Ian 'Knocka' Dore

Its back and its going to be a belter. With all that’s going on in the week, the crewball was always the most popular party and a shindig like no other. This year I’ve been invited as DJ and compere and am heartily looking forward to it.





You can find them here on facebook


And the official website is www.crewball.co.uk


Anchors away, ship ahoy and let us partaaaayy….

Held annually each July at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world’s largest military airshow, has gained the well-earned reputation as the greatest in the world.



With over 300+ aircraft participating each year, upwards of 170,000 visitors and support from the Royal Air Force and some of the world’s leading aerospace companies, the Royal International Air Tattoo has been acknowledged as not only the world’s largest military airshow but also one of the UK’s premier outdoor events for the whole family!



This year’s Royal International Air Tattoo is staged at RAF Fairford over the weekend of 17th and 18th July 2010 and promises to be THE aviation event of the year! During a thrilling 8 hour flying display people will see fast jets, giant transporters, historic aircraft, and much, much more.



You can got to meet the crews, get close to the aircraft and enjoy a feast of first class entertainment including the critically acclaimed Tri@RIAT an interactive showcase designed especially for youngsters. There are also flight simulators, cars, shopping malls and fairground.

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With recommendations from Buzz Aldrin, David Jason, Jeremy Clarkson and Jenson Button you can’t go wrong. You can find out more about this years event by going to this site and you can get tickets by hopping on over to ticketmaster. There are plenty more pictures in the Fairford 2008 gallery too.

Its this weekend and its going to be a whopper! RNAS Yeovilton will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2010 and the International Air Day on Saturday 10th July offers a justifiable opportunity to look back on the 70 glorious years since RNAS Yeovilton was commissioned as HMS Heron.


If you’ve never been to this show then you are in for a treat par excellence. You’ll have a chance to see amongst others Swordfish, Seafire, Sea Fury, Sea Hawk and Sea Vixen aircraft as well as the modern beauties such as the Harrier and Eurofighter. Have a looksie at this video to see what occured at the press day in 2008.





The extensive flying display will feature many historic and modern aircraft types to celebrate RNAS Yeovilton’s 70th Anniversary. Yeovilton based Commando Sea King and Lynx helicopters and other Maritime Squadrons will demonstrate their capabilities in the infamous Commando Assault Demonstration with plenty of pyrotechnics!





The Royal Navy Blackcats offer a fine display of helicopter acrobatics and the RAF Typhoon will blow your socks off with it speed, both fast and slow.





My suggestion is get across to their website and get your tickets before they are all gone. Get your tickets by visiting here.


Its a stonker of day that’s right our doorstep and not to be missed. Not only will you get to see the world famous Red Arrows but you’ll see a very rare appearance and flight of a Vulcan bomber. Than in itself is worth the price of the ticket. I’m off to find my goggles and I’ll catch you on the flight line. Chin Chin.





For all the pictures taken at the press day at RNAS Yeovilton please either go to the gallery or click here to be taken there.

Right now before we get started, it wasn’t my fault. “what’s that coming over the hill, is it the knocksta, is it the knocksta”, don’t run true here. I was proceeding in a westerly direction up through a lovely, narrow, dangerous lane. The chap in the Audi ( Jim ) was proceeding in an easterly direction down the lane.





As you can see from where he applied his ‘kipling cakes’ the every so reliable Audi, locked up and sent him up the verge. The verge being made of tried and tested gripping materials such as dirt and leaves, was no match for the mighty weight of the Audi and decided to let it slip a bit, then put it on its side. What happened next was nothing short of comedic but for all the wrong reasons.





At this point I was in reverse and had moved back about 4 metres as it didn’t look as if the A5 wasn’t going to stop. A face full of radiator I could do without. Then, suddenly it did. It had rolled onto its side and stayed upright. Result, I thought, that should be okay and ‘Jim’ will be fine.


‘Jim’ actually looked pretty chipper at this point. No one hurt, car still in reasonable order, good job. Sadly however this was short lived. As Jim repositioned himself in the car, Sir Issac Newton and that crafty cat called gravity took over. Jims face of relief dropped to one of instant fear and the car in Matrix bullet time stylee, rolled over.





He and the car were f**ked. Luckily it was nice and slow and I wasn’t overly concerned that he would have been hurt. A scrape of pride but nothing more. I jumped out and hot footed it to his motor, ensuring engine off and helped him out. Jim was shocked but in one piece. The same could not be said for the Audi.


To cut a long story short, car shagged, Jim fine, Ian late for meeting. However Jims wife ( Claire ) turned up and it turned out we had trained together at Team Bath! Further more, she is running the Edinburgh Marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support this weekend. Small World eh?


Moral of the story? Beware of country roads. They have only been spelt with an ‘o’ for polite reasons.

Stood atop the campest flatbed in the world, blowing a gale, it was hardly the best Sunday morning you could have wished for. However, it was all for a great cause. I was asked to take mic in hand at the Needles pleasure park to welcome the walkers in at this years Walk the Wight. Its a monster of an event and up to around 12,000 people took party. Thats around 1 in every 10 Islanders.


Special thanks to Ben Richardson for providing the Laurel to my Hardy ( lots of layers, it was cold ) and Donna and Brook for keeping us totted up with coffee and pies!


The biggest shout of course goes to all who took part. 26.1 miles is a long way in anyone book so hats off to you those that did the distance. A massive tip of the trilby to all the schools that trotted up from Freshwater bay too. We salute you junior yompers!

Its been suggested that the lovely ‘H’ from steps has gone ‘one step beyond’ and is actually pushing up the daisies. You decide.

On Tuesday 30th of April, Matt ‘Splatt’ Clifford of Somervalley FM and ex Bath FM fame. Had his head shaved for Macmillan Cancer Support. It was done live on air in the studios and due to the thickness of his golden locks, took just over an hour.





To date he has raised £160 and you can still donate now via his just giving page. Many thanks to Abbey, Laura and Sarah from Toni & Guy in Bath. Also to Somervalley FM for hosting it. Special thanks to Pete who drove the show and Charlie who did a fine job chairing it all.





You can see all the pics in the gallery and laugh heartily.

Laugh? I nearly filled my ballot box. Watching ‘BBC Points West’ yesterday evening and the legend that is David Garmston pulled a blinder with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg. Clegg, who for many seems to be just ‘getting in the way’ had been featured on the National News 15 minutes earlier visiting a factory. The workers were asked whether they knew who he was. All drew a blank. This was just after he was filmed with the Beebs Nick Robinson ( legend ) in front a big billboard and journos. Not one voter to be seen!


Back to Bristol and the Millennium square was the location for The Garmston to chat to Clegg. It was the standard Clegg waffle, looking as if he was making it up on the spot and not adding much to procedings. Nothing new there but then big Dave hit him with it:


DG “So do you see yourself in number 10?”

NC “yes absolutely”

DG ( blurting ) “ what really….???”

NC ( flustered ) “…yes..”





And with that, The Garmston had earnt himself a chapter in the book of journalistic legend. In one foul scoop, he had taken the piss good and proper. Short of calling Mr Clegg a time wasting buffoon that doesn’t stand a chance, this simple one liner had whipped Cleggy in the lovespuds with a wet towel. It was beautiful and was to be savoured.


To add insult to injury some BBC wag thought it would be funny to ‘poll’ the punters in Millennium square in the same way it had been done in the factory minutes before. A young chap with a pink polo shirt and shades on was asked if he had recognised him ( Nick Clegg ).

“Nope, no idea mate”

Off camera someone mutters, “Its Nick Clegg”. There is then a long pause…” the liberal democrat leader”.

The lad just looks up and offers up a “oh right.”

With reactions like that the only number 10 he’ll be getting is the night bus home.

Well yesterday we lost a legend. Responsible for punk and general all round madness but without shadow of a doubt a major early influence for UK breakdancing. The buffalo girls video featured some fine body popping and breaking which was, at the time, just crossing over from the states.





My personal favourite is Double Dutch purely for the bassline and vocals. Always ahead of his time and with a keen eye for the new trends, this monster of a track reached no 3 in 1983 . Sir, we salute you. RIP.


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Coaches? Racing? Surely you’re having a laugh Mr Dore. No siree Bob. Mr Watson and I partook in a driving jape par excellence. Never had it been tried before but those cheeky chaps at Castle Combe racing circuit know a thing or two about speeding.

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Steve ‘speed’ Taylor ( who doubles convincingly for Stan Laurel ) took us for a monumental wazz round the circuit….In a coach. To say John and I cacked les pants is an under statement. Stuffing it into the bends you felt it was going to go straight over. Great fun.

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Castle Combe plays host to all many of driving experiences and as you’ll recall we have already enjoyed the rally circuit and formula fords. The Coaches were something else and for one day only.

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Enjoy the audio, its very special.