ON YOUR OWN DOORSTEP: Recent Episodes
Lisa Horner
I'm interested in local people's stories, be it social history, or how somebody overcame obstacles and carried on or created a thriving business in the toughest of times. Or got inspired in the strangest of times to do something. These could be artists, the self-employed or volunteers.
I talk to Denise Gannon of Craft Arena, who is definitely one of Barleylands Craft Village's big success stories. I'm glad to say her business survived lockdown and she's here to tell us all about her shop that sells craft products and art supplies. Her workshops and classes and the Alchemy Gallery. Denise tells us about her longstanding interest in craft and how it has helped her mental health. How her business has grown and her family's involvement in the business and much more. https:/www.craftarena.co.uk
Sam and Hannah from Eco Essex are two mums who have a passion for sustainable living. They set the Facebook group up in 2018 and it just grew and grew. Realising what potential it had to make a difference they kept in expanding it. https://www.facebook.com/ecoessexpage
I had such a great chat with Ian Eagleton who is the author of the much lauded children's book, 'Nen and the Lonely Fisherman'. Illustrated by James Mayhew and published by Owlett Press. The book has been described as - 'A lovely, gentle story of friendship and love between a merman, Nen, and Ernest, the Fisherman of the title, with a conservationist theme rippling throughout. Mayhew' s light-dappled, tender illustrations are the perfect foil for Eagleton's quiet, well-chosen words'. We had such a warm and wonderful conversation and Ian shared much, always underlined with worldly wisdom. Ian is also an education consultant and a teacher. As Ian shows visuals of the book and some of his recommended children's reading books it is probably best to view this interview on YouTube - https://youtu.be/KW91f-OO42o
I chat to Ken Porter on a bright July morning, all about his recent local history books, 'Basildon Famous People Volume 2', 'Poems and a Brief History of Laindon and Surrounding District', and 'Joan Rosaire and Wonder Horse, Goldy'. Ken is also the Chairman of the Basildon Borough Heritage Group and Web based Laindon & District Community Archive.
I chat to Jeremy Suffolk and Tony Stratton, two presenters from BHR 87.7 otherwise known as Basildon Hospital Radio which has recently been made an FM radio station and voted second most listened to amateur radio in the country. I explore how they got into volunteering for hospital radio and some of the great interviews they've conducted over the last eighteen months.
I talk to Rachel Sprunt and Cherry Mckean from the Eco Colnes & Halstead Group and the Earls Colne Community Garden. With plans on the agenda for the Ecolnes Refillery. We talked about all things green such as cutting down on plastic waste, sharing info on Eco products in their community, easy eco changes and growing free food within the community where there is a give and take ethos.
Geraldine and Angela's family ran 'The Barge' once known as 'The Old Barge Inn' in Vange for seventy years! Geraldine's aunt, Elizabeth Goodson paid £2,643.06 for the lease of The Barge Inn and surrounding land on May 20th, 1937.
Spinning has been part of James Perry's life for 17 years. This moved onto dyeing and weaving. He wanted to improve his spinning and so turned to wood turning. Internationally published in two magazines and has written many UK based articles. He teaches workshops in the UK and when he can would like to teach abroad. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Ashenflock
Tracy Vine is a post-modern urban artist, appropriating photography from the past and combining it with representations of today to challenge the values and meanings of social and cultural hierarchies. Her influences are the photographers of the New Topographics who represented the last manifestation of pure photography in the 1970's. Tracy graduated with a 1st class Digital, Fine Art and Design degree and has a Masters in Art Research.
'OPEN LAB is a super exciting project that fills vacant shops in Basildon town centre with creative pop-up activities for you to enjoy!' This is what it says in their leaflets and this resolute researcher found this to be very true!
I chat with artist and illustrator, Maxine Newell, who lives and works in Basildon. She is currently studying an MA in Illustration at Falmouth University and has a BA in Fine Art. Maxine creates sketchy, playful illustrations that talk of her life experiences and the everyday mundane, overlooked narratives. Previously, she has worked on a commission basis for clients both regionally and internationally.
Sometimes you hear about wonderful people, Irie Perera is one of those people. I first heard about her through my friend, she is an avid fundraiser for several charities. When the dark clouds of the pandemic came she found the strength to be creative and wrote several poems inspired by our dire situation. She plans to make an anthology of poems to raise money for her charities. One of the charities is the UK registered Sri Lanken charity called Helasarana, another is the Scarfree Foundation which is a British research charity, their aim is to achieve scar free healing for burns, war wounds etc.
Rachel Triggs is an amazing young lady. She has utilised her experience from managing the community and education department at Southend Theatres and her degree in drama and used it in setting up Routes Theatre Company in 2020 and starting up the Castle Point Creatives Facebook page this year.
I talk to Crystal Atlantis, medicine woman, therapist, teacher, using shamanism, plants, theta, sound, for deep healing and harmony. https://www.facebook.com/dimensionstohealing
Vin Harrop, Arts Animateur, has played a key role in the development and promotion of the arts in the UK over the past sixty years. He has chaired and served on national, regional, and local boards/associations in support of the arts, and has worked in local government, in the West End, and in regional theatre, film, television and radio as a senior executive and above. He retired early in 1999 and had time to plough his passion and his experience into arts and heritage projects locally.
Rose Cleary is a Sociocultural and Arts Writer who finished her MA in Art, Literature and Culture in 2020. She did this in the Netherlands. She has a fresh intelligent take on local society. I talk with her about her written work and fine art past. http://rosecleary.com. (without trailer)
James Nason is the mystery man behind the 'Basildon History' website. He also volunteers as a webmaster and a researcher for the Basildon Borough Heritage Group. http://basildonhistory.wixsite.com/essex
Sociocultural and Arts writer, Rose Cleary, finished her MA in Art Literature and Society in 2020, she did this in the Netherlands. She has a fresh, intelligent take on local society and isn't afraid to challenge decisions made by the establishment. I talk with her about her written work and fine art past. http://rosecleary.com
I began a new direction in my life by joining the Basildon Heritage team as a researcher. Later I became an author of two local history books, 'Basildon Through Time' and 'Lost Basildon'. All is revealed in this podcast. https://lisajanehorner.wixsite.com/lisahornerauthor
DIRECTIONS-BAS is a formative project started by Laura Whiting in 2019 to begin conversations about Basildon in relation to art and urban life. https://directions-bas.com
Debs Allen-Morgan started singing at the age of four and through the pursuit of her vocation has won 50 awards in competitions. As well as performing, Debs has been a fully qualified music teacher for many years. The lockdown in 2020 provided a space for her to evaluate her business and she started The Vocal Academy in September 2020 which has grown from strength to strength. https://vocal-academy.uk
Neil imparts a great deal of information on Hanningfield Reservoir and what it has to offer the public. Listen to discover what a gem this Essex Wildlife Trust ran reserve truly is. Find out more about volunteering and the marvellous contribution the volunteers are giving. https://www.essexwt.org.uk/