“W
age thought it was likely to be very a lighthearted little piece,” said film-maker and opera manager
Cent Woolcock
, providing the woman first radio documentary.
The I Really Like You Bridge
(broadcast 4, Sunday) traced the story behind a renowned piece of graffiti on a footbridge on Sheffield’s Park Hill house: “Clare Middleton Everyone loves could u wed me.” Exactly what unfolded wasn’t lighthearted after all.
Woolcock, who has got a striking radio sound and lyrical, sensual approach to story-telling, explained the graffiti as: “a confident information of love blazoned across this vast dilapidated building”. She swooped upon energetic characters on the list of property’s remaining residents (“i must say i benefit from the dandelions today of the year”) and exposed levels of myths across fans: love triangles, committing suicide, flats burned up by love competitors.
The truth had been less remarkable and sad. Clare died four years back, and her family spoke about living alongside the content. “we find it always, and I’d actually somewhat not,” her sis stated. Woolcock found Jason, which published the message. The guy revealed that their unique union had stalled immediately after, as Clare hadn’t enjoyed the graffiti. Now brand new builders have actually illuminated the content in neon, however Clare’s title. “The ghostly trace of Clare Middleton,” Woolcock mentioned, “is diminishing to the concrete.”