Bench Talk

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 Sentinel

Hereford Triathlon Club - Hereford Triathlon Club

SASRA - 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.org

Visit Herefordshire - https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

The Scilly Isles - Welcome To The Isles of Scilly - Visit Isles of Scilly

Leeds 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.

References

https://thecartshed.co.uk

https://www.aa.org

https://www.herefordmake.com

https://wwww.sargeantsbros.com - bus Hereford to Kington

https://www.stagecoachbus.com - bus Hereford to Brecon

https://www.herefordcathedral.org

https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

https://kilpeckchurch.org.uk

http://www.wyedoreparishes.org.uk/Turnastone_files/Turnastone_Guide.htm

https://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.uk

Coningsby House Museum: www.coningsbyhopsital.co.uk

Aylestone School: www.aylestone.org.uk

Hereford 6th Form: www.hereford.ac.uk

Matrix Hereford: www.matrixhereford.co.uk

Green Spider: www.spiderclimbing.com

Flip Out Hereford: www.flipout.co.uk

The Odeon Cinema Hereford: www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/hereford/?

Herefordshire High Sheriff: www.highsheriffherefordshire.org

Hereford Boxing Centre: https://m.facebook.com/southwyepoliceboxingacademy/

Shobdon Food and Flying Festival: www.shobdonfoodandflyingfestival.co.uk

Visit 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.