Kula Shaker
Kula Shaker's reformation has its origins in sessions for a charity album made with the New Braj Village School (a private school in Badger, California, for young people which includes as part of the curriculum teachings about Krishna and devotional music). The album "School of Braja" was recorded in 2004 and finally saw release in late 2006. Crispian Mills, who masterminded the album, arranged not only that the Jeevas play on two tracks, but he also got in touch with his old bandmate, Alonza Bevan. The two worked on a song together for the album, "Braj Mandala", to which Paul Winterhart added drums. Jay Darlington was asked to be part of the sessions, but declined the opportunity. At the time of the recording, this was announced on the official Jeevas website as Kula Shaker having reformed to contribute a song to the album and was referred to by Mills as a Kula Shaker reunion in subsequent interviews. Additionally, the "School of Braja" album credits officially state that Kula Shaker appear on the track "Braj Mandala". The sessions for the track went so well that Mills and Bevan began writing together again and making plans for a full-on Kula Shaker comeback that would encompass live touring and the further release of new material. A new band website was also commissioned.
Shula Hebden-Lloyd
Flighty Shula finally won the acceptance of her parents when she began dating lawyer Mark Hebden (Richard Derrington). The union was going over well until Mark took a swipe at the Borchester bench, labeling Shula's father, Phil Archer, and other magistrates as "amateurs". Nonetheless, Shula accepted his marriage proposal. Tragedy struck later in 1980 when her grandmother Doris Archer (Gwen Berryman) died peacefully in Glebe Cottage. Shula found Doris, and then made her way over to St Stephen's to tell her Aunt Christine Barford her mother had just died. Doris left Glebe Cottage to Shula in her will, and the 22-year-old began preparing for her impending nuptials. Stressed by the upcoming wedding, Shula found comfort in flirting with another journalist, Robin Catchpole. She remained faithful, but called the wedding off with only six week to go. Mark moved on with his life, allowing David Archer's ex-girlfriend Jackie Woodstock, to move into his cottage. A livid Shula, angry at the thought of another woman sharing the home she'd planned to set up with David, began dating hippie Ben Warner. She dumped him when he was convicted of burglary. In 1983, Mark become engaged to upper-crust Sarah Locke. Shula began dating Nigel Pargetter, a door-to-door swimming pool salesman. Shula would soon break up with Nigel, as Mark would also break off his engagement and move to Hong Kong. But her heart was still with him, and she flew to Hong Kong in 1985. Mark returned with her, and the pair were married in September. Shula would later become manager of The Estate, while Mark took a job at a Birmingham law firm. In 1989, Shula persuaded Mark to invest almost £50,000 in her brother Kenton's antique business. The financial outlay put stress on the marriage, amplified by the fact the couple could not conceive. Shula was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis. She then decided to give up having a baby due to the strain on the marriage. Her sister Elizabeth's abortion in 1992 would be to Shula's horror, given her ordeal in attempting to bear children.