Audlem's 3-hour BBC programme

Yesterday, BBC Radio Stoke broadcast live from Audlem for three hours. The interviewers seemed to love the village and they certainly heard from a wide range of residents.

The programme kicked off with a scene-setter from Audlem Online, followed by a discussion with Ralph Warburton about the Festival, the cemetery, the support given to the Donna Louise Trust and ADAS.

Brian Bowles described the work of the Charity Shop, explaining that it was one of very few staffed entirely by volunteers before chair of the Parish Council Kate Down went on air.

Alan Duncan described how ASET, the Audlem Special Events Team, came together first in 2001 and has been running major events ever since.

It was then over to music with, first Ian Haughey talking about the Audlem Music & Arts Festival, followed by performers Heidi and Jack of Spare Rib.

Local resident Sylvia Davies next appeared on the show before a tour of Audlem shops included discussions with the Flower Divas, Tim Ball of Audlem CycleSport and Chris Warburton of Jinja Bakes Café.

Sylvia Stead and Stephanie Richardson spoke about the hundred or more members of the Embroiderers' Guild and their meetings, workshops and exhibitions and how a Young Embroiderers' group has just started.

It was then, so to speak, on to the water with Janet Maughan talking about the Overwater Marina, open now for two years, and Rod Cottrell of Audlem Lass and the local work to support the RNLI.

Monique Hollinshead described her work as a costume designer and maker, both for TV and the Audlem Panto before astonishing interviewer Paula by taking her through what is involved in an Ironman event. Regular readers will know that Monique has even competed successfully in a Triple Ironman event – swimming 7.5 miles, then cycling 360 miles and then running 78 miles – all in a weekend!

Next month, she and partner Dave are cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats in eight days to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Charity.

This year celebrating 150 years of trading in Audlem, Williams' newsagents has been run by five generations of the same family. Derek and Megan McKelvey explained what it is like running the shop. Asked about seven-day a week trading, much in the national news yesterday, Derek responded that they always close on Christmas Day, whether or not they really want to.

The BBC had been parked all morning on the Lord Combermere car park and, naturally, they were interested in what had brought Allan and Jo Brown to take over the pub and if they liked Audlem. To the relief of all their customers, the answer was a resounding "Yes".

Finally, up stepped Billy Gibbons with an Audlem song he'd composed especially for the show. 

Paula, one of the interviewers, finished by saying how much she wanted to move here. The BBC team seemed to enjoy their visit thoroughly. Their 'Thank You Audlem' message was published yesterday afternoon on Audlem Online.

If you missed the show and want to listen, it's on the iPlayer – click on the link below the the photo.

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