Bench Talk

Jo’s being interviewed this time. Her first podcast was with Tricia Thomas who here turns the tables on Jo and they talk about the highs and lows of a year in office as High Sheriff of Herefordshire.References:Longlands Care FarmHope Scott HouseOrphans PressTravel TonicHereford CathedralHereford MakeThe CartshedParkinsons UKECHONo Wrong DoorNational Crimebeat AwardsStreet Pastors Hereford - Lean on meVenntureWe are Farming MindsFood Banks HerefordHerefordshire Community FoundationVisit Herefordshire – www.visitherefordshire.com

Today I am talking to John Eden who is the Chief Executive of the Herefordshire Association for the Blind as well as being the Director of Music at St Martins, Hereford. As well as being a deeply Christian man John also runs the Hereford Church Singers about which we talk today. If you ever want to hire a brilliant choir for your church service - wedding or funeral - then here’s your answer.References:Hereford Association for the BlindSt Martins Church, Hereford - www.stmartinshereford.org.uk Royal National College for the Blind - https://www.rnc.ac.uk/ Hereford Cathedral - .https://www.herefordcathedral.org Ledbury - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LedburyHereford Church Singers - http://www.herefordchurchsingers.co.uk Visit Herefordshire – www.visitherefordshire.com

Today I am talking to Beth Fortey who is a breast cancer survivor.  We’re going to talk about her journey over the last 18 months, of diagnosis, treatment and recovery and much more besides.  Beth is resilient, positive and looking forward to a future where her hair is properly grown out! She’s also looking forward to giving a bit back and when she recovers all her energy she will be looking to getting back in the workplace and volunteering her services to the community.Today Bench talk comes from a bench in one of Yelenis treatment rooms where Beth has had her 6 free treatments as well as joining others for restorative chats with friends who have gone through the same. Strangely we are sitting in front of a large wall covering of a peaceful sea; and we couldn’t be further from the sea in the middle of Herefordshire, but it’s very calming!References:Vicky’s Accessible Herefordshire Page - Accessible Herefordshire Information Page (mailchi.mp)Visit Herefordshire – www.visitherefordshire.comWestfield Special School - Home - Westfield School LeominsterGreat Ormond Street - Great Ormond Street Charity | Home (gosh.org)Megan Baker House - Home — Megan Baker HouseStar College - National Star College at HerefordCattle Market Shopping - Old Market Shopping in Hereford | Shops, Restaurants, Cinema in Hereford (oldmarkethereford.co.uk)Berrington Hall - Berrington Hall | National TrustHerefordshire (accessiblecountryside.org.uk)Motability scheme - Motability Scheme - The Car and Scooter Scheme for disabled peopleAylestone Park - (2) Aylestone Park | FacebookCore Skate - Home | TheCore (skatehereford.co.uk)

Vicky Nicolson-James is the mother of lovely Clementine. 18 year-old Clemmie has profound and multiple physical and learning difficulties and has been looked after assiduously by her mother and father, as well as being at Westfield Special School in Leominster. Having a disability of any sort makes life difficult for the individual and of course the rest of the family especially when out and about trying to do the everyday things we all take for granted; as well as visiting tourist attactions. Vicky is making it a project to improve awareness in the community with her Accessible Herefordshire campaign – imagine if you can’t take the family out because there’s nowhere suitable to change your child. This podcast will make you realise how lucky you are – if you know nothing about living with a disability, or with a person with a disability this podcast will give you an understated view and help you appreciate the resilience needed and so well displayed by this lovely lady. It is particularly poignant for me as I had a sister Nicky, who was very similar to Clemmie, and was one of the early pupils at Westfield, so I well understand the daily struggles.Today our bench was in the quiet kitchen of Westfield Special School.References:Vicky’s Accessible Herefordshire Page - Accessible Herefordshire Information Page (mailchi.mp)Visit Herefordshire – www.visitherefordshire.comWestfield Special School - Home - Westfield School LeominsterGreat Ormond Street - Great Ormond Street Charity | Home (gosh.org)Megan Baker House - Home — Megan Baker HouseStar College - National Star College at HerefordCattle Market Shopping - Old Market Shopping in Hereford | Shops, Restaurants, Cinema in Hereford (oldmarkethereford.co.uk)Berrington Hall - Berrington Hall | National TrustHerefordshire (accessiblecountryside.org.uk)Motability scheme - Motability Scheme - The Car and Scooter Scheme for disabled peopleAylestone Park - (2) Aylestone Park | FacebookCore Skate - Home | TheCore (skatehereford.co.uk)

Please welcome my oldest podcastee! At 90 years old Alan Blake was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to go the extra mile. And so he has. Living on the banks of the River Wye in Hereford he decided to walk round his garden enough times to be the equivalent of the steps taken to to climb Mount Everest. That’s 556 circuits of his steep riverside garden - incredible! His wife Valerie suffers from Parkinsons so this is an obvious charity for Alan to support along with the Hereford Rotary and the parish of Burghill where he lived for many years. I first walked with him at the beginning of my tenure, so it was wonderful to be with him on the day he finished.Our bench today is at his house, at the top of his garden, looking onto the River Wye just downstream of the Victoria Bridge - a good place to relax following his exhausting climb!References:Parkinsons: https://www.parkinsons.org.ukHereford Rotary Club: https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=605 and https://www.facebook.com/herefordcityrotaryclub/Burghill Church - https://www.facebook.com/burghillchurch/Hereford Cathedral - https://www.herefordcathedral.orgMappa Mundi - https://www.themappamundi.co.ukBlack and White Village Trail - https://www.blackandwhitetrail.orgVisit Herefordshire - https://www.visitherefordshire.co.ukDONATE TO ALAN - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/louise-blake-1?utm_term=9ZNY38Y7

Daniel Lister was the “Covid Mayor” of Ross.  His redemptive story shows us all how if you make good choices in your life you can find your way to a respected way of living.  For Daniel it was not always thus.  Brought up in East Anglia, Daniel fought his way through his teens and twenties (literally and metaphorically) where his life involved leaving home as a teenager, dealing drugs, couch surfing, some sexual abuse and difficult family relationships.  Listen to him talk about the troubles of his early life and how he found his way into employment and then to becoming a town councillor for Ross, and eventually becoming Mayor. But this isn’t all he does – his firm opinion is that doing positive things in the community really helps you get over all the difficulties that you may have confronted in your past and in turn you can help others as he has proved in his current job. And his volunteering around the community is non-stop – amazing he has time to sleep! Today our noisy Bench is in the Tap House in Ross on Wye – a micropub of great local renown and Daniel’s regular watering hole. References: EnviroAbility - www.EnviroAbility.org.uk Volunteer committee member at the Basement youth trust youth club - https://basementyouthtrust.wordpress.com/Volunteer board Member at the Larrapurez community centre - https://larruperzcentre.org/Volunteer Radio presenter, personnel manager and trustee at Hereford hospital radio Co-Founder and lead of OCR Solomudders, a supportive running group specializing in Obstacle course running uk wide and overseas   https://www.ocrsolomudders.org.uk/Independent town councillor in Ross on wye - https://www.rosstc-herefordshire.gov.uk/Former workplace at PGL - PGL - School Trips, Summer Camps & Adventure HolidaysVisit Herefordshire – www.visitherefordshire.comThe Tap House - (9) The Tap House | FacebookTown and Country trail around Ross - 5 breathtaking hikes to enjoy in and around Ross-on-Wye | The Hope & Anchor (thehopeandanchor.co.uk)Hope and Anchor Pub - The Hope & Anchor Restaurant, Bar & Rooms | Ross On Wye (thehopeandanchor.co.uk)Queenswood pub and Café - Queenswood Country Park & Bodenham Lake - Herefordshire, UK (queenswoodandbodenhamlake.org)Hereford Hospital Radio - Hereford Hospital Radio | Free Internet Radio | TuneIn

Today I am talking to Jonathan Bland who is just 14, but already a mover and a shaker in the world of volunteers. I met him when he was nominated as a Young Good Citizen by the local Safer Neighbourhood Police Team. Jonathan is very busy - he volunteers at the local food centre, has a mediator role at adoptive families weekends’ he is a climate change activist and is a young leader at his local Messy church. He loves Leominster (of course, we all do!) and I guess he also goes to school!Today Bench talk comes from the Leominster Priory – again we started outside on a church wall, but retreated inside as the cold rain started coming down.References:Leominster Food Share - (11) Leominster Food Share | FacebookLeominster Food Bank - Home - LeominsterfoodbankMessy Church - Messy Church at Leominster Priory church | Messy ChurchNYFTY (folk group) - NYFTE - The National Youth Folklore Troupe of England - NYFTE - The National Youth Folklore Troupe of England,The Courtyard - Home - The CourtyardGrange Court Leominster - Grange Court LeominsterLeominster Priory - Leominster PrioryTenbury Ormiston Academy School - Tenbury High Ormiston Academy Welcome - Tenbury High Ormiston AcademyVisit Herefordshire - Visit Herefordshire | Feel a World Away | Official Tourism Site

For my Christmas podcast it seemed appropriate to talk to Sarah Brown, the new Dean of Hereford Cathedral. Please take time to listen to her – she talks ghosts and dog collars; and of an errant past, calling herself a “dangerous beast”, how she found God, how the church needs to open its doors and encourage more people in, how many volunteers support the Cathedral community, the past challenge of Covid, the present challenges she has which are the everyday challenges we all have, the challenges that face everyone at Christmas and of course how God can be our redeemer. But don’t be put off, she is definitely not pious! Although only recently arrived Sarah offers some thoughts about the overall stunning beauty of Herefordshire, how welcoming and warm the people are, and how delicious the food and drink can be. We all agree!Our bench is in Hereford Cathedral with the organ being played in the background by one of the organ scholars. Our voices echo around this beautiful building as we chat away about her new life with us here.Referenceshttps://www.herefordcathedral.orghttps://www.visitherefordshire.co.ukDiocese of Hereford (anglican.org)

Today I am talking to Andy who is a volunteer with the Hereford Wildlife Trust.  Born and bred in Herefordshire and although spent a few years away at university, he has always lived here.  Andy talks about suffering from mental health problems over the years and other challenges that presented themselves.  Just two years ago his lovely wife Helen died and left Andy with two sons and anxiety. Although his sons’ school had a collection for him and many were really helpful his anxiety did not improve. Following taking some medication and having some counselling Andy started volunteering and joined The Building Better Opportunities programme.  Listen to our chat about how his mental health improved, how the stigma of admitting to mental health problems for men is often part of the problem and how he is now feeling more positive and more self-confident. (Subsequent to our interview Andy has now been appointed in a job for the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and “he’s getting there”.)Although the photo shows Andy and me sitting on a bench in Queenswood, I have admit to it pouring with rain at that time so we went inside the offices to do the chat! HVOSS - HVOSSQueenswood - Queenswood Country Park & Bodenham Lake - Herefordshire, UK (queenswoodandbodenhamlake.org)Herefordshire Wildlife Trust - Home | Herefordshire Wildlife Trust (herefordshirewt.org)Orchard Origins - Orchard Origins | Herefordshire Wildlife Trust (herefordshirewt.org)Building Better Opportunities - Landau - Landau | Supported Employment & Education Charity | Helping You To Get Into Work or TrainingHerefordshire Marches Counselling - Marches Counselling Service |Visit Herefordshire - Visit Herefordshire | Feel a World Away | Official Tourism SiteGreat Doward – Symonds YatGolden Valley – The Golden Valley | Visit HerefordshireRiver Lugg walking and pubs – The Swan (20+) The Swan Inn | Facebookor the Cop at Tupsley Home | Cock of Tupsley in Hereford | Pub and Restaurant | Two for One (cockoftupsleypub.co.uk)

This podcast is not so much a chat, but a lecture – so called the “Shrieval Lecture” – an annual event that is hosted by the High Sheriff usually with the help of a legal professional. This time HH Daniel Pearce-Higgins, Honorary Recorder of Hereford and ex-circuit judge co-hosted Dominic Grieve QC. Dominic is ex Attorney General, MP and is a British barrister and former politician who served as Shadow Home Secretary from 2008 to 2009 and Attorney General for England and Wales from 2010 to 2014. He served as the MP for Beaconsfield from 1997 to 2019 and was the Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee from 2015 to 2019.A liberal conservative, Grieve was a central figure on Brexit and frequently used his experience as a lawyer to propose amendments on the issue, with his interventions often being at odds with government policy. A prominent Remain supporter on Brexit, Grieve called for a second referendum on EU membership, and before being expelled had said that he and other Conservative rebels would support a vote of no confidence to bring down a Conservative government, if that were the only way to block the “catastrophic” damage from a bad Brexit. In spring 2019, Grieve was threatened with deselection by his local party after losing a confidence vote by members. In October 2019, following removal of the whip, Grieve announced that he would stand as an independent candidate in his constituency’s seat at the next general election. It was announced that the Liberal Democrats would stand aside to help him, but to no avail, as he lost his seat.Today his talk is entitled Populism and the Rule of Law (to be feared or applauded) and is rather legal than political and highlights historical examples around populism, as well as reaching conclusions about how populism and the law are inextricably linked and indeed need to work together for successful government.Our “bench” is the Town Hall in Hereford and with an audience of Herefordians and pupils from the sixth form college and Hereford Cathedral School whose attendance was sponsored by Gabbs solicitors. Tanners Wine Hereford generously gave the wine! The Q and A is not recorded here, but the lecture provided for some interesting and lively discussion.References:Hereford Sixth Form College Welcome to Hereford Sixth form collegeHereford Cathedral School A personal welcome from the Headmaster | Hereford Cathedral School (herefordcs.com)Gabbs Solicitors Gabbs Solicitors HerefordTanners Wines Hereford Hereford | Tanners Wines (tanners-wines.co.uk)

My chat today is with Peter Wood, who is part of the Homeless Prevention Community Grants programme, managed by Landau. This is the story of many people the country over who find themselves homeless and is not just confined to Herefordshire. A domestic row and a broken marriage led to Peter first being homeless and then living in a filthy flat where there was little hope; and lacking in self-confidence his life looked like a bottomless pit. He has started on a road to happiness by having found a passion for gardening through Vennture, moving into a better flat that is part of a community and doing some training to get some structure back his life through a job in adult social care. Imagine not seeing your children for 9 months and having little hope for the future. Now in control of his mental health, helped by his support workers and with the job on the horizon Peter is feeling more confident about what the future holds.Our bench today started in the garden by the river where Peter works, but it started to rain so we came into the warmth of the Vennture offices in Hereford.

Today I am talking to Louise Taylor who is a participant of the Building Better Opportunities project. Louise has been blind since birth, but she is not defined by this - she’s smart and switched on and always searching for better opportunities. She talks about the problems faced by blind people in our community, how they are taught to survive in a dark world, how particularly hard it was during Covid, as well as her working as a volunteer in the BBO programme. During lockdown Louise was one of the protagonists of the BBO group and has been a fantastic participant in the project, particularly when the idea of Baking A Difference arose during lock down. She became the star baker as well as being a great support to others. Not to forget Andrew the guide dog who came along to. And hear her suggestions for some tourist attractions that accommodate blind people.Our bench today is in Broad Street, Hereford at the HVOSS headquarters - a central point for volunteering for Louise.

World Record Breaker, Ian Rivers, talks about his first solo, unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean – no GPS, just a sextant and the stars, and with only 4 days rowing experience. As an ex-SAS serviceman Ian has the mental and physical training to perform such a feat, nonetheless it shows proper grit and resilience to row 3485 miles of open ocean. Ian talks about how he came to Herefordshire, his interest in pure navigation, a dramatic escape from kidnappers in the Syrian desert and of course about the voyage. The row is designed to raise money for the Special Air Service Regimental Association (SASRA) and St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford, whilst also raising awareness of the mental health challenges facing serving and veteran personnel. Link in his website below to see more about Ian’s journey and to donate.Our bench today is on the banks of the rather calmer waters of the River Wye under the shadow of Herefords Cathedral with sounds of bells, Hereford traffic and riverside birds.References:Row Sentinel - Row SentinelHereford Triathlon Club - Hereford Triathlon ClubSASRA - https://www.marsandminerva.co.uk/St Michael’s Hospice - St Michael's Hospice | (st-michaels-hospice.org.uk)The Bell at Tillington - https://thebelltillington.com/The River Wye - The River Wye - Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (wyevalleyaonb.org.uk)Hereford Cathedral - https://www.herefordcathedral.orgVisit Herefordshire - https://www.visitherefordshire.co.ukThe Scilly Isles - Welcome To The Isles of Scilly - Visit Isles of ScillyLeeds Beckett University - Leeds Beckett University

Charlie Caudwell is a 76 year-old reformed drug and alcohol addict who through therapeutic work at the Cartshed has found an inner peace that as an angry young man he never thought possible. Referred to the Cartshed by a PCN (Psychiatric Community Nurse), Charlie’s life has been transformed by an environment where the participants are in the open air, being active, hearing the birds sing and the wind in the trees whilst having some talking therapies with qualified practitioners. Charlie talks slowly and carefully about his journey and if there was ever an advertisement for the Cartshed this is it!Our bench is in the Cartshed woodlands near Weobley where I joined Charlie in enjoying a bowl of warming soup and a sausage sandwich, the daily woodland fare.Referenceshttps://thecartshed.co.ukhttps://www.aa.orghttps://www.herefordmake.comhttps://wwww.sargeantsbros.com - bus Hereford to Kingtonhttps://www.stagecoachbus.com - bus Hereford to Breconhttps://www.herefordcathedral.orghttps://www.visitherefordshire.co.ukhttps://kilpeckchurch.org.ukhttp://www.wyedoreparishes.org.uk/Turnastone_files/Turnastone_Guide.htmhttps://www.visitherefordshirechurches.co.uk/st-bartholomew-vowchurch/

John Marshall is the Mayor of Hereford’s Officer, City Marshal, driver and general factotum to the current mayor.  But more than this he is an historian, a brilliant raconteur and with the best knowledge of the city that you will ever find.  Although still with a Glasgow lilt, John has lived in Hereford for 50 years where he has done a number of jobs and had a number of different businesses. He and his wife suffered a very sad loss of their only son Dan to cancer five years ago which is always very present for John, but despite this he remains cheerful and positive – and is loved by many!The history of Hereford is much of his subject, the civic museum, and its history, the story of the Hereford Mayfair, the Siege of Hereford and the legend of Owen Tudor.  As you will hear Hereford is a truly ancient city, with an historic coat of arms and we even hear about the ghost that John encountered in the Civic Museum.Our bench today is in the mayor’s parlour in front of a ceremonial sword and four silver maces with one of the livery outfits being modelled behind.References:Hereford Civic Museum - https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/hereford-citys-heritage-suite/ More about Owen Tudor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Tudor More about the Siege of Hereford  - https://htt.herefordshire.gov.uk/herefordshires-past/the-post-medieval-period/the-english-civil-war/hereford-under-siege/ Hereford Coat of Arms – https://herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/coat-of-arms/ Hereford Cathedral – https://www.herefordcathedral.org The Left Bank - https://theleftbankvillage.co.uk Hereford Cider Museum - https://www.cidermuseum.co.uk Hereford Museum - https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/hereford-museum-and-art-gallery 

Miss Drag Queen UK, Boo la Croux aka Dean Goodwin-Austin, lives in Eardisley with his husband Paul.  They moved here a year before Covid, so that they could house all their ponies, live with some space in open countryside and settle down to a new life. Our chat today however, is more about the challenges around being gay and practicing Drag in a county that although welcoming to everyone is perhaps not accustomed to the LGBTQ+ community.  Known in the ‘drag’ scene as Boo La Croux, we discuss coming out, what inspires them both, how they enjoy living together in Herefordshire including the challenges that are presented to them in a quiet backwater like Eardisley as well as Paul’s work in a local home for autistic children.  Listen to these guys talk about their journey, emotional and physical.  Dean came out when the Section 28 law was still prevalent and it was prohibited by the government to talk in schools about homosexuality.  This ban was not lifted until 2003 – extraordinary.Our bench today is at Dean and Paul’s small-holding in Eardisley in the company of Teardrop their mini stallion!References:Boo La Croux https://www.facebook.com/boolacroux/   Talk Community Hereford https://www.talkcommunitydirectory.org Hereford Pride https://www.facebook.com/HerefordPride NMITE - https://nmite.ac.uk Abigails Footsteps - https://www.abigailsfootsteps.co.uk Herefordshire Black and White Trail - https://www.blackandwhitetrail.org  or https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/see-do/scenic-trails/black-white-villages-trail Oakchurch Farm Shop - https://www.oakchurch.net Small Breeds Farm - https://www.owlcentre.com Visit Herefordshire www.visitherefordshire.co.uk Read about the Section 28 law brought in by Margaret Thatcher’s government and not abandoned until 2003 in England - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28 Miss Drag Queen UK - https://missdrag.com 

Sam Stables and his wife Emily live at the top of Callow Hill at Aconbury. Sam is one of life’s great enthusiasts although life has not always been plain sailing for him. After a difficult childhood and early challenging times Sam ended up in Herefordshire, where he and Emily have put down their roots with their two young children. Following his own very hard mental health difficulties they have started up a charity We Are Farming Minds.This is a mental health charity started by farmers for farmers that aims to challenge and change the overwhelming statistics relating to suicide and mental health in the farming community. Sam talks about his own attempt at suicide, how it might have been prevented and how he would like to help prevent other farmers following the slippery mental health descent. On average in the UK, one farmer per week takes his own life which is a terrible statistic that We Are Farming Minds hopes to ameliorate. Listen to this engaging young man talk about his journey so far, and how his determination and resilience are pushing through. Although the Soap Box Derby we talk about is not going ahead after all there will be many events that will including the Wild Wild West. Sign up for tickets!Our bench today is next to their glamping caravans at Kings Pitt Farms with views across glorious Herefordshire countryside.

There are some very impressive young people in Herefordshire. One of those such people is Katie Devey, a St John Ambulance cadet - Jo’s podcastee of the day. Having joined up as a ‘badger’, aged 5 she has clocked up 10 years of voluntary service in this amazing community charity based on historic roots. St John is a volunteer-led health and first aid charity that responds to emergencies, supports communities and saves lives. We talk about the history of St John, being a teenager in Covid, how Herefordshire needs to listen to its young people, her dedication to the St John Ambulance and her clear sighted ambition to become a paramedic. She is passionate about Herefordshire and all it has to offer - Katie is a brilliant example of how volunteering can change your life. At only 15 she is mature beyond her years, with a very clear idea about her destiny. Wish I had been so focussed at such an early age!The bench today is in the beautiful courtyard of the old Coningsby Hospital and Museum. The sounds off are wheeling seagulls, Hereford traffic and some of the old almshouse residents arriving back with their shopping!References:St John Ambulance: www.sja.org.ukConingsby House Museum: www.coningsbyhopsital.co.ukAylestone School: www.aylestone.org.ukHereford 6th Form: www.hereford.ac.ukMatrix Hereford: www.matrixhereford.co.ukGreen Spider: www.spiderclimbing.comFlip Out Hereford: www.flipout.co.ukThe Odeon Cinema Hereford: www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/hereford/?Herefordshire High Sheriff: www.highsheriffherefordshire.orgHereford Boxing Centre: https://m.facebook.com/southwyepoliceboxingacademy/Shobdon Food and Flying Festival: www.shobdonfoodandflyingfestival.co.ukVisit Herefordshire: www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

Has anyone in Herefordshire not seen the Knife Angel in the last month whether on social media, or in the metal flesh? Today Jo’s chat comes from a bench underneath the Knife Angel and the towering west tower of Hereford’s magnificent cathedral, and she’s talking to Alison Davies, who has lead the project to bring this magnificent sculpture here. Alison lost her son to violent knife crime so she talks about the Knife Angel and what it means to her, the community beyond and its legacy for Hereford. This project is about more than just knives, and the sculpture asks “WHY?” whilst being a metaphor against violence and aggression. Its presence has been used as the base for a series of workshops, which relate to huge number of different issues including keeping children out of the criminal justice system, bereavement, restorative justice, county lines, drug abuse, and more. From a position of huge grief Alison shows what a positive impact can be made through the presence of this kind of artwork. No less than 100,000 knives were used in its creation that were handed into police forces across the county and it has attracted more 100,000 visitors during its time in Hereford. Listen out for Alison’s 3 top Herefordshire tips too!

Today Jo is talking to Bex McDaid. Although Bex looks as though she should be in Line Of Duty, she’s actually a real life Sergeant with the Safer Neighbourhood Team for the Hereford West Mercia Police. Although Bex was not born in Herefordshire, she finds herself embedded in our beautiful county and together with her colleagues she bonds her community with the police as best she can. She never actually wanted to be a police officer, but once she found herself in the family of the police, she never turned back. (Her career started as a call handler then a Police Community Support office, then a Staff Investigator before being promoted into her current position.) Although not a volunteer, Bex goes the extra mile, her commitment to the force, despite some challenges along the way she exemplifies how being a member of the Police Force is a proper vocation – it’s really not just about the money.Our bench today is in the carpark of the Hereford Police Station in Gaol Street where we hear seagulls, Bex’s radio, street noises, traffic and the occasional police siren.

This podcast with Gordon Miller is, as expected, about another quiet and unassuming lockdown hero. Born in Wales, educated at Harper Adams in Shropshire, and finally moving to Wormelow in South Herefordshire after a spell at Aldi, Gordon has spent the last year running around Herefordshire helping to feed school kids who couldn’t afford meals, families who couldn’t afford their Christmas dinner and generally being an angel of mercy to anyone who reached out to him and his team at his Carrot and Wine Store in Wormelow. Passionate about local food and drink and its provenance, his store is also a community meeting place that the locality loves.Our bench today is at the Hereford Food Bank where Gordon has been delivering some of the meals that will be going out over the next week. We can hear the traffic of Commercial Road and apologies for the police sirens.References:https://www.facebook.com/carrotandwine/https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/https://fareshare.org.uk/marcus-rashford/http://www.lodgefarmkitchen.comhttps://www.visitherefordshire.co.ukhttps://thebeefyboys.comhttps://www.hamptoncourtcastle.co.uk

Bench talk generally celebrates Herefordshire’s volunteers, but this one highlights one of our most famous personalities - Quentin Letts. Never afraid to speak his mind but always speaking eloquently with an elaborate vocabulary, Quentin discusses with me some national issues, political and religious; as well as describing his joy in the locality. Despite working in London you will find his heart is in Hereford as we discuss the beauty of the city, the community of How Caple and Ross on Wye as well as some broader tales of the life of a political sketchwriter and satirist.Our bench today is just outside the beautiful How Caple Church with birds singing in the trees, peacocks cawing in the graveyard and the low chatter of some visiting tourists sitting on the church wall.

This podcast celebrates the lives of extraordinary ordinary people. Ben Andrews is a mixed crop tenant farmer who farms near Leominster in Herefordshire (he also happens to be gay); just like I’m a farmer (and happen to be a woman). It is not your sex or sexuality that should define you in any industry but farming is a particularly traditional environment, not least in such an un-diverse county as Herefordshire. We discuss this, as well as farming, food waste, food prices and his efforts to raise awareness and platform LGBT + in the farming community through social media and a signposting website. As ever I ask Ben to highlight his top tourism tips for Herefordshire – the outdoor life is unsurprisingly becoming something of a theme.Today our bench is a flat roll (farming equipment, not a small loaf of unrisen bread) in the corner of his farmyard. Birds in the trees and the rumble of tractors and vehicles make up the background noise.(By the way Ben, the Picturesque movement was started by William Gilpin with his ‘Observations on the River Wye’ – we should have known that!)

This podcast celebrates the lives of extraordinary ordinary people. Vince McNally is one of those people, a modest MBE holder who has been involved with so many vulnerable young people in Hereford and the county beyond. As you will hear Vince is a softly spoken, self-effacing and straightforward man, but his heart is huge and is outreach into his community over the years he has been Manager at the Hinton Community Centre is quite outstanding. He talks about his life, his aspirations, the people he helps on a daily basis as well as the customary tips for visiting Herefordshire.Today our bench is right next to the boxing ring at the South Hinton community centre, which luckily is currently not being used – if it were I don’t think we would hear too much, but as it is the sound of the busy Hereford road nearby and the music and whoops from the cheerleaders practicing next door only augments the atmosphere of my next Bench Talk.

This podcast celebrates the buzz of volunteering. My subject this time, Suzanne Hughes, is an extraordinary ordinary person who has discovered the adrenaline rush that being a volunteer can give. Suzanne will put her hand up for anything and everything and she tells the everyday tale of how helping other people can bring light to the individual, her struggles with MS and of course her three top tips for Herefordshire tourism.Suzanne lives in Lyonshall and has been a neighbour of ours for nearly 30 years – our kids were at school together. Of course there is much more to Suzanne than a 17 minute interview but this gives you a flavour of someone for whom volunteering has become a way of life; and has made me think about how these selfless people are often the life blood of our community. There are many who do the same kind of thing as Suzanne, but her joie de vivre and her enthusiasm for work despite her disability of MS makes her a shining example of how anyone can help.Our bench is in her garden which is in front of Lyonshall Castle next to her house and farmyard. We had donkeys behind us, geese in front of us, ducks on the pond, birds in the trees and you can even hear the toll of the Lyonshall church bell part way through.

My second podcast is an exclusive ‘bench-talk’ with Kate Bingham AKA the Vaccine Czar. Kate voluntarily chaired the Vaccine Task Force from May - December 2020 which was responsible for procuring 357 million doses of 7 vaccines across 4 different types now being rolled out over the last 4 months (NB only 3 vaccines rolled out so far – with others to follow), and has put us in the top tier of world vaccine progress. She hails from the Herefordshire Welsh borders, she’s married to our Hereford MP Jesse Norman, 58, and has strong affiliations with our county. Our bench this time is Arthur’s stone - a neolithic chambered tomb dating back to between 2700 - 3700 BC atop Dorstone Hill. With fabulous views both ways - Golden Valley and Wye Valley and a good starting point for many footpaths, this transmission is enhanced by bird song, baaing sheep and again a few gusts of wind.Our conversation includes some exclusive material and covers areas around her growing up on these borderlands, her work chairing the vaccine force, how it was working with the government rather than in the private sector, her thoughts about the progress of the vaccine in Europe and beyond, her ideas on a revaccination strategy, her feelings around impostor syndrome as well as the customary 3 top tips for places to see or visit in Herefordshire. And if you have never heard about Bog Snorkelling Mountain Biking then listen on - it’s a laugh out loud moment. Kate is also passionate about the NMiTE initiative (our new Higher Education Institution in Hereford) as well as being determined that to attract the young and business people to our glorious county we must ensure excellent broadband and communications because there is certainly plenty to do once you get here.Amongst all this serious material you get a feeling for Kate and why she is such a pioneer in her field, straight-talking, clever (despite the fact that at one point she says: ‘I’m not very clever…’!), down to earth and extremely determined. But there is humour and humility which makes for a charming conversation on top of Dorstone Hill sitting on our stony ‘bench’.

In our first episode of Bench Talk, Jo Hilditch talks to Patricia Thomas who was High Sheriff of Herefordshire from March 2020 – March 2021. A challenging year to take on such a role, they discuss the role of High Sheriff, what a High Sheriff can during a year of national lockdown as well as her thoughts and aspirations for Herefordshire. As with all the Bench Talk podcasts, and in keeping with intended authenticity, this transmission takes place on a bench in Hereford Cathedral Gardens on rather a windy afternoon, so apart from the bells, the seagulls and the birds please excuse the wind noise throughout the recording. We hope this doesn’t diminish your enjoyment of what is an informative and entertaining conversation with Tricia. The role of High Sheriff is a little known, completely unfunded, ambassadorial and ceremonial position which is the oldest Royal appointment in the UK. It is a yearly position which has become an opportunity and a platform for individuals to raise profile of others in areas of crime prevention, emergency services, charitable, judicial and the services sector and to promote community cohesion. The first recorded Herefordshire High Sheriff was in around 1060 – we’ve come a long way! Listen to this podcast to discover more, and hear Jo and Tricia myth-bust the role, talk about the balancing of such a role as a working woman, particularly in light of the pandemic, about her affiliations to charities she has been able to support and her love of Herefordshire. During this year Jo will be talking to some volunteers of note, and high profile personalities in the county as well as some less well known, but similarly amazing unsung heroes, people who head local charities and others who hold public office. As a first podcast, a chat to the preceding High Sheriff seems wholly apposite.