2024 marked the 200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, an organisation funded wholly by voluntary contributions, keeping our seas safe since 1824.

In this episode we visit the volunteers and boat crews who are based at the Blackpool Lifeboat Station, one of the busiest in the country. On their open day in the summer of 2024 we find out what makes them tick and the motivation behind why they do what they do. Willing to risk their own lives in order to save others.

We also weave the heroic story of Grace Darling into the podcast, whose actions assisting her father William saved many lives,  in a daring rescue that became national news in the 19th century.

If you wish, you can donate to the RNLI here. It’s your donation that really does go to saving lives. 

In this the pilot episode, retired police officers Richard Horton and Dave Thomas, with a combined police experience of nearly 60 years, get back together again to look at the some of the policing and ethical issues for discussion in 2025.

Tom was invited to write poems about the Maurice Dobson Museum and the man to whom it is dedicated too. 

Tom Juniper is a poet based in  Sheffield. His work often focuses on the experience of being other, whether that’s talking about being autistic, being part of the queer community (He is a bi, non binary trans guy), or about the Other as in strange and mysterious creatures and entities from various folklore traditions.

He is an experienced slam poet, and has competed in the Great Northern Slam, the Hammer & Tongue National Final, the Axis Slam, Word War, Oooh Behive Slam, Poetry At Your Place a d even the Anti Slam. He has won slams a few times and come second many more!

He is also an educator and workshop leader with a background in youth work and arts education. He delivers poetry workshops through The Writer’s Workshop in Sheffield, and online.

He also offers equality, diversity and inclusion workshops, focusing on disability and/or LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Jamie Doxey is a driven individual and former Royal Marine Commando, the best of the best. But mental health issues and an undiscovered heart condition cut his career short.

He rediscovered his love of surfing and now has his own company, Op Poseidon.

He invites people struggling with their own mental fitness to join him for a surfing retreat. Not only do folk learn new skills, they become one with the sea and connect with the present moment.

For more information and booking you can find Jamie’s website HERE. 🌱

In the second of two episodes we talk to the local people from the Yorkshire town of Darfield and wider afield, who share their personal stories of life growing up in bygone times.

The podcast has been produced in partnership with the Maurice Dobson Museum located in Darfield.

In the first of two episodes we talk to the local people from the Yorkshire town of Darfield and wider afield, who share their personal stories of life growing up in bygone times.

The podcast has been produced in partnership with the Maurice Dobson Museum located in Darfield.

In a preview for the forthcoming podcast about people’s stories in and around Darfield and the Yorkshire area, Sheila McMillan describes uncovering the story surrounding her grandfather she never knew. It is a moving tribute to him and Sheila wrote a short book about his life. All the proceeds go to the Poppy Appeal. 

John is a former fire fighter and World Champion power lifter. He noticed a small tremor in his bicep and that started a journey of discovery and the diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease. 

That was eight years ago which is remarkable and John is in the 10% of people that live longer than two years.

John and his wife Arlene, who has now becomes Johns carer, talk about their daily struggle with the disease and their tireless campaign to raise awareness of MND.

Matt Johnson is a former military veteran and police officer. Due to his experiences he suffered from PTSd and was advised to take up writing as a form of therapy. It turned out he was rather good at it and has now penned four award winning novels. 

His latest book is a non fiction account of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984 and her close friend PC John Murray 37 year quest to bring her killers to justice. He draws on his own experiences that day and his investigation into the incident which saw the involvement of the government, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Libyans themselves. It is an eye opening account of state collusion involving the purchase of oil from the Libyan's in order to break the miners strike at the time. 

You have to keep reminding yourself when you reads Matt’s book, it is a factual account and not a work of fiction. 

Another short short by the wonderful author Eily Nash. 

They say Angels come in different guises. Perhaps that Stranger who sits with you for a while when your path has been long and lonely and shines a Light into the Darkness is a Gift of Grace.Perhaps they are an Angel?

And you good folk who choose to shine a Light to guide others on their way, maybe Earth Angels too.