Real Voices of Happy Valley

Michael Crowley's latest book featured on Viv's Bookends on Calder Valley Radio - and was upload as a podcast here. However he could probably make several really interesting podcast, so we went back and spoke to him about his play/poetry collection "The Battle of Heptonstall" from the English Civil War/Revolution (Smokestack Books). Here he tells us about how it came about and how it is not the case that everyone takes sides in a war or cultural conflict

Viv and her friend Jean Williams have a radio show Bookends first Friday of every month on www.caldervalleyradio.co.uk. Each month Viv interviews someone connected with books. In this case Michael Crowley author of "Remember Me to My Comrades - Letters and Diaries of The International Brigade" Barnthorn Books. It features the words of men from UK and Ireland who fought in the Spanish Civil War.  Unfortunately technical issues meant it could not be broadcast. So here it is. The next episode of Real Voices of Happy Valley will be a more general chat with Michael

Halifax Street Angels work to meet the needs of those who have become vulnerable on a night out, those who have been spiked, are victims of crime, had accidents or who have had too much to drink and as a consequence are in need of support. The organisation has been going for 13 years and aim to make Halifax a safe place to be. Each year the Angels provide around 13,000 volunteer hours and help approximately 3,000 people. On Saturday nights they have a base at Angels Rest Café, 15 Crossley Street, from where they go out on patrols around the town centre. Dave went on patrol with them, experienced their work and chatted about their skills and motivations. What a great bunch of people. Find out how and how to help/donate at www.halifaxstreetangels.org

Nick Williamson opened The Exchange in Todmorden at the end of 2025. There you can buy, sell or exchange records, books, CDs etc. There is a wide range to choose from, especially if you like your music. Some of the people connected with the shop run record labels and Nick has good links with venues like The Golden Lion across the road. After years of running bookstalls and DJing Nick brought his love of music and books together. Hear what he has to say.

In this episode Dave talks to Jenny Slaughter about the CELT Kitchen – Calderdale Ecological Land Trust. This is a community managed café providing organic, mostly vegetarian meals made by local chefs from local produce. It happens each month at Wadsworth Community Centre, Old Town, and is a lovely event on a pay as you can basis. The menu varies from month to month, though much of it has been mediterranean over the summer. For information about when the meals happen email [email protected] or Pennine Cropshare Facebook page and https://penninecropshare.co.uk/

Bob and Carol Bridgestock retired from the police in Calderdale and were persuaded to talk and then write about their experiences: Bob as a detective and Carol as admin. The result is a series of books featuring detectives Jack Dylan and Charley Mann. Here they explain how the books came about, their writing process and their involvement with the TV series Happy Valley

Before embarking on Season Three of Real Voices of Happy Valley Viv and Dave visited Ireland, recorded a radio show, Viv and Dave's Allsorts  in Galway (Tuesdays 12-2pm www.caldervalleyradio.co.uk) and a podcast about their trip. Here it is. It will be followed by another season of chats with some of the interesting people of the valley

Real Voices comes to an end (for now). After 100 episodes we are talking a break. We’ll  be back with a different podcast in the future which we will tell people about on our Real Voices of Happy Valley Facebook page. In this final episode we chat with dr Andrew McTominey of Pennine Heritage, based at the Birchcliffe Centre in Hebden Bridge about his Pennine Stories project which aims to engage the community more in using their archives and adding to the 70,000 images and stories they have. Check out their digital archives at www.pennineheritage.org.uk 

In the second of Dean's 'turn the tables episode' Dean Wilkinson of Calder Valley Radio talks to Dave about aspects of his life and work and gains an insight into the origins of Real Voices of Happy Valley

As we approach 100 episodes, which was always our target, our colleague at Calder Valley Radio asked if he could ‘turn the tables’ and ask us questions. So we agreed. In this episode he asked Viv to talk about her life and how we got to be in Calder Valley doing podcasts with local people…