I had the pleasure of chatting to Prefab Sprout's Paddy McAloon for over an hour on the phone. Please excuse the audio quality as the interview was recorded using a telephone recording service rather than from a studio.

Paddy McAloon Interview, December 6th 2013

360 field recording made Monday 19th June between 4-6pm.
Walking from Notting Hill Gate station to the site of the Grenfell Tower, five days after the devastating fire. 

It was a hot day, peaking at 30c and despite the tragic events that had hit the community only days earlier, there were children playing in the park as they usually would do on a hot sunny afternoon.

Avondale Park

Turning right out of Avondale Park into Sidar Road

First sight of Grenfell Tower

Walking into the entrance of Avondale Park, five days after the tragic fire.

Entrance to Avondale Park

As I got deeper into the Lancaster West Estate, I heard music pumping out through the windows of one of the low rise flats.

Music from flat

Field recording of area surrounding Grenfell Tower, five days after the fire. People were stopping here by Latimer Road tube station to look with their own eyes rather than through the lens of the media. 

Awkwardly, people took their phones out and snapped a photo, as I did. Not so much as a momento as such a thing would be crass and disrespectful. I guess for me it was because what I was looking at was so unbelievable, I felt the need to document it as a witness.

"The Flames"

Field recording made in Grenfell Tower area five days after tragic fire. 
Walking under the railway bridge I hear snippets of conversation about the fire as well someone whistling 'Happy Birthday'

Happy Birthday

Field recording made five days after tragic Grenfell Tower fire. 
Flowers and tributes had been laid down alongside the Pig and Whistle pub which serves the Lancaster West Estate community. 

While looking a the tributes I briefly caught a heartbreaking conversation amongst some local men.

"Daddy come get me"

As I drew closer to the Westway, I could hear the roar of a large crowd interspersed with a speaker talking though a PA. The lady speaking is DJ Isla who has become a spokeswoman for the community. Her powerful speech so clearly comes from the heart.

Crowd under the Westway

Less than a mile away from Grenfell Tower, people have other things on their minds. A taxi is struggling to get past a woman who is trying to park in a tight spot. He loses patience but a member of public tells him to relax and eventually he manages to get round.

Taxi gets blocked near Colville Mews

Walking towards Grenfell Tower, I crossed over Portobello Road. It was business was pretty much business as usual. People chatting almost obvious to the horror that was just down the road.

Portobello Road

The community choir in Kilfinane sing Shosholoza directed by Patrick Othandwayo Sakayi

Shosholoza

Taster audio for RAFA application.
Featuring Sayed Alwadaei of BIRD, Andrew Smith of CAAT and Peter Sincock of The Bahrain Society.

MirandaDibollRAFATaster

Mother of two, lived in the UAE (2002-2007) and Bahrain (2007-2011) until the political situation there forced a return to the UK. Graduate from the University of London Goldsmiths College's MA Radio in 2000, worked at BBC Radio until 2002 and then jacked it all in to follow my husband around the Gulf. While fellow MA grads have gone on to present and produce on national radio, I've been soaking it all in and I can honestly say my (nearly) ten years living in the Middle East has made me a better and more interesting producer than I was in 2002. Now you can decide...

mirandadiboll

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