Undercurrent Stories

A specialist in the history of the early Tudors, Tony is best known for his Tudor Trilogy. His other international best-sellers include Mary - Tudor Princess, Brandon - Tudor Knight and Katherine - Tudor Duchess.In our conversation Tony gives us an overview and insight into the Tudor period and we uncover some fascinating, lesser known stories which include escapes through tunnels in Pembrokeshire!Tony then talks about his research and writing process and how he likes to visit places that are in his books in order to immerse and absorb the landscape, buildings and atmosphere that were once experienced by the characters themselves.wRntPm3xC8z8EpGzBBa6To find out more about Tony's work please see links below;Website: https://www.tonyriches.com/ Writing blog: https://tonyriches.blogspot.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonyriches Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyriches.author Podcasts: https://tonyriches.podbean.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5604088.Tony_Riches Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

James is a music producer, composer, arranger and keyboard player with a career spanning 4 decades.With his current single 'Yes' receiving rave reviews his smooth jazz and soul music is on the playlists of hundreds of international radio stations including the BBC and Jazz FM. He is known as the UK’s no.1 indie Smooth Jazz artist. James tells us about his early years playing  and touring with bands such as the Adventures supporting Tears For Fears. We talk about the genre of smooth jazz for which he is famous for and we hear how he has worked with and produced over 1000 artists in many different musical styles.We finish up talking about how James uses his experience and musical talent to create compositions from just the humming of a basic melody.If you have ever felt like you have a song inside you, but you don’t have the knowledge to develop the idea into a song and record it, then this episode is definitely for you!Find out more about James on the links below;New Single 'Yes' http://tiny.cc/x4xmszWebsite: http://www.jamescolahproductions.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamescolahproductionsgbTwitter: http://twitter.com/JamesColahYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/JamesColah/videosQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Described by Jamie Cullum as 'an extraordinary musician' Remi is a guitarist from the UK whose unique style draws inspiration from artists such as Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Peter Green and Led Zeppelin. Some of his notable performances include the Montreal Jazz Festival, Buckingham Palace, BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with Jamie Cullum (televised on BBC 4) and live on BBC Radio 2 & 3.​He has recorded 2 albums to date, Ninick and In On the Two and has performed a huge amount of gigs around the world. He is a guitarist's guitarist.In our conversation we talk about Remi’s career as a musician, history of Gypsy jazz music and for musicians we talk about guitars and....... I am delighted to say that Remi plays for us and I have to say this was jaw dropping for me. I believe that you will find this quite special too.For links to Remi's social media channels, Youtube videos, music and all the latest news please go to Remi's website;https://www.remiharris.com/homeQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Adam Croft ,international bestselling crime fiction & thriller author, talks about his new book, What Lies Beneath, (out 28th July 2020), the first in a new crime series set in the idyllic county of Rutland. In this wide ranging conversation, Adam provides an insight into what life is like as an author, gives some great tips on writing for budding authors and discusses his podcast, "Partners in Crime," which he hosts with fellow crime writer and actor Robert Daws.Find out more about Adam's books and podcast below; https://www.adamcroft.net/ , https://www.instagram.com/adamcroftbooks/ ,https://twitter.com/adamcroft ,https://www.facebook.com/adamcroftbooks ,https://www.adamcroft.net/vip-club/ ,http://partnersincrime.online/ ,https://twitter.com/CrimeFicPodcast  ,Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In today’s show we welcome back historian, Bill Cunningham and we discuss the Georgian period in British history. A period that lasted 120 years, which we attempt to cover, bite size, in just over half an hour!If your knowledge of the Georgians is limited, perhaps you conjure up images of Jane Austen novels, characters like Mr Darcy or towns such as Bath or Royal Leamington Spa, this show is definitely for you.For more information about Stamford and on Bill Cunningham please see;https://www.thestamfordtownguidedtours.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/groups/408182023445227/https://www.instagram.com/williamdavidcunningham/?hl=enCheck out http://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstories/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In today’s show we hear from Amanda Jenkins who has had a lifelong passion for the protection of wildlife and biodiversity. As well as hearing about the work of the Wildlife Trust here in the UK, Amanda explains how each of us can play our part in helping to restore the natural environment.In 2019 a State of Nature report was published by a coalition of 70 wildlife organisations and government conservation agencies in the UK. The study found that populations of the UK’s most important wildlife have plummeted by an average of 60% since 1970. The species deemed most important and threatened include hedgehogs, hares and bats, many birds such as the willow tit and the turtle dove and insects such as the high brown fritillary butterfly.But it’s not all doom and gloom. Later on in the show we talk about what practical steps we can all take to help wildlife and have some fun at the same time!Please see links below;National – The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/;National –  https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/Nature_recovery_network_final.pdfNational Campaign – https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/take-action-insectsLincolnshire Wildlife Trusts  https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/;https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/doorstep-wildlife – for families including activities sheets for what you can do in your back yard. Wildlife gardening for everyone  https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/wildlife-gardening Do something wild every day in June.  https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/30-days-wildState of Nature Report 2019  https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/news/no-let-net-loss-uks-natureSouth Lincolnshire Partnership website https://www.lincsfenlands.org.uk/Partnership website – The aims and vision of the Partnership organisations in South Lincolnshire and their work for people and wildlife Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

The story of how an Englishman visited India and discovered how his lifelong love and talent for art could help change and improve the lives of young people living on the streets of Kolkata.My guest today is Steve Carroll, artist, author and teacher. In today’s show Steve tells us about what life is like for people, especially for children on the streets of Kolkata where poverty, drugs and organised crime are rife.We talk about how Steve finally went to Kolkata in 2013 and how, after experiencing poverty at first hand, he came  to love the city and it’s people. He discovered that his talent for art was not just a commodity but a way to positively influence young people’s lives for the better. Links to:The Charities; https://emcalcutta.org/  https://pursuitinternational.org,Steve's artwork; https://www.stevecarrollssussex.com/kolkata.html     ,If you purchase any artwork from Steve's Kolkata page all monies go to Emanuel Ministries Calcutta and contribute towards their precious work in helping look after children living on the pavements of Kolkata. Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Garry Williams discusses how after a career as a professional soccer player and headteacher, his lifelong love of soul has led him to become one of the world’s leading presenters of soul music.His weekly radio shows regularly receive up to 100,000 listeners all over the world. As well as playing old soul favourites, a large proportion of the show features the very best of today’s contemporary indie artists.To catch up with Garry on one of his shows click on one of the links below for a truly great listen!https://www.i2radio.co.uk/schedule, http://www.asskradio.com/, https://tunein.com/radio/WGLROCOM-s240520/,https://www.facebook.com/garry.williams.75491,https://www.instagram.com/gwsoulman/?hl=enQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In this episode I join Adrian Riley, renowned local walking enthusiast and rambler, for a 6 mile early morning walk on the public footpaths in the South Lincolnshire countryside around the village of Baston. Adrian explains his fascination for public footpaths and how he has constructed a number of circular walks which he shares on his blog, for both local people and other walkers to enjoy. Adrian recently completed  a charity walk along the 290 mile Macmillan Way, part of which we walk on and he tells us about his latest project which rediscovers a 130 mile circular walk first created by Robert Brownlow in 2005.As we travel through the South Lincolnshire countryside, we experience history as we pass the Carr Dyke Roman Canal, the Roman Road of King Street and the disused Kates Bridge turnpike bridge. We see the flooded fields and damage caused by Storm Dennis, experiencing the wonders of nature including a close encounter with a barn owl.This episode was recorded in early March before the covid-19 lockdown.  More information on Adrian’s walks can be found below;https://www.scramlette.co.uk/p/about_8.html Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Bill Cunningham, Historian and tour guide walks and talks us through the historic streets of the Georgian market town of Stamford. We hear about various people who have been associated with the town over the last 250 years.As the quaint streets twist and turn at every corner, so too do the variety of tales of fame and infamy as we hear intriguing and at times, disturbing stories about the following people;Daniel Lambert - Heaviest Man in EnglandArnold Leese - Camel veterinary surgeon and FascistEdward Edwards - In pursuit of the Bounty MutineersThomas Bacon - The Walworth tragedyJohn George Haigh - Acid Bath MurdererMalcolm Sargent - Famous ConductorPlease note error at 17.25. Date should be 1842 not 1642.For more information about Stamford and on Bill Cunningham please see;https://www.thestamfordtownguidedtours.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/groups/408182023445227/https://www.instagram.com/williamdavidcunningham/?hl=enThis episode was recorded a few weeks before the Covid -19 Lockdown.Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com