George Docking Journalism Portfolio

http://www.yourharlow.com/2018/03/24/esquires-coffee-shows-off-the-best-of-harlows-musical-talent/ Esquires Coffee shows off the best of Harlow’s musical talent By  Staff Reporter  on  March 24, 2018 No Comment By George Docking Images courtesy of Benjamin Hook Esquires Coffee shows off the best of Harlow’s musical talent ON Thursday night, Esquires Coffee in The Water Gardens ran one of a series of open mic nights. The night consisted of multiple performances from a range of different ages – including spoken word, original and cover bands. The successful event runs from once every few weeks to once a month. There is a chance to enjoy a glass of wine or a bottle of beer. The coffee shop transforms into a night venue with a risen stage showing the best of Harlow’s creative minds. Esquires give the opportunity for budding youngsters to show off their talent in an intimate and friendly atmosphere. The coffee shop fulfil an important role that the cl...

http://www.thecomet.net/news/education/new-nursery-opens-its-doors-in-biggleswade-1-5448166 New nursery opens its doors in Biggleswade PUBLISHED:  13:57 24 March 2018 George Docking Biggleswade's new Busy Bees nursery. Picture: Busy Bees A new nursery has opened its doors in Biggleswade, offering places for children aged up to five years old. Biggleswade's new Busy Bees nursery. Picture: Busy Bees The nursery, part of the national Busy Bees chain, opened in Bantock Way on the Saxon Fields development on Monday. Facilities include play, creative play and meals. An onsite chef prepares freshly-cooked, nutritious meals and there is a private garden for the children to explore. Nursery manager Dinah Combe said: “We want to give children the best start in life and we are offering places for children from birth to five years old.” She added that there would be an official launch in the next few weeks at which the team would welcome parents and fam...

https://www.gigsoupmusic.com/reviews/gigs/open-mike-eagle-jazz-cafe-london-uk-14th-march-2018/ Mello Music Group artist, Open Mike Eagle completed his European tour on the 21st of March. The 37-year-old performed a sold out show at The Jazz Cafe in Camden. Sixth album deep and to great critical acclaim, Eagle is in the most established and successful part of his career to date. Mike made a point to talk about his upbringing – describing the poor household he grew up in as a child. The words ‘Ghetto children’ in the chorus from the track ‘Daydreaming in the projects’ highlights an underlying theme. An ode to the power that music can play on society. Mike encapsulates the voice of creative minds in blue collar community. The endeavours and dreams of children growing up in destitution. On the track in particular, the beats were ambient and ethereal. The simple repeating melody, had a hypnotising effect on the crowd. The repetitive nature gave the rapper scope to vary vocal tone a...

https://www.gigsoupmusic.com/reviews/gigs/milo-birthdays-london-uk-13th-march-2018/ Rory Ferreira A.K.A Milo, played a two night sold out show at Birthdays in Hackney. Currently touring around the UK- performing shows with Open Mike Eagle. The 26-year-old rapper blends philosophy and comedy to create a unique niche in the Art Rap world. Milo appeared on stage in a tailor made tweed suit. His stage presence was highly charged and energetic. His movements to the beats and effortlessly rapped prose was masterful yet playful. His performance was charismatic and entrancing, every move he made engaged the crowd. Milo’s narrative was politically charged. The sample on the studio album ‘You can’t do that!’ was wailed by the rapper- and drenched in reverb and bass- the line packed power. The anti-authoritarian message ran as a standing theme for the entirety of the set. The setlist, ranged from Scallops Hotel up to the most recent album Who told you to think- consistently keeping t...

https://www.harlowharrier.co.uk/2018/01/15/eddie-and-his-hotrods-come-to-heat-up-harlow/ Marking the one year anniversary of the closure of The Harlow Square, Eddie and The Hotrods are set to play a live show in Harlow. The band will be playing at Burnt Mill Academy in the new venue Club Foot as a part of The Independent Venue Week 2018. Club foot was launched by the Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio with an appearance from British artists Kasabian. The  Pub rock legends Eddie & The Hot Rods, featuring a former co-owner of The Square, guitarist Richard Holgarth who studied at Burnt Mill Academy in the 1970’s will perform at the new venue on Friday February 2. Richard commented, ‘We are trying to keep live music going in the town, Club Foot is the nearest thing we have to a venue which can afford artistically to put music on in the town which does not follow the usual format of cover bands. It’s quite a gamble for pubs to put on ...

http://www.royston-crow.co.uk/news/guilden-morden-pupils-to-benefit-from-tesco-cash-boost-1-5428307 Guilden Morden Primary School has been granted £4,000 from Tesco. Children of Guilden Morden C of E Primary School will soon have new playground equipment after supermarket giant Tesco raised £4,000. The Tesco Bags of Help scheme – partnered with the environmental charity Groundwork – sees grants raised from the sale of carrier bags. Last year, shoppers voted for the funding of exercise equipment for the village school as their favourite community endeavour. Headteacher Jeremy Fisher said: “We are extremely grateful, not only to Tesco but also to parents, carers and staff who shopped in Tesco and voted for our project.” Alec Brown, Tesco’s head of community, added: “Bags of Help has been a fantastic success and we have been overwhelmed by the response from customers. It’s such a special scheme because it’s local people who decide how their money will be spent in t...

http://www.royston-crow.co.uk/news/royston-sisters-cambridge-half-marathon-fundraiser-for-addenbrooke-s-patient-harrison-1-5417124 Sisters Charlotte Butler and Siobhan Holmes are running the Cambridge Half Marathon to raise funds for Addenbrooke's Hospital. Picture: Siobhan Holmes A Royston mum and her sister are set to take on the Cambridge Half Marathon this weekend to raise funds for toys and books at Addenbrooke’s Hospital – where her son is a regular patient. They are running to raise cash for books, games and toys at Addenbrooke's, as Charlotte's son Harrison is a regular paitent due to Crohn's disease. Picture: Siobhan Holmes Charlotte Butler is set to run the 13.1 miles to give back to the Cambridge hospital for the help and support that they have given to seven-year-old Harrison – who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in September last year. Charlotte told the Crow: “On occasions, Harrison will be in Addenbrooke’s three to four times a week....

http://www.thecomet.net/news/letchworth-mum-who-hates-running-to-take-on-london-marathon-for-crohn-s-and-colitis-uk-1-5406722 Claire with brother Thomas Hill and dad Simon, who all have ulcerative colitis. Picture: Courtesy of Claire Osborne A mum of two from Letchworth who says she “hates running” has decided to mark her 30th birthday by taking on the London Marathon for a cause close to her heart. Claire Osborne, pictured running the Hertfordshire Half Marathon at Knebworth House in November 2017, will be running the London Marathon for Crohn's and Colitis UK. Picture: Courtesy of Claire Osborne Claire Osborne is set to run 26.2 miles on April 22 in aid of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, and has a charity race night lined up on March 3 as she bids to reach her £2,500 target. The 29-year-old, who turns 30 two weeks before the marathon, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of eight, and her dad Simon Hill and brother Thomas also have the condition. It rel...

Former member of the grime collective ‘B.O.M.B Squad’.  Hak Baker played a two night sold out show at Bethnal Green Working Mens Club. Hailing from the Isle of Dogs, Hak’s music is a depiction of working class life in East London. He captures the gritty realism of the everyday humdrum. Amongst narrating the celebration of youth and friendship. Tuesday night’s set was hard hitting and direct, yet personal. The front-man would talk to the crowd and break out jokes. He would often sing the first verse of a song only to stop and address the crowd in conversation, and then return back to the music. The East London boy’s rapport with the crowd was intimate and friendly. The whole gig was stripped back and intricate. Often comprised of solely Hak and an acoustic guitar. Bellowing vocals over arpeggiated chords, telling stories of nights out and life on The Isle of Dogs. The Instrumentation throughout the set was tight and punchy. The drummer’s rhythms were fresh and excit...

https://www.harlowharrier.co.uk/2018/01/15/loo-of-the-year-award-symbolises-a-changing-harlow/ THE HARVEY Centre in Harlow is radically changing the social perception and economic status of the town in an evolving redevelopment, after winning a ‘Loo Of The Year Award’ for the best shopping centre toilets in England. Bryan Young, 54 general manager of The Harvey Centre has worked there for 17 years and been a Centre Manager since September 2006. Originally he hailed from South-East London and moved to Harlow to work for British Petroleum. Bryan is a part of the new scheme to re-define Harlow. He admits there is a negative public view of the town and said ‘We’re on a journey to change the perception of Harlow, people will start to come on the journey that we’re on. The Harlow people have had a lot of false promises in the past, including three promised redevelopments that did not happen, but we’re trying to change that. ‘We have a go at entering for the competition every yea...

http://www.yourharlow.com/2017/12/01/coca-cola-truck-comes-to-harlow/ The Coca Cola truck proved to be a major interactive event for families when it visited Harlow. Once a year the truck makes a visit to Harlow on it’s route up and down the country. Last year, in Harlow the arrival of the truck brought in 5000 people. The event was a family centred, interactive experience, with a chance to sample free drinks, have pictures taken with a backdrop of the truck, sing-a-longs, there is a projector with animations of Santa’s workshop. People can also upload selfies on to the side of the truck with a message available to send to family or friends. The Coca Cola team is made up of four brand ambassadors and seven local ambassadors. The events manager Livieu Jipescu expressed the importance recycling plays in this years event, ’Recycling is a big part, 80% of the rubbish will be recycled, all of the used coke cans will be back on the shelves within 6 weeks.’ This year’s r...

https://www.harlowharrier.co.uk/2018/01/05/pecho-mama-takeover-a-disused-shop-in-harlow-to-host-avant-garde-production-of-greek-tragedy/ A DISUSED shop unit in the Harvey centre is being transformed to host a ‘gig-theatre’ called the ‘Anti-Valentine’s Day Takeover’ featuring Medea Electronica. Harlow Playhouse and the group Pecho Mama are hosting the pop-up style event. The night is a showcase of DJ’s, Greek theatre, electronic music and cheap drinks. Including the award winning gig theatre Medea Electronica, performed by Pecho Mama. Medea Electronica is a creatively charged, alternative British, 1980’s adaptation of the ancient Greek tragedy. Medea, the main protagonist of the story, chooses to embark on a path of depravity and revenge after the discovery of her husband’s deception. The live gig is an all-original amalgamation of different themes and genres, enmeshed in a fantastic chaotic destruction; whilst the intense drama unravels against a contemporary fusion ...