Marillion - Cambridge Corn Exchange, Light at the End of the Tunnel Tour

It has been over a year since 'The Light at the End of the Tunnel' Tour was first announced. 'To shed some light on UK stages with the long, dark days of Covid-19, hopefully, behind us'. Well that isn't quite the case sadly but the show goes on despite a lurking uncertainty. The band have gone to great lengths to stay in a 'bubble' to keep themselves safe. Backed up by the 'Lightsaver' fan pledges to cover costs should the tour be cancelled it is all systems go thankfully. 

Plenty of fans around too in Cambridge beforehand. Particularly at the Wetherspoons 'Regal'. The Adnams 'Ghost Ship' (£2.30) has gone down well and set me up nicely.

The Cambridge Corn Exchange is the venue for the 5th night of the 10 date tour. Although we are seated up in the balcony I can't resist having a little look in at ground level. A bit like going to a new football ground and getting that first glimpse of the pitch. 

I've seen Marillion here twice before, it really is a great venue and the surround is terrific. The photography policy is more relaxed this time too. Last time it was totally banned which was a shame as I only wanted a few for the blog. I think the people who record live videos tend to spoil for the rest of us.

Safely seated in our 'eyrie' several rows back on the balcony we are in time for the support 'Antimatter'. A duo that is described as a 'dark rock band'. They  play a short set of 6 songs and go down very well. Singer Mick Moss has a good voice, the last song 'Between the Atoms' really reminds me of 'Eddie Vedder' of Pearl Jam. I hope that he would be happy with that comparison?

It is only a short turnaround before Marillion are due on stage at 8:30. As far as I can tell there are very few empty seats around. The house lights dim, the crowd roar and its showtime. 

It soon becomes apparent that photography will be difficult. I can lay claim to the one of 'H' though waving on the left. Thankfully my wife managed to get some reasonable photos. Also some kind fans gave me permission to use some of theirs. I will credit them at the end of the write up. 

It's hard not to imagine and hope for certain songs. With such a huge back catalogue to choose from they really could put together any number of great set-lists. For the record I quietly hope for Neverland, The Invisible Man, Ocean Cloud, This Strange Engine, Real Tears for Sale, The Space, King, Afraid of Sunlight ..... I could go on ....

They open up with 'Sounds that can't be Made' from the album of the same name released in 2012. It sounds even better than I remember. We are up and running fast out of the blocks.

I think its something like 726 days since they played live at the start of this tour and if anything 'H' sounds as though his voice has got even better thanks to the enforced lay off. 

The next song should really have been on my wish list too. The stirring and iconic 'King' in which 'H' thrusts and waves his guitar around more as a prop than an instrument.

There is an urge to stand up but that wouldn't be very acceptable in this all seater venue unfortunately. Something of a moot point with fans the old standing and seating debate. Something I experienced recently on the 'Marillion Fans' FB site. A certain individual believing that anyone who is tall should stand at the back... We agreed to disagree amicably of a sorts at least. Anyway enough of all that we are witnessing what I can only describe as a power trio of songs! King is followed by two other classics, 'Afraid of Sunlight' and fans favourite 'Easter' -WOW.
 

I'm not sure they have ever sounded better and the acoustics at the Corn Exchange are excellent. There aren't many better Steve Rothery guitar solos than  on 'Easter'. 

What a guitarist he is, a real no frills just get on with type of player.The type who makes it look ridiculously easy, unassuming and at the top of his game, what more can you say?

On Lead Guitar Steve Rothery

A mini set from the 1994 'Brave' album follows, the first 3 tracks; 'Bridge', 'Living with the Big Lie' and 'Runaway'. The album was played in It's entirety on the original tour. It has been played in full since at Marillion weekends too. The lighting tonight is exceptional! Lending itself perfectly to the songs, cascading around the old oak beams and brick walls. A venue that witnessed the last ever performance of Syd Barrett in 1972.

The next song is from the upcoming album 'An Hour before Its Dark' the bands 19th album or even the 20th depending if you include 'With friends from the Orchestra? I had deliberately avoided hearing 'Be Hard on yourself' and wanted to experience it live first of all. It's the only song off the new album they will do on this tour.

It was worth the wait! Some Marillion songs need to be heard a few times to get them. This one feels very instant and is a 3 part song. It starts with a big keyboard intro in the safe hands of Mr Mark Kelly. I'm really looking forward to the release of AHBID once all the cardboard shortages are sorted out. That's not really very Rock n Roll is it?

Mr Mark Kelly on Keyboards

The next song on the list is a gem,like an understated Christmas tree decoration, it twinkles and sparkles along. It is the highly underrated 'This Train is my Life'. Looking at other set-lists on the tour it seems that one or two songs are being shuffled around, this song is one of those.

'The Release' takes us up to the epic 'Neverland' which I never tire of. ''H has delved into his extensive wardrobe and pulled out a white tassely number that Elvis would have been proud of during his Vegas years. 

What a song it is, sung with so much passion and energy. Another awesome Steve Rothery guitar solo and a fitting closer to a superb performance. 

Pete Trevawas

I haven't yet mentioned a couple of band members. Sitting in his plastic greenhouse towards the back of the stage we have Mr Ian Mosley. Unflappable, shades on, a man of mystery.  Would you buy a used car from him? I fear not.. But he can't half  play those drums. On the Bass guitar ( I always want to say that in a Pirates voice for some reason?) we have Pete Trevawas commanding his area of the stage, at times 'bouncing' would be a better description. I suspect that he has had a sip of whatever 'H' has been drinking? Ultimate professionals them all though.

Marillion know to do an encore alright, and 'Splintering Heart' fires the audience back up again.'What year is this next song from asks 'H' to the Bass Man? No idea he replies, same question to Mark Kelly. 2016  , Bloody hell, only feels like last week says 'H'. From the FEAR album we have 'The full version of 'The Leavers'. 

The Full Set List

The band leave the stage once more to rapturous applause. Marillion have flown under the radar, out of the spotlight glare in terms of media popularity and airplay for years.A totally fervent and ever loyal fan base is what its all about with the band.  The last song of the night is more obvious, with its 'Punting on the Cam' reference. No Marillion show in Cambridge would be complete without 'Garden Party'. A rousing rendition it is too, and everyone will go home happy for sure.

What an evening, the odd technical issue, a false start but nothing to spoil an otherwise perfect evening. 

Thanks again to the following for permission to use their photos 

Marina Arthur

David Sampson

Sjoerd Majoor

David Green

Batsford Arboretum

After the thrills and spills of a day at the races a more sedate day is planned. 

Close to Moreton in Marsh (I always thought it was Moreton In the Marsh, but apparently not so).  we have Batsford Arboretum. It is owned and run by the Batsford Foundation, a registered charity and open most days of the year.  The arboretum sits on the Cotswold scarp and contains around 2,900 trees, with a large collection of Japanese maples, magnolias and pines. It maintains the national collection of Prunus (Japanese Flowering Cherry).

We follow the main path initially past the Victorian water feature. The stream runs down for a distance of 600metres from high on the escarpment.

It is close to the 'hermit's cave. The cave and watercourse were created in 1896 for Algernon Freeman Mitford. (1st Earl of Redesdale)Being a 'Folly' lover I am looking forward to seeing the cave.

The sun is trying to come out but it is very hazy with low cloud cover. The glimpses that we do get enhance the natural colours of the trees. We are visiting at a good time of the year even though it is late Autumn . Sill plenty of leaves and colour to be seen. 

Autumn brings with it a riot of leaf colour ranging from deep butter yellow through to orange reds and crimsons as well as an abundance of berries.  It’s a natural fireworks spectacular throughout the autumn months.

I think that this particular blog entry is going to be more photos than words compared to others!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beautiful church of St Mary’s, a Grade II listed Anglo-Norman style building.  There has been a church in Batsford village since the medieval times, the present building is the third to be built on the site.

Looming through the trees is Batsford House, now privately owned. It was built between 1889 and 1892 in the Cotswold Elizabethan style.

We continue up hill past 'The Swamp' towards the 'Ice House'. 

Batsford is well worth a visit for as well as a handsome collection of Redwood trees there is a fine variety of other trees. The Autumn colour information board (pictured left) explains exactly why and how leaves change colour. 

 It is all to do with a process called 'Photosynthesis', feel free to go and research more about that at your leisure. I've got a 'hermit's cave to find' ! 

On the way not only do I discover a Japanese Garden but also a 'Buddha' as well. There really is something to see around every corner it seems. It's pretty easy walking , a few gradients but nothing too strenuous. 

At last the 'hermit's cave' just what I was looking for. Hermit's caves were very popular in British gardens during the Georgian period, particularly on estates of wealthy land owners.

Some landowners even employed a local person to act the role of a hermit. 

They would live on site and be fed and cared for. The origins of this unusual custom date back to the Roman Empire. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It can be a tiring Old business this tree watching, I'm quite happy to take advantage of this nice bench. Not for long though, next stop is a view point!

Sadly with the mist and cloud it isn't the best of views today. I can just about make out the valley behind the trees. Talking of trees, they are very important for the environment, which is a huge topic at the moment. 

• They produce oxygen
• Remove carbon dioxide from the air
• Reduce the risk of flooding
• Provide medicines and cures
• Produce food
• Prevent soil erosion

 

 

   

 
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Nice to end this write up with some of the fantastic colours. It would be lovely to return in the early Spring with the Hellebores still flowering, Daffodils and Mahonia in bloom. The Magnolias  and the Cherries would be out too. 

As we return to the main entrance we pass a feeding point for the birds. In the few minutes we watch we see a Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker, as well as Blue Tits, Great Tits and a Robin.

It has been a really enjoyable visit and a great way to spend a few hours for very little money.

The Shakespeare's Avon Way - Weston Under Wetherley and Offchurch (9)

 

It is what what you can only really describe a s a drab sort of morning. Cloudy and overcast but at least it was dry. We are starting off from the Church at Weston Under Wetherley, there is a photo of the church on my previous Blog write up. 

We are walking in an anti-clockwise direction towards the ancient woodlands of South Cubbington. It soon became clear that it was not going to be a straightforward path....

The planed 'High Speed 2' (HS2) Railway network first phase between London and Birmingham is literally cutting its way through. We met one local dog walker who was totally devastated that this glorious ancient woodland is literally being ripped open in the name of progress. The scenes are horrific and back in 2020 protesters set up a protest campsite for several months until evicted by Bailiffs in October 2020.  Judging by the amount of signs warning of 'trespass' finding a route wasn't going to be easy.

We continued through what remained of the woods until we met double strength metal fencing preventing any further walking. That wasn't all we were met with as Security quickly arrived, we had obviously been picked up by surveillance cameras. 

A diversion route around the site has been created, unfortunately it is not open as yet. We had to make our way through the woods back to the road (B4453) to Cubbington. Even walking down the road we were under the constant watch of Security from their vehicles. I expect we will see more extent of the devastation as we progress on this circular walk. 

 

We pick up the footpath from the road and are back on track an in Cubbington. Until the mid-1820s the population of Cubbington was larger than that of Leamington, which now dwarfs Cubbington.

The Church of St Mary is decked out with flowing Poppies ahead of Remembrance Day tomorrow. Interestingly Jane Austen's brother James was vicar of St Mary's between 1792 and 1820, but never visited Cubbington as he lived in Hampshire where he was vicar of a place called Steventon. Because of the distance between Hampshire and Warwickshire, he employed a curate to perform the vicar's duties at Cubbington. 

We head off in the direction of Leamington Spa through some wide open spaces. That feeling of being watched is still there though... A large ugly tower block from the 1960's seems to be ever present wherever we roam.    

 

 

 

 

 

 The first footbridge of the day! Albeit a slightly broken one. On the hillside in the distance two horses stand resplendent. We take a path that leads us to Newbold Comyn Country Park. This extensive park, over 120 hectares (300 acres), was laid out in the 1970’s. There looks like there was also a golf course there at one time too. 

We have now arrived in Offchurch on the River Leam as we brush past the edge of Leamington Spa. The next leg will take us into the heart of LS. 

The origin of the name is from 'Offa's church' suggesting a connection to Offa King of Mercia from 757 to 796.

A stone coffin is on display in the current church (St Gregory's), but there is no direct evidence that this dates from Saxon times. 

A local legend says that if you go to the top of the church and jump off, King Offa will rise from the ground and catch you. Funnily enough I didn't put that theory to the test.

 

 

There is something quite poetic about seeing cows in the water. Conjures up images of yesteryear, some like Constable's Haywain perhaps? The River Leam is actually pronounced 'Lem'. It rises at Hellidon Hill in Northamptonshire, flows through Warwickshire, including Leamington Spa. It then flows into the River Avon near to Warwick and onwards into the River Severn.

It looked as though this poor Cow had come unstuck in search of richer pickings. I cleared a few brambles to ensure safe passage. I don't think the Cow was too bothered actually. 

It's a peaceful scene but we have to move on in the direction of the small village of Hunningham. 

The scale of damage done by HS2 becomes even more apparent from this view. In the distance you can see Cubbington Woods with the huge gap gouged out in It's centre. The damage is actually quite shocking.

Even as I type this there is still confusion as to the future of HS2.Reports say the £40bn section set to cut through parts of South and West Yorkshire to link the Midlands and Leeds have been scrapped. As usual it's down to money with the project already way over budget. Lets hope these beautiful woods haven't been stripped in vain.

On a happier note there is a lovely old Oak tree standing proud in full Autumnal colour. A couple of friendly sheep approach for a closer look. The sabotage all around is going to spoil the walk. These walks are all about getting out in the countryside and appreciating the beauty of nature. It is always there , you just have to loo a bit harder sometimes. 

The small church of St Margaret's Hunningham is worth the small detour. It is actually unlocked too which is rare in these times.   

We are on the last leg now as we pass the Red Lion Pub. The sun even puts in a hazy appearance through some gaps in the cloud.

It has certainly been a disturbing walk but interesting as always.

In total including the detours 10.5 miles covered!