‘I’d rather feel everything to an extreme than feel nothing at all’
On a hot Thursday afternoon, I sat on a bench on Shrewsbury’s Pride Hill to record some conversations with whoever sat down next to me. In this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast, you can hear what happened.
‘That’s something that brings me joy … serving others’
You might recognise this guy’s face. If you spend much time in Shrewsbury’s town centre, he’s probably smiled at you from behind a coffee shop counter, or as you visit your bank, or just as you’re walking down the street. Smiling is very much his thing.
This is Jack Salmon. I’ve known him since he was a kid; I was a friend of his family, in particular his late father, Rev Mark Salmon of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sundorne.
‘My experience of death was such a blessed one that I want to help others who weren’t quite as fortunate’
Jack is a remarkable individual in his own right. It was a joy to get the chance to talk to him, and to share that conversation and his wise, inspiring words with you on Hello You.
Find out more about Jack’s theatrical and cabaret exploits at Spellbound Productions (that Moonlight Ball looks like it could be fun!).
‘I just got tired of being the fat kid’
This is Will. He and his fellow students from Telford College were in Shrewsbury on a geography field trip when he stopped for a chat on the bench on Pride Hill.
Why is he holding his belt like that? Because before Will took up running, that belt went around his waist only once. Now it goes more than halfway around him again.
Hear Will’s story of how running … and running, and running … has changed his life on this episode of Hello You the Shropshire podcast.
Walking a raccoon
I’ll be sitting on other benches around Shropshire over the summer months. I love doing it. Even if few people stop to chat, the people-watching opportunities are tremendous!
If you know of a bench where I could park myself for an hour or so, tell me where it is? Anywhere with a reasonable amount of passing footfall is good. It might be a street or a square, in a park or a churchyard, or it could be at an event, indoors or out. Send me a message telling me about the bench you have in mind, and I’ll put it on the list!
Next weekend I’ll be recording on the bench outside Tesco Extra in Shrewsbury. I’ll be there from about 10:30am. Come along and say hello?
What did you think of this episode of Hello You?
Please let me know, and maybe spark a discussion, in the comments:
This is what I do
Engaged, curious, progressive conversation for and about Shropshire and the wider world. If you enjoy it, here’s how you can help Hello You:
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Have the best weekend you possibly can …
… in whatever your circumstances happen to be.
Take care of yourself.
Take care of the people around you.
And I very much hope those people are taking care of you, too.
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