High-profile comedian Russell Brand was the latest in an impressive line of celebrities to face a grilling from 20-year-old Lambeth College radio presenter Daniel Parker, writes Paul Offord.

What do comedian Russell Brand and actors Ralph Fiennes and Tom Hanks all have in common?

They’ve all been interviewed by level three radio production student Daniel Parker.

The 20-year-old, from Grays, is a presenter for Lambeth College’s own station, Vox Radio, having started his course in September last year.

Yet he has already managed to interview several huge stars for the station.

But he is most proud of a recent question and answer session with Mr Brand, who also comes from Grays.
Daniel travelled to the Cliffs Pavilion theatre, in Westcliff, Essex, where the comedian was performing as part of his tour, The Messiah complex, and interviewed him backstage.

He said: “Russell was a really nice guy and very interesting to speak to.

“We went to the same primary school and my grand-dad, Gordon Eckley, who passed away last year, taught him geography at secondary school.

“His mum is actually a friend of my family and that’s how I got the interview.”

Daniel’s first interview was with Britain’s Got Talent impressionist and comedian Paul Burling, also at the Cliffs Pavilion, in Westcliff.

He then interviewed movie stars Tom Hanks and Ralph Fiennes, at press conferences about their films Captain Phillips and The invisible Woman, respectively, during the London Film Festival in October last year.

He said: “I had to apply for press accreditation and luckily they let me go along. It was really exciting. Tom was very funny and Ralph said something nice about how the culture and spirit of London makes the festival special.”

And he has also interviewed Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe on the red carpet at a festival screening of his film Kill Your Darling.

He said: “I basically put a microphone under his nose and asked a question like you see the reporters do on the telly. I asked him if he would be in any other Harry Potter films now JK Rowling is writing new books, but he said he was too old now.”

Daniel also interviewed Star Wars actor Warwick Davis over the phone about the Reduced Height Theatre Company — his touring group of short actors [which featured in edition four of Campus Round-Up].

Daniel is learning about radio production, media law and news reporting through his course and hopes to become a broadcast journalist for a top national radio station one day.

Tutor Sheila Smith said: “He is just an amazing student. His confidence and interviewing skills have developed so much and I was beaming with pride when I listened back to his interview with Russell Brand.”

Visit www.audioboo.fm/channel/voxradio to listen to Daniel’s interviews.

 

 

Hopwood Hall College students got a taste of what it would be like to train as Royal Marines.

The nine level two and three sport and fitness and uniformed public services students spent five days at the Royal Marines Training Centre, at Lympstone, Devon.
Their leadership and teamwork skills were assessed and they had to complete a cross country course that involved swinging on ropes, running through rivers, and wading through tunnels full of water.

The students also did a three-mile run, press-up, chin-up and bleep tests.

Terry Morley, college director for sports and public services said: “The nine learners were picked because they are all interested in becoming Royal Marines. We were confident they would pass all the tests [at the training centre] and this was justified by the positive comments that have since been made about them by the staff there.”

 

Weston College students dug deep to raise almost £4,000 for a cancer charity during an annual fundraising week.

The college’s chosen charity this year is The Bone Cancer Research Trust, which received £3,938 overall through the competition.

Fundraising activities included cake sales, fancy dress, football and netball tournaments, music gigs and sponsored walks.
The charity was chosen because A-level college student George Collard, aged 18, lost his sister Mary to bone cancer when she was just 11 years old.

Students will continue to support the charity throughout the year in the hope of raising a final total of £6,000.

Jamie Scrachan, from the charity, said: “It is great to see Mary’s legacy still going strong. £6,000 could pay for more than 1,500 teenage cancer information booklets, helping individuals and families like the Collards gain invaluable information and support about their condition.”

 

The lead singer of Britpop band Ocean Colour Scene visited Stratford-upon-Avon College with his new group Merrymouth to record a promo video for their new album.

Wenlock Hill is the second album from the folk-orientated band Merrymouth, which is fronted by singer Simon Fowler, who found fame in the 1990s with Ocean Colour Scene — which had five top 10 albums and hit singles including The Day We Caught the Train and The Riverboat Song.

The video was shot entirely in the campus recording studios by the college’s media technician Dan Croxford and media lecturer Sophie Blount.

Mr Croxford said: “Working alongside Simon Fowler was a great experience. His talent and humour engaged us all, making us want to create something to the best of our standards.

“The band works together so well and they bring an element of fun with them wherever they go which is awesome.”

Cap: Simon Fowler and fellow band member Adam Barry in a college recording studio

 

Young filmmakers are making a documentary following the creation of wire mesh sports-themed sculptures.

Five creative film and moving image students at Cleveland College of Art & Design have been filming artist Michelle Castle working on 15 sculptures of male figures playing sport.

The works of art were commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council as part of a campaign to get more young men in the town playing sport.

One of the students making the film, Daniel D’arcy, said: “This is the first documentary that I’ve been involved with and as well as real-time filming we will also be using time lapse film to show how the sculptures evolve.”

 

The principal of West Nottinghamshire College has spoken of her pride at receiving a Damehood from Prince Charles.

Asha Khemka, who was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the New Year Honours List, was presented with the honour by the prince at Buckingham Palace.

She is the first Indian-born woman for 83 years to be awarded the DBE, which was in recognition of her services to education.

It came five years after she was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Dame Khemka said: “I am rarely lost for words, yet I am finding it difficult to express how proud and honoured I feel. This is such huge recognition that I feel I now have a new responsibility on my shoulders — a responsibility to use this title to make an even greater impact on the FE sector and to the communities of Mansfield and Ashfield.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

A show put on by more than 120 students from Southport College was tailor-made for guests from across the fashion, hair and beauty industries.

Art and design students made costumes for the models and hairdressing students did their hair.

Painting and decorating learners worked on the set, performing arts students provided entertainment during intervals, and catering students made canapés for guests including Kelly Wilkinson, a make-up artist for TV show Hollyoaks, and representatives from make-up and beauty firms Dior, Estée Lauder and L’Oréal.

There were also competitions for the best garment (won by level four art and design student Megan Howard, aged 18), backdrop (won by level three art and design student Dominic Jones, 18), hairstyle (won by level three hairdressing student Lauren Diamond, 27), and make-up (won by level two beauty therapy student Katie Maybury, 20).

Sue Dawe, curriculum leader for hairdressing, said “It was truly wonderful to see such collaboration taking place between students and the standard of work was breathtaking. We are already planning next year’s event which we hope will have even more students involved.”