The Parched Pea Pod

On this bonus episode of The Parched Pea Podcast John Gillmore chats to Preston-born animator Nick Park, (and not forgetting Wallace and Gromit) at the city’s reimagined Harris Museum.

In this episode our host John 'Gilly' Gilmore continues his journey around Winckley Square and heads up Winckley Street to speak to some of the amazing independent local businesses including craft ale bar Winckley Street Ale house and  to Green Pheasant Gifts where he talks to shop owner Jade about her remarkable career change.

In this episode Gilly speaks to Gail Newsham, a local historian who has worked on documenting the history of the original Lionesses,  Preston's Dick, Kerr Ladies, one of the most famous and pioneering women’s football teams in history.  Also in this episode Gilly talks to Jenny Patel who runs her own Bollywood dancing group in the city and we hear from David Clayton, founder of 'Wot Wud U Do' which is a local youth organisation helping to support young people with education through engagement.

In this episode our host John 'Gilly' Gilmore visits St Georges in Preston and speaks to Father David Craven about his time at the Church plus also chats to veterans and volunteers of the 'Sand Bag Cafe'. 

In this episode our host John 'Gilly' Gilmore speaks to Kailash Parekh MBE who tells how she arrived in Preston from India via East Africa at the tender age of just five. She shares her memories of transitioning to a new country at such a young age and her work later in life as an education professional, campaigner and community worker.

In this episode Gilly speaks to our podcast sponsor, Cosy Homes in Lancashire, which helps secure free government funding to help people across Lancashire make their homes warmer, more energy efficient, and cheaper to run. The scheme is supported by 13 local authorities in Lancashire and we hear from people who have benefited from the free scheme.

In this episode Gilly wanders down the historic Georgian Square located in the heart of Preston where suffragette Edith Rigby once lived - Winckley Square - where he meets those fighting to preserve the future of this city oasis.

In this episode Gilly takes a stroll down Friargate in Preston and calls in to one of the oldest bookshops in the country and also speaks to the owner of That Comic Shop, also on Friargate, and hears about community events in the city.