Francis

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a fascinating guest – Andrew, who loves the vastness and variety of the landscape on the Heath. He enjoys nothing better than exploring the Heath, so much so – he has researched the Heath for a book ‘Curious Hampstead Heath'. The journalist and historian in Andrew delves into the ghost sign on Swains Lane  and Wild’s Farm – which was the birthplace of the Anarchist movement. Enjoy!

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath we have a lovely guest - Nigel, who has been coming to the Heath for many years with Frances, his wife. He loves to walk on the Heath, explore the Secret Garden and has a love / hate relationship with the bird life. Nigel recounts that the Heath is a great place to spend his time now that he has retired from being a diplomat in various countries around the world. Nigel also describes how he was arrested in the Congo river and had to sort out a potential situation with Prince Michael of Kent. Enjoy!

In today’s episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we feature musical guest Frances, who relocated to Gospel Oak more than 55 years ago from South London. When not performing the violin with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Frances enjoyed walking her dog and playing tennis on the Heath. Frances also shares the location of her favourite spot on the Heath – the Secret Garden. Enjoy!

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a brilliant guest – Dick.  He’s lived practically on the Heath for the last 20 years.  Having moved from Portsmouth via Winchester, Dick has made the Heath his home.  He enjoys outdoor exercise swimming and the everyday encounters he has there.  When he’s not making films with bands like Oasis, the Rolling Stones and Stereophonics – the list goes on – he’s busy making trouble. Just a heads up there are a couple of F-bombs in this episode. Enjoy!

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we’re delighted to welcome a fascinating guest, Fay.  As a child, she fondly recalls walking on the heath with her father for lunch.  Fay is also the fonder and editor of a literary magazine called Ambit.  She loves the Lido and swims there daily.  When she’s not exploring, drawing or exhibiting her art, Fay also describes her love of the pagan alter.  She even shares a rather scary incident involving a crow. Enjoy!

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a wonderful guest – Tom. He’s lived by the Heath for over half his life, travelling from Maine, USA, with a stopover in Ukraine, to finally settling in Hampstead.  After some persuasion from friends and a harrowing encounter with a bendy bus, Tom experienced a life-changing epiphany during his first swim in the Mens Pond.  This led him to found the East German Ladies Swimming Team. Enjoy!

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a great guest— Francis, who remembers collecting firewood on the Heath as a child with his mum. Francis has lived near the Heath all his life and finds it a wonderful place for reflection, pleasure, and exercise, while he isn’t prosecuting or defending allegedly and sometimes bad people. Enjoy.

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we’re delighted to welcome Carrie, a remarkable guest.  Having moved from Cleverly near Blackpool to West Hampstead at the age of 21, Carrie initially took the Heath, a little, for granted. However, she soon discovered a passion for running, walking with her dog and children and a profound connection to the Ladies’ Pond.  This all happened while she was co-founding and building Mumsnet into the successful brand and business it is today. Enjoy!

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a fascinating guest, Martin, who moved from South Africa to enjoy and write about Hampstead Heath. Martin delves into stories of how Hampstead Heath survived being developed, the renewal and repair of the Spanish Civil War veterans’ commemoration bench, and the discovery of a ‘Pound’. Enjoy.

In this episode of Escape to Hampstead Heath, we have a magnificent guest, Ovidio, who has travelled from Hollywood to Holloway to enjoy the delights and specialness of Hampstead Heath since 1975. Ovidio explores how Hampstead Heath enhances his life when he isn’t making films or surfing, and how he has formed a band by approaching people in the Lido showers. Enjoy.