1. Chemical Warfare: An investigation into the emotional involvement of young people in local political issues through an examination of Nancekukeby John Branfield

2. Introduction • Young people and political involvement • Commitment to perceived ‘just cause’ • Organisation of paper – background -Helen’s play - Conclusion

3. BackgroundJohn Branfield’s writing – time and place • Writing early 1970s • First novel for young people • Introduction into narrative of Nancekuke as place • Insertion of Helen into location as part of her identity construct

4. Environment: Helen’s externalidentity from place

5. Maturation: Helen’s internal identity

6. Helen’s Play

7. Conclusion • Key moments contribute to Helen’s maturation • Dramatic impact of change reflected in literal drama • Growing understanding of • what is possible • Acceptance of unresolved outcome • Helen’s emotional involvement integral to her political action Nancekuke from the air

8. ‘We [referring to himself and his then teenage daughter] think there is a need for novels for and about young people, with contemporary settings and about real issues‘. (Branfield, Nancekuke Author's Note). Images from http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/p/portreath/nancekuke.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/p/portreath/index1.html&usg=__L8NlrYkOUdL_c8AFeVLa8VgoZqI=&h=407&w=598&sz=50&hl=en&start=6&sig2=mNdZmtSYGDN5Ln90BjIZNQ&itbs=1&tbnid=esFztwnyXM5dSM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnancekuke%2Bcornwall%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=fpkQTJvZCM-csgbUqdzRBw

9. Road on the edge of Nancekuke airfield taken by Tony Atkins (attributed use under Creative Commons) Dr Rachel Johnson . University of Worcester September 2010