Tag Archives: Alice Rook

Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Franchise In Depp-th

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Pirates of the Caribbean is one of Disney’s multi-billion dollar franchises, originating from a 1967 theme park attraction at Disneyland – the last to be administered by Walt Disney before his death. The franchise now spans almost a decade, and includes: four films, numerous video games, a series of spin-off novels, toys and a range of clothing items. Since the first film was released in 2003, the franchise has not only done wonders for Johnny Depp’s career, but has established itself as one of the highest Box Office earners, grossing more than $2.7 billion in total.

Box office favourite: Jack Sparrow

The latest instalment ‘On Stranger Tides’ was released in UK cinemas on the 18th May 2011, and received phenomenal global Box Office takings – grossing $90.2m during its opening weekend. Pirates of the Caribbean is undoubtedly one of the most successful franchises to date, despite the fact that the initial concept was not well-received by the critics. Back in 2003 when production began on ‘The Curse of the Black Pearl,’ critics did not hold out high hopes for its success. Many considered Depp to be an odd casting choice for a blockbuster movie, and many claimed it would be unsuccessful because the pirate genre had not been a favourite of cinema-goers in ages (note the major flop of ‘Cutthroat Island’ just a few years previously). The critics ended up eating their own words of course, as ‘The Curse of The Black Pearl’ turned out to be incredibly seaworthy indeed, grossing a whopping $46.6m at the Box Office in its opening weekend and going on to gross $653m worldwide. Depp’s portrayal of the beloved rogue pirate and his swashbuckling adventures has captured the hearts of children and adults worldwide; Jack Sparrow has since become an icon in popcorn-film history.

*****Fact File*****

1) The Curse of the Black Pearl, 2003

2) Dead Man’s Chest, 2006

3) At World’s End, 2007

4) On Stranger Tides, 2011

The second film, ‘Dead Man’s Chest,’ in what was originally intended as a trilogy, is Walt Disney’s highest grossing film to date! The Box Office takings for ‘Dead Man’s Chest’ were 62.34% higher than those of ‘The Curse of the Black Pearl’. With an opening weekend of $136m in the States, ‘Dead Man’s Chest’ is the third film ever to gross over $1 billion in the worldwide Box Office ($1,060,615,812).

As well as being Disney’s highest-grossing film ever, ‘Dead Man’s Chest’ is also one of the best-selling DVDs to date: it sold nearly 5m DVDs on its first day in shops across the world and has sold more DVDs than any of the other Pirates of the Caribbean movies, selling just over 1m more units than ‘At World’s End’, and double the amount of units sold for ‘The Curse of the Black Pearl’. ‘Dead Man’s Chest’ knocked Warner Bros’ ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ off the top DVD perch sales in March 2006, and was the best-selling DVD of 2006 in terms of units sold and second in terms of sales revenue behind ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.’

After the success of ‘Dead Man’s Chest,’ ratings and earnings slumped significantly for the third franchise instalment. Takings for ‘At World’s End’ dropped by 9.39%, scoring much lower at the Box Office ($960,996,492). It was slated by critics for its complex and muddled plot; many said its three hour duration was far too self-indulgent, leaving the audience with a ‘yo ho ho and a sore bum’ feeling.

There are many other franchises that are in the same ‘league’ as Pirates of the Caribbean in terms of success and gross per franchise. The Harry Potter franchise is the highest-grossing franchise ever, with a total gross of $6,369,976,303.

The total worldwide gross of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise so far stands at $3,388,869,805 (almost half the total gross of the Harry Potter franchise). James Bond follows closely behind the earnings of Harry Potter, and then Star Wars is the third most successful franchise to date. Franchises tend to boost their earnings through brand extension, for example the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has brought in $1.6 billion so far in global merchandise sales, a figure due to rise with the addition of even more revenue from the fourth film.

Out of all four movies, ‘At World’s End’ had the highest budget – $300m. It blew the other Pirates of the Caribbean films out of the water due to the sheer overwhelming splendour of its CGI action sequences and special effects. ‘On Stranger Tides’ lowered its budget by $50m and it remains to be seen whether its Box Office earnings will live up to its prequels’. It is the first film in the franchise not to feature all original members of cast (Bloom and Knightley are missing) – will this threaten the viability of its success?

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Show Parmesan The V Sign To Meet The Veggie Challenge

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Caterers these days can have a hard time providing something for everyone. With so many food allergens, dietary requirements, and food sensitivities, coming up with the perfect restaurant menu can prove to be very difficult. Catering for vegetarians and vegans is equally vital, and failure to do so can make or break the success of a restaurant. Alice Rook takes a look at how the restaurant industry is meeting the demand for vegetarian food.

There are 1.8 million British vegetarians according to the Office for National Statistics and a recent survey found that many aren’t happy with the choices they are given in supermarkets or restaurants.

Three-quarters of vegetarians questioned for a survey by Cauldron Foods last year said fast-food menus left them cold, while a quarter couldn’t find tasty offerings on the shelves of supermarkets.

So,  is enough being done to tempt the taste-buds of a group who make up a significant three per cent of the population?

One man pushing for change, and taking the vegetarian industry by storm, is Eddie Shepherd, 26.

Vegetarian Options: Eddie Shepherd

The award-winning vegetarian chef is often described as the Heston Blumenthal of the veggie world. Eddie is at the forefront of a ground-breaking and sometimes controversial culinary movement entitled ‘Molecular Gastronomy.’ This refers to the techniques and ingredients used by chefs at the cutting edge of haute cuisine, such as liquid nitrogen, foams, water baths, and even scenting the atmosphere around a dish. In the past, high-end cuisine has been dominated by things like foie gras and veal stocks, but Eddie is taking this science-informed movement to new levels and using vegetarian and vegan components as his ‘molecular’ ingredients.

Eddie’s modern methods offer an exciting new range of possibilities for chefs and diners alike and used creatively can take vegetarian cuisine to new heights. Eddie’s avant-garde techniques add spectacular impact to the dining experience, and anyone interested can try out the ‘Starter Kits’ available from creamsupplies.co.uk.

Eddie uses these molecular techniques to add a ‘wow’ factor to his cooking.

“What better way to win over diners that might be sceptical about how exciting a meal without meat can be,” said Eddie. “As yet, there are only a few of us using these modern techniques in vegetarian cooking, but I see it as something that is bound to get bigger. It is a way to modernize and push forward vegetarian cuisine.”

So far, Molecular Gastronomy has paved the way for food which was previously off-limits for vegetarians.

“It is now possible to make things like vegetarian marshmallows, panna cotta, jellies and mousses – thanks to molecular ingredients such as Agar Agar and Gellan, which allow gelling and setting without gelatine.”

However, one popular ingredient, which remains off limits to vegetarians is Parmesan.

The Vegetarian Society started a campaign in December 2010 called ‘Say Cheese’, which aims to minimize the number of dishes in which Parmesan is being incorrectly labelled as suitable for vegetarians. Parmesan (also known as Parmigiano-Reggiano) is an EU Protected Designation of Origin product, and as such, is made using traditional ingredients including calf rennet. It is therefore not suitable for vegetarians.

Katie Douglass, Head of Catering Services for the Vegetarian Society, said: “Many restaurants have only one or two veggie options on a menu. Often both of these are ruled out as they contain Parmesan. Kick the habit and be proud that your dishes really are suitable for vegetarians!”

The V-Sign

The Vegetarian Society is a charity dedicated to promoting respect and understanding for those who opt for a vegetarian lifestyle. Established in 1847, the charity acts as a pressure group with the aim of persuading food manufacturers to remove non-vegetarian ingredients from their food such as gelatine and animal rennet. Manufacturers apply to the Vegetarian Society for their products to be accredited with the ‘Vegetarian Society Approved’ logo, which proves that their food complies with the Society’s exact criteria.

It has just celebrated the UK’s National Vegetarian Week, which aims to promote awareness and inspire good cooking.

There is also an implication for the bottom line when restaurants fail to keep their veggie customers satisfied.  Vigilant vegetarians are unlikely to return to a restaurant once they have seen a dish containing Parmesan labelled with a ‘V’ sign.

Eddie Shepherd is pleased with the progress made by the recent ‘Say Cheese’ campaign.

“You certainly still come across dishes with Parmesan labelled as vegetarian or even dishes that contain meat stock put forward as vegetarian options. It shouldn’t happen these days, so it’s great that the Vegetarian Society is raising awareness about it.”

Eddie added: “Cheese might seem like the easiest way out to make sure that a dish has protein, fat, and flavour, but it’s not appealing to come across the same sort of cheese dishes over and over again in restaurants. I don’t think chefs need to necessarily avoid using cheese completely, but having variety is important, so chefs should try not to base their dishes around it.”

Dishes centred on cheese are not only tedious for the vegetarian diner, but risky for trainee chefs – it is not just Parmesan that chefs need to be aware of. There are other cheeses (both hard and soft) that contain animal by-products.

Fact File: Veggies Beware!

  • Smarties contain cochineal, the red body material from insects
  • Lea and Perrin’s Worcestershire Sauce contains anchovies
  • Classic pesto sauce contains animal rennet
  • Guinness is fined with isinglass
  • Jelly contains gelatine.

However, Dean Handley, Head Chef at The Willett Arms Restaurant, Wimborne Minster, Dorset, is confident that vegetarian cooking doesn’t need to be all that tricky for kitchen staff to prepare.

Smoked Tomato Soup

“It really isn’t hard to cook for vegetarians, ” said Dean. “When writing a menu, I make sure the vegetarian options are suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. I am always happy to cater for any need, but I can understand why some chefs might find it hard – the industry as a whole is being de-skilled by large companies that lack the knowledge and proficiency to teach chefs the information they need to be able to call upon when confronted with a challenge.”

Dean, who has won a culinary Olympic gold medal, shares one of his preferred vegetarian and vegan recipes – Smoked Tomato Soup.

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Talbot Heath’s Traditional Wedding Celebrations

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In a world that moves so quickly, it is hard to find the perfect balance between old and new. Almost every day, there is a new scientific invention, a new book, a new school being opened, a new theory, a new pop artist. All too often, schools can get swept along in the modernisation process and lose sight of their roots. Traditions are lost, buildings are renovated, and pupils are churned out as if on a conveyor belt. Is it possible then, for a long-established school to survive in our modern educational climate?

Celebrating one-hundred and twenty five years of education, Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth is proof that stability can be found between tradition and innovation. The school is one of the longest existing all-girls’ schools in the area. Retaining all of its original twentieth century buildings, and still possessing its air-raid shelters from the 1930s, the school undoubtedly has a remarkably conservative appearance. The school’s annual birthday service is easily its most inimitable custom. Old-fashioned and quaint, each year there is a procession into the courtyard whilst pupils and staff sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the school. The candles on a large cake are lit and subsequently blown out by the Headmistress. Despite rituals like this, the school maintains a forward-thinking ethos.

The Royal Wedding on the 29th April this year was celebrated by numerous schools all around the country. Talbot Heath was no exception: on the eve of the wedding, the teachers hosted a day of special events so that the children could embrace the royal nuptials. Karen Leahy, Headmistress of Talbot Heath Junior School said: “It has been such a special day. I chose to have a street party because it is a tradition that seems to have died out in recent years. I wanted to give the children a unique experience to mark such a memorable day for them.”

Combining tradition with flexibility, Talbot Heath broke away from the syllabus for an entire day in order to celebrate the Royal Wedding. Teachers and children came to school in fancy dress and entertained themselves with a day of royal-themed activities, including designing wedding dresses, making flags and crowns, and a coat of arms. A year 4 girl said: “I really enjoyed learning about the royal family today and especially all about the royal traditions.”

Normally dressed in uniform, the children were delighted to be invited to come to school dressed in their choice of outfit. They were allowed to spend the day dressed as a bride, bridesmaid, groom or wedding guest. The teachers were also dressed in their finest for the day’s celebrations. A year 5 girl said: “The teachers look so lovely – we wish they would dress up every day!” The children speculated what the Royal Family would wear at the wedding. A year 2 girl said: “I hope the Queen wears a pink dress tomorrow, with a sparkly tiara!”

The highlight of Talbot Heath’s royal celebrations was a commemorative lunch in the courtyard of the Junior School. All of the tables and chairs from the dining rooms were moved outside into the sunshine for their very own old-fashioned street party. The tables were decorated and the children were all provided with Union Jack lunch boxes. Mrs Leahy added: “It is the first time in the school’s history that the Pre-Prep department and Junior department have joined together for lunch.”

Although academic achievements are of course paramount, Talbot Heath places great emphasis on learning to respect each other; not just in the school community, but in the world beyond. The school’s motto – ‘Honour Before Honours’ has existed ever since the school was opened in 1886. The school’s sense of community and stability is part of what makes it so successful. Talbot Heath celebrated its 125th anniversary in April this year. In order to commemorate this day and honour its heritage, the school held a special Remembrance Day. The entire Talbot Heath community: old girls, former staff, pupils, current staff, governors, and parents, all joined together to celebrate the fact that there are one hundred and twenty-five years of shared experiences that connects them all.

Talbot Heath is one of few schools in the country to still possess its bomb shelters. As part of the school’s Remembrance Day, old girls returned to inform current pupils of their personal experiences in the shelters during their school-years. Former pupil Baroness Shirley Williams officially re-opened one of the school’s air-raid shelters where boarders regularly slept during a bomb scare. Each shelter measured just two metres high and two metres wide, giving refuge to over one hundred people at a time.

Despite being steeped with tradition, history and heritage, Talbot Heath manages to be dynamic and modern. Keeping one foot firmly grounded in tradition: teaching Latin to children from an early age, upholding its original motto, and hosting special events to commemorate its heritage, its other foot is kept pointing towards the future: most classes operate via an interactive whiteboard, a new library has just been built, and there is an eco garden. Talbot Heath School is a fusion of old and new; possessing that ideal stability between past and present values.


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Nigel Leahy: the ringmaster of Poole Pirates

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By Alice Rook


NIGEL LEAHY: master fundraiser

WHEN Bournemouth fundraiser Nigel Leahy first started out, he had no idea he would end up raising over £70,000 in a campaign for disabled speedway riders.

Born in Bournemouth, Nigel is at the forefront of charity fundraising for Poole Speedway. The Poole Pirates are a team of riders who race in the British elite league, regularly featuring on Sky Sports and widely considered to be the Manchester United of speedway.

An avid speedway fan since the age of eleven, Nigel jumped at the chance of becoming the stadium presenter for the Pirates when offered the role in March 2001. “It is a privilege to be caught up in something I love,” he said.

As well as addressing the crowd in the stadium, announcing scores and timings, and producing the programme for each race, Nigel also hosts regular fundraising events.

His finest fundraising achievement is undeniably his collaboration in 2010 with Barry Briggs – the retired four-times world speedway champion. “I was so nervous the first time I met Briggo – he is a hero in my eyes. Imagine a young Manchester United fan going to meet David Beckham – that’s how I felt.”

Nigel and Barry joined forces to organise a nine-month campaign to raise money for 12 riders who are now confined to wheelchairs after racing accidents.

The campaign is set to reach £70,000 by the end of the year because money is still filtering in from overseas donations. One major boost was more than £1,000 raised from auctioning off one of Briggs’ fluorescent ride jackets.

Nigel’s current project is to set up a testimonial benefit to honour Pirates captain Davey Watt’s ten-year service. And he finds time to organise regular speedway quiz nights, with the latest event raising over £200 for the speedway riders’ equipment fund.

“It turned out to be one of the best nights we’ve ever had,” said Nigel. “We were lucky enough to have guest speaker Kyle Newman with us, one of Poole’s newest riders.” Nigel attributes the success of the quiz evenings to the team spirit of the speedway fans: “Everyone gets together and relishes in the feeling that they have taken part in a worthwhile event.”

The fundraising events which Nigel organises are clearly successful, but it’s refreshing to know that he gets something out of it too: “It is great to put something back in to the sport which I have followed for so long. Speedway is something of a salvation for me.”

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New Wetherspoon pub debuts to a buzzing crowd

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By Alice Rook

A NEW Wetherspoon pub opened its doors to brisk business in Broadstone, Poole, yesterday, despite earlier concerns from residents.

New Wetherspoon pub, the Blackwater Stream, opens in Broadstone

The Blackwater Stream has taken the place of former pub, the Stepping Stones, in Lower Blandford Road.

When rumours first emerged last September that Wetherspoon was trying to gain planning permission for the new pub, Broadstone residents gave the plans a mixed reaction.

A petition group called ‘Save our Stones’ was launched on Facebook, arguing that if Wetherspoon was granted planning permission, it would change the character of Broadstone and introduce a pub with no individuality.

Maureen Meaney, a member of the Save Our Stones Facebook group, commented: “We shall end up with cheap booze, rubbish food and everything that goes with a Wetherspoon pub.”

But despite the initial controversy, the Blackwater Stream enjoyed a successful opening night. Shift manager Selina Parker, 29, said she was thrilled with the turnout, despite having to dash to Tesco to pick up extra toilet roll. “Tonight has been a huge success,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback already.”

Rachid Mohammed, director of First Stop Security, said there had been 370 customers through door from 6pm to 8.30pm, with security staff making a point of checking all IDs. “We have already had a spot of trouble tonight with fake ID,” he said.

The atmosphere in the pub itself was buzzing with a predominantly young clientele. Broadstone resident Jessica Playter, 24, said: “Although we had to wait a while for our meal, it was very nice indeed. I am glad a Wetherspoon has opened here. I know I’m always going to be here with my friends.”

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Lee Ames: blonde, bubbly and waiting for Bumphrey

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Up to Speed Journalism student profile: Lee Ames

By Alice Rook


Aspiring sports journalist Lee Ames with his young team member Joseph

YOU’D be forgiven for thinking that blond fresh-faced Lee Ames had only just graduated.

Far from it.

Now 31, Lee has a lot to show for himself. He has been married to Claire for four months, he has a beautiful toddler named Joseph and they are expecting their next child in August. The bump is aptly named “Bumphrey”.

Lee  is a born-and-bred Dorset lad. He was born in Poole Hospital and spent his childhood living with his family in Upton. He now lives in Dorchester.

Despite being born on April 1, Lee is no fool. He knows what he wants and he’s out to get it.

He applied for the journalism training course Up To Speed in Bournemouth because he “desperately, desperately wanted a career that inspired me”.

After graduating from Southampton University in 2001 with a degree in Sports and Business, he began his career as a teacher.

He taught PE, including football, cricket, tennis, rugby, and lacrosse, for just over two years at a boys’ secondary school.

But he decided that teaching wasn’t his vocation and took a job in social services.

After five years of working as a resident child-care worker in West Moors, he decided it was time to pursue his dream of sports journalism.

Lee is set to pass his NCTJ Diploma in Journalism in June this year. He feels sure his insatiable appetite for a range of sports will translate into journalism gold.

Proof of the pudding? He claims that if his house flooded and he was granted one item that he could save, it would be his golf clubs!

Once Lee gains his qualifications at Up To Speed, he aspires to be a top-notch sports reporter.

And once his career is settled, he hopes that Claire can be a stay-at-home mum. “I feel the need to provide for my family immensely,” he said.

Lee admits that juggling his time between his family and the Up To Speed course is taking its toll. “I permanently feel tired these days. There’s always such a lot going on. My biggest priority is time management.”

It’s great to know that Ames manages to keep his feet firmly on the ground despite the strains and pressures that day-to-day life throws at him: he spends his spare time watching comedy programmes like My Name Is Earl and drinking scrumpy.

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Alice Rook: secret superstar?

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Up to Speed Journalism student profile: Alice Rook

by Lee Ames


WHEN you first meet Alice Rook you can’t help but feel comfortable in her presence. Even though it is her being quizzed, she somehow puts you at ease.

Alice, 21, currently lives with her parents in Broadstone, Poole. After attending the independent Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth, where she was offered a scholarship due to sporting and academic potential, Alice studied at Exeter University, gaining a high 2:1 in English Literature.

Alice Rook: the whole package

It was at university that Alice took her first steps towards a career as a journalist when she wrote for the student paper Expose reviewing albums and attending gigs.

Alice currently works for the monthly magazine DV8 every Friday where she gets to review films, compile celebrity profiles and organise competitions.

She cites Fearne Cotton and Jonathan Ross as sources of inspiration and with her vast array of knowledge concerning music and film it is quite easy to imagine Alice fulfilling her dream of working for OK or Heat magazine.

But Alice is no star-struck celebrity wannabe. If you dig deeper into her past, you can discover a very talented and determined young lady, but not one that likes to shout about it.

Her reluctance in offering up her considerable achievements while representing Dorset at tennis is matched only by her modesty when revealing she has achieved Grade 8 on the saxophone and toured such places as Paris and Prague with her university jazz band.

Alice appears to have the whole package: brains, looks and talent. This makes it even more surprising to find there is no significant other (at the moment).

It was a pleasure to find out more about such a genuinely engaging young lady. If anyone deserves a little luck in their pursuit for the dream job, it’s Alice. But I don’t think luck will come into it.

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Are deaths of British soldiers in Afghanistan being ignored?

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By Matt Kelly and Alice Rook


TWO British soldiers were shot dead in Afghanistan yesterday in the Helmand Province. These latest deaths were largely ignored by the national media. It is now approaching the tenth anniversary of the conflicts in Afghanistan, and well over 300 troops have lost their lives. Do people in Bournemouth think their deaths were worth it?

Markus Turner, 32, manager of Bournemouth Waterstones, said he hadn’t heard about yesterday’s deaths. “I think that it’s shocking that something so tragic hasn’t even made the news. It’s a shame that the papers are bored with the war.”

He wasn’t the only one who hadn’t heard about the tragedies. Sherborne business owner Paul Kelly, 51, was also unaware of the deaths. “I wish the media spent more time considering every soldier. It’s only fair for the families.”

The news was all too close to home for Kris Falkus, a 34-year-old  Bournemouth salesman, whose cousin was in the army and soon to be deployed to Afghanistan. He despised the way the media treated the war as such a “blasé”  subject. “I really admire all the troops. Christ, they’re braver than me.”

Freddie Harrison, 21, a sales consultant from Bournemouth, 21, believed that around 60 to 70 percent of the British public would have no idea the war was still going on. “Most people would say that we’d already withdrawn.”

But Claire Head, a 53-year-old senior nurse manager from Poole, was aware of the soldiers dying yesterday. She was frustrated the war wasn’t given enough time in the news: “I have friends that are marines. It’s tragic that so many people have no idea what is actually going on. The reality is harrowing.“

Many people thought that as a nation, we help out too much, and have feet in too many camps. Catherine LeSueur, 20, a sales assistant in Bournemouth, said: “We seem to make everything our problem. It’s our money we’re spending to sort out another country’s issues. We should have pulled out ages ago.”

Ben Crawford, a 20-year-old student from Cornwall agreed. “Britain is involved in far too many conflicts in the world. We should take a step back in order to truly comprehend what’s going on.”

A soldier who has experienced these issues first-hand, Aled Roweland, 20, from Cardiff, believed there wasn’t enough coverage on the positive achievements. “Last week, important areas were cleared of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] which was a massive boost that people at home don’t even get to hear about.”

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