An account of the event at Cow Lane Studios, Salford 5/10/07

At this event guests joined the pest control training squad (as trainees) and were exposed to a new set of guidelines to irradicate local vermin. They were taken on a route through 3 training units and introduced to new and safe methods of pest control. The pest control team were named after different aspects of Vermin irradication.

The evening began as trainees were met by PREVENTION. He proceeded to tie the bottoms of their trouser legs with bailing twine (to keep out rodents). He then sent them outside with grabbers wearing protective gloves, to clear away matter which could attract Vermin; the pavement was covered in bread, half eaten chips and nuts. At 7pm trainees were called back inside and sent through a cleansing room where they were made to scrub their hands carefully under observation. This was followed by a short headlice examination on a spot lit stool infront of all the other trainees. The later people arrived the more people they had viewing their examination.

Hand written accounts (by the trainees) of pest encounters formed the basis of the training introduction by CONTROL before the trainees were led in groups of six at a time into a giant mouse tunnel leading to Unit 2. Inside Unit 2 trainees were instructed to clean a giant black rat sat in a bathing pool of tepid water. Attached to the matted fur coat of the rat were what looked like giant pink grubs (a set of fermenting prawns with a lingering smell). After this they were directed through another tunnel to Unit 3 a workshop area where PREVENTION and ERRADICATION presented trainees with chunks of cheese (cut with a saw), wire and a spoken instruction poem on how to make a trap. This space was quite dark. Led out by CONTROL (through another giant mouse tunnel) trainees had to go and set their traps.

The evening concluded with a presentation. All trainees shook hands and were congratulated by the full training squad and the giant rat presented certificates and white chocolate mice to them. The pest encounter accounts were pegged up and cheese and wine were served.