firstlight meets...

In the second half of our pre-election chat, we do our best to be cheerful and hopeful. I make some bold predictions.

Francesca shares her wise Maryland perspective with my 'Pollyanna' optimism. We recorded this the night before the US Election. Both Biden-Harris supporters, we hope for the best but cannot conceal our nerves!

This is a real gem. I met Jean Sztul-Belda through the Kresy Family Facebook Group and the Kresy-Siberia Facebook Group. We chat about the heroism and trauma of our Polish ancestors. Their stories are astonishing and humbling. 

We chat about Manchester City. Michael has more extensive knowledge of Manchester City and indeed of football, than anyone else I know.

Clive is one of my oldest friends. He is a truly gifted musician, composer and teacher. Clive lives in Norway and we meet, usually about once a year to solve the world's problems. In this chat, we try to solve them on Zoom. 

Pam is an inspirational actor. Pam is part of the team bringing us the wonderful, volunteer run The Bear Pit Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Pam and I chat about how the The Bear Pit got started and our hopes for its future. Visiting https://www.thebearpit.org.uk will tell you more about this beautiful theatre.

Nicky and I chat about living through the Christian faith. Nicky has a wonderfully wise, thoughtful and humble approach to faith. I learn so much every time I talk with her.

Martin Robson is an inspirational friend. I got to know Martin through the Barn Baptist Church in Bidford. He has a wealth of experience in church leadership and is one of the wisest chaps I know.

Mairi and I chat about Stratford-upon-Avon Wills, 1348‒1701, which she has recently edited with Stephanie Appleton. The book contains edited copies of 522 wills throwing important new light on many of Stratford’s townsfolk from all walks of life. It is an astonishing achievement. Further details of this work can be found at: http://www.dugdale-society.org.uk/News.html

For ten years, Ian was chair of the Stratford-upon-Avon theatre group, Second Thoughts. Ian and I chat about the importance of community theatre, why it is so important and what the future might hold. Second Thoughts' website is: https://secondthoughts.org.uk