Tuesday 11 August 2015

Who is RAD Stanforth?

If you go to British Google and type in my name plus the word 'blog', at the top of the list there is a post by Cro from years ago with the title, 'Who is Tom Stephenson?' along with a photo of an axe and Wellington boots.

I know - from having chatted to her in the kitchen at the Willow Manor Ball - a little about Tess Kincaid, but virtually nothing about RAD Stanforth, her muse and reader.

All I have been able to glean (for all I know he could be as famous as Tess, but I don't move in those circles) is that he smokes, seems to be perpetually irritated, bored or both, and that he is English, unless my ears deceive me.

I like the way that he often stares at the ceiling as if searching for the words, when the words are on a bit of paper right under his nose, if only he would look down at them.

I want to know a few other things, please. Does he film himself giving the readings - sprawled, for some reason, up a staircase - or does Tess record him? Do they live with each other, or does he just volunteer his services by reading her poems, then send them on in a drop-box file? I did see him appear to reach for the camera after the last show, and there were some fumbling noises before it all went dark.

If he lives elsewhere, does he still live in the UK? What is his day-job? I would love him to be a plumber. I need one right now.

12 comments:

  1. I was just thinking he reminds me of Serge Gainsbourg. I think he films himself, alone.
    Get out your wrench and do your plumbing.

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    1. The last line reminds me of instructions to party members by the leader at the end of the annual conference.

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    2. I was thinking Lib Dem. Those were the days....

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  2. I'm lost for words, as well as wrenches.

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  3. The plot thickens. Is there a basis for a novel here?

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  4. I have often wondered the same thing - what is their connection, how did this poetry reading thing come about in the first place - he is very enigmatic and I love the way he reads her poetry, cigarettes and all.

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    1. You would think he could wait until the end of the short readings to light-up though, wouldn't you? It's not like he's on a trans-Atlantic flight or anything. Oh wait... maybe it's a prop?

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    2. Definitely a prop - also taking a drag inbetween words gives him that je ne ce quois, the slight hesitation - he is very beatnik in his approach.

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  5. I am really surprised all of you know who Tess/Willow is. Liked her blog so much better before all the poetry stuff.

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