Bench Talk

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 college

Hereford Cathedral School A personal welcome from the Headmaster | Hereford Cathedral School (herefordcs.com)

Gabbs Solicitors Gabbs Solicitors Hereford

Tanners 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.

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.

eferred 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!

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.

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.

Content warning: this podcast episode contains frank discussions of themes and issues some listeners may find disturbing.

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.

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 routes.

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.