Hello Hackney: Recent Episodes
Hackney Senior Citizens
Hackney senior citizens meet every week to discuss problems of social isolation among older people, what we are doing to prevent it, how we can help other people repair the connections they have lost, and create new social relationships.
Making podcasts and radio is just one of the many ways we try to do it. These are all field recordings. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process — since 2010.
By the way, Hackney is an inner-city borough of London, UK. Come and talk to us next time you are in our neighbourhood.
This episode is part of a pilot for an updated Talking Food Radio.
Original Talking Food 2012 description – “Hackney food guru Lydia Bachelor leads a discussion about healthy eating, nutrition, shopping, markets, cooking, recipes - and any other food experience and knowledge that we would like to share”.
It was not a radio production. It was a live event, streaming what would have happened anyway – and considerably longer than this edited version.
Budget: zero.
Production values: everything must be done by older people (even if the result is below BBC standard), use only the most basic equipment (available to everyone), the background hubbub is just as important as the voices close to the microphone (the social context is vital).
Message: “If you are listening to this – STOP. Turn off your computer NOW. Please accept this invitation to join us in the real world – we have food for your body, mind and soul – and none of it is digital. Real World First!”
Identifiable voices: Ayo, Benediccta, Beverley, Bola, Chitra, Gabriella, Josh, Lydia, Myrtle, Paula, Pauline, Peter, Rick.
Recorded 10 May 2012 at ‘The Lawns’, Matthias Rd, Hackney. Remixed June 2019.
‘The Lawns’ was a lively (but acoustically-challenged) computer and social centre for older Hackney residents - https://lawns.org.uk
The League of Meals ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/leagueofmeals/ ) was a fun project that did not survive contact with reality.
This episode is the first of a series of pilots for an updated Talking Food Radio. We used the same very basic equipment as the old radio show, and the same approach: conversation first, technology last. As the series progresses, we will adapt the recording method to suit the participants as well as the final goal - which requires much improved sound quality.
The pilot podcast track is a sequence of snippets from the 90-minute live recording. The discarded sections were generally the best conversation, but too noisily enthusiastic for the podcast medium.
The voices belong to: Brian, Grafton, Hyacinth, Ian, Mary, Nuala, Patricia and Rick.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 26 April 2019 at Whitmore Community Centre, London N1 5NU, UK.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Brief excerpts from a much longer conversation – Hackney elders’ memories of school.
The voices belong to: Brian, Leonie, Megan, Rick, Wadley.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. This is open-mic recording in a public space, so sound quality is sometimes rough. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves.
Recorded 18 March 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Excerpts from a much longer conversation about retirement – with people who have done it and others who haven’t.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Brian, Cathy, Clarenton, Marylin, Nicholas, Rick.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. This is open-mic recording in a public space, so sound quality is sometimes rough. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves.
Recorded 11 March 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Why we all have to talk more and hide less – friendships, commitment, belonging, resisting racism, respect – real stories and real values – an intergenerational meeting of minds.
The voices belong to: Brian, Chantel, Leonie, Rick, Vanessa, Wadley, Walter.
References:
Soon Gone – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002sqv
Small Island – Andrea Levy
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves.
Recorded 25 February 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Guest Chantel bravely engages with a bunch of pre-digital citizens – rebooting Hello Hackney Grassroots Radio at the Dalston Curve Garden.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Brian, Chantel, Rick, Walter.
Media reference - Soon Gone (not Soon Over) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002sqv
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 18 February 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
A heavily-edited conversation that started with Andreas’ life as a shoemaker.
Voices: Andreas, Brian, Janette, Rick, Sallie and Walter.
Recorded 19 November 2018 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Brian tells us about his early life: growing up in Romford, his first job, National Service in Egypt, St Martin’s School of Art. The background crackling sounds are from the Pineapple House log fire.
This is an outtake from a longer group discussion.
Recorded 19 November 2018 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
On the day that Tracey Crouch announces the UK government strategy to combat loneliness, Hackney elders discuss their own understanding and experiences of loneliness and isolation.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Marylin, Mimi and Sallie.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 15 October 2018 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Hackney elders talking with the young PEER UK ambassadors about growing up and living in Hackney.
The oldie voices belong to: Marylin, Paula, Peter, Rick, Sallie, Walter.
The PEER UK voices belong to Alice, Davinia, Dela, Elise, Mariam.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 21 September 2018 at PEER UK, London N1 6QL
Link: http://peeruk.org/about-peer
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Hackney oldies look back on their lives in a conversation that begins and ends with Hackney Carnival.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Mark, Paula, Peter and Rick.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 11 September 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden, London E2 8EL
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Hackney elders sharing how they keep themselves physically and mentally fit. Part 1 of a longer session.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Janette, Maralyn, Margaret, Paula, Peter and Sallie.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 28 August 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden, London E2 8EL
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Hackney elders talking about housing problems. Part 2 of a longer session. Listen to Part 1 first.
The voices belong to: Alice, Andreas, Maralyn, Paula, Peter, Sallie and Walter.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 28 August 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden, London E2 8EL
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Hackney elders remembering their school days in London, Trinidad and Zimbabwe.
The voices belong to: Irene, Janette, Mark, Sallie.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 7 August 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden, London E2 8EL
Miss Kakande brings her talk show back to Whitmore Community Centre.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Irene, Janette, Miss Kakande, Paula and Sallie.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Link: http://www.misskakande.com
Recorded 27 July 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Belén Barros leads a conversation with Hackney elders about old technology. Belén is a PhD candidate at the Northumbria University School of Design.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Belén, Chitra, Irene, Rick, Sallie and Stephen.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 20 July 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift
Miss Kakande brings her talk show to Whitmore Community Centre.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Irene, Janette, Mark, Maralyn, Megan, Mimi, Miss Kakande, Sallie.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Link: http://www.misskakande.com
Recorded 29 June 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Outro credit: excerpt from Horizontal Drift, Jared C Balogh - https://www.jamendo.com/track/1122560/horizontal-drift - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Nicky Branch, energy advisor at SHINE, is talking to Hackney elders about the range of free energy-related services available to disadvantaged Hackney residents.
The voices belong to: Bob, Maralyn, Megan, Mimi, Nicky, Sallie and Sheila. Five other people were part of the discussion, but are not heard on this episode.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
From their own website: “Hackney SHINE energy advice has been set up to help residents keep well and warm throughout the year and avoid cold-related conditions during winter and anxiety over paying the fuel bills, which can lead to ill health, extra visits to the GP and hospital admissions.”
Link: https://hackney.gov.uk/shine
Recorded 15 June 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Hackney elders are talking about their best friends, now and in the past, on Best Friends Day 8 June.
The voices belong to: Alice, Andreas, Irene, Janette, Mimi, Sallie, Trish.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 8 June 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Wartime memories from Irene Lewington.
Recorded 8 June 2018.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Paula Yassine, manager of St. Mary’s Secret Garden, leads a conversation about gardening and wellbeing.
The voices belong to: Dane, Megan, Paula, Rick, Rose, Sallie. Five other people were part of the discussion, but are not heard on this episode.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
From their own website: “St. Mary’s Secret Garden is a beautiful and accessible community garden with a difference in Hackney, London.
For over 25 years it has offered a safe space where people with support needs and the local community can get hands-on experience of gardening, gain a sense of inclusion and receive the benefits of horticulture and other ecotherapy activities.
This helps those in need combat isolation, develop valuable employment skills, gain qualifications and contribute to a greener, healthier, happier community.”
Link: http://www.stmaryssecretgarden.org.uk/
Recorded 1 June 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Housing activist Martin Sadler and other Hackney elders, talking about how the housing needs of older people.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Dane, Jeanette, Martin, Megan, Mimi, Sallie. Two other people were present, but are not heard on this episode.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 25 May 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Umi Baden-Powell (researcher at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design) talks to Hackney elders about their experiences of online banking and how the banks should develop their services in this digital era.
Like all our podcast episodes, this is a highly condensed edit of a much longer conversation.
The voices belong to: Elizabeth, Elon, Joyce, Rick, Sallie, Stephen and Umi. Eight other people contributed to the live session, but are not heard on this episode.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 11 May 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Hackney elders talking about how their friends, family and neighbours cope with loneliness – and how they would cope with it themselves.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Dane, Elizabeth, Irene, JohnJ, JohnW, Ken, Mark, Pauline and Stephen.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 27 April 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
An unplanned, spontaneous chat about growing old – in Hackney and other places. We did it in the garden to simulate an outside broadcast.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Cornelia, Irene, Megan, Pauline and Sallie.
Link mentioned: http://theposhclub.co.uk/clubs/hackney/ (Posh Club Hackney)
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 20 April 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
This is an out-take from the previous episode (‘Safer Hackney’). Hackney elders are talking about how their relationship with neighbours affects their perception of safety.
The voices belong to Cornelia and Maralyn
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 6 April 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Hackney elders are talking about feeling safe in Hackney, the apparent epidemic of violent crime between youth – and what elders can do to help.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Cornelia, Irene, Josh, Ken, Maralyn, Megan, Sallie.
Abraham Badru links: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43580283 (Hackney murder victim Abraham Badru was bravery award winner), https://bit.ly/2uoc5aT (Hackney shooting victim Abraham Badru was honoured by police for bravery after saving woman from sex attack), https://bit.ly/2Hb0Pod (Family of Hackney murder victim Abraham Badru issue tribute as police work to catch his killer).
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 6 April 2018.
Hackney elders talking about personal and community happiness.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Calmeta, Cornelia, Evelyn, Irene, Megan, Rhonda, Rick, Sallie, Wadley.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 29 March 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Our Hello Hackney guest is Lyn Ambrose, who has just launched a new project in Hackney: Pets Against Loneliness (PAL).
Lyn’s vision: “We are a group of volunteers bringing together older members of the community who may feel isolated, with well-behaved dogs and their owners, for the purposes of joy and the alleviation of loneliness for all”.
Lyn is not here just to talk. She is here to listen to your ideas on how to make the project work.
Do you think this is a great idea? Do you know anyone who might like to go to PAL activities? Do you know anything about animals (not just dogs)? Would you like to be a PAL volunteer?
The voices belong to: Andreas, Cornelia, Evelyn C, Irene, Liz W, Lyn (PAL), Mimi, Nick (PAL), Rick, Walter.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Link: http://petsagainstloneliness.org (Pets against loneliness).
Recorded 23 March 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Hackney elders gather to celebrate International Women’s Day 2018, and to discuss the relevance of feminism in the lives of younger generations as well as their own.
The voices belong to service users and volunteers at the Hackney 50+ Drop-in: Andreas, Cornelia, Irene, Mimi, Patricia and Sallie.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Link: https://www.tofuturewomen.com/ (To Future Women).
Recorded 9 March 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
We have started a conversation about older people and work.
Can you remember your first job? First job as a school leaver? First job after arriving in the UK? Your worst job? The job you most want to talk about? Has your work formed your identity? How do you feel about retirement?
The voices belong to service users and volunteers at the Hackney 50+ Drop-in: Andreas, Martin, Peter, Rick, Sallie, Saul.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 2 March 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Was it a good idea to come to live here? In Hackney? In the UK?
This is a discussion point for older people whose family roots are somewhere else. We asked our participants: Were you brought here, or was it your own decision? Do you have any regrets? Are you contented? If you could start your life again, would you make the same choice? What are your best stories?
The voices belong to service users and volunteers at the Hackney 50+ Drop-in: Ayo, Bola, Dino, Hyacinth, Irene, Liz, Rick, Theresa.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Recorded 23 February 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Hackney elders continue their conversation about social isolation – drawing particularly on the experiences of older carers.
When speakers refer to ‘here’ or ‘this place’, they mean the Wednesday morning drop-in and the Friday afternoon podcast.
The voices belong to service users and volunteers at the Hackney 50+ Drop-in: Anita, Irene, Mimi, Rick, Sallie, Zena.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Links: https://dropin.szs.net (Hackney 50+ drop-in), https://www.hackneycarers.org.uk/ (Hackney Carers Centre), http://www.choiceinhackney.org/ (Choice in Hackney).
Recorded 16 February 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
This podcast episode joins a conversation that was already in full flow. We were talking about the Wednesday morning IT drop-in at Whitmore Community Centre, and how it functions as a social inclusion project. The episode title (‘Isolation kills people’) should perhaps be expanded to ‘The drop-in project tries to rescue people from the isolation that might otherwise kill them’.
When speakers refer to ‘here’ or ‘this place’, they mean the Wednesday morning drop-in.
The voices belong to service users and volunteers at the Hackney 50+ Drop-in: Irene, Liz, Rick, Sarah.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Links: https://dropin.szs.net (Hackney 50+ drop-in), http://lawns.org.uk/ (The Lawns computer centre).
Recorded 9 February 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.
Our theme is social isolation amongst older people – and our starting point is the proposition that the best way to understand social isolation it is to talk to older people who have direct experience of it in their own lives or the lives of their friends – and the best way to combat social isolation is to follow the lead of the experts – older people who deal with it as part of their everyday lives.
The voices belong to service users and volunteers at the Hackney 50+ Drop-in: Charlie, Liz, Mimi, Rick, Theresa B.
This is a field recording. We don’t use expensive professional equipment or a sound studio. Our resources are minimal, but we do it all ourselves — oldies own the process.
Links: https://dropin.szs.net (Hackney 50+ drop-in), https://www.hackneycarers.org.uk/ (City & Hackney Carers' Centre), http://www.connecthackney.org.uk/ (Connect Hackney), http://www.thesharpend.org.uk/ (Sharp End), http://lawns.org.uk/ (The Lawns computer centre).
Recorded 26 January 2018 at Whitmore Community Centre.