Listen to Dave talking to Mary Clear, community activist on the importance of kindness and the power of small actions in improving life and environment in the Calder valley and beyond

We’re back! After a break for a couple of months Real Voices of Happy Valley returns as Viv and Dave chat with author and musician Paul Weatherhead, author of several books including ‘Weird Calderdale’, member of The Ukrainians and writer of comedy horror songs. He also has a podcast ‘Monsters, Myths and Maniacs’. Find out more and hear Paul’s podcasts at www.paulweatherhead.com/

The Great Cornholme and Portsmouth Get Together stretches a mile or so along the villages taking in a variety of activities and community groups. Viv and Dave talk to the organisers Rebecca Slaven, Emma Carter and Jim Haughey. Local resident Rebecca is involved in Inspire, Motivate, Transform – feel good movement and dance – and leads a keep fit group, Jim is part of Vale Baptist Church and Emma is part of Active Calderdale. They work closely with the Lionesses of the Valley and others to develop community activities in the area.

Viv and Dave chat to Matt Taylor, on a bench next to a pond he created on land he owns above Colden. Matt explains how he creates woodland management plants and loves to 'dig holes and hit things', especially when this ends up with trees getting planted

Viv and Dave talk to Josie McNamara, General Manager at Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy, the first women-led boxing club in the UK. Its mission is to make positive contributions to the physical and mental well-being of the local community by providing a safe, inclusive space where everyone is welcomed and empowered through boxing, exercise, and social inclusion. Josie had been a ski racer in her native Scotland and has always had interest in girls’ and women’s sports. Find out more about Northern Powerhouse at www.northernpowerhouseboxing.org.uk

Viv and Dave chat with Todmorden based photographer and videographer Scott van der Zanden. Scott is the photographer for the West Holts stage and Glastonbury and has wide experience of work at events, gigs and festivals, weddings especially. Hear how he got into photography, his approach and style, the skill of capturing and the importance of ‘moments’. Scott also discusses his love of community, his volunteering roles and discovering his Calder Valley heritage. https://scottvanderzanden.com/

This is an extended interview with Kath Reade for Viv’s Bookends Radio Show. From taking the hippy trail to Greece as a teenager to being a council leader then  having her first book published in her 70s, Kath remains a fascinating character. Hear about her discovery of meditation, retreats she runs and her singer-songwriting. More at www.kathreade.co.uk. Viv’s Bookends Radio Show is on www.caldervalleyradio.co.uk on the first Friday of each month and ‘listen again’ the following week

David Insua-cao is the leader of Calderdale Fantasy Orchestra, a community orchestra and choir of 40 or so which performs a massive variety of material by the likes of Sun Ra, Ennio Morricone, David Bowie, Beatles, Leonard Cohen and many more all written out on sheet music by a team of maestros. They have over 200 tunes ready to play with parts for all instruments. Fantasy Orchestra started in Bristol and has generated daughter orchestras in Paris, Kent, Jersey, Plymouth, Mumbai and Todmorden. Some have been new to their instruments, others have dug out instruments they haven’t played since leaving school and it also includes lifelong professionals ... all levels of musicianship welcome to join though its probably best if you can read music or are prepared to have a go trying!

Guy Parry is a radio presenter at Calder Valley Radio on the internet. His shows are the Tuesday Magazine and Sunday Spotlight, which features songs from musical theatre. He is also an actor - Coronation Street, Brookside, Emmerdale, Cold Feet and more in TV and on stage he as appeared on the West End and Northern Broadsides. Most recently he was at Hebden Bridge Little Theatre in Noel Coward’s Hay Fever. Guy can also be seen as compere at a variety of local community events including the unique World Dock Pudding Championships at Mytholmroyd Community & Leisure Centre. Hear him on www.caldervalleyradio.co.uk / listen again