‘There’s nothing else like it in Shropshire’

Shirehall, former home of Shropshire County Council and subsequently Shropshire Council, is certainly unique in the county.

But is that a good enough reason to keep it, and develop new uses for the building?

There’s an exhibition of contemporary photographs from around the time of the 1967 opening of Shirehall, currently on show at the Bear Steps Gallery in Shrewsbury. The title of the exhibition is ‘Shirehall - Too Good to Lose’. No question mark at the end, Shrewsbury Civic Society is making that as a definite statement.

But why is Shirehall ‘too good to lose’? I met Simon Beedles, chartered surveyor, buildings enthusiast and trustee of Shrewsbury Civic Society, at Bear Steps so he could use the photographs to make his case.

‘If you destroy it, you’ll never see it again’

Once you’ve heard Simon Beedles’ passionate plea for Shirehall to remain standing, join in the conversation by leaving a comment:

And if you want to find out how your friends, colleagues and family feel about it, share this episode with them:

Where’s the bespoke reception desk now?

Take a look at this picture, of the reception area of Shirehall around the time it opened:

That desk was made especially for the new building.

But where is it now?

Does it look familiar? Is it in your garage, or a lock-up somewhere? Were you responsible for carting it away during a re-fit at some point in the last forty years?

Can Hello You the Shropshire podcast help to track down the missing desk?

If you have a lead on this, or if there’s anything else about which you’d like to get in touch, send me a message:

… or use the Hello You Tip Line! Get the confidential, super-secure Signal messaging app, and send me a message at jimallthetime.69

Coming up on Hello You the Shropshire podcast

On Sunday, I’ll publish a special summery sporting soundscape that I think you’ll love. I’m really pleased with it. It’s an hour of extremely relaxing listening, perfect for a warm weekend afternoon.

To make sure you’re able to hear it, take out a paid subscription today! It’ll cost you as much as a couple of coffees per month, for intelligent, progressive, Shropshire-based conversation, entertainment and audio journalism that you can’t find anywhere else:

And on Monday, I’ll bring you an interview with Dr Julia Buckley, Labour MP for Shrewsbury. How has her first year in Parliament been? And how does she answer the questions that Hello You listeners have sent me to ask her?

Again, to make sure you don’t miss that or anything else I publish in the future, subscribe (paid or free) by signing up here:

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thank you for being there

Thank you for being a member of the Hello You family. Please talk about this podcast with your friends, colleagues, family members, whoever. If you like what I do, they’ll probably like it too, and they’ll be grateful to you for bringing them into the Hello You fold.

Take care of yourself. Take care of the people around you, and I hope the people around you are taking care of you, too.

‘Singing is good for your soul’

Just before you meet the subjects of today’s episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, let me tell you what’s coming up on the feed over the next few days:

It’s one of Shrewsbury’s - Shropshire’s - most controversial buildings. But what should its fate be? Shrewsbury Civic Society thinks Shirehall is too good to lose. Hear why on Hello You on Friday morning …

The very essence of an English summer Saturday afternoon in Shropshire - what does that sound like? You’ll hear in a very special soundscape episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast on Sunday …

Shrewsbury’s first Labour MP for almost twenty years - what’s the past twelve months been like for Dr Julia Buckley? And how does she answer the questions of listeners to Hello You the Shropshire podcast? Find out on Monday morning!

To make sure you don’t miss any of these, and to be first to hear about future episodes, why not become a member of the Hello You family? It’s very easy; just subscribe, right here:

If you want to make sure you hear the special soundscape episodes, in which I transport you somewhere in Shropshire by the power of stereo sound, make sure you take out a paid subscription!

‘As soon as I came through the door, I knew I’d done the right thing’

Every Wednesday afternoon, the Acorn Singers gather in Hadley Community Centre to rehearse, chat and enjoy each other’s company.

‘Really passionate about sharing the joy with others’

The group was set up by Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, and in recent months it’s grown in both numbers and ambition. Now, one of its members has rewritten a favourite number from Cornish folk group Fishermen’s Friends, with the band’s approval, as a tribute to his home county of Shropshire.

‘You live to come here’

You can hear from some of the singers about what the group means to them and how singing makes them feel, and hear them in action, in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

Get in touch?

Share your thoughts on this or any episode of Hello You by leaving a comment:

And I’d love to hear from you directly. Send me a message?

Thank you for being there

It means a hell of a lot that you take an interest in my work. If you enjoy Hello You the Shropshire podcast, why not share it with a friend, colleague or family member?

Take care of yourself?

Take care of the people around you … and I hope the people around you are taking care of you, too.

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

What would you ask Julia Buckley MP?

The Labour government’s been in power for a year this weekend, and it’s a year since Dr Julia Buckley was elected Labour MP for Shrewsbury.

I hope soon to be interviewing Dr Buckley about her first year in Parliament, and about the first twelve months of the Starmer administration, for Hello You the Shropshire podcast. I have a list of my own questions already, but what would you like me to ask Julia Buckley MP? Whether or not she’s your MP, whomsoever you voted for a year ago or would vote for now, what question would you like to hear Julia Buckley answer?

Leave a comment, send me a message or email [email protected]

Also in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast:

* ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, ffs

* six months in prison for wearing a t-shirt

* people with plenty to say about artists with opinions, but who’ve said f**k-all about the bombing of hospitals

* ‘perceptions of partiality’ (which would be a good name for a racehorse, one that would be in the far distance long before the stable door was bolted …)

* the exact moment the BBC should have cut the feed from Glastonbury

* will you take the Ick Lyric Video Challenge?!

Changes to Hello You

Sorry if you were expecting this email to be the Hello You Sunday Supplement, but the Supplement is no more. I explain why in this episode of the podcast.

I’m making some other changes, too. Listen to find out what’s going to be different, and why. And tell me what you think of the changes by leaving a comment:

The changes should leave me more time to investigate some of the stories that have been coming my way from members of the Hello You family, particularly since Discontent in Cell Block Number 9, the episode about Shrewsbury Prison. Please keep the story tips coming. Message me or use the confidential, secure Hello You Tip Line.

What can you tell me about …

… the Darwin Birthplace Trust? I’ve emailed them to ask about progress in making the house into a museum and attraction, but my emails have bounced back. Can you tell me what’s going on?

… the student accommodation above Shrewsbury’s Market Hall? Now we (sadly) have no need for it, what’s it being used for? What will it be used for?

Thank you for being a member of the Hello You family

If you haven’t done so already, why not subscribe?

And please tell your friends about Hello You the Shropshire podcast?

Take care of yourself

Take care of the people around you, and I hope they’re taking care of you, too.

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

‘I’d rather feel everything to an extreme than feel nothing at all’

On a hot Thursday afternoon, I sat on a bench on Shrewsbury’s Pride Hill to record some conversations with whoever sat down next to me. In this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, you can hear what happened.

‘That’s something that brings me joy … serving others’

You might recognise this guy’s face. If you spend much time in Shrewsbury’s town centre, he’s probably smiled at you from behind a coffee shop counter, or as you visit your bank, or just as you’re walking down the street. Smiling is very much his thing.

This is Jack Salmon. I’ve known him since he was a kid; I was a friend of his family, in particular his late father, Rev Mark Salmon of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sundorne.

‘My experience of death was such a blessed one that I want to help others who weren’t quite as fortunate’

Jack is a remarkable individual in his own right. It was a joy to get the chance to talk to him, and to share that conversation and his wise, inspiring words with you on Hello You.

Find out more about Jack’s theatrical and cabaret exploits at Spellbound Productions (that Moonlight Ball looks like it could be fun!).

‘I just got tired of being the fat kid’

This is Will. He and his fellow students from Telford College were in Shrewsbury on a geography field trip when he stopped for a chat on the bench on Pride Hill.

Why is he holding his belt like that? Because before Will took up running, that belt went around his waist only once. Now it goes more than halfway around him again.

Hear Will’s story of how running … and running, and running … has changed his life on this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

Walking a raccoon

I’ll be sitting on other benches around Shropshire over the summer months. I love doing it. Even if few people stop to chat, the people-watching opportunities are tremendous!

If you know of a bench where I could park myself for an hour or so, tell me where it is? Anywhere with a reasonable amount of passing footfall is good. It might be a street or a square, in a park or a churchyard, or it could be at an event, indoors or out. Send me a message telling me about the bench you have in mind, and I’ll put it on the list!

Next weekend I’ll be recording on the bench outside Tesco Extra in Shrewsbury. I’ll be there from about 10:30am. Come along and say hello?

What did you think of this episode of Hello You?

Please let me know, and maybe spark a discussion, in the comments:

This is what I do

Engaged, curious, progressive conversation for and about Shropshire and the wider world. If you enjoy it, here’s how you can help Hello You:

* tell your friends, family, colleagues, WhatsApp chat group members, your favourite barista or hairdresser, anyone. Just talk to them about Hello You?

* share this episode with someone you think would appreciate it

* subscribe! A free subscription gets you on the Hello You mailing list, so you’re the first to hear about new episodes, the Hello You Sunday Supplement, and so on

* super-subscribe! If you take out a paid subscription, for less per month than two coffees at your favourite coffee shop, you get a bunch more stuff including the specially-recorded soundscape episodes

Thank you for being there

It means a lot to me that you’re interested in my work. Please become a member of the Hello You family by subscribing:

Have the best weekend you possibly can …

… in whatever your circumstances happen to be.

Take care of yourself.

Take care of the people around you.

And I very much hope those people are taking care of you, too.

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

‘If it’s something that takes the edge off life, embrace it’

If you’ve heard of urbex at all, you might just think of it as people going where perhaps they shouldn’t, just for the thrill of it.

But for writer, photographer and urban explorer Chris Schurke, it’s much than that.

It’s transformed his mental health and self-esteem. And he’s passionate about the idea of urban exploration shedding a light on social history, especially the stories of people who might otherwise be overlooked or forgotten.

‘I can introduce myself with pride’

Chris began his explorations fifteen years ago, when he became fascinated by the views from the rooftops of Shrewsbury. Some of his photographs from high above the streets of our county town have now been compiled into a new book called ‘Rooftops of Shrewsbury’.

Since then, though, he’s travelled across Shropshire, across the UK and across Europe, exploring abandoned, disused and derelict structures where many of us would fear to tread.

‘I ended up on the set of Schindler’s List’

You can read about Chris’s remarkable urban exploration in Shropshire at his blog, Shrewsbury From Where You Are Not. For his travels in other countries, check out Everywhere From Where You Are Not.

And click on this link to buy Chris Schurke’s first book ‘Rooftops of Shrewsbury’!

Remember, as Chris says in the interview:

‘Weird people should embrace what makes them weird’

Any thoughts on what Chris had to say? Leave a comment:

If you enjoy Hello You the Shropshire podcast …

… why not share it with a friend, colleague of family member? Maybe post the link on your WhatsApp chat group, or on a Facebook page?

And please tell people about Hello You? Mention it at work, chat about it in the pub or the café, talk about Hello You the Shropshire podcast with your netball team, after the service with your faith group, among your buddies on ParkRun, anywhere!

Ribbit …

Look, I’m really sorry that the summer cold I’ve been carrying for two or three weeks has left my voice so croaky and hard to listen to. I’ll be back to my mellifluous best soon, I hope.

In the meantime, I can always score a few gigs as a tribute to this guy! Full-on frog action starts at 1’35”, up until then just enjoy the righteously parping New Orleans horns, and the white-booted go-go dancers who aren’t always quite together. The joys of live television …

The Hello You Tip Line is open for business

Do you have something you’d like to talk about on Hello You?

Maybe a story that needs to be told …

You can contact me discreetly, securely and confidential on Signal. My username is jimallthetime.69

Whatever you feel strongly about, whatever you want more people to know or understand, I’m here to listen to you. It’s what I do. I’m empathetic and compassionate; you’re safe to be your authentic self with me.

Signal: jimallthetime.69

Or you can click here to send me a message:

Thank you for being there

It means a lot that you’ve become a member of the Hello You family.

Have you subscribed yet? If not, just click here:

And if you take out a paid subscription, as well as supporting Hello You the Shropshire podcast and thereby earning my ceaseless gratitude, you’ll have access to the Hello You soundscapes, too!

I recorded a soundscape yesterday which I’ll publish on Monday, so sign up quickly to be sure you won’t miss it. It’s Shrewsbury as heard by Charles Darwin …

In the meantime …

Take care of yourself

Stay cool, in every sense of the phrase. Don’t walk your dog when it’s hot, unless you’re prepared to do the same walk at the same time in a fur coat and barefoot.

Have the best weekend you possibly can, in whatever your circumstances happen to be.

Take care of the people around you, and they sure as hell had better be taking care of you.

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

‘Offa’s Dyke ran through my grandfather’s pub’s beer garden’

Offa’s Dyke is hugely significant … and, for that matter, huge.

But how much do we in Shropshire know or understand about it? Or about the nature of the border between us and our neighbours to the west?

‘There’s a fundamental human curiosity about where we’re from’

This is something that’s occupied landscape archaeologist Mel Roxby-Mackey for many years. She’s been fascinated by Offa’s earthwork since, as a child, discovering it passes through the beer garden of the pub her grandfather used to run.

‘The archaeology of this part of the country is very, very special’

Mel and her husband and fellow archaeologist Ian Mackey are trustees of the Offa’s Dyke Association, which operates a rather lovely heritage centre in Knighton, Powys. They want to make us more aware of the history and significance of Offa’s Dyke and the border. I met them - and Hamish the Archaeodog! - at the Offa’s Dyke Centre, overlooking the earthwork itself, for this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

Also in this episode:

Why do so many people say they always wanted to be an archaeologist? Why didn’t they follow their dreams?

I’ve had a remarkable response to the Hello You episode about Shrewsbury Prison, Hello You 120: Discontent in Cell Block Number 9. Thank you to everyone who’s been in touch.

And this would be a very good time to remind you of the confidential Hello You Tip Line!

How and where do you listen to Hello You the Shropshire podcast? To answer this or get in touch about anything else, send me a message?

If you like Hello You, why not make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing for free?

And if you really like Hello You, why not support my endeavours to bring intelligent, progressive, informed and sometimes quirky conversation to Shropshire and beyond by taking out a paid subscription?

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thank you for being a member of the Hello You family

Take care of yourself. Take care of the people around you, and I really hope they’re taking care of you, too.

What would make you quit a job you loved?

Donna, Paul and Stephen used to work at Shrewsbury Prison. They say they’d found their dream jobs … so what led them, and others, to leave?

Donna, Paul and Stephen shared their stories with me. These stories raised questions that needed answers, so I spoke to Joel Campbell, CEO of the company that owns and runs the prison, for his response.

Hear what each side has to say in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

What do you make of what you hear? Leave a comment:

This story came in via the Hello You Tip Line

What is the Hello You Tip Line? What's it for? Should you use it? How does it work?

If you have a story that you want to share confidentially, protecting your privacy as much as possible, you too can reach me via the Hello You Tip Line.

This Substack post will tell you all about the Tip Line.

Or just send me a message?

Bruuuuuuuuuuuce!

I’d waited almost fifty years, but last weekend I at last got to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band live!

Read more about it, and find a whole bunch of great links and recommendations too, in this week’s Hello You Sunday Supplement.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode …

… of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, please feel free to share it with your friends, colleagues, family, the bloke down the pub, your WhatsApp chat groups …

Thank you

Thank you for being a member of the Hello You family. If you haven’t already, why not subscribe to Hello You to make sure you don’t miss anything?

Take care of yourself

Take care of the people around you, and I hope they’re taking good care of you, too.

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

‘Why don’t I just die, and make life easier for you?’

Jan Ward - professionally, Jan Daniels - from Hodnet is an entertainer. She’s a singer and songwriter, but her live performing career was cut short by her life-long health problems. You can find an album of her songs on Spotify.

Jan’s on Universal Credit. Her recent dealings with the DWP left her distraught, depressed and contemplating suicide, as she explains in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

Have you had a similar experience? Jan isn’t the first person to tell me they’ve felt the DWP’s approach to dealing with claimants has been uncaring, inflexible, officious and simply unkind. She is, though, the first to be prepared to tell their story. Are these stories representative of only a few people’s experiences? Or does this indicate there could be a cultural problem at the DWP?

At the very least, shouldn’t benefits claimants be entitled to be treated with the same kindness and respect that, for example, a bank account holder would expect from their bank?

What do you think of Jan’s story? Leave a comment by clicking here

Coming soon on Hello You the Shropshire podcast

Jan contacted me direct because she wanted her story to be heard. She’s not alone.

Over the next couple of weeks you’ll hear some more remarkable stories, including startling claims from former staff at a very high-profile local organisation, and a response to those claims from the man at the top.

To make sure you don’t miss anything, become a member of the Hello You family by subscribing. Just click here:

And if you have a story you want to share, if you want to be really heard, just send me a message:

The Hello You Signal Tip Line

That big episode I mentioned above, with people’s claims about their famous former workplace? That story came in via the Hello You Signal Tip Line.

It’s a secure, confidential way of passing me information. If you’re concerned about possible consequences of sharing what you know, use Signal to contact me and it’ll be as watertight as it possibly can be. Secrets are safe with me.

Download the Signal app then find me on there. My username is jimallthetime.69

I’ll be putting a longer text post on Substack soon about why you might want to contact me confidentially, how to go about it in detail, and some do’s and don’ts for information sharing and whistleblowing. To be sure of that dropping into your inbox, along with everything else from Hello You World Headquarters, please subscribe:

Don’t forget to tell your friends!

If you like Hello You, if you find it interesting, helpful, entertaining, thought-provoking or just good company, then that makes me very happy indeed.

Why not share Hello You the Shropshire podcast with your friends? Your colleagues? Your family, wherever in the world they may be? Your WhatsApp chat group?

You can just click on this green button:

… but the lower-tech way of spreading the word about Hello You is probably the most effective:

Just talk to someone about Hello You. On the park-and-ride, at work, in the café, at the school gate, in the pub … wherever you meet people, you’ll meet someone who’d love to hear about Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

So please, do me and them a favour? Sometime in the next week, just mention Hello You in conversation. Tell people what I do, and that you enjoy it. If they want to know more, send them to jimallthetime.substack.com.

Take care of yourself

Take care of the people around you, and I really hope those people are taking care of you, too.

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

‘This is part of the histories of hundreds of people’

Former mayor of Shrewsbury Jane Mackenzie knew that her grandfather had played a part in the effort that brought thousands of Jewish children to the UK as refugees from Nazi Germany. What she didn’t know was the extent of his involvement, and the lengths he went to in helping the children who came here.

Jane’s been researching her grandfather’s story. She’s met people who worked alongside him, and many of the people whose lives were saved by coming to this country as refugees, including those who remember her grandfather, more than eighty years on. As Jane says, it’s ‘as relevant today as it ever was’.

Hear Jane’s story in this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, and share it with someone else who’d find it interesting too:

Also in this episode:

My first week in a new job, some TV recommendations and a little political commentary that makes up in fervour what it lacks in nuance. Miraculously, I don’t swear. (I’ve just listened back to the tape to check that I didn’t, in fact, swear.)

What do you think of this episode?

This is what I do

You can’t find this anywhere else: Intelligent, informed, progressive and sometimes quirky conversation for and about Shropshire, its people and so much more besides.

I hope you’re glad you’ve found Hello You

I’m really glad you’ve found it! And I’m guessing that if you like my work, you know at least one other person who’d enjoy it too. You’re thinking of them right now, aren’t you? Why not do them (and me) a favour, and share Hello You with a like-minded friend?

Thank you for being a member of the Hello You family

If you like what you hear and read, why not subscribe for free? And if you really like it, why not help to ensure I can keep doing it by taking out a paid subscription?

Can’t run to a subscription? You can always buy me a coffee instead!

Get in touch?

Jane Mackenzie wanted to tell both the story of her grandfather and that of her daughter Amy’s descent into alcohol addiction on Hello You the Shropshire podcast.

Every week, more people get in touch with stories to share, topics to raise, suggestions for future episodes. I’m touched and honoured that they - you - choose Hello You as a trusted, empathetic place where they can truly be heard.

If you have something to say, a story that needs telling, an idea for an investigation or a suggestion for a possible guest, send me a message. Email [email protected] or just hit this green button:

Maybe you’re concerned about privacy, and you want to pass on some information discreetly and securely. Feel free to use the Hello You Tip Line. It operates via the Signal messaging app and my username is jimallthetime.69

Soon I’ll post something about how the Hello You Tip Line works, and why you might want to use it. That’s on my to-do list, but I’ll get it to you soon.

Take care of yourself

Have the best weekend you possibly can, in whatever your circumstances might be.

Take care of yourself, and the people around you. I hope they’re taking care of you, too.

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

How do you make everything work together?

As you might’ve gathered from a few glitches in the Hello You universe over the last couple of weeks, not everything’s been entirely plain sailing in my world of late.

Illness, stress and overcommitting myself are to blame for most of them. And then I get clobbered by anxiety because of what’s not getting done …

I realise this is a pretty small hill of beans compared to what many members of the Hello You family are trying to deal with right now. I’m thinking of you. If you want to talk, I’m here to listen.

So this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast is partly an explanation why not everything’s gone according to schedule, partly an update on my circumstances, and partly a rant of disappointment at some of the news coverage of the awful incident in Liverpool.

I’ve got some tremendous stuff already recorded for Hello You, thanks to some wonderful people who I’ve listened to over recent weeks. That’ll be coming your way soon, as soon as I can get it ready and bring it to you. In the meantime, this will tell you why I’ve not managed to do that just yet!

Thank you for being there

We’ll get through all this together. It's the only way.

Take care of yourself. Take care of the people around you, and I hope the people around you are taking care of you, too.

Love, Jim

Hello You - the Shropshire podcast from Jim Hawkins is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.