In Focus Podcasts

Neither Stuart nor Richard has yet successfully completed a novel of their own but they are still determined that one day they will follow in the footsteps of Stuart’s dad - Richard’s grandad - Peter.Peter had his novels published in the 1950s alongside countless short stories in the science fiction genre.For the time being Stuart and Richard will just chat about other people’s work and in this edition they focus on Tony Parsons’ Man and Boy but also dip in to the second and third books in what they term the Harry Silver Trilogy; Man and Wife and Men from the Boys.

In this month's podcast Richard and Stuart take a look at Matt Haig's new book, The Midnight Train. They both loved his previous novel, The Midnight Library, so can this new work live up to their expectations?Also available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrustratedAuthors

Recently re-elected MSP Finlay Carson is Galloway's Gazetteer's first big-name interview. He discusses what brought him in to politics and why he is a Conservative. He explains why he believes there needs to be a pause in the development of on-shore windfarms and outlines his hopes for Galloway. And he recalls too when his mother heard he was planning to stand for the local council she told him he was a 'bloody idiot'.

The history of Hastings Pier is a chequered one. But no one could have anticipated the mess that it would become when it was triumphantly reopened a decade ago after a £14m rebuild following a devastating fire in October 2010. Today, at the height of summer it is devoid of visitors and only three businesses operate on the pier - it wasn't mean to be like this.There is also a video version of this podcast available by following this linkhttps://youtu.be/PZq5MARC0lw?si=xNErNZMEmnZhVnZK

Here are the important addresses and remember you have to have your submission in by 5pm on June 23rd and make sure you attend the community meeting in the McMillan Hall on June 30th. Email laura.walker@scot.gov.uk quoting WIN-170-2009 Glenvernoch community hearing submission, to speakOr emailcontact@handsoffourhills.co.uk if you want HOOH to submit and have read out on your behalf, or you just want to let us know what has been submitted. Website: https://handsoffourhills.co.uk/site/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/handsoffou... (private group, must apply to join and answer membership questions) https://www.facebook.com/handsoffourhills for the public page

Stuart Baillie was delighted when Terence Starr invited him to appear on the Business Buzz and Banter show on Ashford's Channel Radio. Terence turned the tables on Stuart as the niormal interviewer became the interviewee. Channel radio was happy to share a file of the recording of the show which we are delighted to share here - minus the music.If you'd like to listen to Channel Radio here is a link to the website https://www.channelradio.co.uk/

The story of Alexander Murray's short life is a fascinating one; raised as a Shepherd's boy in the Galloway Hills and with little formal education he taught himself not just to read but to read and understand foreign languages, eventually becoming a Professor at Edinburgh University before his death in 1813 aged just 37. Hear more about his life - and death - in this podcast.

A well stocked, well managed river brings a lot to a local community; it brings tourism, it provides an amazing learning resource and it can help create jobs and training oportunities.Maintaining stocks of salmon in the Cree has been exactly what the Cree River Hatchery and Habitat Trust has been doing since its inception in 2010 and now every year the hatchery produces up to 200,000 young salmon - more correctly called salmon fry.It's been a big month for the Trust; the river was opened for the season, it received one of two inaugural Orri awards from North Atlantic Salmon Fund and it has launched a Crowdfunder to hopefully double the £10,000 it received as part of the Orri award.At the beginning of March 2026 Stuart Baillie met Hatchery Coordinator Murdo Crosbie to find out more about the history of the hatchery and how it goes about ensuring the Cree is a well stocked salmon river that is attractive to anglers and you'll hear how the trust hopes to spend the money it raises.If you would like to donate then follow the link below. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/eWoNvgvl?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink