Fosters Twist - in a twist

Foster's Twist in a twist?
A personal reflection by John Hicks

The Foster's PR machinery is first class - as a visit to the website will show you.

But, a client wanted to enter the Foster's competition for bars' displays but, when they tried to use the website "submit" form it doesn't work! That isn't good!

So, to be helpful, I went to main Foster's website to let them know. I clicked on the "Contact" button which gave me an e-mail form. I sent the e-mail and guess what? It bounced back as undeliverable as the address was unknown.

What a shame that all that effort and exceptional product promotion is wasted!

Basingstoke venue attracts major international stars

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Basingstoke, Hampshire UK
20th October 2006.


Basingstoke venue attracts major international stars

On 5 December, The Academy in Basingstoke is hosting a live performance by the internationally-acclaimed SAS Band.

This is nothing to do with the Army. As John Hicks, General Manager of the Worting Road family entertainment centre, explained: “For those who have not been blessed by these gatherings of musical talent from far and wide, I would like to explain a little about these exclusive concerts”

“Formed by Spike Edney, the keyboard player with the legendary Queen band and whose musical biography is the most amazing I have ever read, this ensemble of singers and musicians gather yearly to have a great time together. They all play live, they are all of an impressively high standard and they are all enjoying the show as much as the audience.”

The line-up for the 5th December includes Spike himself with Jamie Moses (guitar player for Paul Young), Neil Murray, Johnny Marter, Steve Hamilton, Andy Bush, Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band), Madeline Bell, Jeff Scott Soto (who recorded with Ozzy Osbourne, White Snake and Genesis), Tom Robinson (of Tom Robinson’s Band fame) and the inimitable Toyah Willcox.

Full details of the band and Spike, who many will remember from Live Aid when he appeared on stage with the legendary Freddie Mercury, can be found on the SAS Band website at www.sasband.com.

The Academy is Basingstoke’s only 24 hours, 7 days a week, Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball Hall and live music venue. The doors open at 7pm and goes on til late with live DJ entertainment from special guest DJ and MC, Dave French.

Advance tickets (£22.50) and restaurant bookings are available by contacting The Academy, telephone 01256 327273; admission is restricted to over 18’s.

Further details are available on the Academy website (www.academyclubs.com).

As John explained: “This is a major coup for The Academy and for Basingstoke & North Hampshire. We are already selling tickets to people from across the region and beyond. It is good for the town to host major events such as this. Early booking is definitely advisable.”


ENDS


Note to Editors

There are three Academy's currently in the South - Basingstoke, Boscombe and Eastleigh . All operate 24 hours, 7 days a week, and offer extensive Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball. Uniquely to The Academy venues, they now show live premiership football on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. In addition to this, professional Darts are available as well as huge satellite screens with surround sound showing live sporting events. Discreet but loaded fruit machines offer maximum payouts and that all-important thrill! The Fun Bars with their light refreshing décor offer a variety of entertainment for all ages, definitely not to be missed! The Basingstoke venue also boasts a function room and superb Chinese Restaurant.
(www.academyclubs.com).

Further details of the band are available at: www.sasband.com


Media enquiries to:John Hicks M.IDM
Headline Promotions, Press & PR
Mobile: 07771 575 654
Fax: 0707 520 9717
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com

WW2 Dive Bomber crew reunited at Fleet Air Arm Museum

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Basingstoke, Hampshire UK
19th October 2006


WW2 Dive Bomber crew reunited at Fleet Air Arm Museum

Friday Oct 27th will see eight WW2 crew from Blackburn Skua dive bombers reunited at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

The Blackburn Skua was the first British built dive bomber and the first aircraft to shoot down an enemy aircraft in WW2 (a Dornier flying boat on 25th Sept 1939)

The reunion will see two pilots Derek Martin and ‘Jock’ Moffit along with two Telegraphist Air Gunners, two armourers from the HMS ARK ROYAL 111 and an ARK ROYAL 111 writer. In addition, Richard Blackburn Skua pilot and son of Dr Robert Blackburn the founder of the Blackburn Aviation Co, will be present.

The day promises to be a day to remember as the WW2 veterans reminisce and recount stories including how it was that Derek Martin was shot down in his Skua in 1940 and taken to Stalagluft 3, of Great Escape fame.

Among the Telegraphist Air Gunners will be Lloyd Richards who will present an address from a Canadian Skua pilot Mr Bartlett along with a photograph of him being taken as a POW.

In addition to the WW2 veterans a team from Bodo Aviation Museum in Norway will be present. The team are currently restoring a Skua and will bring a restored cockpit to add to the impact of the day. The Cockpit will remain on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum for the remainder of the weekend 28 & 29 Oct.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum have an imaginative display of a Skua dive bomber as it was found under the ice in a Norwegian lake having been shot down in 1940 by a German Hinkle aircraft.

For full details, visit the Museum website at http://www.fleetairarm.com

ENDS


Note to Editors:

The Blackburn Skua can claim several significant firsts to its name. It was the Fleet Air Arm’s first stressed skin mono-plane aircraft and also the first British aircraft specifically designed for dive-bombing duties.

Blackburn Skuas entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in November 1938, as a successful update and replacement for the Hawker Osprey and Nimrod biplane fighter aircraft, in service at the time.

Shooting down the first enemy aircraft of World War II would be a notable achievement for any record, and this too can be claimed by a Blackburn Skua. On 25th September 1939, Lt. Cdr. B.S. McEwan RN (803 Naval Air Squadron) operating from H.M.S Ark Royal, shot down a German Dornier Do18 flying boat whilst on air patrol off the Norwegian coast.

Blackburn Skuas were at the forefront of the Norwegian campaign, often operating at the extreme limit of their range and under grueling North Sea conditions. Despite these limiting factors, Skuas of No. 800 and 803 NAS, managed to successfully dive bomb and sink the German cruiser Konigsberg, in Bergen Fjord, Norway, on the 10th April 1940.

No fewer than 4 front line and 22 second line and training Fleet Air Arm squadrons operated Blackburn Skuas between 1938 and 1941.


The UK’s Fleet Air Arm Museum is located at Ilchester, Somerset adjoining the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.

It’s mission is “To collect, preserve, interpret and make accessible, material relevant to all aspects of the history of naval aviation and the operations of the Royal Naval Air Service and the Fleet Air Arm, the aircraft they have flown, the people who have served with them, and the ships and stations where they served, in the context of the development of aviation at large."

For more information about the Museum and this event please contact:
Jon Jefferies, Head of Marketing
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Tel: +44 1935 842638 (International)
or 01935 842638 (UK)
http://www.fleetairarm.com/


Photo of Skua Dive Bomber available – please e-mail John Hicks for jpeg – see below.


Media enquiries to:
John Hicks M.IDM
Headline Promotions, Press & PR
Mobile: 07771 575 654
Fax: 0707 520 9717
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com

How to identify Management Consultants

A satirical guide on how to identify a management consultant
- with apologies to the many consultants who provide businesses and organisations with invaluable support!




ALL ABOUT EXPERTISE….

A shepherd is looking after his sheep on the side of a lonely hill, across which winds a narrow road.

Suddenly a brand new Porsche screeches to a halt. The driver, a young man, dressed in an Armani suit, Ray-Bans, Tag-Heuer watch, Cerutti shoes and a Boss tie gets out and asks the shepherd:

“If I can tell you how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?”

The shepherd looks at the young man, and at the large flock of sheep and replies: “Okay”.

The young man parks the car, connects his laptop to his mobile fax, enters the NASA Webster, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a database and 60 Excel files filled with pivot tables, then prints out a 150 page report on his high-tech mini printer.

He turns to the shepherd and says:

“You have exactly 1,586 sheep”.

The shepherd answers: “That’s correct. You can have your choice of sheep”.

The young man takes an animal and puts it in the back of his Porsche.

The shepherd looks at him and asks:

“If I guess your profession, will you return my animal to me?”

The young man answers: “Yes, why not?”

The shepherd says: “You’re a management consultant”.

“How did you know?” gasps the young man.

“Very simple,” answers the shepherd.

“First, you came here without being asked. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew and third, you don’t understand anything about my business. Now, can I have my dog back?”