Inventor, entrepreneur and founder of Brompton Bicycle company, Andrew Ritchie, talks to Reading People about his journey creating one of the most famous bikes in the world.

Book:

Fermat’s Last Theorem: The Story of a Riddle that Confounded the World’s Greatest Minds for 358 Years by Simon Singh

Advice:

“Don’t think that there is only good in things that gets your name in the lights. I struck lucky, but there are masses of interesting things out there and good to be done. Engineering is about getting things to work and making them happen.”

Our chosen track:

Bicycle Race by Queen

Date recorded: 14/01/19

Chemical engineering graduate Yasmin Ali talks to Reading People about graduate schemes with E.ON, her work with Women’s Engineering Society and shares her thoughts on society today.

Books:

Inferior by Angela Saini

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

The Power by Naomi Alderman

Advice for future students: "Enjoy yourself and enjoy your life, but at the same time make a positive impact on those around me." Yasmin's personal philosophy.

Our chosen track: Power by Lil Mix ft Stormzy

Date recorded: 17/12/19

Our brilliant President and CEO talks about diversity and enterprise in engineering, learning from mistakes and Cheshire Cats! Also, we learn that she's 'gotta catch 'em all'!...

Books:

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman

Quote:

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot

Our chosen track:

Pokemon theme - Gotta Catch 'Em All

Recording Date:

11/10/2018.

Soldier Andrew Tiernan talks to Reading People about life in the army, team work and leadership, and shares some frank and eye-opening stories of active service.

Books:

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

White Flag? - An Examination of the UK’s Defence Capability by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott

King Lear by William Shakespeare

Quote:

“We live as we dream - alone.” Joseph Conrad

Our chosen track:

All Along the Watchtower by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Recording Date: 19/11/18.

Founding Director and Trustee of NMiTE, businesswoman and entrepreneur Karen Usher talks about the story of NMiTE, the skills graduates need to be successful in the workplace, and her vision for Hereford as a university city.

Books:

The Hunting Hypothesis by Robert Ardrey

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff

Quote:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead.

Our chosen track:

Taking Care of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Recorded: 29.10.18

Ex-Vice Chancellor of Bristol University, higher education government advisor and NMiTE trustee, Sir Eric Thomas joins Reading People to talk about the importance of collaboration between arts and sciences (background in medicine), his reasons for backing a new university in Hereford and his thoughts on the future of higher education.

Books:

Old Filth by Jane Gardam

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse

Quote:

“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people to tell us what to do.”

Steve Jobs

Our Chosen Track:

Another Brick in the Wall (We Don't Need No Education)by Pink Floyd

Recorded: 30/10/2018.

Nicola Goodwin, BBC Hereford and Worcester journalist, is on the other side of the mic…

Nicola, a triathlete and ex-England rugby player, talks to Reading People about campaigning for recognition of munitions factory workers, Herefordshire county history and Moomins!

Books:

The Folklore of Herefordshire by Ella Mary Leather

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Tales from Herefordshire’s Graves and Burials by Nicola Goodwin

Quote/Advice:

“You all know, don’t you, that if people are frightened very often, they sometimes become invisible.”

Moomins: The Invisible Child by Tove Jansson

Our chosen track:

The Moomins Opening Theme

Recorded 06/11/2018

Award-winning artisan cider producer and veteran music roady, Tom Oliver (Oliver's Cider and Perry) chats to Reading People about adventures in childhood literature and rock and roll. He mixes his sounds just as well as his ciders (yes, we did a taste test!) and is a local Herefordshire legend.

Books:

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star by Ian Hunter

The History and Virtues of Cyder by R.K. French

Go to 15.04 for Tom’s take on deciding which paths to take in life.

Our chosen track:

I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) by The Proclaimers

Drinks menu - Oliver's Cider and Perry...

Fine Cider

Gold Rush Dry Cider(with Ryan Burk of Angry Orchard, New York, USA)

Shezam Cider

Dry Fine Perry

Welcome to Reading People!

Cambridge, Oxford and NMiTE academic, atmospheric scientist and talented musician, Helen Rogers talks on Reading People about climate change and clouds, the importance of manners and hard work, and the heartthrob Mr Darcy.

Books:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Advice for future students:

Success is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. (Inspired by Thomas Edison)

Our chosen track:

Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra

Thanks to Hereford Cathedral and the Cathedral Choir for their clip of Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb.

Recorded 02/10/18.