Saturday April 17

Listen Again

You can listen to this show again via the BBC iPlayer. Just follow this link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0079gk2
*available until 0600hrs 24/04/10

Beyond the pole

Helen Baxendale was in town for the premier of her latest project 'Beyond the Pole' directed by her partner David Williams and with a cast including Green Wing's Stephen Mangan and Mark Benton. She told listeners all about how she got involved in the project and her decision to take a back seat from acting in this particular film.

The plot covers a documentary film crew follows the first carbon neutral, organic, vegetarian expedition ever to attempt the North Pole. Simultaneously Saving the Planet and getting into the Guinness Book of Records Brian and Mark hope to kill two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, they have never done anything like this before.

David Williams discussed the challenge facing independent films like this in getting distribution. So give them a hand by asking for it at your local cinema.

http://beyondthepole.com/

How to save a life!

Christine Mitchell came into the studio to tell listeners how being saved from choking by a passer-by while out running led to her becoming a St John Ambulance volunteer.

Christine explained how a couple of years ago, while training for a triathlon, she found herself gasping for breath after taking a drink.

Fortunately, some young people nearby came to her rescue and after performing first aid on her and ultimately saved her life.

Now Christine is urging people to learn first aid through St John Ambulance's 'The Difference' initiative which offers a new range of first aid courses to meet the needs of home or leisure activities.

To get involved and collect a card with basic first aid instructions just simply text LIFE to 85010.

Going green

Jo Hamilton from Climate eXchange popped in to tell us all about the Ideal Green Home Show next Friday and Saturday.

Being held at Oxford Town Hall, the show has a host of experts, architects and renewable energy companies to help you live a greener life.

Visitors to the Green Home Show will be able to find the advice, products and installers to transform their home, including architects, eco-designers, solar hot water and solar photovoltaic installers, grey water and insulation installers, plus suppliers of eco-products, recycled materials and a host of energy saving advice.

The show runs next Friday (4-7 pm) and Saturday (10am-4pm) for more information see www.climatex.org/whats-new/ or http://www.ecovation.org.uk/

Keeping on the green trail, Henley resident Dick Fletcher told listeners all about another fascinating green initiative happening in Henley today.

A display of thermal images of four hundred houses in the town will show who is using the right insulation. Organised by a (non-political) group of residents called 'Henley in Transition' which aims to make the town carbon neutral by 2012.

It's on from noon to 3pm today at Henley Town Hall.

Sunday 11th April

For more about this morning's proceedings, do take a look at the programme page: here.

Saturday April 10

Along the Ridgeway

Producer Vicky Parsons and friend Emma Hall kept listeners on track with the second part of their Ridgeway walk series. The durable duo battle the winds as they made their way from Ogbourne St George in Wiltshire, across the M4 and then up to Oxfordshire and the wonderful views on White Horse Hill.

Vicky will give listeners her next instalment of adventures on the Ridgeway in next week's show.

For more information about the walk visit: www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway

Skate Park
From walking to rolling as Berinsfield looked forward to the opening of a new skate park today. With a strong sporting pedigree in the area thanks to a successful boxing club and football team, Berinsfield hopes to farm the next Tony Hawks.
Berinsfield Parish Councillor Ken Hall explained how thanks to a large lottery grant and some money from the parish council, local kids (and young at heart adults) can now practise their half-pipes and ollies.

Framing the future of Wallingford

A visit to Wallingford this Friday was on the cards as big plans and new developments are on the cards. Wallingford Museum are planning to construct a new timber framed building. Museum curator Judy Dewey and Peggy (who knows all there is to know about timber) gave Phil a tour of the site and explained where the wood had come from.

The Shift

Local filmaker David Trumble popped into the studio to tell listeners all about the film premiere of his latest production The Shift.

Thanks to funding from the Oxfordshire Community Fund (OCF) and donations from family and friends, the film is about a paramedic called Damon Yorke. The paramedic, who is struggling with a personal crisis, struggles through a particularly stressful night shift alongside his driver Joe which leads to an inevitable confontation between the two. The busy film-maker has also been busy making another film 'Beyond the Pale' starring A-lister Helen Baxendale, who will be appearing on the Breakfast Show next Saturday.

The OCF is holding the gala premiere of the films on 15 April at the Phoenix Picture House in Walton Street, Oxford.

Love your museum

Christopher Brown, director of the Ashmoleum museum, told listeners how the recently revamped museum was one of eleven across the country taking part in the 'I love my museum' project.

The £100,000 prize is awarded to the museum or gallery for a project completed in the last year, that the Judges deem demonstrates the most originality, imagination and excellence. The Prize, which has been sponsored by the UK’s leading independent art charity, The Art Fund, for three years, aims to increase public appreciation and enjoyment of the UK’s museums and galleries.

The public can vote for their favourite long-listed institution and leave comments for the Judges on the Art Fund Prize website telling the Judges why they should win. The poll results and online comments will be given to the Judges for their consideration when selecting the Short List and Winner. Visitors to the website can enter an exclusive competition to win a limited edition Jonathan Yeo print.

For more information go to: www.skyarts.co.uk/artfundprize

Sunday 4th April

Please visit the programme information page here to see more about the morning's show.

Saturday April 3

The Great Outdoors
With the longer days and improving weather (supposedly!) this week's show was all about the great outdoors.
Producer Vicky Parsons explained how she, along with her friend Emma Hall, is tackling the 87-mile long Ridgeway - in six sections.
Vicky will tell listeners all about her adventures in next week's show.

For more information about walks on the Ridgeway you can log onto the website: www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway

Thrill Seeker
For those looking for something a bit more adventurous, Thames Valley Orienteering Club's Peter Narramore told listeners about an orienteering event in Shotover next Sunday. Often described as a 'race with navigation' , orienteering involves navigating your way through a forest or across a moor from one checkpoint to the next until you complete the course.
Also featuring on the show was BBC's Roger Hammett who told listeners about a website that has advice and guidance on a range of activities from den building to archery or white water rafting.
For people looking to follow the Ray Mears path of surviving out in the wild, there are some great tips on the website.
For more information about the orienteering event at Shotover next Sunday (April 11) visit http://www.tvoc.org.uk/

For a host of Thrill Seeking events going on around the country and tips and advice on, among other things, kite-flying visit: www.bbc.co.uk/thrillseeker

Freewheeling
Listeners were encouraged to get on their bikes to take part in the first ever Freewheeling cycling festival.
Organisor Emily Sharp pedalled into the studio to explain how she hopes the event, in Abingdon next week, will kick-start people of all ages to enjoy the fun and freedom of a spring bike ride.
The event will feature three guided cycle rides of 4 miles, 10 miles and 27 miles and there will be cycling enthusiasts on-hand to offer information and inspiration. There will also be bikes available for those who don't own one!
The event takes place next Sunday at Abingdon Market Place from 10am-noon.
For more information visit: http://www.abingdonfreewheeling.org.uk/

Emily (right) with friend Jo-Anne Croft

Banbury Market

Denis Stanley told listeners all about the great local produce on offer at Banbury's Market, taking place today at Banbury Market Place from 8.30am. It'll be there on Thursday and Saturdays.

Sunday 28th March

For this programme's main BBC page please visit here.


A very good morning to you. Phil is back in the presenter's chair today.

The Jews of Medieval Oxford

We went on a journey to discover the Jewish Community that lived and thrived here in Oxford from their arrival in the country in the eleventh century all the way up to the expulsion of the Jews from England by Edward the First in 1290. Pam Manix (below, right) - an historian and member of the Oxford Jewish Heritage Committee, and Evie Kemp (below, left)- the Convenor of the Oxford Jewish Heritage Committee came in to the studio to talk to Phil about history and the current work of the Heritage Committee, including the fascinating new heritage website: http://www.oxfordjewishheritage.co.uk/

Pam also takes guided tours around the city - details can be found on the website.

Wantage Methodist Chapel

Gill and Gordon Skidmore (below) joined Phil in the Studio to talk about the campaign to refurbish the Wantage Methodist Chapel. There will be a fundraising dinner event at Oxford's Randolph Hotel on the 24th April, with Paul Mayhew-Archer (the creator of the Vicar of Dibley) as the speaker. If you would like to support the refurbushment effort in any way then you can call Gill on 01235 766655 or email gill.skidmore@nuffield.ox.ac.uk

Our paper reviewer this morning was Shaunaka Rishi Das (below), who is the Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.

Saturday March 27

BBOWT Reserve

BBOWT's Chris Hanningdon came in to the studio to tell listeners about the new nature reserve opened in the beautiful village of Letcombe Regis.

Chris also made a plea for volunteers to help run the new wildlife reserve near Wantage.

For details about the reserve and volunteering opportunities visit the BBOWT website: http://www.bbowt.org.uk/

Spring Open Day at Boundary Brook Nature Park
With guided walks and the chance to try some pond-dipping, visitors may see some early butterflies the Oxford Urban Wildlife Group will be busy this Sunday.
http://www.ouwg.org.uk/

Retrader

Phil spoke to the man behind a new website that matchmakes businesses in an attempt to reduce waste and cut costs.

Retrader is a new materials exchange website set-up by Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) that enables businesses to pass on materials they no longer and get pre-used materials from other businesses.

Joining Phil in the studio was Paul Mocroft, the man behind the idea, and Steph Griggs-Travarthen from Oxfam and Dave Beesley from B-Line who have benefitted from the scheme.

For more details you can log-on to retrader.org.uk

Oxford Literary Festival

Literary festival organisor Sally Dunsmore popped in to tell Phil about the big names attending this year's festival.

This year's line-up includes: David Mitchell, who will be interviewing Wantage MP Ed Vaizey; Joanne Harris, author of the novel Chocolat.

Talent Oxford

The county's undiscovered stars get the opportunity to shine at this year's Talent Oxford event.

Joining Phil in the studio was Talent Oxford's Lydiah Igweh to explain how hopefuls can take part.

The event will take place this May and will include the categories: Best Dance Act, Best Vocal Act, Best Group Act, Most Original Act and Aspiring Star Award.

Judging the winner will be X- Factor finalist Rachel Adedeji.

For more information about the competition visit: http://www.talentoxford.co.uk/