Real Voices of Happy Valley

Michael Crowley's latest book featured on Viv's Bookends on Calder Valley Radio - and was upload as a podcast here. However he could probably make several really interesting podcast, so we went back and spoke to him about his play/poetry collection "The Battle of Heptonstall" from the English Civil War/Revolution (Smokestack Books). Here he tells us about how it came about and how it is not the case that everyone takes sides in a war or cultural conflict

Viv and her friend Jean Williams have a radio show Bookends first Friday of every month on www.caldervalleyradio.co.uk. Each month Viv interviews someone connected with books. In this case Michael Crowley author of "Remember Me to My Comrades - Letters and Diaries of The International Brigade" Barnthorn Books. It features the words of men from UK and Ireland who fought in the Spanish Civil War.  Unfortunately technical issues meant it could not be broadcast. So here it is. The next episode of Real Voices of Happy Valley will be a more general chat with Michael

Halifax Street Angels work to meet the needs of those who have become vulnerable on a night out, those who have been spiked, are victims of crime, had accidents or who have had too much to drink and as a consequence are in need of support. The organisation has been going for 13 years and aim to make Halifax a safe place to be. Each year the Angels provide around 13,000 volunteer hours and help approximately 3,000 people. On Saturday nights they have a base at Angels Rest Café, 15 Crossley Street, from where they go out on patrols around the t...

Nick Williamson opened The Exchange in Todmorden at the end of 2025. There you can buy, sell or exchange records, books, CDs etc. There is a wide range to choose from, especially if you like your music. Some of the people connected with the shop run record labels and Nick has good links with venues like The Golden Lion across the road. After years of running bookstalls and DJing Nick brought his love of music and books together. Hear what he has to say.

In this episode Dave talks to Jenny Slaughter about the CELT Kitchen – Calderdale Ecological Land Trust. This is a community managed café providing organic, mostly vegetarian meals made by local chefs from local produce. It happens each month at Wadsworth Community Centre, Old Town, and is a lovely event on a pay as you can basis. The menu varies from month to month, though much of it has been mediterranean over the summer. For information about when the meals happen email [email protected] or Pennine Cropshare Facebook page and https://penninecropshare.co.uk/

Bob and Carol Bridgestock retired from the police in Calderdale and were persuaded to talk and then write about their experiences: Bob as a detective and Carol as admin. The result is a series of books featuring detectives Jack Dylan and Charley Mann. Here they explain how the books came about, their writing process and their involvement with the TV series Happy Valley

Before embarking on Season Three of Real Voices of Happy Valley Viv and Dave visited Ireland, recorded a radio show, Viv and Dave's Allsorts  in Galway (Tuesdays 12-2pm www.caldervalleyradio.co.uk) and a podcast about their trip. Here it is. It will be followed by another season of chats with some of the interesting people of the valley

Real Voices comes to an end (for now). After 100 episodes we are talking a break. We’ll  be back with a different podcast in the future which we will tell people about on our Real Voices of Happy Valley Facebook page. In this final episode we chat with dr Andrew McTominey of Pennine Heritage, based at the Birchcliffe Centre in Hebden Bridge about his Pennine Stories project which aims to engage the community more in using their archives and adding to the 70,000 images and stories they have. Check out their digital archives at www.pennineheritage.org.uk 

In the second of Dean's 'turn the tables episode' Dean Wilkinson of Calder Valley Radio talks to Dave about aspects of his life and work and gains an insight into the origins of Real Voices of Happy Valley

As we approach 100 episodes, which was always our target, our colleague at Calder Valley Radio asked if he could ‘turn the tables’ and ask us questions. So we agreed. In this episode he asked Viv to talk about her life and how we got to be in Calder Valley doing podcasts with local people…

Viv and Dave chat with Sue Knowles who tells us about Todmorden Food Drop In. Originally at St Mary’s Church the drop in outgrew the space available and is now based at Todmorden College. Providing on average 260 family food parcels each week, the drop in serves Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and surrounding areas. For more information on how to drop in and how to donate search for Todmorden Food Drop In or go to Todmorden Food Drop in on Facebook or the website https://tlchub.org.uk › todmorden-food-drop-in

This episode features Viv and Dave’s chat with Arsalan who works at St Augustine’s Centre, Halifax, and Sean McGonigle, a trustee. Arsalan is from Kurdistan, which doesn’t exist as an independent country. It is covered by parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, none of which treat Kurds well. He discusses the process of seeking asylum, getting refugee status, co-ordinating activities at St Augustine’s and his beloved Liverpool Football Club. (Dave and Sean are both from Liverpool and support Everton FC).

Julie Thorpe is the manager/chief executive officer at Todmorden Learning Centre – Tod College as its generally known. Here Julie tells Viv and Dave about the wide range of community activities and classes available, all designed to bring community benefit through education, skill sharing and fun activities. There’s literally something for everyone, and if you can’t find what you want support is available to start it up. It is all run by the people of the area. More information at www.tlchub.org.uk or just drop in and ask

Here Viv chats with Anna Chilvers, who is the author of several novels, has written about walking the East Coast and teaches groups and one-to-one mentoring sessions for writers. Originally from the midlands Anna has lived in Calder Valley for many years. You can find her at www.annachilvers.co.uk. She refers to a song by experimental band Hen Ogledd called Etheldrada which you can find on YouTube and various other music platforms

Before Clare became a Forest Therapy Guide she was involved on a lot of creative projects with young people in Manchester and Calderdale. here she talks about international, steamed dance projects bring together young people in the UK, across Europe and the Caribbean... all when the internet was very new and a mystery to many

In episode 92 Viv and Dave chat with Clare Donegan about her influences and role as a Forest Therapist working with local communities on creativity, mindfulness and engaging with nature. You can get more information and find out about group sessions at www.claredonegan.com

No guest in episode 91. Viv chats to Dave about his weekend managing the North Sea Stage at Musicport in Whitby, a world music festival. Getting bands on and off stage, keeping their equipment safe, mending the wobbly stage flooring and generally ensuring all went well. An insight into one of those roles that, if it goes well, no one notices.

Creedy has been part of Hebden Bridge culture for many years. As a musician, a radio organiser, presenter and youth worker among other things. Irrepressible, enthusiastic and creative, he has made his impact on valley life and long may that continue. Hear some of his multifaceted history and some future plans

Viv talks to Luke White of the Men’s Book Club, based in Todmorden with members from all over the valley. He talks about how and why he set up a men’s book club, which has attracted a large number of members. Luke tells Viv about the kind of books they read – all fiction but not all written by men. The book club meets on the second Thursday of each month at The Fox (formerly The Pub) in Todmorden. This is an extended version of an interview Viv played on her monthly Bookends radio show at www.caldervalleyradio.co.uk<

We talk to Leonie Nimmo about efforts to ensure land workers in Palestine get support and appropriate seeds for the future food security of the region. Many people in the Calder Valley show support for the plight of Palestinians in demonstrations, showing films and organising fundraising gigs among other things. Local woman Leonie has been involved in food security here, in Manchester and internationally since the millennium. She talks about some of the practical food related things people can do. More information can be found at landworkersalliance.org.uk. She is looking for help locally, any messages to Real...

Dave talks to Maureen and John Readle, local volunteers with the Canal and River Trust, keeping our canal in good condition, clearing towpaths and maintaining the locks. They say is payback for their years of canal holidays, but others volunteer for plenty of reasons of their own. Find out more about the canal system and how to volunteer at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Viv and Dave chat with Mark Wibsey who introduced walking football to Calder Valley. He is part of Calder Valley Strollers, one of several clubs open to new members. There are clubs in Mytholmroyd, Todmorden, Halifax and Burnley, it is available on several days through the week and there are Sunday sessions at Todmorden Sports Centre. It is good exercise, available to people who have always played and those who never had the opportunity because of the old rules on girls and women playing. There are fewer injuries too, so it is a very accessible form of the ‘beautiful ga...

Dave and Viv speak to Peter Lassey of the White Ribbon Campaign UK which started in Mytholmroyd and aims to prevent violence against women and girls. It does this by addressing the root causes of men’s violence against women: harmful attitudes, behaviours around gender and harmful expressions of masculinity that perpetuate gender inequality and gender-based violence. Find out more about white ribbon at www.whiteribbon.org.uk

Viv and Dave talk to Madeleine Brooks and other members of the Gledhill Community Project about their plans to create a safe play and community space with seating, planters and sensory garden on a piece of land used for many years for illegal tipping. The area in Gledhill Street, Todmorden – between Adelaide Street and Victoria Road – needs clearing to make it safe and there is plenty of work for the local residents still to do. More members of the valley community bringing benefit to their area. You can find more information on their Facebook page ‘Gledhill Street Community Garden Projec

Dave & Viv chat with Jenny Shepherd of Ban the Burn and Sarah Crane of For Peat’s Sake about the proposed Wind Farm on Walshaw Moor. They believe this would damage the peat moors which are essential for the environment to slow the flow of water down the hillsides and cause further flood problems for the area. They have had to learn a lot about the science of the environment and keep up to date on research. While being supporters of sustainable energy sources they maintain that in this case it creates more problems than it solves

Satnam Singh, post master at Hebden Bridge, Banking Hub manager in Todmorden and charity activist. Satnam does not merely donate, he acts, whether it is jumping out of an airplane or trekking to Everest Base Camp. Satnam puts in a lot of effort for charities, partly because it is a part of his Sikh culture, partly because he’s just a decent man. Listen to his adventures on his eight day trek to Everest famous base camp area….and back

Satnam Singh is a well known face in Hebden Bridge after running the Post Office for 15 years. He is now getting known in Todmorden as he manages the Banking Hub at Tod College, bringing bank services back to the town. Satnam airs his views on the importance of banking to the community, new technology and his own experiences of the post office scandal. Then Dave asked him about his charity work and trek to Everest Base Camp…the answer will fill up the next episode of Real Voices of Happy Valley …

We are proud to chat with Issy Pollard, Calder Valley's own Lioness, one of the players praised as ground breakers by the current crop of Women's Football Euro Champions, and thanked by them. Issy grew up in Old Town with supportive parents and teachers, was first picked for England at 16, a member of the Euro 97 squad, she now scouts and supports young female footballers. Many also know her as the owner of Rocket Dogz and she loves walking dogs on the moors around the area. What a star

Viv and Dave meet Roger King in Calder Holmes Park Hebden Bridge,  just after a  Dancing for Life session. The group meet every Wednesday morning to dance outdoors, in all weathers, because it is refreshment the mind and body. Roger is also a DJ and counsellor, very Calder Valley.

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 sc...

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 hi...

Daz Jones is well known in the Calder Valley as a Practice Nurse and musician primarily. He has also been part of Daz n Dave’s Disco, at Cabaret Heaven among others, and is  popular on stages locally and at festivals/venues far and wide. Here Daz chats about his life, attitude to life and how he thoroughly enjoys the life he’s had so far. Splendid chap.