黑洞社区

鈥淎 collaboration of construction industry megastars demonstrating their weekend talent,鈥� is how the Edukators bill themselves. We鈥檙e talking rock and roll megastars here, and if they鈥檙e not quite in the Rolling Stones鈥� league, then at least they鈥檙e in the Rolling Stones鈥� age group.

When not gigging, these three Edukators make a living at Guildford鈥檚 two heavyweight architectural practices. 鈥淲e started playing together when we were working on the defence training review a couple of years ago,鈥� says Chris, 鈥渁nd in the process we had a party.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 until a year later that they got their edukation. 鈥淲e played at the British Council for School Environments awards last February, and that鈥檚 when we came up with the name鈥� says Mike. 鈥淲e expected 200 people to come to the gig at Old Trafford, but 850 turned up.鈥�

Not present at the Five & Lime are the group鈥檚 other three members: Dave Rogers, also of HLM Architects, and Steve Jopson and Graham Harvey-Browne of local QS Synergy. But Graham and Steve obligingly ring up from Sheffield to explain their absence. 鈥淲e鈥檙e up here on a school project,鈥� says Graham, who鈥檚 also deeply into edukation. 鈥淲e鈥檙e currently doing a total of 17 academies and 13 BSF schools.鈥�

If they鈥檙e not quite in the Rolling Stones鈥� league, then at least they鈥檙e in the Rolling Stones鈥� age group

鈥淲e鈥檙e all involved in school designs,鈥� adds Rog. 鈥淎t Scott Brownrigg, we鈥檝e got three PFI schools in Plymouth, and one of them opens today.鈥�

After our first round of drinks, the trio strip down to their black Edukators t-shirts and bring out three superb axes. Rog then unfurls a black canvas roll containing seven prize harmonicas. Then, sitting in the cocktail bar鈥檚 backyard, they launch into a few riffs from Johnny B Goode and Down in Louisiana.

鈥淚t鈥檚 time for a Johnny Cash song: something from Folsom Prison,鈥� says Chris. There could be a connection to the sectors tackled by his practice, which he says are 鈥渉ealthcare, defence and definitely custodial鈥�. Rog obliges by singing in doleful tones: 鈥淲hen I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry.鈥�

鈥淟et鈥檚 try something to do with healthcare,鈥� chips in Mike, and Rog responds with 鈥淚 went down to the St James Infirmary 鈥︹��

鈥楲et鈥檚 try something to do with healthcare,鈥� says Mike, and Rog responds with 鈥業 went down to the St James Infirmary鈥�

Despite all these blues, the group remains cheerful. 鈥淲e have made amazing friendships with each other,鈥� says Chris.

鈥淧laying together is the best way to get to know people,鈥� Mike adds.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e playing music on stage, you need to trust each other,鈥� continues Chris.

鈥淲e tell our wives it鈥檚 all for charity,鈥� says Rog, and reels off a string of charity gigs they鈥檝e played at 鈥� they claim to have raised 拢10,000 in total.

As a parting shot, Mike says: 鈥淚f 黑洞社区 has a party, we鈥檇 like to play for you.鈥� Strictly for charity, of course.