The u3a is an organisation that brings retired people together to share their interests and skills. People can continue to pursue interests and/or develop new ones. There are people in their 80s able to play badminton and cricket in safe environments, there are people studying languages, philosophy and history. There are scrabble and board games gr…

Keith Crabtree, born in Cornholme, lived in Todmorden all his life, worked for Environmental Health at Calderdle council and became a flood warden on his retirement. Now a flood volunteer, Keith has views on the lack of maintenance that contributes to floods up and down Calder Valley through Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Walsden and places…

Nicola Warren is a popular as a School Crossing Patrol getting children and parents safety across the road to their school. There is so much more to her life than that as people who cross roads every day of term times realise. Listen to Nicola about her role and her views on the strange goings on in the valley…

Madeleine Brooks is a singer songwriter living in Todmorden. She runs an open mic at The Puzzle Hall, Sowerby Bridge and, ‘cut her teeth’ on the stage at Hebden Bridge Trades Club – a real voice of happy valley. After playing gigs, running nights at Nelson's Wine Bar, supporting some of the best musicians to visit the valley and being nominated at …

Catherine Shelley, is kept busy by being vicar of St Mary’s Todmorden, St Peter’s, Walsden and St Michael’s, Cornholme. Catherine, originally from Manchester, gave up a career in law to follow her faith. She’s been chaplain at Birmingham University, worked in Southwark, south London and is now settled in Todmorden. She is heavily involved in many a…

Episode 54 features Jill Robinson talking about her Berringden Brow books - and the life and adventures of Jess, a single mother in a Pennine town. It’s not quite autobiographical, but everything in the books has happened to someone, including Jill. Discover the importance of observing people, the things they say and how that turns into believable …

Episode 53 of Real Voices of Happy Valley is a chat with Natalie George of Big Tree which now runs the Oddfellows Hall, next to Todmorden Market. The building has a long history as an entertainment hub and now features a ground floor café Branch Out and several spaces available for functions, workshops, club nights and a gig venue. Community minded…

Claire Convallaria interested Viv with her work on projects encouraging and enabling girls into science education and careers. Like so many we speak to on Real Voices, she does far more than that. Claire also advises on business sustainability – how businesses can be socially and environmentally as well as economically sustainable. This requires he…

Mark Simmonds has advised many communities on saving community assets like shops, pubs, skate parks and much more, generally by creating community co-operatives. This means investing in your community rather than for profit - though dividends can be paid out. Heptonstall Post Office and the Fox and Goose pub are juts two examples of community asset…

Alison Redfern created a scarecrow festival to help raise funds for St Peter's Church. Seven years later Walsden Scarecrow Festival is part of the local calendar, brings the village together with people from further afield, funds local community activities and brightens up the village for a weekend every September…

Keith Wilson is a well known face in the Calder Valley and many have seen the results of his skills in stone walling, treeplanting, coppicing etc without realising. Admire his work in the beer garden at The Fox & Goose in Hebden Bridge for example. A benefit to the community and environment, Keith is very much a grafter…

Ashleigh Cooper has been in Calder Valley for 35 years and has retired from his antique dealer job (mostly). He works at the RSPCA shop in Hebden Bridge and is active in sports for the not-so-young, coaching walking cricket, playing walking football ... and pub quizzes. This Londoner loves The North and its people. The feeling is mutual.…

Viv and Dave chat with Cath Baker mostly about her work protecting badgers. There are people who deliberately attack badgers but many are inadvertently injured or killed by cars, people digging or building in places badgers live. The Calderdale Badger Protection Group work with wildlife officers and local vets to help. Have a listen and find out ho…

Aid Todd set up Drum Machine to reflect western rhythms and culture. It has grown to be a mainstay of festivals, locally and nationally and many valley residents have been part of it. Meanwhile Aid has been part of several successful bands including Limehouse Lizzy and most recently he has joined the EMF, just back for a tour of the USA. Hear his s…

Louisa set up Keep Tod Tidy and works closely with community wardens to organise monthly clean up days in the town centre ad around the estates of Todmorden. As ever, she's a lot more than that. Here she chats with Viv and Dave about her community activities, work at after school clubs and an interesting holiday job on the beaches of the Mediterran…

Viv and Dave sit in their garden and chat about their afternoon at Todmorden Country Fair; the animals, charities and displays. Great fun, interesting people.Από τον Dave Boardman

Viva and Dave chat with Steve Hindle, of the Bridestones moor community group aiming to restore Bridestones and moorland above Todmorden to its ancient state. This would involve the re introduction of various plant life and the enrichment of the local ecology while maintaining public access and educational opportunities. Yet more local people bring…

Des Horsfall discusses highlights of his career in music: solo and band work, working with Alexis Korner, collaborating with Pete Townshend of The Who and his Kuschty Rye project inspired by the post Small Faces and Faces work of bass player and songwriter Ronnie LaneΑπό τον Dave Boardman

Viv chats to Mica May of women's plumbing company Stopcocks about the issues women face in skilled trades and the register of tradeswomen they have set up. More information online at Stopcocks.uk and 08008620010Από τον Dave Boardman

Outside the Ring O' Bells pub in Halifax Dave chats with Elliot and Andy from Andy's Man Club. The club was set up in response to the self inflicted death of Andy Roberts in Halifax in 2016. It exists to get men talking and supporting each other in dealing with life's issues. You don't have to be in crisis to go to an Andy's Man Club meeting, as on…

Leona Johnson has been involved in a Forest School, Live Wild, a social worker and transformational life coach … among other things. Her mission – her passion - is to connect people with nature and each other. Viv and Dave met up with her in Mytholmroyd and heard about wildings holiday cubs, live wild family activities and fire questing. Have a lis…

Dave chats with Ash, Newcastle born Calder valley based artist whose current project sees him exploring his family and his heritage. Ash is doing this partly for himself after the loss of his mother and also for his own children who are also gaining interest in their heritage. Fascinating stories about being brought up in the North East of England …

Lucy Illingworth has astonished people all her life with her amazing musicality. She is blind, has serious learning difficulties but took local Facebook pages by storm before appearing on and 'winning' Channel Four TV show The Piano. This has led to concerts at The Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Classic FM, further TV appearances and more. Liste…

Viv and Dave chat with Daniel Bath - officially an 'outstanding citizen' of Calder Valley - about music education, his own live music and how he got Music for the Many into being. Part two will feature his work with Lucy Illingworth, winner of Channel Four's The Piano, against all the oddsΑπό τον Dave Boardman

The guys catch up after a long time away from Stoker Studios. This episode was done for April 20th but it's really just BSing. Castbox: https://castbox.fm/episode/Happy-Valley-Pilot-id1184664-id66985600?country=us Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-valley-podcast/id1352839054?mt=2 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/happy-va…

Hebdenroyd Swimming Association has long wanted a swimming pool in the Hebden Bridge / Mytholmroyd area. The plans are now for a clean water outdoor swimming pool for the valley. The association is hoping to create a safe, clean pool large enough for swimming, kayaking and even sub aqua use. Sauna, changing area, cafe and nature trail are all in th…

Today we finally got the long awaited announcement on the renewal for For All Mankind....but wait....there's more! Share your thoughts: HappyValleyFAM@gmail.com See more of Donnie: https://www.youtube.com/@TechWinnerCC See more of Brian: https://goprospex.com/Από τον Brian Chaney, Donnie Gordon

Louise Heppleston is a 'dogsbody'. This involves hiding on the moors for an hour or two waiting to be found by dogs as part of their training in finding people lost who need rescuing by Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team - the sort of thing few people know actually happens but essential in training dogs to hep save lives. Louise is also part of t…

Val Stevens, campaigner for the environment, women's rights and the welfare of older people. She was a councillor and deputy leader at Manchester City Council, councillor and mayor of Hebdenroyd and resident of Manchester, France and now Mytholmroyd. A woman who has spoken her mind and cared for people throughout her life. A member of the 'silent g…

Richard 'Wally' Woodcock and Steve Andrews have been part of the Calder Valley music scene since the 1970s. Wally was with Trevor Beales in Havana Lake, then The Outfit and settled into the Owter Zeds in 2000. He plays guitar with blues band the 844s and records with Steve as Uncle Wally and Uncle Steve. Meanwhile multi instrumentalist Steve Andrew…

Viv and Dave chat with Chris Green, long time resident of Calder Valley who has just returned form a bicycle tour of parts of India. He tells of the adventure of travelling by bike, train and ferry and some of the events that happened along the way. Fun was had, myths were busted and he's enthused Viv so much she now wants to go to India too…

Viv and Dave chat with Suzanne Oulton. Suzanne is heavily involved in her community in Todmorden: sports, brass band, church, walking group ... and she was part of the supporters associations that saved Bury Football Club after its financial demise. Suzanne may be the busiest person so far to appear in Real Voices of Happy Valley.…

Viv and Dave chat with Jim Brierley. He has been a significant part of the music scene in Calder Valley for decades. Drummer with R n B band Mean Business for many years, Jim also set up the Riverside Festival which ran in Calder Holmes Park, Hebden Bridge form 1995 to 2003. With Jane his wife he lived in France - even commuting across the channel …

Viv and Dave chat with Sara Robinson at St Augustine's Centre, Halifax. The centre provides support for asylum seekers and refugees who have come to the UK after fleeing from their country of origin for a variety of reasons. Generally they have been brought up to see the UK as a place of refuge due to historical links through colonial and commonwea…

After covering season 4, Donnie and Brian are going back through seasons 1 - 3. This is one of our favorite shows, and we can't wait to go back through these episodes with other FAM fans! Check out this announcement episode with some news and updates. Share your thoughts: HappyValleyFAM@gmail.com See more of Donnie: https://www.youtube.com/@TechWin…

John Armstrong was in the Calder Valley before the hippies turned up. he performed at Deeply Vale and Rivington Festivals, was a founder member of the Owter Zeds and has produced an Album reflected his world travels. John likes nothing better than meeting new musicians in new places and collaborating with them. He has also written several books abo…

Nina Smith is very active. Chair of Yorkshire Rail Futures, founding member of Friends of Hebden Bridge Railway Station, active in campaigning for sustainable transport in the area. She is also a long time member of Calder Voices Choir and plays a lot of walking cricket and table tennis. Nina has edited a couple of books published by the Hebden Bri…

The season is over, and Brian and Donnie go over their thoughts on the season as a whole, listener mail, and the 2024 Season 4 FAM awards presented by Donnie! It was a great season, with some big highs and big lows...we're excited to see a season 5 renewal! Share your thoughts: HappyValleyFAM@gmail.com See more of Donnie: https://www.youtube.com/@T…

Sherel Rutherford and Dunc Foster love the valley and its natural resources. They forage natural ingredients for teas and wines and lead foraging and natural wine making events. There is more information on their website www.moonfull.co.ukΑπό τον Dave Boardman

It's the finale of season 4. There were many questions that needed to be tied up, a lot of different theories on where we would head. How does Margo handle the news about Sergei, what happens to the astroid, how badly beaten does Miles get? Does the show deliver on this final episode? Donnie and Brian give their thoughts! Share your thoughts: Happy…

Dave chats with Ian Pepper who runs Technical Difficulties, an open mic night at the Puzzle Hall pub, Sowerby Bridge. Technical Difficulties is a home for experimental music, one of the few (though growing in number) in the West Yorkshire area. This is another example of someone in the valley who thought there was gap in music provision, so decided…

Why Brazil? Because the writers want to hurt us all. Donnie and Brian recap one of the most stressful episodes this season...things are going to go sideways, and there are a 100 ways it could happen. We get to finally see Miles get the crap beat out of him, and the best Ed/Kelly moment. Can't wait for next week! Share your thoughts: HappyValleyFAM@…

The table setting (hopefully) is over, and it's dinnertime! Brian and Donnie unpack the developments in Season 4, Episode 8. Sergei is back and it's beautiful. Can't say enough about these scenes...this is what we deserved. We also dive into the drama at Happy Valley, Ed/Alex bond, we get an Ocean's sub plot, and Dev continues to play 4D chess. Sha…

Miles gets 6 seconds too many screen time, the strike takes shape, mistakes are made, and Dev goes full bond villain. Overall this has been a great season, but there is a split in enthusiasm between Donnie and Brian. Can the writers land the ship in these last 3 episodes? We are confident they can. Come nerd out with us, and let us know your though…

Viv and Dave talk to Pam Warhurst about her role as Chair of the Todmorden Book Festival. Pam explains why it is called a 'book' festival and why it is important for the town and reflects the cultural diversity of Todmorden. She also indicates how she'd like it to develop in the context of Todmorden's town plan.…

Another banger of an episode...a bit slower, but some hard punches. We get to see Ed go Super Saiyan antagonist, we get the Aleida/Margo reunion we deserved, and Miles turns full garbage. The show continues to weave earth politics and space is an amazing way, with 4 episodes and a whole lot of unanswered questions...the biggest of which, is Danny S…

Wow. "Hi Bob" is dead...where do we go from here. 5 episodes left and we have already had some of the best FAM episodes of all time. We cover the huge moments with Al Gore being Al Gore, Ed and Dani being Ed and Dani, and Dev breaking our hearts. Share your thoughts: HappyValleyFAM@gmail.com See more of Donnie: https://www.youtube.com/@TechWinnerCC…

Beth is a young mother of two who is always busy and always seemingly optimistic. After having had to give up on the hospitality trade due to the pandemic - restaurants in Hebden Bridge and Hipperholme - she did care work, was a receptionist and retrained as a masseuse, running her own business in Todmorden. Meanwhile she raises money for Medical A…

Is "House Divided" the best episode this season? We think so. We get big moves in Russia, Epic and Heartbreaking Dani/Ed drama, potentially lose a character we just met and love. And dumb Miles stuff. Check out out, let us know what you think! Share your thoughts: HappyValleyFAM@gmail.com See more of Donnie: https://www.youtube.com/@TechWinnerCC Se…

"The Bear Hug" did not disappoint. Love us some Wrenn Schmidt, and that's what we get in this episode. The Soviet coup is so well told, especially through Margot's eyes. It was like you were right there with her, feeling every tense moment. Wren Schmidt, who plays Margot, seriously needs an award for this one. We get more of Miles and his black mar…