Podcasts about The Royal British Legion

Petersfield Town Council unanimously appointed Chris Paige, Town Councillor for Rams Hill, as Petersfield’s new mayor at its meeting on 29 May 2025. Cllr Jamie Matthews, for Bell Hill, is the new Deputy Mayor.Outgoing mayor, Cllr Lesley Farrow, was thanked for all her work and she wished Chris every success.Chris is also the Council's Armed Forces Champion and is well known for his work with the military community veterans and the Royal British Legion. The Mayor’s charities for this year will be the Scouts and the Winton House Centre.Chris’s family - his wife Rebecca and two younger brothers, Martin and Jamie - spoke of their pride in Chris. Mike Waddington reports from the meeting . Report potholes to Hampshire County Council but only use problem/potholes or HCC's App.The Town Council papers are on line here: https://petersfieldtc.sharepoint.com/sites/Unrestricted/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FUnrestricted%2FShared%20Documents%2FCOUNCIL%2FAGENDAS%2FScan%20Agendas%2F2025%2D26%2FAgenda%20Full%20Council%2029%2E05%2E25%20%2B%20docs%20%28non%2Dconfidential%29%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FUnrestricted%2FShared%20Documents%2FCOUNCIL%2FAGENDAS%2FScan%20Agendas%2F2025%2D26&p=true&ga=1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Episode is dedicated to the memory and honor of the service of Dan Allen and Dominic Snyder.Special Thank You to the Liverpool Football Club and the Royal British Legion for hosting these families."Thank you to the amazing organizations of TAPS, SSAFA, and Home Base for bringing together healed hearts and healed families." - Dustin Snyder.The 2nd Annual Run To Anfield is coming up – AUGUST 2nd, 2025 – So come join us or Run/Walk or support with us virtually anywhere in the world. Especially if you are a Liverpool fan of course.Go to: www.liverpoolfc.com/foundation/run-anfield ______________Run To Home Base: Join Ron and his team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base on July 26th, 2025, at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.orgPlease go to homebase.org for updates, programming, and resources if you or anyone you know is struggling. Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, service members, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. If you want to learn more about how to help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.

Michelle Ford talks with Shannon Saise Marshall Chair of the Surrey branch of the Royal British Legion.

Petersfield’s Mayor, Cllr Lesley Farrow, the Reverend Will Hughes and the Royal British Legion led the celebrations of more than 500 people in the Square. This was the formal ceremony The crowd included a contingent of serving soldiers from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from Aldershot and school students dressed as evacuees. Julie Butler and Mike Waddington spoke to Rev Will Hughes, David who recalls VE Day in Penns Road in1945, Herne Junior school. Chris Paige from the RBL who was the Parade Marshall and people in the audience. Steve Field from the Salvation Army played the Last Post and Faye Thompson, the Town Crier read the official proclamation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 7th May 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: Dynamic Earth website: https://dynamicearth.org.uk/Dynamic Earth X: https://x.com/ourdynamicearthDynamic Earth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/our-dynamic-earth-dynamic-earth-enterprises-ltd-dynamic-earth-charitable-trust-/Mark Bishop joined Dynamic Earth in the summer of 2022. The Edinburgh Science Centre & Planetarium provides science engagement to over 250,000 people a year at the centre and across Scotland. Prior to joining Dynamic Earth, Mark was a director at the National Trust for Scotland for seven years. In the 23 years Mark has been in the voluntary sector, he has also held senior roles at Prostate Cancer UK, Leonard Cheshire Disability and The Royal British Legion. His commercial sector experience includes roles at HarperCollins, Sky, and he co-founded two Internet start-ups. He continues to be a Trustee of Dads Rock, which is a charity dedicated to supporting men to be great parents. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with visitor Attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden. The Millennium Commission was set up by the UK Government to celebrate the turn of the millennium. Funded by the National Lottery, not only did it fund the Millennium Dome, now the O2, it also funded many regional venues, including a number of science centres such as Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, which was the first major millennium attraction in Edinburgh. In this episode, I'm talking to Mark Bishop, the CEO of Dynamic Earth, about those millennium babies and what the next 25 years looks for them. After a career in charity fundraising, Mark moved to the attraction sector in 2015 at the National Trust for Scotland, before becoming CEO of Dynamic Earth nearly three years ago. Now let's get into the interview. Paul Marden: Mark, welcome to Skip the Queue. Mark Bishop: Hi. Morning. How are you? Paul Marden: I'm very good. I'm very good on a very sunny morning here down in Hampshire at the moment. I don't know what the Easter holidays are like up there for you at the moment, Mark. Mark Bishop: Well, people always talk about the weather being different in Scotland, so here in Edinburgh, we had the most amazing first week of spring last week, and that made me sad because indoor visitor attractions often benefit from when it's cloudy or rainy. So I am delighted to say the second half of Easter is terrible outside, but amazing inside our building. Paul Marden: Oh, good. So, visitor numbers are good for you this Easter holiday, are they? Mark Bishop: Well, we had probably the best number of people in since COVID Yesterday. We had 1302 people in. Paul Marden: Wowsers.Mark Bishop: That's great, because to have families and groups in celebrating science in our building during their holiday time makes me happy. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, went. I've been doing day trips with my daughter just recently over the Easter break and you can definitely feel there's lots of people out and about and enjoying themselves over these Easter holidays. So good to hear that it's been kind to you as well. Longtime listeners will know that we always start our interviews with an icebreaker question that you cannot prepare for. So I think I've been kind to you. I've got a couple for you here. This is an A or B question. If you're going out for a night out, is it going to be a concert or is it going to be a museum nighttime exhibition? Mark Bishop: I think I'm supposed to, on behalf of the sector, go for the latter, but I am going to answer it in an authentic way and say A, a concert. So before I had kids, I'd probably go to about 150 concerts a year. Really, in the days when NME existed and it had a print edition and I'd pretty much just buy it, flick it and go, that looks interesting. And go without ever even hearing things because Spotify didn't exist and he goes to stuff and it was terrible or brilliant, but I loved it just from the variety and the surprise factor. Obviously, these days we kind of plan our music events a bit better. We know the artists and in theory we make better choices. But perhaps we don't do such good random things as well. Who knows? Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Okay, now this one's a little bit more in depth. If there is a skill that you could master immediately, what would it be? Mark Bishop: Trying to understand how my three kids think and how I need to respond to that. But I don't think I'm the only parent on the planet that loves seeing the variety of ways they behave. But just question, how on earth did they come to be and think like that? Paul Marden: Yeah, it sounds like almost a kind of being able to speak child and become an interpreter, a child whisperer. Mark Bishop: And I think we, you know, sort of kind of be a bit more profound about these things. As an Earth Science Centre, that predominantly kind of has family audience, actually, some of the best questions we get are from younger people. So sometimes minds are probably more open and liberated. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Well, that's a nice segue, isn't it? So why don't you tell us a little bit about the Dynamic Earth? What stories does the Dynamic Earth try to tell? Mark Bishop: So Dynamic Earth, for those who don't know it, is the Edinburgh Science Centre and Planetarium. And as I'm sure we'll talk about, we were the first out of the millennium babies to launch back on 2nd July 1999. Our building predates being a science centre. It used to be a Scottish and Newcastle brewery. So when people say, I can't organise the proverbial in a brewery, I go, possibly released half row. And in the mid-1990s, they stopped making beer and handed the land over to public benefit. And it's become the UK's leading Earth science centre. So we're very much a science centre, but we're a science centre with a very specific theme around our planet and our universe and the experiences are very deliberately immersive. Mark Bishop: So we allow people to experience in a safe way what it feels like to be in an earthquake, to see a volcanic eruption, to touch a real iceberg, to dive to the bottom of the ocean and then fly out to the outer reaches of space. And we do all of that because we think our planet is beautiful and fascinating and the wonders of the world need to be celebrated. But increasingly, we also want to showcase the perils we're placing on our planet, our only home. We have about a quarter million people come through our doors a year, and that would be families, that'd be tour groups. There'll be a lot of school groups coming in, 30,000 kind of school groups coming in, and then we have about 400 conferences and events a year. Mark Bishop: So we have everything from Arctic conferences, water resilient conferences, and electric aeroplane conferences. You name it, we have it in our building. And I think a lot of the conferences have keynote speakers that tend to be first ministers or senior politicians, because unless somebody can tell me otherwise, I think we are the closest science centre in the world to a seat of government, because the Scottish parliament is 10 yards across the road. Paul Marden: Excellent. So you have the year of government as well? Mark Bishop: We like to think so. Paul Marden: So I've not been to Dynamic Earth yet, and I need to solve that problem. Yeah. But I'm getting a picture in my mind of telling the story around the geology of the planet, and there's going to be lots of physics around. The planetary stuff that you talk about when you take that big zoom out. Are there other elements of the science, the different sciences, that you bring into this storytelling? Is there elements of biology and botany and things like that you bring into this? Mark Bishop: Yeah, absolutely. So, for example, one of the galleries I didn't mention to you is a rainforest gallery. So you go into a tropical rainforest, regardless of what the weather is like outside in Edinburgh and Scotland, you come into a tropical rainforest, but the sounds and smells and sensations of that rainforest immerse you. And we do that because, you know, probably very few people will travel in their lifetime to a tropical rainforest. And there's lots of environmental reasons why you probably wouldn't encourage people to do that. But to be immersed in that space and to feel what it's like to be in a rainforest allows you to understand that it's humans' relationship with the world around them, and that we're not the only beings on this planet. And so hopefully we try and humble people by realising there are other habitats and species than ourselves. Paul Marden: Excellent. So today's episode, what we want to do, we've got a series of episodes that we want to do around the Millennium Project. I've got particular interest in this because my first job whilst I was still at uni was at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, which was a millennium project. So I was there whilst they were digging. I can vividly remember it being a building site, and this dome where they built the gardens, sort of lifted out of the earth. So I felt, I can remember being there and feeling like this was something important, we were building something for the long term. It was an exciting opportunity. And we're at this kind of big anniversary, aren't we, this year, 25 years since many of those millennium projects opened. Paul Marden: And I wanted to kind of look back on those 25 years. Did it work out the way it was planned to work out? Did it turn out to be this exciting new opportunity, building a long term legacy for the country? Were there some growing pains, that kind of thing? And what does the future, what's the next 25 years and beyond look like for those millennium babies? So let's take a little step back because although I was wearing my wellies and walking around a building site, I didn't pay a lot of attention to what drove the investment in the first place. So there was a big explosion, wasn't there, through investment from the Millennium Commission in science centres. So what drove that in the first place? Why did these science centres come into being as a result, the Millennium Commission? Mark Bishop: Well, I think the thing that probably everybody felt in the 90s, from the mid-90s onwards, was you just heard about the millennium coming, as if this was going to be a significant zeitgeist kind of piece. We're all being told that every electronic device was going to break because of the millennium bug. Paul Marden: Yes. Mark Bishop: And that one didn't come to be kind of thankfully. But I think beyond that kind of anxiety piece around technology, there was a sort of spirit of looking to the future, thinking what might be. I felt like a time of optimism and hope. And so therefore it kind of made sense for government and other agencies to invest in thinking about the future, because a lot of museums and galleries and other institutions are fantastic custodians of the past. Mark Bishop: And of course galleries and museums reflect present times in terms of exhibitions and storytelling and interpretation. But there really weren't many science centres or organisations that were specifically existing to help each of us come to terms with what hasn't yet happened. So I think that's probably the kind of founding driving spirit behind it. And Dynamic Earth was very much part of that wave. Paul Marden: You talk a little bit about being a former brewery. How did Dynamic Earth come into being? What, what was the background story to it? Because these things didn't just appear on the high street in the year 2000. They were projects that ran up to that point, weren't they? Mark Bishop: Yeah. And I love going through our limited but really important kind of archive of documents to try and understand these things. And I sort of love heritage because my last job was working at the National Trust for Scotland. So therefore I'm kind of fascinated by the past as well as kind of looking to the future. And so when I go through our kind of archives and records, it shows that we stopped being a brewery in the early 1990s. Scottish Newcastle said to themselves, you know, we want to give the space over to public benefit. At the time, it wasn't defined to be a science centre. And this part of Edinburgh, the bottom end of the Royal Mile, had a royal Palace. It's had that for a long time. But it was pretty much run down housing and factories. Mark Bishop: And so this whole end of town was very down on its luck and everything kind of needed to be thought through again. So Edinburgh City Council and other agencies like Scottish Enterprise and major kind of funders all got behind thinking about this whole part of town in Scotland's capital, rather than just thinking about a side centre. Paul Marden: Right. Mark Bishop: So the land that Scotland Newcastle gave over to doing good things was partly sold off by dynavicarth to allow, you know, to allow flats to be developed next door we've got Rockstar North. The other side of me, we've got the Scottish parliament that opens 24 hours away from Dynamic Earth kind of stuff. So they opened the same week. So it's a whole story of kind of urban capital city regeneration that lies behind that. But very specifically, why did Dynamic Earth become an Earth Science Centre? Yeah, and you can't see it, but if I dramatically look out my window, I can see Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags through Holyrood Park. Anybody who comes to Edinburgh, whose legs allow, will walk up the hill and experience an old volcano and a beautiful view of the city. Mark Bishop: And now the reason that's significant is that a guy called James Hutton, 300 years ago was a real leading light in the Enlightenment, and he managed to challenge all those kind of religious zealots in terms of the age of the planet by studying the rock forms right outside my window. And he went, “Guys, I've got a thought. This wasn't done in a day or seven days”. I'm telling you now, there's billions of years of laying down of rocks and stuff like that. And so, therefore, when we thought, what does this brewery need to become? Mark Bishop: A number of good people said, well, let's make this centre a homage to James Hutton, the idea that the Enlightenment is still alive with us today, the idea that you should be able to challenge existing hard set views by using insight and science to inform your thinking. And then the rest happened. Paul Marden: Excellent. So I didn't know that Edinburgh was the kind of the seat of that thinking around the geological history of the Earth and what drove the purpose for the centre. It makes lots of sense now. So let's talk about opening up. What was that experience like for the Dynamic Earth? I know there were lots of positives for many people. I know lots of millennium attractions didn't bring in the numbers of people that they were perhaps hoping for. What was that early life like at the centre? Mark Bishop: Well, so inevitably, anything that's new attracts a crowd of people who are curious. So the early couple of years were really good from a kind of visitor attraction side of things. But actually quite early on, within the first couple of years, my predecessors realised that you just can't, generally speaking, break even or make a profit from just running a visitor attraction, particularly when your purpose is educational rather than just pure entertainment. Paul Marden: Yes. Mark Bishop: And so our building had the answer built into it, in the sense we have an amazing set of conference suites for businesses, weddings and other kind of celebrations. And so quite early on, we started an events team and that now means we have 400 plus events here a year. Half of them, I would say, are kind of environmental science specific events. But that generates, you know, one and a half getting off £2 million of income ultimately for us. And that's very significant way of A, making sure that we are a place where ideas take place. Our convening power, if you want to call it that, but actually also the net contribution of that is a very significant way to fund any gap you have on the visitor side of things. Paul Marden: Yeah, I should imagine having the seat of Government 10 yards from the building helps with bringing in the events. And that's certainly not going to detract from the events portfolio, is it, being smack in the centre of the city like that? Mark Bishop: Well, if I think, I mean, in the space of what, the last three or four months, ie, 20, 25, we've had the first minister here two or three times, we've had the Deputy First Minister here the other evening. And so therefore, if you're a company or a conference organiser and you want to attract all the good and the great in terms of delegates, knowing there's a senior political figure to do the keynote address is a good way of making your marketing literature kind of really sing. I think, you know. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Mark Bishop: And also from a. I guess for the politicians as well, because their time is in demand, very precious. So the idea that they can reach their key stakeholders on pretty much any topic in the space of 10 yards, half an hour here and then back at your desk within the hour, that's quite attractive from a political perspective. Paul Marden: Absolutely. So, going back to those early days, as your predecessors were finding their feet, of figuring out what operating a science centre was going to be like, what were the growing pains? Were there some challenges along the way? Mark Bishop: So, inevitably, what is brand new doesn't stay new forever. And I think if you design a science centre and retrofit it into a brewery, there's obviously some trade offs in terms of layout and the design. And you have beautiful architects come in and do amazing things for you that look amazing at a kind of brochure, aesthetic level. But when you trade them day in, day out, you do sometimes question the infinite logic behind the design principle. So, for example, if you come through Dynamic Earth, we're a beautiful tented structure like the Millennium Dome or the O2 as it is today. And if you're coming in and you're buying a ticket in person, you would turn left and go to our ticket desk and join the queue there. But then the actual experience side of things is completely on the other side of the building. Mark Bishop: So the intuitive flow of coming in, getting a ticket and joining the experience is designed in a counterintuitive way where, in effect, audiences sort of meet in the middle to a certain extent. So that's probably an example of things that you just wouldn't have got right on day one, but kind of are a gentle living curse for you every day since. Paul Marden: I wonder, though, by retrofitting the centre into this old historic brewery, whether you may not have fallen foul of some of the other attractions that were built around that time, because many of them have got problems with the fabric of the building now, haven't they, these new buildings that perhaps were built with the same level of care and attention that we might lavish on them these days. Mark Bishop: Yeah, I mean, that's a good thing. I sit in this amazing sort office that basically looks like a castle turret. The walls are this thick, you know, they are very sort of stone and authentic. So it's a very authentic historic building, but with new ideas and thinking and experiences within it. So it's a trade off, I guess. Paul Marden: Yeah. So now that these centres are getting to early adulthood, how do you think they're doing? Mark Bishop: Well. Thankfully, the vast majority of science centres and other experiences that launched inspired by the millennium are still in existence. So survival in the first instance is a form of success. And I think that the fact that we're open shows we've all stood the test of time, which I think is an important achievement. I think what's clear from talking to all the science centres that I bump into is we all find it quite challenging to get that balance between your purpose and your profit, trying to get that balance between why you exist in the first place versus how you fund the building, your staff and your other bills. And so that's an ongoing kind of challenge that the original business plans are used to justify an investment probably don't reflect reality 25 years on. Mark Bishop: I think the other thing I would say that's a real shift is I think centres like Dynamic Earth were opened at the time when the Internet was absolutely in its infancy.Paul Marden: Completely. Mark Bishop: And I still remember from my homework and university work, going to libraries and getting books and using physical things to kind of acquire knowledge. And of course, the Internet now means that any facts and figures are available at the touch of a button. So if you want to know about a volcano, you can find as many facts and figures as you want on the Internet, Wikipedia or other sources. It means that Dynamic Earth and other science centres have kind of shifted from simply thinking about ourselves as a knowledge exchange centre to being a place where we inspire people to think for themselves and that. Mark Bishop: I don't know whether that happened on day 4009 or whatever it was, but I definitely think that when you look at what were doing on day one versus what we're doing in our 25th year, there's been a shift in emphasis and approach. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. You're right that all of these facts and figures are the fingertips of the young people who are completely immersed in that as a natural way for them to research. But I've done enough school party visits, I've taken kids to different science centres, and you can't replace the storytelling, you can't replace being immersed in the place that is so powerful. Mark Bishop: I think 100% agree, and you'd be surprised if I didn't say that. But the idea that you learn as a shared experience, either as a school group or a family or a tall group, you have some jokes, you bounce ideas off of each other. And I saw that recently when my daughter came here a few months back for her last primary school visit, aged just 11, coming at 12.  And she begs me over breakfast, she said, “Please, Dad, don't do anything to embarrass me.” And I absolutely, solemnly swore at breakfast, you know, I will not do anything to embarrass you today. And I maintain I kept my promise. Mark Bishop: But when her school bus pulled up outside our building, the doors open, the kids poured out, my daughter's friends all pointed up to the top of the stairs and went, “There's a dinosaur there, Autumn, that's your dad. It's going to be your dad. You know that.” And I hope that you know that their school group had an amazing experience through the galleries, an amazing experience with our learning team and a fantastic sort of outer space experience in the planetarium. But even that sort of jokey bit of Dad's a dinosaur stayed with the kids. So at the end of their year's show, one of them hired a dinosaur outfit and they reenacted my daughter's embarrassment. And so even that tiny, silly example shows that shared experience is what it's all about. Paul Marden: Completely. I think those experiences that kids have when they go out on their school trips, it's something that Bernard et ALVA talked about earlier on this year as being really important, key points for that ALVA was asking of the government, was to make those school trips integral part of the curriculum. I think they're so powerful and so many kids don't get to experience that well. Mark Bishop: I think the challenge we sort of see here that be the same across Scotland and UK wide is even when there are opportunities to have subsidised tickets and you do everything you can to make sure the price of entry for school groups is as low as possible, often the barrier is the cost of the coach hire. Paul Marden: So I'm a governor at my daughter's school and I was talking to the head and they're in a really lucky position because they've got us. They're a very small village school, so there's only 90, 95 kids in total anyway. But they've got their own minibus which makes them mobile, so it means that any. We were at the Horse Crest, like the local heritage railway, just recently because we got invited for a trip and it was dead easy for us to go straight away. Yes. Because the kids can just get there easily and that's a different kettle of fish if you've got to hire coaches, because it's so perilously expensive now. Anyway, we digress a little bit. You've been in post now for three years, nearly three years, I think it is. Yeah. Paul Marden: What does your plan look like in the short term, but also what do you think the next 25 years look like for Dynamic Earth? Mark Bishop: I think that question sort of speaks to the idea that while an organisation should be proud of its 25 years of existence and everything it's done in that time, and we've certainly had some lovely staff celebrations and public celebrations to celebrate that important milestone. It's too self indulgent to spend all your time looking back rather than thinking about and facing into the future. And that's probably more true of science centres than anybody else, because if you were founded on looking to the future, you get to 25 years. Mark Bishop: Yes, have a little look back, but bang, think about looking forward to the future again and ask yourselves brave questions like what do we need to do that honours the spirit of what our founders did and thought about to put us together in the first place and not to betray our roots, but equally not to be constrained by them. Because the world is very different 25 years on, and particularly around the climate emergency and planetary crisis. We at Dynamic Earth, as an Earth Science Centre, feel not just an opportunity, but a kind of absolute responsibility to play our part, to kind of really shift the dial around helping people understand their role and responsibility when it comes to protecting our only home planet Earth. And so that's the kind of challenge we've set ourselves. Mark Bishop: And I'm going to do a dangerous thing of involving a prop. About 18 months, two years ago, we launched our 10 year strategy from beginning to end, and it's a document at the end of. But the exact summary is this. And of course you can see there's a clock there and you might be able to see the kind of temperature, kind of pieces, and the 1.5 is the 1 that we know quite tragically we're going to reach sometime very soon. And what we've done with that 10 year strategy is say how do we honour what we've been famous for, but how do we push and pivot that towards climate kind of response storytelling? Mark Bishop: And so therefore what we are trying to work through for ourselves is how do you maintain a popular visitor attraction? How do you inspire people, bring entertainment and delight into people's lives, but how do you absolutely hit home with some really hard truths around what we are doing to destroy the beauty of our only hope? Mark Bishop: And I'm not sure I've quite got the answers to that because becoming sort of quite purposeful and, you know, risks being didactic. And being didactic takes away the idea that you're helping people to think for themselves and risks being a bit preachy. So there's a really good set of conversations going on at Dynamic Earth and I think a lot of other places across the UK, which is, how do you, how do you exist on the right side of history while still existing as a visitor attraction? Paul Marden: Yes, because it is a tough story to tell, isn't it? And that doesn't necessarily sit comfortably with being a lovely day out with the family, but that doesn't take away from the importance of telling the story and telling it well. Mark Bishop: And I think what we feel is, if there's one criticism I'd kind of make of the past is we probably overdefined ourselves as a visitor attraction and underdefined ourselves as an Earth science education charity that happens to run the visitor attraction. And that might feel semantic, but actually it's quite fundamental because if you realise that your purpose is about educating people inclusively across Scotland, including in Edinburgh, and now increasingly helping people come to terms with climate issues, then your visitor attraction is a tool, a prop, an asset to achieve a bigger thought than just visiting numbers. Paul Marden: So is there work that you do, outreach work that goes beyond the centre in Edinburgh? Are you talking to people outside of that centre? Mark Bishop: Absolutely. And some of the work that makes me most proud of being chief exec here at Dynamic Earth is the stuff you do not see day in, day out. So we have outreach work that goes into schools and community groups right across Scotland. There's about 10 regional science festivals that take place across the year. We're at every one of those with our pop up planetarium, it's got an inflatable planetarium. Unbelievably, 30 people can slip inside a big squishy tent, and the universe comes to life wherever you happen to be. And that's kind of pretty magnificent. We go into children's hospitals, we work with community groups, we do digital and in person delivery in schools. And so therefore what we do away from Dynamic Earth as a science centre is as important as what we do at the centre. Mark Bishop: Because probably the people who might not be able to come to us for geographic reasons or financial or cultural reasons are often the people we most need to reach. And if we really believe that everybody in Scotland should play their individual and collective part in responding to climate planetary emergencies, we can't just say, well, if you don't come to us, we're not going to come to you. Because the climate issues need all of us to respond. So we have the added burden opportunity to get out there and tell our story across Scotland with that in mind. Paul Marden: Is there a shake up that's going on in the centre as you move on to this next stage of the maturity of the organisation? Mark Bishop: So I think that the things that are different in our approach is thinking about channel mix and that we kind of music to your ears because I think that science centres absolutely pride themselves on that in person shared experience, and that shouldn't go away. But actually thinking about how a one off experience is part of a longer customer or supporter journey is really key. So how do you connect with people before they come? By setting them, I know, a kind of online quiz and say how many of these questions about our planet can you answer? And then ask people to redo the quiz afterwards and see whether a visit to Dynamic Earth or another science centre has enriched their kind of knowledge. Mark Bishop: How do you connect what a family does on a Saturday to what a school group do in a classroom on a Tuesday and Wednesday? How do you get to what I call a nudge strategy, a multiple engagement kind of model? Because it strikes me that most things that, you know, mean something to people are developed over time rather than just one off experiences. So that's a shift in thinking, and it's a shift in thinking by not thinking for yourself as a visitor attraction, but thinking for yourself as a charity that exists to promote learning and engagement more broadly. Paul Marden: That's really interesting. So I'm totally guilty of thinking about the visitor attraction first and the commercial elements of it, because I guess that's our job is to get bumps on seats and to drive revenue. But when you think of that visitor attraction as the tool, not the end, you're using that tool to meet your bigger goals, aren't you? And it changes your perspective on how you do that. Mark Bishop: Well, it does because it allows you to sort of exist in a dual way of saying at a customer, experiential level, digital attraction side of things. How do you make sure that the experience you offer to people is distinctive, compelling, exciting and all the basic service features of toilets, cafe, shop, all this car parking, all those sorts of things on the functional side are doing what they need to do and then it means on the other side that you're also saying, “So what? you know, what is that trip all about? What did somebody take away?” Mark Bishop: And part of what people take away is that sense of shared experience, fun, entertainment, something to do on a wet Saturday afternoon. And that's valuable. But if you fundamentally help even a small proportion of your audience think radically different about themselves and the world around them. You might be doing something that goes way beyond what this attraction could ever imagine. Paul Marden: Yes, absolutely. So is that what you're aiming for? Is it the few minds that you can change radically, or is it the nudge of making small changes to the larger numbers of people that walk through the door? Mark Bishop: I mean, the answer to that is both, because we think every one of us has an opportunity and a responsibility to do basic things. So, I mean, the obvious good examples would be how you recycle stuff. And I look at my teenage boys, are they always recycling things in the best way or am I going through the bin resisting things? But then you ask more fundamental questions of, well, it's not just a case of recycling the bottle of plastic water. Why did you buy a bottle of plastic water in the first place? Yes, this stuff like that. Mark Bishop: And so a science centre like us helps people not just do the right thing in kind of lip service ways, but think more fundamentally about your role and relationship with what excites you at school, what studies you take, what degree you might go on to take, or what job are you going to go on to do? And how do you make sure that where you buy things from, where you work, where you spend your time is reinforcing the good rather than perpetuating the bad? And that's, you know, maybe I'm an idealist, maybe I'm a lack of realism, but actually I really do think that on our day, that's what we exist to do. Mark Bishop: And there will be maybe 1%, 2% of the people who come through our doors who are so inspired by science that they choose careers that are acting as environmental activists. I can think of a lovely lady I met the other day. I'll change her name to Laura. She told me that she came To Dynamic Earth 20 years ago for our Saturday science clubs and she used to come most Saturday mornings. And she so fell in love with science that she chose science subjects at school, went on to do a science degree and is now just finishing off a PhD in understanding volcanoes with a view that she wants to look at volcanic eruptions, where they happen and help think about where humans live alongside volcanoes. So all of that came from her coming here on Saturday mornings. Mark Bishop: So she is living proof that you inspire people young, and it can inform the whole direction of their studies and clear intention.Paul Marden: And deadline. Yeah, completely. What a lovely story to end on, but there's one more thing we have to do before we end today's Interview. We always end with a book recommendation. So, Mark, what book have you got for our listeners to maybe win today? Mark Bishop: So it will sound slightly sort of sanctimonious, but I've just started reading Mike Berners-Lee's book, A Climate of Truth. Now, Mike was in Edinburgh the other evening to do a talk as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival. Such an inspirational guy in terms of kind of climate, sustainability kind of issues. His mum must be very proud to have him. And you know, his, you know, one of the boys invents the Internet, the other one saves the planet. You sort of think to yourself, that ain't too bad. And I'm going to cheat slightly. And also just recommend one poem to people. It's Scottish poet Douglas Dunn. And it's a poem that I first heard when I was at school and I would say I read it probably 20 times a year. Mark Bishop: And the poem is called A Removal From Terry Street and it's only about 15 lines. And what I love about it is it finishes on that, on a beautiful line. That man, I wish him well, I wish him grass. And the context the poem is talking about a family removing, you know, working class family moving away from Hull and the neighbour is looking at them moving out and saying, you know, I wish him well, I wish him grass. And so I think that's just a lovely line that stayed with me. It speaks to the idea that we should all think the best of each other and hope for the futur, and think positive thoughts. Paul Marden: Well, Mark, it's been lovely talking to you. Thank you ever so much for coming on Skip the Queue, telling the story of dynamic Earth and looking forward to what happens next for your amazing attraction. Thank you very much. Mark Bishop: Thank you. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.  The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Thursday 8 May is the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. The Town Council and the Royal British Legion are working with partners to celebrate the end of the war and to honour those who fought. Councillor Chris Paige, the Council’s Armed Services Champion, told Mike Waddington the details, he also speaks about the work of the Royal British Legion, where he is also the Chairman. There will be many other events involving schools and other organisations (people considering Street Parties need to apply to the District Council for a permit.) Chris says it's important to remember the sacrifices made and to honour the "greatest generation."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Graham Laycock talks to Claire Hudson, Client Liasion Officer at Avery Camberley Heights Care Home and Patrick Mathe, Chairman of the Royal British Legion Camberley Branch about thehir re-lauch event on Saturday 8th March 1pm to 4pm at the home.

The Veterans Festival on Friday 24 January was a big success says Chris Paige, Chairman of Petersfield's Royal British Legion. Organsied by the RBL, the office of Damian Hinds MP and East Hants District Council, it provided information. presentations and advice on everything medical, sight loss, pensions and an invitation to join a brass band!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast, Sarah Goddard kicks things off with a 15-minute power session exploring how to break down silos in fundraising and tackle one of the biggest challenges: why your event participants aren't converting to donors. Spoiler alert—it's because they're not just participants or donors—they're passionate supporters of the change they want to see in the world! Then, James Reid from Royal British Legion joins the conversation to share actionable insights on how their charity is inspiring event participants to take their commitment further by pledging a gift in their will. Key learnings from this episode include: - How to break down silos and stop generalising about your supporters - The top challenges that stop your event participants wanting to become donors in other ways (and how to address them) - Real life case study of how RBL are inspiring their events participants to give in other ways.   The Events Fundraising Conference is back again on 30th January! You can register here. Use discount code FEPODCAST25 for a 25% discount. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit follow and enable notifications so you'll get notified to be first to hear of future podcast episodes. We'd love to see you back again! And thank you to our friends at JustGiving who make the Fundraising Everywhere Podcast possible.

Rosie and James are back with another exciting episode! This time, they catch up with Great Britain Lioness Jane Banks and ex-rugby league referee Julia Lee to discuss the Pioneering Women in Rugby League project. This initiative aims to uncover, document, and celebrate the history of the sportswomen who paved the way for thousands of girls and young women to play the game today. They're inviting everyone to rummage through their memory boxes and see if you can dig out any souvenirs and mementos, no matter how big or small, and share them with the project to help piece together the history of women in rugby league. Later, Rosie chats with Mike Sharkey and Dave Lyon to talk about their incredible year of fundraising. Their teams have been working hard to raise money for three local charities: The Brick, Daffodil Dreams, and Wigan and Leigh Hospice. From completing the National Three Peaks Challenge to walking 80 miles to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, they cover it all. To get in touch with the Pioneering Women in Rugby League project, visit: https://womeninrugbyleague.org.ukOr email: digital@csi2012.co.ukTo donate to the Royal British Legion, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/RoyalBritishLegion80milesfor80years?utm_term=Z5zwJgWQpAs always, you can catch up on our latest news via our social media channels and Borough Life Plus: www.wigan.gov.uk/boroughlifeplus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Gibraltar Today...On Viewpoint, the Chief Minister was asked about affordable housing, rental housing, the treaty, Lifecom Care and more.Fabián Picardo was answering questions from Ros Astengo, who'll join us to discuss what we've learned.-November is the month of Remembrance...Monday the 11th marks the declaration of armistice, the agreement to end the fighting in the First World War. The Chairman of the Gibraltar branch of the Royal British Legion, Lt Col Francis Brancato joins us.-Tommorow's Purple Relay forms part of a programme of events to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer in the lead up to Purple Day next week.Four athletes join us - Sean Collado, Ian Yeats, Jerai Torres and Karl Baldachino -Jose Mari Ruiz joins us with the sport, including boxing.-Our "Llanitos Abroad" feature returns:We speak to James Bassadone: a Gibraltarian living in Denmark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Laycock talks to Rob Offord, Mason Taylor and Joshua Childerstone-Briggs from Brooklands College with news of a charity walk raising funds for the Royal British Legion.

Simon, who you might know from his rock show, The House is Rockin', on Radio ARA, has helped organise collection points for the Poppy Appeal. He came on the Breakfast Show to tell us more about the Poppy's and the work that the Royal British Legion do. We also talked about his love of rock music and he gave updates on which collections have raised the most money for charity. Find more about Simon's show and his efforts with the Poppy Appeal here: https://www.facebook.com/rockingluxembourg or via the British Embassy: https://www.facebook.com/Britishembassyluxembourg/

In CI News this week: Censorship zones banning prayer and help outside abortion centres are imposed in England and Wales, palliative care experts urge Hospice UK to drop its 'neutral' stance on assisted suicide, and a mother speaks about choosing life for her unborn child with Down's syndrome. You can download the video via this link. Featured stories Abortion censorship zones now in force across England and Wales Royal British Legion peddles ‘LGBT poppy' ahead of Remembrance Day Hospice UK urged to take clear stance against assisted suicide Mum pressured to abort child with Down's syndrome chooses life Christian Institute founding Chairman John Burn OBE dies

Today's local news and information update from the volunteers at Petersfield's Shine Radio. Plans to gently phase-out bottle banks have been consigned to the dustbin. Royal British Legion launch this year's poppy appeal  Calling all litter pickers to help make the town wonderful for Remembrance Sunday We have your what's on around the Petersphere Julie Butler brings us today's news, Chris lets us know what the weather's up to and Vicki is on the weather desk. To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500. You make it shine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's local news and information update from the volunteers at Petersfield's Shine Radio. Plans to gently phase-out bottle banks have been consigned to the dustbin. Royal British Legion launch this year's poppy appeal  Calling all litter pickers to help make the town wonderful for Remembrance Sunday We have your what's on around the Petersphere Julie Butler brings us today's news, Chris lets us know what the weather's up to and Vicki is on the weather desk. To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500. You make it shine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Royal British Legion is under fire for not spending much of its earnings on veterans and hiring a diversity officer, the NHS outsources a record number of operations to private clinics and the top stories with Benedict Spence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Petersfield's Mayor, Councillor Lesley Farrow, accepted the first poppy in a Town Square ceremony for this year's Appeal for Veterans and their families. Last year over £30,000 was raised in Petersfield. Mike Waddington spoke to local RBL Chairman, Chris Paige, and veteran of 22 years, Daz, about the appeal. The ceremony was opened by Town Cryer, Faye Thompson.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 2 Episode 7 - Battle Scars, Alex Harrison's Journey from Combat to Civilian Life Part 2   *Trigger Warning:* This episode discusses sensitive topics, including the loss of an eye, mental health challenges, PTSD, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised   In light of Mental Health Awareness Day last week, In this deeply moving two-part episode , we speak with Alex Harrison, a veteran who lost his eye in Afghanistan. Alex opens up about his personal story of survival, his struggles with PTSD, and how he navigated the difficult transition from military to civilian life. We also dive into the emotional complexity of supporting someone with mental health struggles—how to be there for a loved one without overstepping, and what Alex found most helpful on his journey.   Despite the heavy subject matter, we still have plenty of laughs and great banter, because that's what we do at *Pad Wives Assemble*. Alex shares how he turned his experiences into something positive through social media, where he doesn't hold back on the details, offering a raw and relatable look into his life post-combat.   This episode is for everyone—whether you're trying to understand how to support a loved one with PTSD, mental health struggles, or the transition from military to civilian life, or if you're a veteran yourself, looking for a story that hits close to home. We also talk about the pressure loved ones face when they want to help but don't know how.   As always, we bring our signature Pad Wives banter and humor to the conversation, including the ever entertaining Ick of The Week, but with a goal of providing valuable insights, support, and relatability for anyone listening.   If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to someone you trust and seek professional help. Here are a few UK military charities that offer support for PTSD, veterans, and mental health: - *Combat Stress* (combatstress.org.uk) - *Help for Heroes* (helpforheroes.org.uk) - *SSAFA* (ssafa.org.uk) - *Walking with the Wounded* (walkingwiththewounded.org.uk) - *The Royal British Legion* (britishlegion.org.uk)    You don't have to go through it alone.   Key Words: Military, Veteran, Combat, Military to Civilian, Mental Health, PTSD, Mental health support, British Army, British Forces, True Story, True Life, Military stories, Veteran Story. 

Full Title - Season 2 Episode 6 - Battle Scars, Alex Harrison's Journey from Combat to Civilian Life Part 1 *Trigger Warning:* This episode discusses sensitive topics, including the loss of an eye, mental health challenges, PTSD, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised In light of Mental Health Awareness Day last week, In this deeply moving two-part episode , we speak with Alex Harrison, a veteran who lost his eye in Afghanistan. Alex opens up about his personal story of survival, his struggles with PTSD, and how he navigated the difficult transition from military to civilian life. We also dive into the emotional complexity of supporting someone with mental health struggles—how to be there for a loved one without overstepping, and what Alex found most helpful on his journey. Despite the heavy subject matter, we still have plenty of laughs and great banter, because that's what we do at *Pad Wives Assemble*. Alex shares how he turned his experiences into something positive through social media, where he doesn't hold back on the details, offering a raw and relatable look into his life post-combat. This episode is for everyone—whether you're trying to understand how to support a loved one with PTSD, mental health struggles, or the transition from military to civilian life, or if you're a veteran yourself, looking for a story that hits close to home. We also talk about the pressure loved ones face when they want to help but don't know how. As always, we bring our signature Pad Wives banter and humor to the conversation, but with a goal of providing valuable insights, support, and relatability for anyone listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to someone you trust and seek professional help. Here are a few UK military charities that offer support for PTSD, veterans, and mental health: - *Combat Stress* (combatstress.org.uk) - *Help for Heroes* (helpforheroes.org.uk) - *SSAFA* (ssafa.org.uk) - *Walking with the Wounded* (walkingwiththewounded.org.uk) - *The Royal British Legion* (britishlegion.org.uk) You don't have to go through it alone. Key Words: Military, Veteran, Combat, Military to Civilian, Mental Health, PTSD, Mental health support, British Army, British Forces, True Story, True Life, Military stories, Veteran Story.

Send us a textEpisode 12 Season 2Another amazing guest joins the boy's and what a story he has to tell.Life in the Armed forcesSuicideComplex GreifAdjustment DisorderComplex PTSDTrevor Bygate, 48,  joins Martin and Patrick for an informal chat about his time in the Armed Forces and how he received the devastating news that his Daughter Chloe had taken her own life in 2014 when she was just 19.It led to him being medically discharged with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and he has used the experience to educate others of mental health.Trevor initially took several months off work, but it was not until 2019 that he was diagnosed with complex PTSD and medically discharged from the Army.He is keen to express his gratitude to the Royal British Legion, which helped him in his recovery after he left the armed forces.The charity, which provides financial, social and emotional support for those who are and have been in the armed forces, helped fund Chloe's funeral. He described its support as "first class".Trevor tells us how he received the devastating news whilst away on duty, how the Army supported him through this trauma, what happened to his mental health and how he made it through to today.Trevor now works as a mental health advocate for HM Revenue and Customs while also helping to give presentations on behalf of Papyrus (Parents' Association for the Prevention of Young Suicide)  - a charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide of young people.He is keen to break the stigma around mental health and show it is OK to talk about struggles, while educating others on the topic."I always say to myself, Chloe didn't die for nothing, she died for something and that's me making sure that this story gets out."One of Trevors outlets during his grieving process was running, sport and completing 6 Marathons raising thousands for charity. This has driven him on to where he finds himself today and finds himself selected for 2025's Invictus games in Canada."This year is 10 years since the Invictus Games started, it's 10 years since Chloe died, and I got the phone call to tell me that I was selected on 7 June - which is her 30th birthday.Trevor believes Chloe was looking down on him the day he found out he had been selected for the games.This is a truly amazing story from such an inspirational man.#Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumour#Prostate Cancer#Bronchiectasis#CharcotmarietoothDisease#Emphysema#The after life#Ghosts#Spirts#Ouija boards#Mediums#Psychics#Reincarnation#HeartTransplant#EbsteinsAnomaly#RareCondition#HealthJourney#LifeChangingDiagnosis#MentalHealth#Vulnerability#SelfCompassion#PostTraumaticGrowth#MedicalMiracle#BBCSports#Inspiration#Cardiology#Surgery#Podcast#Healthcare#HeartHealth#MedicalBreakthrough#EmotionalJourney#SupportSystem#HealthcareHeroes#PatientStories#CardiologyCare#MedicalJourney#LifeLessons#MentalWellness#HealthAwareness#InspirationalTalk#LivingWithIllness#RareDiseaseAwareness#SharingIsCaring#MedicalSupport#BBCRep#bbcupload#papyrusCheck out our new website at www.whostomanddick.comhttps://www.papyrus-uk.org/https://www.invictusgamesfoundation.org/Check out our website at www.whostomanddick.com

Rethinking Charity Leadership: Bold Strategies for a New Era We speak to Mark Atkinson, Director General for the Royal British Legion Join us for an insightful conversation with Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, as he reflects on his first 100 days and beyond in this pivotal role. In this game-changing episode, Mark shares fresh perspectives from his transition to the Royal British Legion in January 2024, tackling the big questions facing the sector: How can a 100+ year old institution like the Royal British Legion stay relevant in today's rapidly changing world? What does strategy development look like when balancing rich heritage with the need for innovation? How is the charity sector evolving post-pandemic, and what challenges lie ahead? How can the sector rediscover its mojo and innovate after the challenges of lockdown and and the ongoing cost of living crisis? Drawing on his experiences at the Royal British Legion, RNID, and Scope, Mark offers a candid look at: Practical approaches to evidence-gathering and stakeholder engagement in strategy development Addressing 'small-c conservatism' in the charity sector to drive meaningful change Navigating leadership challenges in a post pandemic, changing workforce, particularly addressing the expectations of younger employees entering the sector The importance of making tough decisions to ensure long-term organisational success Strategies for reinvigorating the sector and finding new energy in the face of ongoing challenges Mark discusses how charities can maintain their focus on evidence and delivery while carving out time to think creatively about the future, even in challenging times. Whether you're a trustee, CEO, emerging leader, or passionate about the future of charities, this episode offers invaluable insights into the realities of leading major charities through periods of significant change. Tune in now to challenge your assumptions and join the conversation about why, and how, the future of the sector needs to look different to the present. Zoe and Paul also discuss National Podcast Day the week we launch our 75th episode!   Notes The Royal British Legion https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/   And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear! Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music Full transcript of this episode (srt file) Full transcript of this episode (.txt file) Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.

If you are looking to volunteer, why not consider the Royal British Legion. They are looking for younger members, especially a new secretary. If you haven't serviced in any of the armed services, that is absolutely fine. It is all about giving back to your community. Julie Butler speaks to the Chairman, Chris PaigeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's local news the Royal British Legion are looking for new members, whilst Age Concern Petersfield tell us to apply now for your pension credits.  Help with online NHS services is being offered by the Swan Surgery and we have a roundup of local job opportunities. To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's local news the Royal British Legion are looking for new members, whilst Age Concern Petersfield tell us to apply now for your pension credits.  Help with online NHS services is being offered by the Swan Surgery and we have a roundup of local job opportunities. To share your news email team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich Potter and Richard 'Dickie' Davies are both below knee amputees as a result of complex traumas, leading to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. In this episode of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, they share their extraordinary journey as they prepare to take on the most difficult trek in the world: the Snowman Trek in the Himalayas. Their 'Limbitless Expedition' challenge commences this October: 11 mountain passes at altitudes of over 5,500m, with Rich & Rich aiming to cover the 200 miles in less than 40 days, led by guides from Breathe Bhutan. We are also joined by Carla Bickerstaffe of Carla Bickerstaffe Sports Massage and Jenny Lane of Jenny Lane Sports Massage Therapy who talk about their time working with Rich & Rich, including at the Invictus Games, a international multi-sport event first held in 2014, for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. Diving into both the physical and mental challenges Rich & Rich face, this episode reveals their preparation strategies, and the invaluable support from their therapists. We also hear about the charitable causes they are supporting through their expedition: the Royal British Legion and Blesma, The Limbless Veterans charity, who offer support, advice, and camaraderie to limbless and injured veterans and service personnel as they rebuild their lives. Join us as we explore their inspiring stories of resilience, teamwork, and the quest to set a world record. For those moved by their journey, we provide information on how you can support their cause through the Just Giving pages.  Don't miss this powerful and uplifting episode! Chapter Markers:  00:00:00 - Welcome to the Sports Therapy Association Podcast 00:02:32 - The Snowman Trek Challenge 00:06:34 - Finding Purpose After The Invictus Games 00:16:02 - Invictus Games: A New Chapter 00:20:30 - Life Changes Through Sport 00:28:31 - The Role of Soft Tissue Therapy 00:33:00 - Questions from the Audience 00:36:21 - Preparing for the Trek 00:45:57 - Final Thoughts and Gratitude Useful Links Limbitless Expedition Website Rich Potter Just Giving Page Rich Davies Just Giving Page Blesma Website British Royal Legion Website Want to join the live recordings? Episodes of the Sports Therapy Association podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available. Please Support Our Podcast! If you appreciate what we do, please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes. Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk

It's the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings. On the Rock, as well as in the UK and France, the brave personnel who risked their lives for freedom and peace are being remembered. To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, military historians are retelling the stories of Normandy veterans with unique or little-known roles in the Normandy campaign. We spoke to Colonel Francis Brancato - the Regiment's Honorary Colonel and Chairman of the Royal British Legion in Gibraltar.The Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service is teaming up with the Breast Cancer Support Group tomorrow in what's been dubbed the "Charity Pull". A group of fire fighters will attempt to pull a fire truck from Casemates to Cathedral Square! Eric Abudarham of the GFRS and Heidi Jeffries and Mercy Posso of Breast Cancer Support...Gibraltar take on Wales this evening in another international football friendly at the Estadio Algarve. They lost 2-0 to Scotland on Monday. Our reporter Jose Mari Ruiz is in Faro ahead of kick off at 6pm tonight.Our next guests are undertaking a 5km swim in England's largest lake, Lake Windermere to raise funds for Cancer Relief Gib branch. The Great North Swim will take place this Sunday. A group of Bluefin Club members will be there, including Terence Ocaña and Darren Grech, who told us more about the swim. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A short service of thanks was held last Wednesday at Petersfield's War Memorial. This was marking Victory in Europe Day, 79 years ago. We hear from members of the Royal British Legion and others that attended the VE service.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local cohort slept out in Petersfield's Avenue playing field to raise funds for homeless military veterans. Roving reporter Jo Gray ventured out to meet the fundraisers before and after their night out under the stars. Cllr Chris Paige from Petersfield Town Council ,who's also chair of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, took part. We find out why it's a cause close to his heart.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the day the Royal British Legion launch the Poppy Appeal we ask for volunteers to join in and assist.click on the link to find out more about volunteering Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we meet Jason McCartney MP- a former RAF Officer, journalist and now MP We talk about his RAF family links, his career that took him to Iraq as well as his journey into journalism and latterly politics.  Jason knows what it is like to win and lose, and we discuss the disaster of the 2017 General Election and how the Prime Minister of the day called him to apologise due to his electoral defeat.  But Jason didnt give up, and came back fighting two years later for a comprehensive re-election victory.Jason is a super positive guy and we really enjoyed this chat with him on location in Parliament.  About JasonJason is a proud Yorkshireman who lives in Honley. His parents live down the valley in Holmbridge.Jason began his working life as an Officer in the RAF serving in Las Vegas, Turkey, Gibraltar, Germany, Cyprus and Iraq. He is the Honorary President of the Royal Air Force Association in Huddersfield and a member of the Royal British Legion.After leaving the RAF Jason completed Broadcast Journalism at Post Grad and freelanced with BBC Radio in Leeds and Middlesbrough. He then got his dream job with ITV Yorkshire in Leeds where he became the weekend presenter for Calendar News & Sport. Jason first got into broadcasting by hosting the very early morning radio show on Huddersfield FM, which became Pennine FM, back in 1995. On leaving ITV Jason lectured in Broadcast Journalism at Leeds Trinity and Leeds Beckett Universities.Jason was first elected as the MP for Colne Valley in 2010 and then re-elected in 2015. On losing his seat in 2017 he spent 2 years as the Head of Public Affairs at the University of Huddersfield. He was also a Director of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, a Director of Huddersfield Live and a Director of fairandfunky.Jason is a Huddersfield Town season ticket holder having cheered on Town at Wembley in 1994, 1995, 2012 & 2017. One of his proudest moments was reporting pitch side for Calendar at Cardiff on the 2004 playoff final win over Mansfield. Jason is also a fan of the Huddersfield Giants RL club. He regularly volunteers in our community and can be seen litter picking in Honley on the first Sunday of every month.LINKS:https://www.jasonmccartney.com/about-jasonJoin our Facebook Group community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2314725475490967/Engage with us on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13628154/Insta/Twitter/Facebook: @CampaignForceUKor email the host jonny@campaignforce.co.ukStand Up and Serve Again!Support the show✅Support The Show Help Us Grow! Help us reach more veterans by donating the cost of a cup of coffee today...

Guy and Chris have been on manoeuvres to Mel the Terrain Tutor's workshop to take some pictures for the magazine. Whilst there, Chris grabbed an interview with Mel. The renowned miniature painter Kevin Dallimore kindly agreed to do the front cover for our ‘Rise of the Redcoats' theme in Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy issue 123. Now, that cover model is being sold on eBay to raise money for the Royal British Legion. You can find all the pictures on Guy's blog. The team also discuss the latest news and what they have been up to. Links:Guy's Blog eBay for the Kevin Dallimore figures The Terrain Tutor Firelock Games The Doomed, Osprey Games

Peter Royle, 103, endured a month of solid fighting in the hills outside of Tunis in 1943. Eventually the Allies prevailed and took more than 250,000 German and Italian prisoners of war. They declared victory in Tunisia on 13 May. Peter came close to dying many times. He recalls how he once hummed God Save the King to prevent himself being shot by friendly fire. He was under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, fresh from victory in the North African desert, and recalls him being inspirational to the troops. This episode is presented by Josephine McDermott. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve for future generations. Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has spoken to many men and women who served during the war. We are calling the collection World War Two: We were there. (Photo: Peter Royle in battle kit in 1941. Credit: Provided by family)

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service. We hear about the Allies' campaign in North Africa in the Second World War in 1943. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve for future generations. Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has spoken to many men and women who served during the war. We are calling the collection World War Two: We were there. We also have the story of the last flight out of the old international Hong Kong airport in 1998. The approach to the airport was known as 'the Kai Tak heart attack' because of it's location between the mountains and the city. As well as the end of the uprising in the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw, the sinking of the 'Indian Titanic' and the United States' bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Contributors: Peter Royle - British Army Captain in the Royal Artillery. Dr Helen Fry - author and historian, specialising in the Second World War. Simha "Kazik" Rotem - a Jewish fighter in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Arvind Jhani and Tej Mangat - survivors of the sinking of the SS Tilawa. Captain Kim Sharman - the pilot of the last passenger flight out of Kai Tak. (Photo: Tunis victory parade, 20 May 1943. Credit: Peter Royle)

The D-Day Darlings are a UK-based singing group that specializes in performing wartime-inspired music. The group was formed in 2008 by lead singer Katie Ashby and has since become one of the most beloved acts in the country. They have received the support of many prominent figures, including Dame Vera Lynn and The Royal British Legion.In 2018, The D-Day Darlings reached the final of Britain's Got Talent, and their debut album 'I'll Remember You' was released on Sony Music later that year. The album charted at No.5 on the Official Album Charts and went on to sell over 60,000 copies, earning them a BRIT Certified Award for the Breakthrough Award.On April 23rd, 2023, The D-Day Darlings will release their new single ‘I Vow to Thee My Country' in celebration of the King's Coronation. The song features the group's signature harmonies and is sure to delight fans both old and new.To coincide with the release of their new single, The D-Day Darlings will be embarking on a 24-date UK tour throughout April, May, and June 2023. The tour will feature guest appearances from Britain's Got Talent winner (2019) war veteran Sergeant Major Colin Thackery, the young trailblazers The D-Day Juniors, and the newly formed The Brand New Voices Choir.Lead singer Katie Ashby is also the Ambassador of The Dame Vera Lynne Children's Charity, which supports children under five with cerebral palsy and other motor learning difficulties. In 2022, Ashby was invited by Dame Vera Lynne's family to be the voice to raise funds to erect a memorial statue of the forces sweetheart.With their stunning vocal harmonies and dedication to preserving wartime music, The D-Day Darlings are a true national treasure and a must-see act for music fans of all ages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode #73, Ross is joined by Kate Dawkins, multi-BAFTA-winning video/projection designer and director, and the founder of Kate Dawkins Studios.Kate has over 25 years of experience turning pixels and projection into spectacular immersive events, shows, and live performances–entrancing global audiences. She's collaborated with world-class directors, producers, artists, and brands, such as BBC Studios and Ministry of Defence, and created immersive experiences and ceremonies like the London 2012 Olympics, among others.Ross and Kate discuss how to create unforgettable brand experiences. Kate shares how to craft messages that resonate with audiences and how to bring them to life as immersive experiences. She also breaks down the 4 pillars that she and her team use to think about their work.Find show notes and episode highlights at https://nwrk.co/omq-katedawkinsTo listen to previous episodes go to https://nwrk.co/omqIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share this episode with your friends.

David Rutherford-Jones is Chief Executive of Morden College, a charity that provides homes, care and support for c.300 older people in London. Prior to this he was a soldier for 35 years, commanding at every level up to and including an operational Brigade, and finishing his career in two consecutive senior appointments: Commandant of The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Military Secretary to the Army. He has given a lot of his time to the welfare of serving soldiers, and more recently to retired soldiers, having been Colonel of The Light Dragoons, The Queen's Own Yeomanry, and of the Corps of Army Music; a Trustee of Blind Veterans UK, and an advisor to Combat Stress. General RJ has also been a School Governor, sat as Trustee on four other Boards, and run a series of leadership seminars in the finance sector.David's wife, Sarah, has been a phenomenal support to David; a Trustee of the Charity, SSAFA and in various appointments engaged with the Royal British Legion and the Army Benevolent Fund. Today she is Sponsorship Director for The HPower Group.As CEO of Morden College, David led the community of staff and residents through the coronavirus pandemic years: 2020 and 2021, during which the Charity sadly lost one, but only one, of its 300 or so older beneficiaries. He puts this comparative success down to the Herculean efforts of his staff, and the enduring patience of the Charity's beneficiaries. RJ also believes his operational experience as a soldier gave him the planning framework and skill to plan the Charity's response to the crisis, and the courage and tenacity to lead the community of staff and beneficiaries at Morden College through what was an exceptionally challenging and unique crisis. In his own words “the toughest leadership challenge of my life”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Build Better Brands, Danielle Clarke is joined by Carol Urry to talk about building her coaching business, Warriormum Coaching, amongst other things.Books mentioned:Open with a Close: The twelve point guide to closing more sales by Matthew Elwell https://amzn.to/3M2EwzeAlcohol Explained Workbook (William Porter's 'Explained') by William Porter https://amzn.to/3UZzZBwTHIS NAKED MIND: The myth-busting cult hit for anyone who wants to cut down their alcohol consumption by Annie Grace https://amzn.to/3V1MUmMKEY TAKEAWAYSA lot of people doing Sober October just want to do it to prove to themselves they're not alcoholics, which is a word that we don't really use in the coaching space around alcohol freedom. There are a range of benefits to giving up alcohol for a month, it's a great thing. But, from a coach's point of view it's hard to put yourself through that, and what have you actually learned at the end of it? As an alcohol free coach, the programme I teach looks at why we drink, why we need to drink and all the different scenarios around using alcohol – self-medicating, confidence, help sleeping, stress, need to chill.A lot of coaches go into coaching because of experiences they've had and they want to help other people, and that was the same with me. I started drinking in my early teenage years at the local disco in the pub, but drinking wasn't really a big thing. I spend 13 years in the Army and drinking wasn't a massive part of my life then – though there are a lot of veterans who use alcohol because they're away from home a lot of the time and it's quite difficult. Also, they're quite bored, a lot of people drink through boredom. Drinking, for me became more of a habit over the years and the thing with a habit is you then get the tolerance so you need more to get that buzz.I love studying the stuff that goes on in your brain and your body when you take on board alcohol. It's amazing. The one thing that blew me away was a single sentence in a book that I read that alcohol is a carcinogen, it's cancer causing, and after some more research I found out that in 1987 alcohol was classed as a class 1 carcinogen and actually derives from ethanol, which is what we put in our petrol tanks. That floored me, and I just thought I want to be around for my kids and my grandkids. That was a big turning point for me.Thankfully, a lot of young people aren't big drinkers. A lot of my clients are sitting around the 40-50 mark, the yuppie era where they were drinking champagne and partying and going to Spain and Ibiza and raving. There's a lot of people in this bracket where alcohol has been part and parcel of their growing up. People don't think about choosing an alternative, you're either drinking or you're not. I tell people to have one soft drink for every alcoholic drink as a starter. BEST MOMENTS‘I, like many other people, Googled “am I an alcoholic” and felt great when I didn't score highly on that.'‘After my divorce I drank at least a bottle of wine every night for over a decade. That's why I do what I do because it breaks my heart to think of mum's struggling out there, trying to keep everything together and turning to alcohol – and I don't blame them for doing that – but it's an addictive substance and once you get into that cycle it's really, really hard.'‘The night and day programme that I run is re-programming that subconscious thinking around alcohol because it's not our fault. Society gives us an addictive substance, promotes an addictive substance, puts it all over the place – on TV and in the supermarkets – and then blames us for getting addicted. It's crazy.'‘If you have 3 alcoholic drinks a week you increase your risk of breast cancer by 15%. One additional drink increases that risk by 10%. The drinks industry don't want you to know about these statistics because they're making an absolute shed-load of money out of it.'ABOUT THE GUESTCarol Urry: I am a certified This Naked Mind coach and a trained Integrated Coach to ICF standards.I have been alcohol free since October 2019 and work specifically with Mums who are struggling to keep children, work, relationships and home life running smoothly.Whilst raising two children of my own, one who lives with the challenges of autism and ADHD, I realised I was using alcohol to help cope with all of life's responsibilities, including a challenging marriage that ended in divorce.I have worked in the care sector since the 1980's, including 13 years' service in the Army. In 1997, after moving to a small rural village, I became involved in my local branch of the Royal British Legion, holding positions as Chairman, Case Worker, Treasurer & Welfare Visitor, and continue to be involved in our local Poppy Appeal. Community is very important to me and during my many years in my small community I have sat on several committees and been involved in many local projects and fundraisers over the years.My Christian faith is very important to me. I love nature, bird watching, gardening, travelling, and am passionate about steam trains. I am now remarried and enjoy riding pillion on our Goldwing motorcycle and supporting our favourite football team. A lover of Yoga and meditation, I love a challenge and have always been an enthusiastic self-developer.Website: https://www.warriormumcoaching.com/Socials: @warriormumcoaching or @carolurryABOUT THE HOSTDanielle Clarke is a Brand and Marketing Consultant, University Lecturer and Business Owner.Since 2006 Danielle has provided brand design and marketing support for clients including Škoda, Gtech, UK Biocentre, UK Mail and GIRLvsCANCER Danielle is committed to helping brands that want to have a positive impact on people's lives. She spends her time consulting and working with business owners to help them attract and retain their best customers.The Build Better Brands Podcast is a labour of love created each fortnight by our small team of committed editors and producers. If you love the show, we hope you'll consider supporting our work – for just the cost of a cup of coffee (or tea): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/danielleclarkeInsta - @danielleclarkecreative | [https://www.instagram.com/danielleclarkecreative/]LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-clarke-creative/]Twitter - @D4nielleCl4rke |  [https://twitter.com/D4nielleCl4rke]Email - hello@danielleclarkecreative.comWebsite: www.danielleclarkecreative.comThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming Up on today's Royal Family News:  King Charles has eggs thrown at him by protester during a security scare in York  The Crown Series 5 has been released The Earthshot Prize finalists Announced Camilla's Cypher is unveiled The Prince and princess of Wales visit Scarborough King Charles has a TREEBILEE moment Lady Louise turns nineteen Details announced for Catherine's Christmas Carol Service…plus so much more.

How the Cockleshell Commandos upset Nazi supply lines with canoes! How a British Royal Fusilier survived  for 3 years as a German POW. More great unpublished history!   Support the Cockleshell 2022 team for December 22 and donate to the Royal British Legion: https://bit.ly/CockleshellFightingThrough Paul Britton, Senior reporter at Manchester Evening News.  Twitter: @PaulBrittonMEN Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaulBrittonjournalist Cockleshell article in Manchester Evening News:https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/following-in-the-footsteps-of-24453884 Cockleshell article BBC:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12914628 On This Day Australian military history - Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OTDAustralianMilitaryHistory/ Donate To Salvation Army Ukraine Crisis Appeal https://bit.ly/FightingThroughSalvationArmy Red Cross/ Disasters Emergency Committee https://bit.ly/FightingThroughRedCross Full show notes, photos and transcript at: www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/85-Bill-Turner-POW-and-Cockleshell-Heroes-WW2 Reviews on main website:https://www.fightingthroughpodcast.co.uk/reviews/new/ Apple reviews: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ww2-fighting-through-from-dunkirk-to-hamburg-war-diary/id624581457?mt=2 Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulCheall Follow me on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/FightingThroughPodcast

James Fairman is a former RAF helicopter pilot, and founder of AFCS Help.Social Media: @afcshelpGez's social media is: @grjbooksAudiobooks available at: https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Geraint+JonesIf you are a veteran struggling with mental health, or you just want a bit of help adjusting to civvie life, then say hello to the Royal British Legion at @royalbritishlegion or http://www.rbl.orgThank you to our sponsors! The show doesn't happen without them!Combat Fuel - www.combat-fuel.co.ukCombat Combover - www.combatcombover.comwww.theescapegames.co.uk Kamoflage Ltd - www.kamoflage.co.ukRite Flank - www.riteflank.co.ukZulu Alpha Strap Company - @zulualphastrapsSupport the show

Jody Mitic is a father, Master Sniper, writer, podcaster, and political outlaw.Social Media: @jodymiticGez's social media is: @grjbooksAudiobooks available at: https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Geraint+JonesIf you are a veteran struggling with mental health, or you just want a bit of help adjusting to civvie life, then say hello to the Royal British Legion at @royalbritishlegion or http://www.rbl.orgThank you to our sponsors! The show doesn't happen without them!Combat Fuel - www.combat-fuel.co.ukCombat Combover - www.combatcombover.comwww.theescapegames.co.uk Kamoflage Ltd - www.kamoflage.co.ukRite Flank - www.riteflank.co.ukZulu Alpha Strap Company - @zulualphastrapsEye-Opening Moments PodcastEye-Opening Moments are stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives. They are...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

14th of June 2022 saw the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict.  RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke with Steve Tuffen, who served with 2 Para, to talk about his part in the re-taking of the islands, how an enemy bullet robbed him of his sight and how he has rebuilt his life thanks to the support of the Royal British Legion and Blind Veterans UK. Image shows an image from the Falklands Conflict. British Soldiers marching, the one closes to the back has a British flag attached to their rucksack. 

BC Sanders is a law enforcement officer working gangs and homicide, a writer for Skillset Magazine, and a host of The Disruptors Podcast.Instagram: @b.c.sandersThe Disruptors Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/99-the-disruptors-we-interrupt-your-program/id1572511354?i=1000563499936Gez's social media handle is: @grjbooksAudiobooks available at: https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Geraint+JonesIf you are a veteran struggling with mental health, or you just want a bit of help adjusting to civvie life, then say hello to the Royal British Legion at @royalbritishlegion or http://www.rbl.orgThank you to our sponsors! The show doesn't happen without them!Combat Fuel - www.combat-fuel.co.ukCombat Combover - www.combatcombover.comwww.theescapegames.co.uk Kamoflage Ltd - www.kamoflage.co.ukRite Flank - www.riteflank.co.ukZulu Alpha Strap Company - @zulualphastrapsBat LessonsThe Batman History PodcastListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Ghost TownTrue Crime. Paranormal. Dark History. This is Ghost Town.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Roy Jenkins and guests explore how attitudes to nuclear weapons have changed since the end of the Cold War. It's more than thirty years since the prospect of nuclear conflict cast a shadow over world peace; prompting massive demonstrations and feeding fierce debate. When the Cold War ended we all moved on, and largely forgot the cloud which had once loomed so threateningly. Until the first week of the Ukraine invasion, when Vladimir Putin openly placed his strategic nuclear weapons forces on high alert and assumptions about peace in Europe were rocked. The panel discuss whether nuclear weapons make the world a safer place, whether a deterrent actually deters, and with committed Christians on both sides of the debate, how do they square their different positions with their faith? Joining the panel is Ruth Harvey, Leader of the Iona Community, an intentional Christian community working for justice and peace. She has a background in church ministry and as a mediator with Place for Hope, a charity working in mediation with faith-based organisations. Major General Tim Cross is a retired army officer. He served in the first Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, and has been an adviser to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. Jane Harries is Peace Education Coordinator at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. She's a Quaker and a key figure in Cymdeithas y Cymod, the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Martyn Gough is National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion. He was previously Archdeacon for the Royal Navy and Chaplain of the Fleet.

Bran Symondson is a British sculptor artist and photographer known for works relating to the War in Afghanistan and taking items of violence such as the AK47 rifle and transforming them into art. His work has been featured in multiple exhibitions, including Hollywood Reloaded and AKA Peacehttp://bransymondson.com/Mikel Drnec served with the US Army in Afghanistan. He is the author of Memories of the Korengal.Mikel's insta: @memoriesofthekorengalMemories of the Korengal is available here: www.amazon.com/Memories-Korengal-Mikel-Drnec-ebook/dp/B09B4W5PB2Gez's social media handle is: @grjbooksAudiobooks available at: https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Geraint+JonesIf you are a veteran struggling with mental health, or you just want a bit of help adjusting to civvie life, then say hello to the Royal British Legion at @royalbritishlegion or http://www.rbl.orgThank you to our sponsors! The show doesn't happen without them!Combat Fuel - www.combat-fuel.co.ukCombat Combover - www.combatcombover.comwww.theescapegames.co.uk Kamoflage Ltd - www.kamoflage.co.ukRite Flank - www.riteflank.co.ukZulu Alpha Strap Company - @zulualphastrapsSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=Ea-uUc26ENbNBYWd6-2779MBUZrl6WymCW_b0GdibwrG6-xBlWcpjLS6osk9OqZFbR9wOm&country.x=GB&locale.x=GB)

Mikel Drnec served with the US Army in Afghanistan. He is the author of Memories of the Korengal.Mikel's insta: @memoriesofthekorengalMemories of the Korengal is available here: www.amazon.com/Memories-Korengal-Mikel-Drnec-ebook/dp/B09B4W5PB2Gez's social media handle is: @grjbooksAudiobooks available at: https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Geraint+JonesIf you are a veteran struggling with mental health, or you just want a bit of help adjusting to civvie life, then say hello to the Royal British Legion at @royalbritishlegion or http://www.rbl.orgThank you to our sponsors! The show doesn't happen without them!Combat Fuel - www.combat-fuel.co.ukCombat Combover - www.combatcombover.comwww.theescapegames.co.uk Kamoflage Ltd - www.kamoflage.co.ukRite Flank - www.riteflank.co.ukZulu Alpha Strap Company - @zulualphastrapsSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=Ea-uUc26ENbNBYWd6-2779MBUZrl6WymCW_b0GdibwrG6-xBlWcpjLS6osk9OqZFbR9wOm&country.x=GB&locale.x=GB)

Gez is joined by Jesse R. Phillips, a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan. They talk about raising children (not together... yet), ethics, and how Jesse got his face kicked in by a bull.Jesse is on instagram @thejesserphillipsGez is @grjbooksAudiobooks available at: https://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchAuthor=Geraint+JonesIf you are a veteran struggling with mental health, or you just want a bit of help adjusting to civvie life, then say hello to the Royal British Legion at @royalbritishlegion or http://www.rbl.orgThank you to our sponsors! The show doesn't happen without them!Combat Fuel - www.combat-fuel.co.ukCombat Combover - www.combatcombover.comwww.theescapegames.co.uk Kamoflage Ltd - www.kamoflage.co.ukRite Flank - www.riteflank.co.ukZulu Alpha Strap Company - @zulualphastrapsSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=Ea-uUc26ENbNBYWd6-2779MBUZrl6WymCW_b0GdibwrG6-xBlWcpjLS6osk9OqZFbR9wOm&country.x=GB&locale.x=GB)

Today we chat with Dr. Aimée Fox, Senior Lecturer for Defence Studies at King's College, London. Aimée earned her Ph.D. at the University of Birmingham, working under Freind of the Pod Jonathan Boff, and she also served as a Teaching Fellow in the History of Warfare at Birmingham. Aimée was also a Visiting Scholar at the Australian Defence Force Academy at the University of New South Wales, Canberra. Her first book, Learning to Fight: Military Innovation and Change in the British Army, 1914-1918, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2018, winning the Templer Medal for Best First Book as well as the British Army Military Book of the Year for 2018. Aimée has also published her work in The English Historical Review, War & Society, and War in History, and she is editing a scholarly edition of the papers of Major General Guy Dawnay for the Army Records Society. Her research has been funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council and she has held fellowships from the Australian Defence Force, The Australian War Memorial, The Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare at the US Marine Corps University, and the Royal British Legion. Having only finished her Ph.D. in 2015, Aimée has already been elected a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Higher Education Academy, and she is a Trustee of the Society for Military History. She served on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Military History and is presently a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the British Journal for Military History. Perhaps most impressively, she's got more than 8,000 Twitter followers @DrAEFox. She is currently pursuing two research projects: first, an exploration of the importance of social relations, gossip, and informal networks to the process of innovation, and the ways in which the social politics of military organizations help or hinder innovation with a particular focus on the role of command and leadership; and secondly, an examination of the emotional mobilization of women during the First World War, exploring how intimacy, feelings, labor, and family were co-opted and exploited by the British military and the ways in which this was negotiated and contested by women. Along with Michael Finch and David Morgan-Owen, Aimée also has a forthcoming edited collection of outstanding essays titled Framing the First World War: Knowledge, Learning and Military Thought, to be published by the University Press of Kansas as part of Modern War Studies. What a delightful chat with the equally delightful Aimée Fox! We'll discuss what is an Essex Girl, taking sad-naps as an Everton supporter, and BBQ in Georgia, which she has experienced! Yes, we'll talk about her work, having a 7-month old lab puppy (Freddie!), and being married to a military historian, apparently of some repute. Join us! Rec. 01/13/2022

Gail Newsham has spent almost three decades telling the story of the Dick, Kerr Ladies - arguably the most important team in the history of women's football. Gail is the author of ‘In A League of The Own!' the authoritative book about the famous team and the history of women's football. Growing up near the factory in Preston where the team was originally formed, Gail was aware of their existence, but knew nothing much about them until she organised their first ever reunion in 1992. Her comprehensive research, which unearthed much information that would have been lost forever, included meeting some of the actual women who played before the FA Ban. It was Gail's work that that lead to Lily Parr becoming the first female player to be inducted in the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2017 the team received a Special Recognition Award from the FA and in 2018 the Dick, Kerr Ladies were recognised by the Royal British Legion for their contribution during the First World War. As a former footballer herself, with a career spanning almost twenty years, Gail began playing in the early 1970s and eventually signed for Preston Rangers WFC, playing in two Women's FA Cup semi-finals. In 2019, she was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Central Lancashire in recognition of her extraordinary work.