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The Exeter Contingent
This
lot are effectively my extended family - I've known the majority since
1987 (when the W.E.S. had a large influx), but I've known Harry since
1981 and Loretta since 1980. We're all partially sighted (well we would
be, being at a Blind School!), and as we boarded and were all 'in the
same boat' as far as eyes were concerned, we probably identified with
each other and spent more time with each other than our own brothers
and sisters. This is probably why we're so close-knit.
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First off
- the ultimate image - the infamous 'Climbing Frame' shot from
1983... I can't remember everyone in the shot, but it was kind
of cool. I definitely remember John, Brendon, Harry, Dan Sheader,
Joe Topp, Lucy and Eleanor in it. The member of staff at the front
is Porridge - I still don't know why we called her that...
Incidentally,
that climbing frame was the same one as the one I managed to run
into in 1981 - hey! I can't see! Anyway, I cracked my head open.
It was worth it though - I got Muppet Show Vol 1 on LP
for my troubles - and I still have it, and it still rocks!
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I
had to stick this one of Harry and me for the heck of it! Taken
in about 1981 I think... Nice Scooby Doo T-shirt!
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The FE
Summer Ball in 1996 - an 18 hour drinkathon, basically. Well,
not that literally... Although the champagne breakfast was pretty
different - kind of cool.
When us
lot get together it's like we've only been apart for 10 minutes
- right back into character!
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Harry,
Pete and Leon in Leon's very own bar - yep, he has a house complete
with built-in bar AND dedicated beer fridge no less! This was at
his housewarming July 2000, and it was SWEET having a bar at the
party animal's disposal..
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This is
Marcus - having it 'large' at Harry's party...
That was
one heck of a wicked weekend -me-and-fence-interface orchestrated
by Leon incident aside...
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At
one of Ali and Leon's older house parties in Totnes, this is Ross,
Vince and Steve (Dude). Not sure what Steve's doing with that
match but there you go...
Ross
and Vince, meanwhile, are quick-cooling some bevvies for later...
Hmmm....
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Gary's
21st birthday party, back in good ole' 1997. Tim, Gary, Loretta
and Pete....
Sorry
about the red eyes there, Gazza!
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This
is Loretta, and she'll hate me forever for sticking this image up!
Oh well, I'll dig out a better one at some point. I've known her
even longer than Harry, so that's a really long time! She had a
baby girl in January 2000 called Faybia (Faye for short!); she's
dead cute! She looked like this at the time... |
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...and
here is an up-to-date one as of September 2001 - it's getting worrying
as Faye can now say some words; I dread to think what she'll say
when she works out how to put a full sentence together...
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This
was taken from the middle of the River Exe when we all decided to
go 'messing about on the river'. A good laugh, and no-one fell overboard...
But bumper boats isn't the cleverest thing to do....
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And here's
David Workman.... Outside school in 1989 - nightwalk much?
Unfortunately
for us, David went off the rails big time when he hit college,
and he's currently indisposed in HM custody somewhere for something
you don't even want to know about. Let's just say, it was bad.
I just hope David's been keeping his music up as he plays a blinding
acoustic set!
This was
Leon's handywork - he had the forethought to take a camera to
the event...
©
Leon Atkins 1991
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Suz is a wicked
lass and is totally alternative and cool! She
has the ultimate in style - her hair is superfly and her bandanas and
hats are legendary!
Madonna...
A
tribute to those who died in the US on September 11, 2001
I
am not sure how to word this, but in line with the rest of all respectable
humanity, I was saddened, shocked and stunned as I watched the horrific
news of the terrorist activity in the US unfold live on TV on 11th September
2001.
These
images are an attempt at some kind of tribute for those who died in
what was once the World's tallest building. I was one of the few who
went on the 1992 W.E.S. trip to America, and one of the fewer who missed
the ferry on Liberty Island, and thus, went up the World Trade Center
instead of the Empire State Building. If I remember correctly, it was
Vincent's camera that made us miss the boat, and it was my suggestion
to go up the World Trade; 'it's taller'.
So
here are a few rather grainy images of what I saw that day; the building
was stunning - a true masterpiece...
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The World Trade Center dwarfed everything else in New York. This
was from Battery Park |
Gary seems oblivious to the sheer scale of everything in this shot. |
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The World Trade Center as seen from the street; I was sitting on
the pavement and couldn't get the whole thing in the viewfinder. |
This was the queue for the Observation level on the 108th floor.
Unfortunately the roof was shut for maintenance. |
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Of
course, the reason people wanted to work in or visit the World Trade
Center was the view. This view will stay with me forever; it's one
of the most frightening, yet exhilarating experiences I have ever
had.
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May
God have mercy on those who decided to wage war on the civilized, free
West...
There's
a lot more I need to say on these Mates pages, but I will need
some time to get the info online. So apologies any others I've left
out - you'll have to wait until I can stop my scanner crapping my machine
out - damn USB ports!
The websites...
Leon
and Ali's website
Harry's website
Tim's
website
Pete's website
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