opportunity to demonstrate their exceptional abilities. Only the viola player was denied equal opportunity but that is a fact of life for all viola players. Few composers have treated the instrument with the respect its players deserve.

There was one moment when you could have heard a pin drop. That was when the players had at last to concede that they were hopelessly lost and stopped playing. There followed some discrete whispering (“from letter H”) and all was once again well. It happens with the best of players and was a good reminder that the music was live and that despite their other-worldly skills, the players are still human!

These particular amateur musicians are drawn together by both a love of music and the opportunity to play with others of a similarly high technical standard. It is difficult to accept that they all have ‘day’ jobs, ranging from designing buildings, managing businesses, treating patients and raising families. When do they ever find the time to practise!

The evening was referred to as an experiment and I am sure the listeners are looking forward to version II in the near future. It is said that the entry charge will go toward funding a particularly prominent soloist’s particularly large professional fee during next season’s Haffner concert series. If that is true, everyone who attended is a double winner. For a measly £5, each got an immediate return of 2 hours of chamber music and the promise of another big return at a full Haffner concert next year.

The last in this year’s Haffner Orchestra concerts is at 7.30 pm on Saturday, 29th June in the Town Hall on Dalton Square. I shan’t be missing it for the world.

H. Prince

For more about the Haffner Orchestra and forthcoming concerts visit:
http://www.haffnerorchestra.org/

For more about J. Atkinson & Co and their Priory Hall project visit:
http://www.thecoffeehopper.com/

Love Your Local Market campaign launches, our markets not involved?

Almost every market across the North West is taking part in a fortnight of events backed by the Government to promote local markets... all, that is, except for Lancaster's own Charter Market, Assembly Rooms and the Morecambe Festival Market, both strangely absent from the list of participants on www.loveyourlocalmarket.org.uk

Local Growth Minister Mark Prisk urged people across the country to back their local markets earlier this week, during a dedicated fortnight of activity designed to help budding entrepreneurs to trade, and get residents back on their high streets.


The first Love Your Local Market fortnight ran last summer and over 400 markets took part, with 2,000 traders taking up a stall for the first time - and 200 of these are still trading today.

This year’s campaign will involve over 650 markets across England, with over 3,000 special events designed to showcase the best of local produce, design and innovation, with tastings, music concerts, treasure hunts and other events to celebrate great local food and shopping.

Running until 29th May, the event will also give budding traders a chance to tout their wares with 3,000 free or subsidised stalls available to those who want to try trading for the first time in a low-cost, low-risk retail environment.


We were a bit puzzled, however, by our local markets' absence from the list of participating markets, particularly since other key Lancashire operations, run by other local councils, including Accrington, Bolton, Burnley, Fleetwood, Kendal, Preston and Poulton are listed as participants. (Garstang's Street Market is also absent).

“Markets can be the beating heart of their communities and a force for good in the local economy," said Minister Mark Prisk said of the campaign. "We have seen examples across the country of markets bringing people back to the high street, nurturing new traders and spreading the benefits to all surrounding businesses.

“That's why we're backing the Love Your Local Market fortnight. It is a great opportunity for town centres and for aspiring business owners to give trading a go."



It would appear Lancaster City Council chose not to particpate in this nationwide campaign - although it has this week promoted a 'Bake Off' event at Morecambe's Festival Market in July - and it wasn't simply matter of an oversight on somebody's part.


"Rather than just focusing all our efforts on just one event it is more important this year to focus our limited resources on improving the district's overall markets offer," Mark Davies, Head of Environmental Services, told virtual-lancaster "and provide opportunities for local people and visitors alike to both enjoy and take pride in our Charter, Assembly Rooms and Festival Market all year round."

It was, perhaps, not because someone at the council didn't know about the scheme until we drew it to their attention? That despite the organisers also being involved in trying to find a way forward for Lancaster Market before it closed, they had lost their contact list for Lancaster City Council? (After all, the member of staff who presided over the Market's closure has left their employ some time ago. Perhaps no-one is checking email to her old address).

"To ensure the organisers know that we have an ongoing project for our three markets, we have now registered our markets," Mr Davies acknowledges. So, hopefully, our markets will be involved should there be a third Love Your Market campaign next year.

To be fair to the Council, they are doing their best, in a difficult environment and with limited resource, to promote our remaining Markets.

"Lancaster City Council does love its local markets and in recognising that markets are valuable community assets," Mark Davies says, "as well as visitor attractions and of great benefit to the local economy is committed to providing a positive market shopping experience in both Lancaster and Morecambe. 

"As such, one of the council's Cabinet members has specific responsibilities for markets and a cross service officer working group has been set up to look at what improvements need to be made to enhance this experience."

This is of course John Barry, who has been wrestling with the market issues for some time now, including the unwelcome closure of Lancaster Market, a building still lying empty and costing local taxpayers money (but not, we're told by the Council, for much longer).

 "This year besides the internal works that have already been done to the Assembly Rooms an additional £50,000 is being spent by the  council in making  improvements to all three markets, Mr Davies points out. (The Assembly Rooms refurbishment was completed in March).

"In addition to this, much work is being done through the Square Routes Project in Lancaster and via the Morecambe Area Action Plan to ensure our local markets are sustainable, prosperous and at the very heart of the city and town."


As for the old Lancaster Market building, it would also appear that sorry saga - one peppered with so much inept bungling and obfuscation, chiefly by former council staff, that it's perhaps fortunate the Government is on course to abolish the Audit Commission, which might have one or two things to say about how the whole matter had been handled - is finally drawing to close and will no longer be a drain on the City Council's purse.


"We are in the process of transferring the lease back to the landlord," Mr Davies "and this will be completed soon."

Police Facebook fans name new police horse

Lancashire Constabulary’s Facebook fans have named the police’s new horse recruit ‘Hutton’. Over 230 people voted to give the Irish Draught breed the name after a poll was run on the mounted branch’s Facebook page.

A total of 657 people voted from a list of pre-selected names.

PC Adam Pearson from Lancashire Constabulary’s mounted branch said: “It was great to get the public involved in naming our latest recruit. I would like to thank everyone who voted.

“It is very fitting that the horse has been named Hutton since that is where he lives.

“If you want to keep up-to-date with the work of our mounted branch police officers, see photos and get regular updates, like our Facebook page.”

One of the people who voted will now be chosen as a winner and will receive a tour of the mounted branch and get the opportunity to meet some of the horses and staff.

Hutton arrived at the force’s mounted branch in March and has joined another 19 police horses who live at the police’s stables.

The force’s Mounted Branch joined Facebook in November last year and has over 1,800 likes. The page allows people to keep up-to-date with their work and includes photos of the horses and information about some of the work they have been involved in.

• To follow the police horses on Facebook visit: www.facebook.com/Lancspolicehorses
(If you decide to follow them in real life remember your bucket and spade)

Will Lancaster host the Silverdale Hoard?

Photo: Prioryman

Lancaster City Council’s Cabinet will consider the options available to secure an important collection of Viking treasure for Lancashire when it meets on 28th May.

Known as the Silverdale Hoard, the collection of coins and jewellery was found near to Silverdale in September 2011 by a metal detector enthusiast.

It was subsequently declared ‘treasure’, which means it can only be purchased by an accredited museum.

While both Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council meet this criteria, the county council has a considerable level of experience and expertise and currently runs Lancaster’s museums. The City Museum has previously expressed an interest in acquiring the Hoard if funds can be raised.

Cabinet will be recommended to request that the county council purchases the hoard and secures it for the people of Lancashire.

Councillor Eileen Blamire, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “The discovery of the Silverdale Hoard was very exciting and a reminder to us all of just how rich a heritage we enjoy in the Lancaster district.

“Both the city and county councils are keen for the hoard to remain in Lancashire to provide local people with the chance to see first hand this historically significant collection.”

Other options available for Cabinet would be for the city council to purchase the hoard, or for a joint purchase with each council funding parts of the costs.

However, given the costs associated with purchasing the hoard, which would also include conservation and display, a purchase by the city council alone is unaffordable in the long term.

The Silverdale Hoard is a collection of over 200 pieces of silver jewellery and coins discovered near Silverdale. The items were deposited together in a lead casket buried underground which was found in a field by Darren Webster, a local metal detectorist. It is believed to date to around AD 900, a time of intense conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danish settlers of northern England.

Lancaster was almost certainly caught up in the conflict: Skerton takes its name from the Old Norse sker, Skerton meaning the Tun by the Reefs (i.e. sand banks in the River Lune which ran through the original Township); and St. Peter's Church in Heysham contains many Viking remains, and the church itself contains a Viking hogback stone.

The hoard is one of the largest Viking hoards ever discovered in the UK and has been displayed at the British Museum. It is particularly significant for its inclusion of a coin stamped with the name of a previously unknown Viking ruler.

One side of the coin has the words DNS (Dominus) REX, arranged in the form of a cross, reflecting the fact that many Vikings had converted to Christianity within a generation of settling in Britain. The other side has the enigmatic inscription. AIRDECONUT, which appears to be an attempt to represent the Scandinavian name Harthacnut. The design of the coin relates to known coins of the kings Siefredus and Cnut, who ruled the Viking kingdom of Northumbria around AD 900, but Harthacnut is otherwise unrecorded.

• Photographs of the Silverdale Hoard

• More about the history of Skerton

Renewed appeal for witnesses to Cable Street accident, pensioner in critical condition

Lancaster Police have made a renewed appeal for witnesses following an accident on Cable Street yesterday involving an 80-year old cyclist.

The man was knocked off his push bike by a vehicle which failed to stop at the scene at around 9.10am yesterday (Thursday 16th May) on Cable Street.

After being taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary with a head injury the pensioner was transferred to Royal Preston Hospital and remains in a critical condition.

The car involved has been identified as a Citroen Berlingo and the driver, a 32-year-old man from Morecambe is helping police with their enquiries. He has not been arrested.

"We would continue to appeal for witnesses," said a police spokesperson.

• Anybody with any information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org