Local Life on Mix 92.6

De Havilland Aircraft Museum Podcast – Part 1

De Havilland is an important part of our local history and the De Havilland Aircraft Museum in London Colney documenrs this wonderfully. Jonny Seabrook was welcomed by Derek Lamb, a volunteer at the museum, who guided him around the museum. Their chat is here as a two part podcast. 

Matilda – Access All Areas Backstage Podcast

St Albans Girls School are presenting their first school musical drama production since COVID and it is MATILDA - THE MUSICAL. Join the STAGS Radio and podcast club as they go behind the scenes with interviews, discussion and all the backstage gossip.

Anything but Footy

Podcast creator and producer John Cushing explains to Local Life the production services that he and his colleague Michael Weadock are providing to a multitude of different sports after a working lifetime in broadcast radio with a focus on news and sport.  It is indeed anythingbutfooty.com.

Why do birds fly south for the winter?

Local nature correspondent Rupert Evershed asks a simple seasonal question – but the answer might not be the one you expect.

Winter beds project

Lucy Gaygusuz, Trustee at Open Door, tells Rob Pearman about the plans to help and then keep local rough sleepers off the streets for the second Covid winter.  This year – as last year – the project involves Open Door, Centre 33, Hightown Housing, Emmaus and the District Council and this year with the additional ... Read more

Youth Talk Ep 2

Chris Tillin chats with Youth Talk CEO David Barker and fundraiser Phill Coates about the fantastic work the charity are doing as we approach Christmas

Local wild life under threat

Nature correspondent Rupert Evershed calls for support in the campaign to save Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits – home to a wide range of birds and other wildlife – from potential loss if the Bowmans Cross development proposed by Hertsmere Borough Council is approved.  Consultation closes on 6th December.

A perfect storm

John Mulholland, Trustee and Warehouse Manager at St Albans & District Foodbank, explains to Rob Pearman how the service works, how much it has increased over recent years (it now has six distribution points), and how the combination of increasing prices, the ending of the Covid uptick to Universal Credit and of the furlough scheme, ... Read more

An old friend returns

It’s been thirty years since local nature observer, writer and correspondent Rupert Evershed was last visited by a Spotted Flycatcher.  They had once been annual visitors so he was delighted to see them back again – even though now as migrants rather than nesting birds and also, sadly, on the ‘red list’ as an endangered ... Read more

Nature’s variety

Local naturalist and correspondent Rupert Evershed (see podcast series: Local Life – Nature Notes) believes that experiencing nature’s variety is as good as a rest.  His recent experience of land and sea birds around The Scilly Isles included discoveries about the house sparrow and the magpie, but also an encounter with the rarely seen tiny ... Read more

Tales of the Weird

One of a series of publications by the British Library, ‘Crawling Horror – Creeping Tales of the Insect Weird’ is edited by Daisy Butcher and Janette Leaf, respectively postgraduate researchers at Hertfordshire University and Birkbeck, University of London.   They have searched the archives for 19th and 20th  century tales about insects – some good, some ... Read more

Local help for Afghan evacuees

Stacey Turner, founder of the local mental health charity It’s OK to Say started to plan ways to help newly arrived evacuees from Kabul who were facing the trauma of their unplanned exit from their homeland .  She soon realised that many of them – having left Afghanistan in haste – had very real immediate ... Read more

An Orchid Summer

Highlights of a locked down year

A feast for all seasons

The High Street Life – Pubs

The High Street Life podcast is presented by Roma Bhowmick and Leona Fensome and is a six-part series looking at life as an independent retailer on the St Albans High Street. The series is sponsored by the St Albans BID (Business Improvement District) and will share with you, the stories, triumphs and challenges of business owners and managers who serve our community on a daily basis. In this sixth and last episode, we chat with two general managers of local businesses,  Mad Squirrel Taproo...

One tile short of a …….

When someone knocks on your door and tells you he can fix that loose tile, beware.  It’s odds on he’s a scammer aiming to rip you off.  HCC Trading Standards Officer Darren Ward tells Local Life some hair-raising tales of the tricks these scammers play and how much it can end up costing you.

Energy saving scams that cost

We’re all doing our best to help in the fight against climate change, so it’s no surprise that scammers have decided that is where we’re most vulnerable.  Trading Standards Officer Darren Ward explains on Local Life how the ‘energy-efficiency scammers’ work, what to watch out for and – above all – how to save yourself ... Read more

‘This is a text from Royal Mail…..’

Well actually, it isn’t.  And if you ‘click on one’ as invited, you could soon be handing over access to all your banking details.  Darren Ward of HCC Trading Standards explains how the scammers use a simple text about an undelivered package (supposedly from Royal Mail or Amazon or DPD or…..) to get into your ... Read more

Not what they pretend to be…..

Anyone who owns a phone, a computer, a letter box or even a front doorbell is a target for the scammers (which means all of us).  On Local Life, HCC Trading Standards Officer Darren Wood explains the tricks the scammers use – focusing this time on the ‘Nottingham Knockers’ and the rogue fish sellers, who ... Read more

The High Street Life – Independent Professional Services

The High Street Life podcast is presented by Roma Bhowmick and Leona Fensome and is a six-part series looking at life as an independent retailer on the St Albans High Street. The series is sponsored by the St Albans BID (Business Improvement District) and will share with you, the stories, triumphs and challenges of business owners and managers who serve our community on a daily basis. In this fifth episode, we chat with three managers of local businesses,  Debenhams Ottaway Managing Partner...

Wheathampstead Dramatic Society

Local Life welcomed Robert Naylor-Stables, current Play Director at one of the District’s best known amateur dramatic societies. Rob Pearman asked him to tell us what they’ve achieved over the past 75 years, what they see as their contribution to the local community, how they coped with the lockdown and what’s coming up when they ... Read more

OVO and The Maltings Theatre

Adam Nichols, Artistic Director at OVO and The Maltings, tells Local Life what the company aims to achieve through live performance, how they’ve used streaming during the lockdowns, and what happens next – including their management of and performances at the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival (28 May – 11 July) plus other productions to ... Read more

Back on stage with musical theatre

Celebrating 70 years since its foundation, St Albans Musical Theatre Company can’t wait for the lockdown to be eased so they can get back on stage.  Choreographer and performer Elise Betts tells Rob Pearman what SAMTC does, why and how – plus how you can join them whatever your skill or aspiration.  The first new ... Read more

Easter Reflection

Canon Tim Bull, the Director of Ministry for St Albans, presents an Easter reflection

Composer, pianist and painter

In the first of his short series for Local Life on jazz greats, local music man David Ireson looks at the life and music of George Gershwin - from Tin Pan Alley and Broadway to Hollywood.

Masks, music, dance, video and more

This podcast – in the series looking at theatre activities in and around St Albans –  focuses on Trestle Arts Base and Trestle Theatre Company (now in its 40th year, with a celebratory exhibition due to open at St Albans Museum+Gallery on 17 May).  Creative Director Helen Barnett explains the history of the company and ... Read more

Abbey Theatre

Abbey Theatre Manager Tina Swain and Production Executive Karen Thomas tell Local Life how the theatre and The Company of Ten have coped with the past year’s lockdowns, how they adapted through live streaming, recording and hybrid performances, and what the plans are for the anticipated re-opening from 18 May.  Also how how they produced ... Read more

Lent 2021 Week 3

Rev Caroline Keighley the Vicar of St Mark’s Colney Heath presents a reflection for the 3rd week of Lent.

Gershwin – the man and his music

Local music maker and performer David Ireson introduces George Gershwin, one of the giants of 20th Century music.

Feed the birds

Local nature correspondent Rupert Evershed encourages those of us with an outside space to feed the birds – not just in winter months but all year round.

RV Reflection by Rev Richard Watson

As part of our seasonal reflections Rev Richard Watson the Vicar of St Saviour's Sandpit Lane presented a reflection on the second week of Lent.

Lent Reflections 2021

The Radio Verulam Lent Reflections have returned for 2021. Listen on the radio every Sunday at 9.45am and Wednesday at 7.45am. Week 1 features Peter Crumpler from St Paul's Church on the Hatfield Rd. Coming up we we'll welcome  Richard Watson, Caroline Keightley, Kirsty Wainwright, Tim Bull and Kim Quak-Winslow.

Helping the over-60s

The pandemic has not been kind to those living on limited income, at whatever age.  But for those over 60, a single unexpected event can push you to the edge.  Kate Newton, Grants Manager at St Albans Old People's Trust, explains how the Trust can help individuals in need - and has done so to the tune of £200,000 in the past year.  Kate also describes other projects helping local people, including the Warmer Homes initiative and explains how many people are unaware that they can claim Pension...

Any unwanted laptops?

Don't leave those old laptops (or tablets, smartphones etc) just gathering dust.  They can be put to great use by Computer Friendly, a local charity now refurbishing unwanted devices and getting them into the hands of local kids who don't have their own means of connecting with their online home schooling.  Guaranteed protection for your old data by cleaning or destroying the discs.  The kids need your help now!

The High Street Life – Independent Wellness & Beauty

The High Street Life podcast is presented by Roma Bhowmick and Leona Fensome and is a six-part series looking at life as an independent retailer on the St Albans High Street. The series is sponsored by the St Albans BID (Business Improvement District) and will share with you, the stories, triumphs and challenges of business owners and managers who serve our community on a daily basis. In this fourth episode, we chat with wellness & beauty founders,  Eve & Adam Beauty Clinic CEO Sally-Anne S...

Helping local groups during Covid

Helen Gray, CEO of Hertfordshire Communities Foundation, reports on the huge pressure on local charities/voluntary groups and the people they serve.  Thanks to the Foundation's long history of fund raising, it has been able to assist many that were struggling to cope - and in some cases survive - during the pandemic.

100 birds and counting….

Nature correspondent Rupert Evershed records sighting of his 100th bird in this area - the yellow browed warbler.

Patience brings its own reward

Nature correspondent Rupert Evershed encourages us to be patient and let nature take its course.

When does autumn begin?

As we headed from 'free-to-roam' summer 2020 into the second lockdown, nature correspondent Rupert Evershed asked when autumn really begins.

Covid and the way we look at nature

With more people taking country walks during the pandemic, a nationwide survey shows, not surprisingly, that interest in wildlife has increased significantly.

In nature, variety really is the spice of life

Nature correspondent Rupert Evershed describes the wide variety of creatures, sounds and images that nature offers us in the summer months.

Master of the skies

A look back to the summer months when the Swift, master of the skies and unrivalled in its dexterity but with a song that sounds like a scream, drew the attention of nature correspondent Rupert Evershed.

Advent Reflections – Week 4 Peter Crumpler : Love

Rev Peter Crumpler from St Paul's Church St Albans shares an advent reflection on the theme of love.  

Headway Hertfordshire

John Archer, CEO of the local branch of national charity Headway, explains its work with those who have experienced acquired brain injury - whether resulting from a medical condition or a traumatic event.  As recent press coverage has highlighted, sports such as soccer and rugby are now areas of concern.

Energy costs

June Chapman, CEO of Citizens Advice St Albans, offers some timely guidance on ways to keep energy costs as low as possible.

Cabaret Mechanical Marvels at the Museum+Gallery

St Albans Museum+Gallery is open again.  And with a brand new exhibition in The Weston Gallery that's perfectly timed for the Christmas and New Year season.  Curator Sarah Keeling tells Local Life all about Cabaret Mechanical Marvels and everything else you can see now and for the next many weeks....

What’s on at St Albans Cathedral during Tier Two?

Now it's open, now it's closed, now it's open again!  Head Guide Stephen de Silva tells Local Life presenter Rob Pearman where things now stand for St Albans Cathedral - open for private visits and for safely guided tours, some services streamed and others ready to welcome a smaller number of participants than usual - and how to book for a service or a tour.

Advent 2 – Hope

The Rev Caroline Keighley, the Vicar of St Mark's Colney Heath, shares a reflection on Hope for the 2nd week of Advent

BID in time of lockdown

Denise Parsons, Manager of St Albans BID, tells Local Life listeners what it's like for local businesses in these difficult times but also has some good news to share from the pandemic.