Carol Gold is an oral historian. She’s passionate about listening to the stories of her Jewish community in Leeds and she shares them in books and podcasts. As Carol says, she’s a people person. Judy Wild met Carol to find out more about her life, the Jewish stories project, why it’s important to her and how we can all learn from people’s treasured memories.

Barney Bardsley has been an author, a poet, a teacher and a facilitator. She loves words, but she also loves movement – she’s a qualified Tai Chi instructor. As Barney has wandered life’s path, she’s kept creativity at the centre. Mally Harvey meets her to discover more about her story.

Caroline Noh has always been at the forefront of social change. As an actor, she appeared in the West End in “Oh Calcutta!” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”, both shows that were revolutionary in their time. Behind the scenes, she was artistic director of a disabled theatre company, fighting for rights and accessibility. Jaspreet Mander met Carloine to find out about her extraordinary life and how she has blazed a trail through the arts world. 

Jean and Chris are members of Leeds People’s Choir, a welcoming, inclusive singing group based in Leeds. They talk to Phil Harvey about how singing together as a group changed their lives for the better. The choir have a new song, “Women of Leeds” and Jean reveals her personal connection to the inspirational women they sing about.

Evelyn Friend is a visual artist who uses watercolours and lino-print to create beautiful landscapes and scenes of Yorkshire. She always had an interest in art, but it was only when she got older that she found the space and time to put creativity at the centre of her life. Evelyn speaks to Lorraine Harding about her life, her art and what compels her to create.

Tamara McLorg is an internationally renowned choregrapher, now living and working with older people in Leeds. Tamara is passionate about the power of dance to change lives. Mally Harvey and Margaret Bering spoke to her about her beginnings as a dancer, her commitment to communities using their bodies to move, and what she’s up to currently. Recorded as part of a Shine On live broadcast at Chapel FM.

After a business career, Brian Daniels was drawn to the theatre, first as an impresario, then as a playwright and an actor. His plays often have a social message and aim to change the world. Valerie Wood-Robinson talks to Brian about his life, his work and what inspires him.

In this round table discussion we bring together three people to talk about their lives as older artists. Three friends, three different stories, three women. When they finished paid work they took the opportunity to do what they’d always wanted to do, which was to put creativity at the centre of their lives. One become a poet, one became a visual artist and one became a storyteller. They’ve known each other for 40 years but this was a chance for the trio to share a bit about their journeys as artists. 

Hosted by Ruth Steinberg