Latest news with #StAnnes
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Havoc by Rebecca Wait review – a Saint Trinian's tragicomedy
Even if it wasn't perched on a cliff on the south coast, the position of St Anne's, Eastbourne – the decaying girls' school that is the setting for Rebecca Wait's gleefully macabre new novel, Havoc – might reasonably be described as precarious. Deeply eccentric, staffed by the barely employable, and permanently teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, St Anne's hangs on, against all the odds. And then, in 1984, Ida Campbell turns up on the doorstep, in possession of a full scholarship and rather a lot of baggage. Sixteen years old and already an outcast, Ida is in flight from her hapless mother, her foul-tempered sister, the small community in the Western Isles to which they have been transplanted, and the nameless scandal that has ruined their lives. St Anne's is to be Ida's salvation, but it soon dawns on her that the school might not be quite the refuge she had hoped for. The school's buildings were constructed by a Victorian lunatic. Its principal, Miss Christie, is a dusty combination of cold war paranoiac and Edwardian governess, insisting both on regular drills in preparation for nuclear attack and the importance of girls wearing their hair up. The rest of the staff, from lugubrious bluestocking teacher Vera Clarke (Classics) to 'Loopy Linda' the English mistress, are antique, creepy, despairing or all three. The exception – and one of our narrative guides through the mayhem – is geography teacher Eleanor Alston, clinging to hope and sanity as she approaches 40 in the aftermath of a failed love affair. Into this stagnant pool of scholarship is dropped the replacement for the late Miss Hamilton (history, ancient), the meek but regrettably presentable Matthew Langfield, an improbable ex-Westminster schoolmaster and St Anne's first and only male teacher, and ripples ensue. Ida's fellow students, having largely been deposited by parents indifferent to the school's underwhelming reputation and keen only not to be bothered with details, are a restless bunch, prone to smooches, cliques, gossip (Cindy Riley, in the works shed, with the groundsman?) and outbreaks of insubordination. They have their queen bee, Diane Fulbrook, the dazzling head girl with ambitions to be a police officer; and their bad fairy, Louise Adler (almost certainly some relation to Irene, Sherlock Holmes's rival). Louise is the school's only Jewish pupil and spoken of in whispers; she has pushed one girl out of a window and set another on fire at the Tea Cosy cafe, and Ida has barely learned of her existence when she is told that they will be roommates. Then Diane is taken ill with a progressive neurological disorder that defies medical investigation. When, one by one, her fellow students develop similar symptoms, and diagnoses from demonic possession and Soviet poisonings to mass hysteria begin to circulate, inevitably suspicion falls on the newest arrivals. In Havoc, Waits mines the rich seam of girls' school fiction to delirious and rewarding effect. There are welcome echoes of St Trinian's – the shade of Alastair Sim hovers over the staffroom, comforting and anarchic at once – and there is abundant Ealing comedy in the madcap chases through school corridors and machinations in the lighting gallery during the school play. Yet beneath the comedy lies a distinctly unsettling undertone: the girls experience a convincingly visceral terror that edges towards Shirley Jackson territory and gives their hysteria an extra dimension. This, along with a genuine unexpectedness in the characterisation and a lot of very funny dialogue, loosens things up and brings real originality to the game. Combined with excellent pacing, a plot so deliciously thick you could stand a spoon up in it, and the boldness required to splice a darker thread into the narrative, it all adds up to a thoroughly satisfying contribution to a happily capacious genre. Havoc by Rebecca Wait is published by Riverrun (£16.99). To order a copy for £15.29 go to Delivery charges may apply
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Havoc by Rebecca Wait review – a Saint Trinian's tragicomedy
Even if it wasn't perched on a cliff on the south coast, the position of St Anne's, Eastbourne – the decaying girls' school that is the setting for Rebecca Wait's gleefully macabre new novel, Havoc – might reasonably be described as precarious. Deeply eccentric, staffed by the barely employable, and permanently teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, St Anne's hangs on, against all the odds. And then, in 1984, Ida Campbell turns up on the doorstep, in possession of a full scholarship and rather a lot of baggage. Sixteen years old and already an outcast, Ida is in flight from her hapless mother, her foul-tempered sister, the small community in the Western Isles to which they have been transplanted, and the nameless scandal that has ruined their lives. St Anne's is to be Ida's salvation, but it soon dawns on her that the school might not be quite the refuge she had hoped for. The school's buildings were constructed by a Victorian lunatic. Its principal, Miss Christie, is a dusty combination of cold war paranoiac and Edwardian governess, insisting both on regular drills in preparation for nuclear attack and the importance of girls wearing their hair up. The rest of the staff, from lugubrious bluestocking teacher Vera Clarke (Classics) to 'Loopy Linda' the English mistress, are antique, creepy, despairing or all three. The exception – and one of our narrative guides through the mayhem – is geography teacher Eleanor Alston, clinging to hope and sanity as she approaches 40 in the aftermath of a failed love affair. Into this stagnant pool of scholarship is dropped the replacement for the late Miss Hamilton (history, ancient), the meek but regrettably presentable Matthew Langfield, an improbable ex-Westminster schoolmaster and St Anne's first and only male teacher, and ripples ensue. Ida's fellow students, having largely been deposited by parents indifferent to the school's underwhelming reputation and keen only not to be bothered with details, are a restless bunch, prone to smooches, cliques, gossip (Cindy Riley, in the works shed, with the groundsman?) and outbreaks of insubordination. They have their queen bee, Diane Fulbrook, the dazzling head girl with ambitions to be a police officer; and their bad fairy, Louise Adler (almost certainly some relation to Irene, Sherlock Holmes's rival). Louise is the school's only Jewish pupil and spoken of in whispers; she has pushed one girl out of a window and set another on fire at the Tea Cosy cafe, and Ida has barely learned of her existence when she is told that they will be roommates. Then Diane is taken ill with a progressive neurological disorder that defies medical investigation. When, one by one, her fellow students develop similar symptoms, and diagnoses from demonic possession and Soviet poisonings to mass hysteria begin to circulate, inevitably suspicion falls on the newest arrivals. In Havoc, Waits mines the rich seam of girls' school fiction to delirious and rewarding effect. There are welcome echoes of St Trinian's – the shade of Alastair Sim hovers over the staffroom, comforting and anarchic at once – and there is abundant Ealing comedy in the madcap chases through school corridors and machinations in the lighting gallery during the school play. Yet beneath the comedy lies a distinctly unsettling undertone: the girls experience a convincingly visceral terror that edges towards Shirley Jackson territory and gives their hysteria an extra dimension. This, along with a genuine unexpectedness in the characterisation and a lot of very funny dialogue, loosens things up and brings real originality to the game. Combined with excellent pacing, a plot so deliciously thick you could stand a spoon up in it, and the boldness required to splice a darker thread into the narrative, it all adds up to a thoroughly satisfying contribution to a happily capacious genre. Havoc by Rebecca Wait is published by Riverrun (£16.99). To order a copy for £15.29 go to Delivery charges may apply
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Perspective: How the ‘big, beautiful bill' misses the mark on faith-based higher education
Not all value can be measured in dollars. Consider a cautionary tale shared by Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel. While he was studying as an Oxford Rhodes Scholar in the 1970s, one of the all-women's colleges, St. Anne's, became tangled in a debate over evolving sexual mores. Resident halls for men and women had traditionally been separated, but pressure grew to relax rules and allow men to stay overnight at St. Anne's. According to Sandel, some of the older female faculty, who he refers to as 'traditionalists,' thought it was morally wrong for men and women to share a room overnight. But times and norms were changing, making the positions held by the traditionalists seem quaint and outdated. So they decided to state their objection on economic grounds. Specifically, they argued that allowing men to stay overnight at St. Anne's would increase maintenance and utility expenses (even suggesting mattresses would need to be replaced more often). In response to the traditionalists, the reformers pushing for change proposed that male guests pay a small fee each time they stayed overnight. Ultimately, the school ruled in favor of the reformers. There is a lesson in this story: when a moral argument is presented in economic terms, it will receive an economic answer. As Sandel puts it, 'The language of virtue had not translated very well into the language of utility.' While the story is half a century old, Sandel's warning has several modern applications. One area of relevance is the 'big, beautiful bill' before Congress. Already passed in the House of Representatives, the bill reflects President Donald Trump's domestic agenda, including tax cuts, government rollbacks, and increased military spending. The bill also aims to address inefficiencies in higher education, reducing mandatory spending in higher education by $350 billion over 10 years by reducing Pell Grant eligibility and spending, limiting federal aid, and eliminating several loan programs. 'As debate over the details continues, one thing is clear: this proposal represents a serious effort to modernize higher education policy,' writes Beth Akers of the American Enterprise Institute. 'It's time to move past the status quo and toward a system that protects students, respects taxpayer investment, and rewards institutions that deliver real economic value.' One of the more noteworthy elements of the bill relates to 'risk sharing' proposals for institutions of higher education. Specifically, these policies would require colleges and universities to reimburse the federal government for unpaid debt on federal student loans, effectively making schools liable for student defaults. Understandably, provisions like this are meant to retool the incentive structure to protect students and, as one commentator writes, 'restore accountability in higher education, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.' As the budget has moved into the Senate, risk-sharing proposals have taken the form of a 'gainful employment' condition where federal aid is predicated upon a graduate earning more than a non-graduate. In other words, schools would be pushed to minimize impractical, low-ROI programs (remember former President Barack Obama's pejorative quip about art history majors?) and advance training and credentialing that offer students the best opportunity to be gainfully employed and well-compensated. These proposals will resonate with many people. There is a reason the perceived value of higher education has declined more than any other institution over the past 15 years. Student debt is at an all-time high. College price tags continue to rise. And Silicon Valley leaders regularly voice their skepticism of college as a necessary avenue for workplace relevance. After the 2007-2009 financial crisis, the market for post-secondary education began to favor consumers over providers — a 'buyer's market.' In other words, the supply of educational programs began to outpace waning demand for the degrees and experiences on offer. The shift in negotiating power from school to prospective student primarily relates to deliverables: What does a student get for what they pay (or borrow)? For an increasing share of the population, the perceived benefits of a university education are outweighed by the costs. While reasons for changing perceptions vary, higher education confidence has undoubtedly been affected by an onslaught of negative PR. This includes harrowing images of student protestors commandeering their campus and vocalizing extremist antisemitic chants, stories from books like 'The Coddling of the American Mind' that describe colleges and universities that fail to cultivate intellect and instead perpetuate fragility, or a university president's public refusal to label genocidal language as hate speech. In sum, institutions of higher education should, to use an economic expression, 'internalize the consequences' for where they have fallen short — and federal policy is an effective means to achieve this. So it is understandable why many Americans support the outcomes these policies aim toward, and financial 'skin in the game' makes sense for holding schools accountable, reducing costs and driving new efficiencies. But there are some problems. As Sandel's cautionary story reminds us, we lose something when we reduce all value to dollars and cents. Determining the value of a college or university experience will be directly proportionate to answering the question, 'What is the purpose of higher education?' The proposals under Senate consideration reflect the unstated but clear assumption that post-secondary education exists to foster the economic potential of tomorrow's workforce, making appraisals of higher education's worth directly proportionate to the earnings amassed by their graduates. While career development is indeed a core aspect of university education, institutions of higher education are not monodimensional. Moreover, the raison d'etre of many schools aspire to values and goods across a variety of domains. As a case in point, consider faith-based colleges and universities, such as those who comprise the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). An accountability framework that reduces a faith-based school's value to the future earning potential of graduates will minimize or alter its self-understanding and effectively punish those institutions for advancing a service ethos driven by their religious convictions. As an example, my son, an education major at a prominent CCCU institution, is encouraged upon graduation to serve challenging and under-resourced school environments as an act of Christian faith. Yet under the proposed accountability criteria, his institution could be penalized for fostering that sense of service and calling. For CCCU schools, as well as other religiously oriented and mission driven schools, there are better ways to think about value. The late American pastor A.W. Tozer once gave an illustration of three men entering a forest: a poet, a naturalist and a lumberjack. Each views the attributes of the forest in different ways. The poet sees metaphor. For him, the tall and mighty trees are analogous to kings superintending their province. The naturalist sees nuance. He can discern birdsong, plant life and animal activity unavailable to the untrained eye. Finally, the lumberjack sees economic value. For the market-sensitive eye, the vast expanse of lumber signals commercial potential: a chair, a musical instrument, a house. Though Tozer had a different purpose in mind, his illustration recognizes the possibility of valuing something for a diversity of reasons. It is not that the lumberjack is wrong in his appraisal. Rather, understanding a complex arrangement with multifaceted value through an economic lens alone is a narrow way to look at things. Something is lost. Referring to legislative proposals in the 'big, beautiful bill,' Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chair of the HELP committee, wants colleges and universities to be effective and accountable. 'We need to fix our broken higher education system, so it prioritizes student success and ensures Americans have the skills to compete in a 21st century economy,' he said. Few would disagree. Institutions of higher education should be held accountable and strive toward greater affordability and access. But risk sharing or gainful employment proposals that distill accountability to commercial conditions risk misunderstanding the multiple dimensions of value faith-based schools offer and, further, effectively punishes them for fulfilling their mission. 'An education that refines our sentiments, that teaches us to cherish the true and the good, is a gift beyond measure,' writes Peter Wehner. 'At their best, this is what Christian colleges and universities have to offer, and it's a lot.'
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
English ‘Garden town by sea' with much quieter beach than nearby seaside resort
A POPULAR seaside resort dubbed 'the Garden Town by the Sea' is a great spot to go if you want to avoid the crowds this summer. St Anne's in Lancashire is known for being less busy than its neighbour Blackpool. 5 5 It was created as a 'garden town by the sea' in the 1870s, according to St Anne's Town Council. One of the most-known spots in St Anne's is Ashton Gardens - a 10 acre park with a variety of different plants, trees and flowers. It sits in the town centre park and is not far from the seafront too. In the town centre, visitors will find many shops, with lots of unique retailers. One of the town's loved destinations has also recently had an upgrade. The Island Cinemas were recently refurbished and now feature four comfortable cinema theatres showing the latest releases. St Anne's Pier is one of the main landmarks in the town and dates back to 1885. The pier has a number of cafes and shops and amusements, including children's rides. Architecturally, it was built in cast iron with a wooden deck and includes shelters and pavilions in cast iron, wood and glass - a typical style of the Victorian period. Unsurprisingly, the number one thing to do in St Anne's - according to Tripadvisor - is head to the beach. The pretty UK beach named the best in the country One recent visitor said: "[W]hat a nice clean pier, [with] plenty of machines for young and old, the staff are friendly and helpful and right at the end, what lovely views [with] plenty of seating. "One of the best I've been on in a long time." The beach features a long stretching promenade, with views across the ocean. There are a number of sand dunes and games of bowls and mini golf, too. For those wanting to enjoy the beach, they can hire a beach hut for the day. All of the beach huts have an electrical supply, with a kitchen, fresh water, crockery, and a folding table. For little ones, there is also an outdoor water play area with water jets and fountains. 5 In April, Fyde Council also revealed plans for two regeneration project, which focus on improving accessibility, connectivity and the visitor experience in St Anne's. The projects include a transformation of £1.5million Garden Street, to create a pedestrian link between Ashton Gardens and St Anne Square. According to Lancashire Business View, councillor Karen Buckley, leader of Fylde Council, said: "By transforming Garden Street into an inviting gateway, we are supporting local businesses and creating spaces that encourage people to explore and enjoy everything our town has to offer." Notably, St Anne's neighbours the very famous seaside town resort of Blackpool - which is visited by millions of people each year. For a quieter alternative, that still has things to do and a stunning beach, St Anne's is a great option. Three UK beaches were also named the best in Europe by Tripadvisor this year. Plus, the white sand beach in the UK that is so beautiful that it gets mistaken for Thailand. 5
