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Tom was invited to write poems about the Maurice Dobson Museum and the man to whom it is dedicated too. Tom Juniper is a poet based in Sheffield. His work often focuses on the experience of being other, whether that’s talking about being autistic, being part of the queer community (He is a bi, non binary trans guy), or about the Other as in strange and mysterious creatures and entities from various folklore traditions. He is an experienced slam poet, and has competed in the Great Northern Slam, the Hammer & Tongue National Final, the Axis Slam, Word War, Oooh Behive Slam, Poetry At Your Place a d even the Anti Slam. He has won slams a few times and come second many more! He is also an educator and workshop leader with a background in youth work and arts education. He delivers poetry workshops through The Writer’s Workshop in Sheffield, and online. He also offers equality, diversity and inclusion workshops, focusing on disability and/or LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Jamie Doxey is a driven individual and former Royal Marine Commando, the best of the best. But mental health issues and an undiscovered heart condition cut his career short. He rediscovered his love of surfing and now has his own company, Op Poseidon. He invites people struggling with their own mental fitness to join him for a surfing retreat. Not only do folk learn new skills, they become one with the sea and connect with the present moment. For more information and booking you can find Jamie’s website HERE. 🌱

In the second of two episodes we talk to the local people from the Yorkshire town of Darfield and wider afield, who share their personal stories of life growing up in bygone times. The podcast has been produced in partnership with the Maurice Dobson Museum located in Darfield.

In the first of two episodes we talk to the local people from the Yorkshire town of Darfield and wider afield, who share their personal stories of life growing up in bygone times. The podcast has been produced in partnership with the Maurice Dobson Museum located in Darfield.

In a preview for the forthcoming podcast about people’s stories in and around Darfield and the Yorkshire area, Sheila McMillan describes uncovering the story surrounding her grandfather she never knew. It is a moving tribute to him and Sheila wrote a short book about his life. All the proceeds go to the Poppy Appeal.

John is a former fire fighter and World Champion power lifter. He noticed a small tremor in his bicep and that started a journey of discovery and the diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease. That was eight years ago which is remarkable and John is in the 10% of people that live longer than two years. John and his wife Arlene, who has now becomes Johns carer, talk about their daily struggle with the disease and their tireless campaign to raise awareness of MND.

Matt Johnson is a former military veteran and police officer. Due to his experiences he suffered from PTSd and was advised to take up writing as a form of therapy. It turned out he was rather good at it and has now penned four award winning novels. His latest book is a non fiction account of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984 and her close friend PC John Murray 37 year quest to bring her killers to justice. He draws on his own experiences that day and his investigation into the incident which saw the involvement of the government, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Libyans themselves. It is an eye opening account of state collusion involving the purchase of oil from the Libyan's in order to break the miners strike at the time. You have to keep reminding yourself when you reads Matt’s book, it is a factual account and not a work of fiction.

Another short short by the wonderful author Eily Nash. They say Angels come in different guises. Perhaps that Stranger who sits with you for a while when your path has been long and lonely and shines a Light into the Darkness is a Gift of Grace.Perhaps they are an Angel? And you good folk who choose to shine a Light to guide others on their way, maybe Earth Angels too.

Barrister and Police Officer Well here we are at last. For years, this has been an interview I have wanted to to do. How many folk do you know that are both criminal barrister and police officer? From an unique position we discuss the judiciary, the police service AND how, perhaps we can improve it. It’s a conversation filled with brevity and humour 🌱

Podcast producer about bereavement. TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains frank discussions about death in all its forms. This is the second of a series of five podcasts recorded in London In this episode I talk with Georgie Vestey, producer and host of The Dead Honest podcast series which deals with issues of death from the viewpoints of professionals who are involved in the process. It’s a brutally honest conversation about death, why talking about it is still a taboo subject and how, if we embrace bereavement in a positive manner, the process may actually enrich our lives.

This is the first of a series of five podcasts recorded in London. My guest today is a former police officer having completed 32 years of distinguished service. Chris Hobbs started his police career in Southall, West London. A vibrant and buzzing town where Sheikh, Hindu and Muslim communities live together. But as history has shown, that has not been without its problems which has resulted in some serious disorder in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Chris retired in 2011 and is now a respected police commentator appearing on main stream media. He also writes regular articles for the online police magazine Police Oracle. So join us now as we pound the streets of Southall with Chris, visiting places and memories that shaped him as a police officer.

Comraidship by Edgar Albert Guest Edgar Albert Guest was a British-born American poet who became known as the People's Poet. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life. From his first published work in the Detroit Free Press until his death in 1959, Guest penned some 11,000 poems which were syndicated in some 300 newspapers and collected in more than 20 books. When Guest died in 1959, he was buried in Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery.

The Poem Ithaca by Constantine Cavafy: Since Homer's Odyssey, Ithaca symbolizes the destination of a long journey, the supreme aim that every man tries to fulfill all his life long, the sweet homeland, the eternal calmness, and satisfaction. Many artists and literary people have been inspired by this interpretation of Homer's poem and have given to this small island of the Ionian Sea a special sense. Famous poets have been inspired by Ithaca and have used its name metaphorically on their works. The most famous poem about Ithaca has been written by the renowned Greek poet Constantine Cavafy and is entitled "Ithaka". There he makes an allusion of the legendary journey of Ulysses to the journey of every man through life and suggests that each person is looking for his own Ithaca, his personal supreme gaol. However, in the end, it is not the goal but the journey that matters, because this journey makes us wise and gives people the richest good: experience, knowledge, and maturity. This poem was written in 1911 and has been translated into many languages since then. Its lyric words and message are touching. Text courtesy of Greeka.com

Krish grew up in the shadow of the Himalaya’s. As the oldest son within a Nepalese family, his responsibility within the Buddhist culture meant that he became a monk. He later attempted to join the Brigade of Gurkhas but failed. He tried again a year later and was successful. Later on he was the first Gurkha to pass selection and became a member of the Special Air Service. Krish spent the next 19 years within the regiment rising to the rank of Warrant Officer. During that time he became the leader of mountain troop, training his fellow SAS soldiers. He is a world renowned mountaineer and has lead many record breaking expeditions. After leaving the military in 2021 he now spends his time as a spiritual guide and continues to take injured veterans into the mountains. His website can be found here

Maurice Dobson was a flamboyant, openly gay man. What is remarkable about his story is that he was running a corner shop in the Yorkshire mining village of Darfield in the 1950s. Maurice being an army, veteran and champion boxer knew how to look after himself. Despite the prejudices he experienced, the village of Darfield, came to accept him. On his death, he donated his house to the amenities committee, when it was later, opened as a museum in tribute to him, and to all things Darfield. The website and details of the museum and cafe are here.

My guest today left school with very little. He joined the army and passed the All Arms Commando Course. He then joined the police service and became a dog handler. But his mental health was suffering and he went into project management and systems thinging. Since then he has become a director within a company helping other companies to assess data and ensuring their own success. Liam Mahon discuss’s his recently published 10 point wellbeing plan and to the past looking at the Covid lockdown and to the future of artificial intelligence. You can read Liams blog here

Ian McMillan is an English poet, journalist, playwright, and broadcaster. He is known for his strong and distinctive Yorkshire accent and his incisive, friendly interview style on programmes such as BBC Radio 3's The Verb. We discuss his childhood, his love of poetry and how he is very much enjoying life.

TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains frank discussions surrounding childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence and drug addiction. Mike and Danny found friendship through a chance meeting on social media. Both had a similar lived experience of sexual abuse, addiction and crime as children and adults. They now work as a team delivering their message of being trauma informed to health, law and social care professionals up and down the UK. Their company Lads Like Us is genuinely changing the landscape for the better. You can find Mike and Danny here on their own website Lads Like Us

The life of Rhys Rutledge, you would think, was a fictional story, such is the unbelievable circumstances and events contained within in. Yet it is all true. From a young boy witnessing domestic violence to becoming a drug dealer and ultimately addict, succumbing to his own product causing him to contemplate taking his own life. He was in the last chance saloon and joined the army to escape his demons. He excelled and achieved the rank of platoon sergeant, serving across the world including Afghanistan. But his biggest pinnacle would be to troop the colour in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second. Rhys now devotes his time to an organisation he set up called Defeat Don’t Repeat, educating those on the dangers of drug addiction.

We discuss whether time spent as a police officer changes your political view, or whether retirement from the service and the freedom of expression it brings allows former officers to let rip. We find out with Bradshaw, Horton and Thomas.