Real Voices of Happy Valley

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 in a small but growing Pakistani c

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. Listen to Daniel talking abou

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 odds

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 the outline plans they are hoping to

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 the reinvigorated group a

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 generation' who has

Richard 'Wally' Woodcock and Steve Andrews have been part of the Calder Valley music scene since the 1970s. Wally was with Trevor Beaes 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 Andrews had been in the Zeds ea

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 for a while and is now back in the