Midweek - 26/01/2011

This week Libby Purves is joined by Bran Symondson, Joan Woodcock, Greg Hicks and Phillip King. Bran Symondson is a serving soldier in the British Army Reserve. Whilst on a six month tour of Afghanistan he became fascinated by the Afghan National Police (ANP), their ethos and their daily existence in the war with the Taliban. When he was given the opportunity to return and document these characters as a civilian photographer in 2010, with the Sunday Times, he was able to capture a unique perspective on the current conflict. An exhibition: The Best View of Heaven is from Hell is at Idea Generation Gallery, London E2. Joan Woodcock was sixteen when she began her nursing career as a cadet nurse, a career that spanned over forty years in NHS nursing. Working on hospital wards, casualty units and out in the community, as well as prison and a police unit dealing with sexual assault, Joan has seen it all. 'Matron Knows Best - the true story of a 1960s NHS nurse' is published by Headline. The actor Greg Hicks plays King Lear in the Royal Shakespeare Company's season at the Roundhouse. A stalwart of the RSC and classical theatre in general, he's also a talented musician, playing a mean blues harp and is an expert in the Brazilian martial art form of 'capoeira'. Phillip King is a sculptor. He was tutored by the legendary Anthony Caro and worked as assistant to Henry Moore. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1968 and was President of the Royal Academy from 1990 to 1999. Born in Tunis in 1934, his work is influenced by the sense of strong colour and light that he remembers from living there. His show of new and old work is currently at Flowers Gallery, to coincide with the Royal Academy's 'Modern British Sculpture', both in London.