Dales Radio Community Podcasts

In this edition we talk with Anna Jackson, Commercial Manager of the Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust about an amazing opportunity for Ribblehead Station to become the number 1 railway station in the land in the World Cup of Stations!

The station opened as Batty Green in December 1876 but by May 1877 it had become Ribblehead. It has witnessed some incredible times through history, serving as a place of worship for the remote rural communities with monthly services delivered by the Vicar from Ingleton and using a harmonium partially hidden behind a billboard!

If you would like to vote to help Ribblehead take the trophy in the World Cup of Stations you can visit: World Cup of Stations.  Voting is only open from Monday 13th to Friday 17th October.

More importantly visit the Station, you won’t be disappointed!

Each year at the end of November thousands of people join together dressed as Santa to help raise money for local good causes, by dressing up as Santa and walking or running the couse around Skipton and the surrounding area.

Organised by Rotary in Skipton, the walk last year raised of £60,000.

Here we chat with one of the organisers from Skipton Rotary, David Newall and find out how you too can join the sea of Santas!

The event takes place on Sunday 30th November.

You can register on the website skiptonsantafunrun.com

It is one of those memorable films your kids loved to watch, and the book many of us read as we grew up.  

An endearing story of life as an evacuee in World War two.  As the bombs drop on London, William Beech is shipped off to the safety of the Yorkshire countryside, escaping the blitz in the city.

Leaving his parents, family and everything this young boy knows behind, he meets Mr Tom and an amazing friendship develops.

In this production, William is played by 13 year old Charlie Hunder-Bland from Grassington and there are lots of other local children involved too, alongside seasoned performers from Grasssington Players.

Here, Julian chats with David Newall, who plays Mr Tom about the production, which is on from 30th September to 4th October 2025.

You can find out more and get tickets from the Grassington Players website

The Settle Carlisle Railway has just unveiled three new cameras along the line as part of their 150th year.

Julian finds out more as he chats with Commercial Manager, Anna Jackson, who is the new Commercial Manager at the Settle Carlisle Railway Trust.

Three new cameras have just gone live along the line including one at the quarry sidings at Horton in Ribblesdale; one looking up to Ribblehead and one looking out to Pen-Y-Gent - great for weather watchers or planning a walk in the Dales.

The cameras have been launched just as the quarry siding reopened 150 years after freight was first on the lines.  And that's brilliant news, taking the weight off road haulage in the Dales, as for the first time since the siding was closed, stone from the quarry is now carried once more by rail.

Find out when you can see the steam trains are scheduled to pass the cameras, with top tips and timetables!

You can view the new cameras here

There is more information about the Settle Carlisle Railway Trust on their website and Facebook Page

For timetables, see the Settle Carlisle Railway website. https://settle-carlisle.co.uk/

Images are courtesy of Railcam UK Ltd

Originally the concept of Chris Kemp, the choir has grown since he first called out for members in his home town of Baildon. He was surprised when 80 people responded!  Since then the choir has grown to over 300 members.  There are now more than half a dozen choirs across the area, all meeting weekly and singing the same songs under Chris's instruction.  So when they come together tto perform, the results are magical!

From pop to rock, plenty of eighties (Chris's guilty pleasure) and songs from the shows, it really is an eclectic mix of the tunes we all know and love.

Here Chris talks about the choir, its beginnings and about where they are now.  He explains the reasoning behind the tenth anniversary concert and what we can expect - why is it called 'One Vision'?

The concert is on Saturday 13th September at St Georges Hall, Bradford.

Tickets and more information here

Find out more about the choir on Facebook

Nestled in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, the Reeth Arts Festival returns on Saturday, August 30, 2025, transforming the village of Reeth into a vibrant canvas of creativity and community spirit.

Now in its third year, this grassroots celebration has grown from a modest gathering of 20 stalls to a bustling showcase of over 45 artists, makers, and performers.

With free entry, live art demonstrations, and a mission to empower local talent without commercial constraints, the festival offers a rare blend of charm, accessibility, and artistic authenticity.

It’s mentioned in the podcast that if you are an artist please reach out for a spot, unfortunately all spots have been fully filled for this year! But please send the festival an email if you’d like to be considered for next year's festival and you will be put on the waiting list for that.

Whether you're a seasoned collector, a curious wanderer, or a family looking for a day of inspiration, Reeth Arts Festival promises a feast for the senses in one of England’s most picturesque settings.

It's on Saturday 30th August.

It is one of the most famous works by Handel, but I bet when George Frederick was penning it all those years ago, he could never have imagined it would still be being performed today.  

Everyone has heard of the Halleluia Chorus from this now 300 year old work by Handel, but there is much more to it than that, as conductor Nicholas Hurndall Smith explains.

The Concert is on Saturday 26th April at St Andrews Chruch in Dent.  Tickets are £15 and available on the door.  You can find out more on their website dentdalechoir.com

Community Correspondent Carolyn Lobb meets with Kaite Hall from Ingleton and Bentham Youth Club to find out what's on offer for Youngsters in North Craven

Carolyn finds out all about the invaluable work that Lauren Smith and her dog Hunter do in saving lives at sea and sadly, searching for bodies too.  Lauren volunteers for the Specialist Search Dog Charity.

Could your dog train to do this kind of work?  Lauren explains how she helps others by training them and their dogs to become search and rescue dogs.

You can find out more on their website.

This years show promises to be a great show and in this episode Julian chats with Chairman Chris Windle about what's in store this year.

The prize money for entries to the show is at a record high and so are the entries.

New this year is hobby horse racing.  That sounds like fun!