Page 58 - Phonebox Magazine August 2007

FILM REVIEW by Neil Stevens
It is 1971. Into the swish magnificence of New York publishing enter real-life author, Clifford Irving. Proposition: to write the authorised life of billionaire, aviator, movie-making mogul, now recluse, Howard Hughes.
With much mayhem and havoc, bliss-making result is The Hoax (15). Irving splendidly played by never-as-good Richard Gere. Teamed with nervy, hot-under-the-collar Alfred Molina they make a team worth seeking!
Their indefatigable research through endless government archives and libraries, delving into private collections, brings both excitement and tension. Their conning expertise is so damned convincing I wanted to cheer!
Obstacles spring up, as they will, but the goal of fake achievement whether for fame, money, notoriety, or even to change the face of American politics is done with the cheek of the devil.
Enveloping this biggest media scam of the last century, we see Howard Hughes himself in montages of stills and newsreel footage, helping make this positive film something truly adult. The fools involved and those being fooled take on terrific meaning.
Director Lasse Hallstrom and screenwriter William Wheeler overwhelmingly lead a team of exceptional players including Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, veteran Eli Wallach, and the starry pair who surely must be nominated for forthcoming Oscars; worried, big, broad Alfred Molina, and superb superstar Richard Gere. What a treat!
Also showing...The Bourne Ultimatum (15). Marvellous Mat Damon busts through the EU to terrific effect; Waitress (12A). Gorgeous Keri Russell becomes pie-maker supreme; what will happen to overbearing hubby Jeremy Sisto? Yummy! Henry V (U). Olivier’s majestic Shakespeare spectacle featuring an all-star cast of character players, and William Walton’s glorious music. Finely restored, not to be missed. K
Sue leaves Sherington Pre-School
Sue has run this wonderful pre-school for the last ten years. Her triumphs and accomplishments have been many. But rather than run through the long history of her many objective achievements I would like to talk mostly about the feelings that Sue has generated within this community of villagers, staff, parents and children.
Sue has been a very strong leader. Her approach is organised, inspired, creative and energetic. She is without doubt an exceptional teacher – having that very rare ability to capture the attention and imagination of very young children whilst keeping calm and quiet order and discipline. She has provided hundreds of imaginative, interesting and fun activities within the school to greatly develop our children’s intellectual, creative, emotional, social and physical development.
Her staff say they will miss Sue’s professional approach to the running of the pre-school. Especially they will miss the little touches and extra effort that she makes, such as bringing flowers and cuttings from her garden to enhance the nature table. Most importantly Kay, Jo, Kerry and Barbara feel that Sue will be leaving the pre-school in excellent order for them to continue her good work. The help she has given them in this and her confidence in them, together with their own confidence built up during the years she has led them, will certainly assure their success.
Many mothers, when their babies are born, wonder how on earth they are ever going to let them out of their sight. First we learn to trust the daddys, then perhaps wider members of the family, then our closest friends and then there comes a day when we decide that the children should go to a nursery or pre-school. For many of us this means that for the first time we leave our precious little ones with strangers, the door is shut, and we don’t really know what is going on. Not so in this pre-school. Sue’s tremendous strength has been her ability not just to work with the parents of her charges and committees of parents, but to invite us and positively encourage us to be involved in the running of and the activities of the pre-school. We can come into school, we can watch our children’s development and most importantly of all we can see that they are happy.
The word that many parents also use about Sue is ‘support’. She will openly and confidently discuss matters relating to the children and the school and has become a friend to many of us. She has played an invaluable role in assisting many of us to be wise, understanding and confident parents.
I would like to leave Sue with the words of the children in her pre-school; many of which will be echoed in the memories of many children up to the age of fourteen who live in Sherington and the surrounding villages:
“Sue is the best.”
“I will miss Sue because of the smell, she smells nice. I like her perfume.” “I like Sue because she is kind.”
“I like Sue when she gives snacks to us and tells us stories.”
“We like playing games with Sue. It is fun.”
“I like playing in the playground with Sue.”
“I will miss Sue because she give us nice stories.”
“I like Sue when she lets us play out and we have fun.”
“I like Sue reading me stories.”
“Sue will like the show.”
“She is going a long way away and I will miss her”.
And perhaps the final four-year-old comment sums up what we all feel about Sue:
“Mummy, I love Sue”.
To say that she will be missed is a huge understatement. K
58 Phonebox Magazine
Rescue a child Raise a Leader Rebuild a Nation
Raising Funds for
Watoto
Children’s Toys, Clothes &
Baby Equipment Sale
Sat 11th August 2007 Lovat Hall - Newport Pagnell
11am - 2pm
If you require any additional information on the event please contact Karen on 07717 242592 or Emma on 07919 402029
Uganda
Meeting the needs of the
War Affected Children of Northern Uganda
Organised by the ‘Come Closer Foundation’.
visit - www.watoto.com for more information. Charity No:1090810