Hello You 28: Margaret's Monocle

Hello, chums.

Thank you for your patience, and sorry it’s been a long wait between episodes of Hello You. I explain why in the first part of this episode.

Most of this was recorded on location at the Church of the Holy Spirit, on Meadow Farm Drive, Harlescott in Shrewsbury. They have a ‘hub’ event every Wednesday morning, which includes a food share from Shrewsbury Food Hub, A Place of Welcome, and an act of worship. The vicar, Rev Lisa Knight, suggested it would be a good place for me to ‘bench’, and I was very pleased to accept her invitation on Wednesday of this week.

Hello You, as I always say, is about people and their stories. In this episode you can hear stories from Lisa herself, from Dave the church’s Reader, from Food Hub volunteer Oliver, and from neighbours Margaret and Sue, plus a couple of brief soundscapes giving you a flavour of the time and place.

Where else could I bench? Thanks for all the suggestions I’ve had already, but if you have an idea of somewhere that would be a good bench location, let me know?

And what is ‘bench’? All is explained in this episode.

Maybe you and I could meet on a bench and have a conversation for Hello You sometime? About anything that’s on your mind, your story, your thoughts …

Here’s where I’ll be recording over the next couple of months:

• Tuesday April 2 (next Tuesday!) - I’ll be on a bench in the grounds of Shrewsbury Castle, from about 1:30pm

• Tuesday April 23 - I’ll be on the bench on Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, outside the Lion Hotel, from about 1pm

• Monday May 6 - I’ll be on a bench in the Dingle, in the Quarry (Park), from 1pm

• Saturday May 25 - I’ll be on a bench on High Street, Bishop’s Castle, outside the Happy Bap, from about 1pm

• Monday May 27 - I’ll be on a bench at Lyth Hill from about 11am

I’d love to listen to what you have to say, whether it’s on a bench or some other time. If there’s something on your mind, if there’s anything you feel you need to talk about or that people should be more aware of, I’m here to listen. Get in touch and tell me what you’re thinking about? Maybe we can arrange to meet up for a conversation.

Thanks for being there. Happy Easter!