Shows
Your London LegacyAndy Bull – Journalist & Author Of ”Secret Twickenham, Whitton, Teddington & The Hamptons” Takes Us On A Wonderful Tour Of West London, Full Of Pop Stars, Royalty, Rugby & Film Studios.Today’s brilliant guest is journalist and author, Andy Bull, who has lived in London for the best part of 40 years. Author of two books about London, on today’s podcast we talk about Andy’s book: Secret Twickenham, Whitton, Teddington, and the Hamptons. Now I’m sure all of you will have heard of the Cavern Club in Liverpool where the Beatles made their name, but chances are you’ve never heard of the Eel Pie Island in Twickenham—which in the 60’s was a favorite spot for the likes of the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Rod Stewart to play.
Thes...2021-03-0848 minYour London LegacyNed Palmer - Philosopher, Jazz Musician & Author Of Sunday Times Book Of The Year 'A Cheese-monger's History Of The British Isles' Is A Must For History Nerds & Food Lovers. Great Fun Too.I was thrilled to have really had such an entertaining and fascinating chat with philosopher, jazz musician and renowned cheese historian, Ned Palmer.
Author of the Sunday Times Book of the Year ‘’A Cheesemonger’s History of the British Isles’’ Ned makes it clear that every cheese tells a story. In his recent book Ned takes us on a mouth-watering journey across Britain and Ireland to uncover the histories of beloved old favourites like Cheddar and Wensleydale to exciting new innovations like the Irish Cashel Blue or the splendid Renegade Monk.
Ned works with Laithwates, the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society, the Britis...2021-01-181h 16Your London LegacyMark Amies Is A Urban Archaeologist With A Fascination In The Incredible Hidden Story of London's Industrial PastAs you wander round the streets of our magnificent capital city today, you’ll probably most likely be aware of all the shops and offices, albeit deserted if we are still in lockdown.
What you will not see so much of are the relics of London’s glorious industrial past, unless of course, that is you know where and what to look for.
From brewing giants such as Guinness, toy manufacturers like Airfix and Lesney who made the world-famous matchbox cars, to the aircraft makers like De Haviland and Handley Page—these and many more instantly recognisable brands had major and of...2020-12-2149 minYour London LegacyTom Jones - Author Of 'Tired of London Tired Of Life. One Thing a Day To Do In London' Even In Lockdown.As the great Samuel Johnson once said, ‘when a man is tired of London he is tired of life’ and in my view this has never been more true.
In these troubled unique times, finding the pleasure and joy in plain view is critical for us all, from a physical, mental and wellbeing perspective.
In this brilliant episode I caught up with award winning Tom Jones (no, not that one), author of best-selling book Tired of London Tired of Life, One Thing a Day to do in London.
When Tom found himself bored in our beautiful capital city, Tom decided to h...2020-11-1657 minYour London LegacyGeoff Pick OBE - Director Of London Metropolitan Archives, One Of Our Cities Best Kept Secrets, With Over 100km Of Archives & 1000 Years To Choose FromToday’s brilliant guest is responsible for what can probably be described as one of London’s absolute best secrets, The London Metropolitan Archive.
Geoff Pick is Director of this amazing London based resource. Just imagine over 100km of archives jam packed full of amazing historical and contemporary material with over 1000 years to choose from. Well that is Geoff’s job. Geoff is an adopted Londoner from Wigan who was recently awarded an OBE for services to the management of records and archives in the capital.
He joined the LMA in 1986 and became Director in 2013, having worked as a professional archiv...2020-10-191h 00Your London LegacyHashi Mohamed - Broadcaster, Barrister, Author Of 'People Like Us -What it Takes To Make It In Modern Britain' Reveals His Incredible Story & Views On The Struggles Of Social MobilityWhen Hashi Mohamed arrived in London from Kenya as a 9-year-old, separated from his mother and still grieving the recent and tragic loss of his father, he couldn’t possibly have foreseen the incredible journey ahead. A journey of social mobility littered with hurdles and barriers, some clear and obvious and others much more subtle.
Against all the odds it would seem, Hashi is now a prominent London based Barrister, broadcaster, and author of his new hugely successful book ‘People Like Us – What it Takes to Make it in Modern Britain’. In it Hashi discusses the many variables that make up the p...2020-09-2100 minYour London LegacyDr Jules Montague - London Based Consultant Neurologist, Journalist & Author Of Best Seller 'Lost & Found', Explores What Remains Of The Person Left Behind When Pieces Of Their Mind Go Missing.The fear of losing your mind has to be one of the scariest things you could ever endure—and the worry that a loved one will forget who you are, or start acting in a way that is totally opposite to how they have all their lives, is too much for most to imagine. This week’s brilliant guest, Jules Montague, is a Consultant Neurologist here in London. Her clinical specialty is “young onset dementia” with patients who develop memory and behavior changes as early as their twenties—and some of her most challenging work is in the intensive care setting, w...2020-09-0700 minYour London LegacyBeth Gardiner's New Highly Acclaimed Book 'Choked - The Age Of Air Pollution & Fight For A Cleaner Future' Is A Must Read For Everyone. No One Is Immune. Especially In These Covid 19 Days.Beth Gardiner is an American Journalist based in London. Her hugely important and critically acclaimed book “Choked: The age of air pollution and fight for a cleaner future’’ was one of The Guardians Best Books of 2019 and described by Arnold Schwarzenegger as ‘an urgent essential read’.
Air pollution kills seven million people every year, causing heart attacks, strokes, cancer, dementia and more. In Choked, Beth Gardiner travels the world to tell the story of this modern-day plague, exposing the political decisions and economic forces that have kept so many of us breathing dirty air. In fact, Covid 19 and lockdown h...2020-08-1700 minYour London LegacyMark Monroe Is A Creative London Cabbie Who Hosts The Fascinating 'Secret London' You Tube Channel, Sharing Places & Quirky Stories of London You Would Have To Dig Hard To FindLondon cabbies are a wonderful, rich and varied bunch and Mark Monroe is no exception.
Born in Plymouth Mark moved to London as a young man and studied Musical Theatre at the Arts Ed school in Chiswick, after which he was a jobbing theatre actor to the age of 33. Realising the instability of the acting world Mark took the ‘The Knowledge’ absorbing very facet of his new home London. Marks love of London extended beyond the standout historical icons such as Buckingham Palace and the London eye. It was the quirky, bizarre, and unusual that excites him.
So much so that...2020-08-1000 minYour London LegacyJames Cook MBE - Jamaican Born Former European & British Super Middleweight Boxing Champion Was Awarded MBE For ''Outstanding Work With The Young People Of Hackney's Notorious Murder Mile.As a kid, James Cook grew up with his grandparents on the streets of Jamaica, until his parents brought him to London as a 9 year old and his whole world changed.
James grew up on the notorious North Peckham Housing Estate and went on to become British and European super – middleweight champion, in an era of classy boxers. But James always loved working with and helping the youth, and when he retired he went on to become a successful trainer before saving from closure and then running the famous Pedro Youth Club in Hackney.
In 2007 James was deservedly awarded the MB...2020-08-0300 minYour London LegacyKris De Meyer -Documentary Maker, Neuroscientist & Fellow Researcher At King's College London, Studies How We Believe What Is 'True' Or 'False' & How This Polarises SocietyWithout doubt—one topic that I find more fascinating than virtually any other, is the field of neuroscience. And this week, I was excited to be joined by Kris De Meyer, Neuroscientist and Research Fellow at King’s College London. One of Kris’s interests lies in the area of belief. By that he means, how our brain decides that certain ideas are ‘true’ while rejecting others as 'false'.
Kris also studies how entrenched belief systems invariably lead to polarisation in society, from such crucial topics and Climate Change & Brexit. Kris is also a documentary maker and co-produced with Sheil...2020-07-2700 minYour London LegacyHuw Jones - Author Of Thrilling Novel 'The Last Director of Shoreditch' Chats About The 'Old Nichol' East End Slum To Modern Day GentrificationShoreditch in the East End of London has an incredibly rich and varied history. From theatre and Shakespeare in Elizabethan times, to the wealthy traders and French Huguenot silk weavers of the 17th Century to the decline of the furniture industry in the late 19th century when the area was one of the worst slums in London. The illustrated London News in 1863 described the terrible living conditions in the 'Old Nichol' as ‘one painful and monotonous round of vice, filth and poverty, huddled in dark cellars…teeming with disease and death’’.
Today, Shoreditch must be one of the trendiest and most fas...2020-07-2000 minYour London LegacyChrissy Levett Is Founder & CEO Of Creative Conscience - A Global Movement Set Up To Encourage, Reward, Train & Support Creative Thinkers To Use Their Talents For Social & Environmental ImpactI’ve never really thought of myself as a creative type. From my days studying law, to my career as an Insurance Loss Assessor with my head in policy wordings, the arc of my story has somehow seemed rather dry.
That is of course until I discovered my love of podcasting whilst flat on my back in a hospital bed some three years ago. As it was in that London hospital bed where my first create seed was germinated.
Today, some people tell me I’m a creative. That I’ve actually come up with an idea, something from nothing, and ha...2020-07-0600 minYour London LegacyRichard Lumsden Is Highly Regarded London Based Actor Across Different Genres, & Author Of My Favourite Book Of 2020 Lockdown .'The Six Loves Of Billy Binns' Is Simply Magical.If you were looking back over a hundred years of your life what would you change? This is the conundrum Richard Lumsden posed his wonderfully drawn lead character, in his beautiful, yet melancholy recent novel ‘’The Six Loves of Billy Binns’’.
Richard is an English actor, composer, and musician, having performed in such diverse TV shows including Foggy in First of the Summer Wine, Henry in Sugar Rush and Martin in The Catherine Tate Show, as well as EastEnders. His film credits include the classic Ang Lee’s Sense & Sensibility and Gordon in James Rouse’s Downhill.
But its Billy Binns...2020-06-2900 minYour London LegacyRenowned Marketing Expert Barnaby Wynter Reflects On How This Art Has Changed In Light Of World Events & What Lies In Store For Us Post Covid 19Marketing ain’t what it used to be. Whether you are CEO of a large corporation, Director of an SME, or solopreneur—getting your marketing message out has never been more important than it is today when we are all so distracted.
Lock-down may mean that we have far more time on our hands than ever before, but we also have way more things prodding and grabbing at our attention every second of the day—oops, there goes another notification.
Today’s guest Barnaby Wynter is a leading marketing expert, keynote speaker, Founder of The Brand Bucket Co, Author and Serial E...2020-06-1500 minYour London LegacyPearly Queen Of St Pancras Diane Gould Was Born In N.London Into A Family Of Costermongers (Street Traders). Happy Carefree Times Diane Traces Her Roots Back To The Very First Pearly King.Pearly Queen Diane Gould follows in the rich tradition of Pearly royalty. Born in North London into a family of Costermongers (street market traders) her Father Alf Dole was grandson of the very first Pearly King of St Pancras, having put on his first suit as the Pearly Prince aged 7.
As Diane says, The Costermongers worked hard and played hard, always ready for a sing song and knees up in the local battle cruiser (boozer).
The Costermongers were a resilient bunch with a Stoic outlook on life. If you fall on hard times- well, you just pick yourself up and...2020-06-0800 minYour London LegacyCarolyn Steel's New Book 'Sitopia. How Food Can Save The World' Addresses One Of The Most Crucial Issues Of Our Time. We Live In A World Shaped By Food Which Is The Cause Of Many World Problems. So What Is The Solution?There simply can be no topic of more significance today than how food shapes our lives and is an integral part of who we are….indeed we are literally what we eat and we live in world moulded and dominated by food.
Who can forget in the early days of Covid 19 lockdown—the pathetic sight of people scrambling for the last bag of pasta, and the aisles of empty shelves where once was your favourite fruit and vegetable?
Carolyn Steel is a leading thinker on food and cities and her first book Hungry City received international acclaim, establishing her as an i...2020-06-0100 minYour London LegacyAs Covid 19 Continues To Change The Way We Live & Think About Our Lives, Mindset Expert Michele Attias's Message That We Should ''Look Inside, Stop Seeking & Start Living'' Has Never Been More Relevant****************************************************************************************************************
March 2020 will for many be seen as watershed in their lives. There was before and there is after. Covid 19 raises many fascinating questions. Its has caused most of us to re evaluate our lives. Are we happy with the direction our life has been taken? Are we content in our job, our relationship, our values, the way we use or abuse our time, and of course if we are not happy what can we do about it.
Back in June 2018 I met up with my old friend Michele Attias to chat about her book 'Look Inside...stop seeking, start living...2020-05-2500 minYour London LegacySteve & Soli Lazarus On The Emotional Roller Coaster Of Life & Times During London Lockdown. Walking. Crying. Missing. Being. Change. Time. ADHD. Creativity.In these bizarre and unsettling times, many of the things we took for granted have been severely curtailed—and in some cases restricted all together.
As you know, I have always loved the fact that I get to meet all the guests on the podcast in person, be it at their place of work, their home, or at a location that is specific to them; on the diving platform at Highgate Mens Bathing Pond, on the lifeboat with the crew at RNLI Chiswick, over a cappuccino in Little Italy Soho, or at the top of The Monument in The City of...2020-05-1800 minYour London LegacyJonny Benjamin's 'Stranger On The Bridge' True Life Story Gives Us All Hope In These Strange London Lock Down Times That Our Lives Will Improve SoonAs many of us struggle on through the Covid 19 London lock down, it's a good time to pause, and reflect and truly see that good can come out of bad.
I've chosen to re publish one of my earliest interviews with the inspiring and Jonny Benjamin. This is his very dramatic personal story from the depths of despair to being awarded MBE ( service for mental health).
I hope you find this amazing yet true life story of 'The Stranger on The Bridge' a motivation that things will get better soon. Just keep believing.
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On a bitter cold winter morning, you’re...2020-05-1100 minYour London LegacyAfter A Fall Heidi Herkes Was Paralysed from The Neck Down. In Tough Covid 19 Lockdown Times Heidi's Story Serves As A Beacon Of Hope & Sunshine For Us AllThe guests on my show never fail to amaze and inspire me, and Heidi Herkes is no exception. She is right up there with the very best of them. As a young woman, she travelled extensively around the world running her own high end bridal and make up company—from Sydney to Dubai, Berlin and the US. She worked at incredible venues making her clients look and feel amazing, until one day, she suffered an unimaginable life changing event that meant Heidi was forced to rethink everything she ever knew.
After falling down a flight of stairs, Heidi broke her ne...2020-05-0400 minYour London LegacyRuth Posner Is A Very Special Lady. Holocaust Survivor From Warsaw, Dancer, Actress, Choreographer, Author, Educator. Ruth Has Led An Inspiring & Often Tragic Yet Uplifting Life.I’m recording this in the midst of the Covid 19 lockdown here in London, which is an event that I guess will go down in history along with others that affected the world psyche.
But I’m also recording this on Holocaust Remembrance Day; another period in our relatively recent past that continues to leave indelible marks in our collective memory for so many of us.
This year the restrictions imposed on all of us have meant that this special commemoration will be marked digitally. And so, it is with sublime timing, (not intended I assure you), that I digitally intr...2020-04-2700 minYour London LegacySinger Songwriter, Co-Founder Of The Big Issue & Good Friend Of Your London Legacy Is Now Performing Live In A Street Near You Raising Londoner's Spirits During Covid 19 Lockdown. This Is His Story.UPDATE: During Covid 19 Lockdown Im re publishing some of the most popular episodes.
Good friend of the show Phil Ryan is a top man and as he cant tour right now he has taken his live music into the street where he lives to entertain the locals who are loving it.
Check out this chat we had a while back before all the madness started to find out what makes Phil tick.....
Phil Ryan has been a passionate campaigner – from helping the homeless to be self-sufficient, to saving his beloved Denmark Street from the voracious appetite of London’s property owni...2020-04-2000 minYour London LegacyLal Hardy's London Lock Down Special Reprise - One Of The Great London Tattoo Artists. Not Just A Master Of His Art But A True Gent Too.Your London Legacy Lock Down Special.
This Easter and for the weeks ahead, why not take advantage of your down time or as Ryan Holiday/Robert Green call it 'Alive Time' and enjoy one of our my very first guest on the podcast Lal Hardy, one of the greatest tattoo artists of his generation in London, and certainly one of the nicest gents Ive met on my travels. Its one of my first recordings so may be a bit tentative, but the response was and still is amazing and has been downloaded more than any other so far.
Kick back...2020-04-1300 minYour London LegacyAndy McNab Of Bravo Two Zero Fame Is One Of The World's Best Selling Authors. Step Inside His Remarkable World.I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when Andy McNab agreed to be a guest on the podcast.
From the day Andy was found in a carrier bag on the steps of Guy’s Hospital in London, he has led a quite extraordinary life. From teenage delinquent, to a young soldier he waged war against the IRA in the streets and fields of South Armagh. As a member of 22 SAS he was at the centre of covert operations for nine years – on five continents. During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words...2020-04-0600 minYour London LegacyYou Need To Turn Your Phone Off For This One & Listen To Founder & Host Of Offline & Director Of The Privately Owned Schorr Art Collection Howard LewisThe timing of my conversation with today's guest could hardly be more relevant given the lock down scenario we now all find ourselves in due to the shocking effects of Corona Virus.
Indeed, the whole premise of Your London Legacy podcast, is for me to physically go out and about into our beautiful capital city, meet up with its most wonderful, fascinating and colourful characters, in their space, whether at home, work or on location and bring them straight to your device. It was never my intention to interview guests merely over the wires, on Skype or Zoom or whatever...2020-03-3000 minYour London LegacyLee Hallman Head Of Design Qatari Diar Europe Is Transforming The Way Future Generations Will Enjoy London's Stunning Architecture
London is a city world-renowned for its architecture; from old to new, traditional to contemporary, art deco to gothic, and many styles in between—there are hundreds of great buildings in the capital.
This week’s fascinating guest, Lee Hallman, is currently Head of Design at Qatari Diar Europe, based in the heart of Mayfair.
Previously Head of Design at Candy & Candy and Senior Partner at Foster & Partners, Lee has played pivotal design roles in a wide array of London based projects, which recently include the 13 acre Chelsea Barrack development in Belgravia, plus the transformation of t...2020-03-2300 minYour London LegacyFormer Cabinet Minister & Author & Prison Reformer Jonathan Aitken Is Best Known For His Public Fall From Grace & Imprisonment. This Is His Spiritual Story Of Repentance & Commitment To A New Life.In 1999 Former Conservative MP and Cabinet Minister Jonathan Aitken was convicted of perjury at The Old Bailey in a famous and widely reported case. His political career in ruins, he received an 18-month prison sentence starting at the high security HMP Belmarsh. Jonathan’s story is quite unique—and at the time, he was one of the most vilified personalities of his generation.
As a journalist he spent some seven years on Fleet Street and as an author has written some 17 books including acclaimed biographies on Nixon and Thatcher.
These days he is a London based Priest serving as Prison Chap...2020-03-1600 minYour London LegacyShamash Alidina Author Of 'Mindfulness For Dummies' & Co-Founder Of 'The Museum Of Happiness' Discusses One Of The Most Relevant Topics Of Our Generation.In a world full of negative news compounded and inflated by politicians, the media, and online trolls—we all need to slow down, stop, and just be from time to time. To reconnect and yes, be happy.
This week’s guest Shamash Alidina is that ray of light, that beacon of hope. Author of Mindfulness for Dummies and Relaxation for Dummies,Shamash has many years’ experience as a mindfulness teacher, trainer, coach, and worldwide speaker—having trained with Jon Kabbat Zinn, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Mattieu Ricard.
In this wonderful and joyous episode Shamash talks of Kindfulness, the discovery and cultivat...2020-03-0900 minYour London LegacyMalcolm Knight Has An Enduring Love Of The Thames, That Has Seen Him Set Multiple World Records, Become Events Manager For The Queens Row Barge 'Gloriana' & Now As Director Of Thames AliveI don’t really know where to start with today’s guest—as he has done and achieved so much in his life. Malcolm Knight served in the Metropolitan Police Force for nearly 30 years, and among his varied roles he served as a uniformed Sergeant, in the Diplomatic Protection Service, and Territorial Support Group to instructor National Public Order Training Centre.
He’s been script advisor to the long running TV series The Bill and instructor in Personal Safety to various Airlines. But his true passion is when he is on the water and The Thames is his second home. Not only...2020-03-0200 minYour London LegacyAward Winning London Based Fine Artist & Cartographer Adam Dant Has Been Described As The 'Hogarth For Our Times' As He Chronicles Our Ever Changing CityThe award-winning and brilliant London-based fine artist and cartographer, Adam Dant, has been described as the ‘Hogarth for our times’. From his studio above the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in Spitalfields in the East End, Adam surveys the past present and future of our ever changing city. His astonishing maps are beautiful and ‘subversive’ at the same time.
His stunning book ‘Maps of London and Beyond’ comprise fabulous characters from Dickens and Shakespeare to Barbara Windsor, as well as shipwrecks on the Thames and starry skies over Soho.
In 2015, Adam was selected as the official artist by the House of Commons to document...2020-02-2400 minYour London LegacyThere Are Many Modern Day Challenges In The World Today & Cleaning Up Our Oceans Is One Of The Most Critical. Flavio Affinito's Start Up 'NuOceans' Is Addressing This Problem Head On.Of all the guests I’ve had on the podcast over the last 18 months or so, perhaps Flavio Affinito will be leaving the greatest legacy of them all.
Did you know that fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world, and that every year hundreds of millions of pairs of flip flops are produced, many of which contribute significantly to ocean plastic pollution?
Well Flavio has come up with a remarkable 100% sustainable solution with flip flops made entirely from ocean plastics.
In this fascinating episode you will be introduced to a young man who along with hi...2020-02-1700 minYour London LegacyWhy Was England Desperate To Settle In The New World In The 16th Century. In Simon Targett's Latest Book 'New World Inc' He Unravels The Truth & Finds Themes That Are As True Today As 400 Years Ago.Simon Targett’s latest book , New World Inc, which he co – authored with John Butman is a masterful examination of how 16th Century England found itself in a precarious position, politically, socially and economically—and the desire and need that grew from these problems to expand its influence across the globe. It’s the incredibly crazy story of the birth of modern America. With such colourful characters as Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Elizabeth 1st and Pocahontas, the book has been described as ‘part history, part swashbuckling adventurers’ tale….a fascinating read’.
Not only is Simon an author, and historian, h...2020-02-1000 minYour London LegacyKenny Mamarella-D'Cruz Has Been Called 'The Man Whisperer' For Good Reason. Founder Of MenSpeak Men's Group He Turns Unconscious Lives Of Survival Into Creative Lives Of Passion.Dubbed ‘The Man Whisperer’ by Newsweek, Kenny Mammarella – D’Cruz understands what makes men tick at the deepest and most personal level. As he says, “people often find him at a crossroads in their lives, lacking adequate tools, community or awareness to deal with it like a man.”
Kenny came from dramatic beginning; being told ‘’we’re coming to kill you tonight’’ as a 7-year-old in Uganda, as his father was on Idi Amin’s death list. Fortunately, Kenny fled just in time—and having travelled the world and worked with the likes of Mother Teresa in Calcutta, he moved to London and became a ‘hi...2020-02-0300 minYour London LegacyDocumentary Maker & Film Producer Paul Atherton FRSA Has Been Homeless In London For Over 10yrs. His Incredible Story Is Nothing Like You'd ImagineSo you think you understand homelessness. After you listen to this week’s guest you may want to think again. Paul Atherton was born in Cardiff in 1968 and has been homeless this time round for over 10 years, but his story will probably surprise, confound, and inspire you. You see—at three months old Paul was abandoned in a tent at a disused airfield in Cardiff.
Today Paul is a director and TV/film producer in London. His work has been praised for the use of art as a social commentary, dealing with tough issues from racism, sexism, domestic violence, and home...2020-01-2700 minYour London LegacyThe Monument - Join Me At One Of The City Of London's Most Outstanding Landmarks Designed By Sir Christopher Wren To Commemorate The Great Fire Of LondonHello all you London Legacy Lovers, wherever in the world you are listening. Today I’ve got a real treat for you. At the end of this week’s brilliant episode I’ll be giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets to one of the most iconic landmarks in the City of London-The Monument. All you have to do is listen to the show and then follow the simple instructions that I’ll be giving—and one lucky pair will be following in the exact footsteps of Sir Christopher Wren. The tickets have been donated to Your Londo...2020-01-2000 minYour London LegacyHis Excellency Libor Secka The Ambassador of The Czech Republic On The Close Ties With The UK & His Love Of LondonWhat a privilege and a pleasure it was to be given the opportunity to sit down with His Excellency Mr.LiborSecka,Ambassador of the Czech Republic in London at their fascinating Embassy building. The Czech Republic may be a modern state, but it grew from the ashes of the collapsed Austro – Hungarian Empire and its recent modern history has been quite tumultuous.
Libor took up his position as Ambassador on 5th January 2016, having been posted in similar roles in such diverse countries as Mexico, Spain and most recently China. There are very close links between the people of the Czech Re...2020-01-1300 minYour London LegacyHis Name Really Is King George & This Young Black Gay Man From North London Won't Allow Prejudice Or Violence To Define HimYes, King George is his real name. How cool is that? I can now say I’ve met royalty. Only this King George’s life is polls apart from his various namesakes of generations past.
This King was born and raised in North London—Tottenham to be precise, and apart from its stunning new Tottenham Hotspur football stadium (home to my beloved Spurs), Tottenham is probably better known, for its poverty, riots and recent spike in knife crime.
Yet while the violence is a real and a daily challenge for some, its certainly not what defines this enigmatic 22-year-old—as it could...2020-01-0600 minYour London LegacyLondon Bridge Terror Attack - Behind The Scenes Of A Real Incident From The Perspective Of Two Incredibly Brave Young LondonersOne of my favourite sayings is ‘’Yesterday is history, tomorrow’s a mystery but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.’’ I love this saying as it really focuses my mind on the here and now.
The ancient Stoics called it somewhat differently with their version ‘Memento Mori’, which basically means ‘’you could leave life right now’’. Not at all in a negative way, but as a reminder that life is finite, so take advantage of every moment as you never know what awaits around the corner.
And as we speed toward 2020, not one of us knows what lies in stor...2019-12-3000 minYour London LegacySpecial Season: Mayflower 400 – Rotherhithe Illuminated! A Legacy Lighting Scheme To Commemorate Rotherhithe's Key Role In The Mayflower StoryIn this fourth and final part of our mini-series designed to be part of the wonderful Mayflower 400 commemorations—we shine a light, literally and metaphorically, on the historic Rotherhithe on the banks of The Thames.
This fascinating and sometimes overlooked London gem has a stunning history that dates back many centuries. Christopher Jones—the Master and part owner of the Mayflower, lived and died in Rotherhithe, and it is thought to be its final resting place before being broken up.
In keeping with the theme of this week’s conversation, we met up with three special ladies at The Ship Pub in...2019-12-2300 minYour London LegacySpecial Season: Mayflower 400 - Top American Chefs Jerome Grant & Justin Walker Share Their Passion For The Joy Of ThanksgivingIn part three of this special miniseries focusing on the historic sailing of the Mayflower from our shores to America 400 years ago, we focus on the heart-warming story, known in every American home to this day – as Thanksgiving.
After a grueling 66-day journey at sea the Mayflower and its passengers finally reached the New World November 21, 1620. They suffered terribly from sickness and by the end of the first winter 50 of the 102 passengers lost their lives.
However, the settlers soon built a strong relationship with the native Indian Wampanoag tribe who taught them to hunt and grow crops. In the autumn of...2019-12-1600 minYour London LegacySpecial Season: Mayflower 400 - City Of London Common Councilman Mark Wheatley On The Historical & Present Day Significance Of The Mayflower's Journey To The New World & Planned CelebrationsIn the second part of this special miniseries designed to celebrate 400 years since the Mayflower set sail from our shores for America, I was honoured to have been invited to chat with Mark Wheatley at the stunning Guildhall in The City of London. Since 2013 Mark has represented the Ward of Dowgate within the City of London Corporation. Amongst his many roles Mark has been heavily involved in coordinating the Mayflower 400 celebrations from a London perspective.
In this episode Mark not only recounts the incredible story of the Mayflower and what it means today 400 years on, but also outlines some of...2019-12-0900 minYour London LegacySpecial Mayflower 400 Season - Jason Sandy & I Go Back In Time On The Thames To The Very Place The Mayflower Began It's Historic Journey To The new WorldWhen I first met Jason Sandy way back in Jan 2018, he offered one day to take me down to the Thames foreshore to go Mudlarking with him. Having seen Jason’s incredible collection of ancient artifacts he’d collected over the years, I knew this was something I would really love to you.
Finally, the opportunity arose and on Sunday 3rd November I met Jason by the river at Rotherhithe for what turned out to be a truly wonderful day.
This episode was recorded live as we walked and talked on the foreshore, and as we merrily mudlarked uncovering London’s incr...2019-12-0200 minYour London LegacyTessa Hunkin Is London's Foremost Mosaicist & Is Leaving Her Legacy At Iconic Locations Around Our City & Helping The Wider Community Through Her Stunning Art ProjectsTessa trained and worked as an architect until 1989 when she joined forces with Emma Biggs at the recently founded Mosaic Workshop in Holloway London. The workshop undertook a range of commissions for public and private clients, including Terence Conran, Baby Spice, the Sultan of Oman, and Aston Villa football club.
Tessa has worked on a series of high-profile commissions at Westminster Cathedral and London Zoo and has together with Emma written books about the art of mosaic making. Significantly, Tessa also teaches at Mosaic Workshop an organization in Westminster that helps people recovering from mental health problems to participate in...2019-11-2500 minYour London LegacyCabbies Do Kilimanjaro Is The Wonderful Story Of A Group Of Overweight London Cabbies Taking On The Highest Mountain In AfricaI just love improbable stories that make you sit up and think, wow how amazing—I wish I could do that. And that is precisely what this week’s guests are all about.
Back in 2018, a group of middle-aged overweight, unfit, unhealthy London Black Cab drivers answered a tweet that ultimately would lead a few brave men to take a chance that would change their lives and help many more.
After a year of a harsh military training regime, a change in diet and mindset, three intrepid cabbies set off on an adventure of lifetime – to climb Kilimanjaro. Not only did th...2019-11-1100 minYour London LegacyInspirational CEO Of Music Relief Foundation Magdalene Adenaike - 'From Shame To Strength & How Music Saved Her'Sometimes you simply can’t pigeon hole someone because the breadth of their skills, compassion, and understanding is just too varied. Magdalene Adenaike is one such person. Founder and CEO of Music Relief Foundation, Magdalene is an award-winning entrepreneur, musician, inspirational speaker, business mentor and fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Music Relief was born out her own personal experience as a teenage mum. Shunned from the very community she loved, and blocked from participating in the music that made her feel alive, Magdalene has had the desire, drive and determination to ensure that the disadvantaged kids in So...2019-11-0400 minYour London LegacyMark Turrell & James Anthony Reveal Their Personal Stories & Passion For The Life Saving Work They Do On The Thames On Behalf Of The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) ChiswickThere can hardly be a greater London Legacy than that of saving lives of Londoners every day on the River Thames.
For centuries the Thames has been the iconic lifeblood of our glorious city. But there is also a darker side to this ancient tidal river.
This is the calling and passion of many supremely dedicated men and women who work for the amazing Royal National Lifeboat Institution or RNLI.
Chiswick RNLI lifeboat station is one of four on the Thames and is the second busiest in the UK and Ireland. Since its launch in 2002, Chiswick has attended over 3500 incidents...2019-10-2800 minYour London LegacyYour London Legacy’s Very Own Steve Lazarus, On Why Passion And Talent Are Nothing Without Teamwork Especially In PodcastingYour London Legacy has been going strong – with 67 episodes that host fantastic guests from every corner of this wonderful city. So what guest are we bringing on the show for this episode? Well, the answer is me.
No, there’s nothing wrong with the show—I’m just human.
I’ve been traveling, working, and helping my daughter settle into her new home in Tel Aviv Israel. So much has happened that I am, admittedly, a bit behind. But I thought this would be a wonderful time to highlight not just London’s hidden personalities—but the hidden people behind the show that...2019-10-2100 minYour London LegacyWayne Kirven Aka ‘Wayne From Buckhurst Hill’ Has Been Part Of The Fashion Scene In London Since The 50’s, Working With The World’s Top Designers. A Childhood Friend Of Marc Bolan, His Love Of Music Saw Him Record His First British Rock N Roll Song Earlier This YearSince launching Your London Legacy back in 2018, I’ve met some pretty flamboyant characters—none more so than this week’s wonderful guest, Wayne Kirven, better known as Wayne from Buckhurst Hill.
A childhood friend of none other than Marc Bolan, Wayne is a well know Modernist and has been part of the London fashion scene for over 50 years, and there’s not much he doesn’t know about the London sub cultures during that period—from the days of the Modernist, to Hackney in the 50’s and Soho Mods in the early 60’s, and West Coast Psychedelic Folk Blues in the mid 60s’...2019-10-1400 minYour London LegacyMaryam Pasha Is Director & Curator Of Hugely Successful TedxLondon, Where Speakers Share Important Ideas With 2000 People At An Iconic London Venue. Do You Have What It Takes To Spread Ideas ‘Beyond Borders’?I’m sure you’ve all heard of TED talks—but if not, here goes. TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas in the form of short, powerful talks. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today TED covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.
TEDx London events are organised independently and the leadership team is made up of a diverse group of curious individuals who work to create experiences inspired by TED and the...2019-10-0700 min
The Podcast Accelerator: How to Grow Your PodcastIntroducing: Your London Legacy by Steve LazarusAs we approach International Podcast Day, I'm spending the next week or so highlighting independent podcasters who I feel are doing a great job of building a brand around their voice - first up, Steve Lazarus from Your London Legacy (@YourLondonLegacy).As described by Steve:Your London Legacy is a podcast for people who love London, by people who love London. It’s a place where you will hear their stories, their passion, their legacy.You don’t have to live in London to truly appreciate its magnificent diverse culture, history, architecture, arts and...2019-09-2503 minYour London LegacySpecial Bonus Episode: To Coincide With ”Totally Thames” 2019 Mudlark Exhibition, ”Foragers Of The Foreshore” 25th-29th Sept We Reprise This Hugely Popular Episode With Super Mudlarker & Curator Jason SandyYour London Legacy
Mudlark noun: someone who scavenges in river mud for items of value, a term used especially to describe those who scavenged this way in London during the late 18th and 19th centuries. When most Londoners are tucked into bed waiting for the sun to rise, a select group is scouring the banks of the Thames on their hands and knees. They are digging up the past, searching for a glint of truth and the sheen of mystery that lays buried there. The first guest on Your London Legacy has been living in London for ten years and...2019-09-2300 minYour London LegacyGerman Born Londoner Mark Hebwood’s Brilliantly Conceived Debut Book ”Happiness Rules” Clearly Sets Out How To Build, Maintain & Live Your ‘Authentic Life’This week’s guest, Mark Hebwood, is author of the brilliantly conceived debut book ”Happiness Rules”. If you are anything like me, you may have read dozens of self-help style books in this genre. However, I can pretty much promise you won’t have read anything quite like this.
Mark was born and raised in Germany before coming to London where he has lived and worked in the financial services sector for around 20 years. In Marks words he has “loved, lived, and breathed in the City of London,’’ and has been fulfilled and happy. As a result of this blissful existence...2019-09-1600 minYour London LegacyJane Palm-Gold Is An Artist & Historian With A Special Interest In The Dark Past Of St Giles London, & The Birth Of Punk At The Iconic Roxy Club Neal StreetJane Palm-Gold is an artist and historian living in St Giles London. Her love of St Giles led her to research the area in great detail. Whilst not as well known as some of its more illustrious neighbours—St Giles is an area packed with a fascinating and often dark and menacing past, some of which is similar today as it was centuries ago.
Jane has also created and curated a number of high profile exhibitions including ‘’Regeneration City Blues’’ on the impact of city regenerationby corporate multi-nationals taking over from local creative and cultural activity.
More recently Jane was commission...2019-09-0900 minYour London LegacyBonus Episode: Thank You All From The Bottom Of My Heart. I Couldn’t Do It Without Your Love & SupportJust over two years ago I was flat on my back in a London hospital recovering from my second back operation in two weeks. The care I received from all the staff at the NHS was amazing and I’m really grateful to them. I’m also grateful as this period of down time allowed me to reflect on my life and what really matters to me.
Aside from my family who are top of the list, it also dawned on me as I listened to radio shows, Audible books and podcasts, that I too had a creative spark deep ins...2019-09-0200 minYour London LegacyStuart Hayes Is London 2012 Olympian Triathlete With Major Victories Around The World. In May This Year Whilst Out On His Bike He Hit A Deer And Smashed His Hip. This Is Stuart’s Story.Stuart Hayes is a London born Olympian triathlete who has won races all over the world. In 2012 Stuart competed in the stunning London Olympics and as part of a strong GB team contributed towards the Brownlees Brothers’ Gold and Bronze medal success. Today Stuart and his wife Michelle Dillon (a former World and European champion) head up Team Dillon coaching, helping others to achieve their dreams and goals in this tough sport.
In May of this year whilst out cycling in Richmond Park, something he has done many times before, Stuart shattered his pelvis after hitting a deer which sent hi...2019-08-2600 minYour London LegacyAt 25 Years Old Peter Apps Was Living His Best Life Reporting From War Torn Sri Lanka. Then Tragedy Struck & He Broke His Neck. TedX London Speaker Peter Refuses To Be Defined By His Disability & Is An Inspiration To All Of UsIn 2006 Peter Apps was living the life he felt he was meant to lead, and what he had worked towards for several years. He was a 25 year old journalist and had just spent the last two years on assignment with Reuters in southern Africa. On Sept 5th 2006, Peter was in Sri Lanka at the height of the civil war. Whilst travelling on a main road across the eastern front, his minibus was involved in a horrific head on collision with a tractor. Peter had broken his neck. He thought his life was over, and at times wished it was. In...2019-08-1200 minYour London Legacy‘Soho George’ Is A Living London Legend. A Non-Conformist. Spot Him Every Day In Soho Resplendent In His Unique Attire. He’s An Integral Part Of Soho’s Fascinating History, Art, Music & Culture. This Is His Story.George Skeggs is without question one of London’s very own last remaining living legends. Otherwise known as ‘Soho George’, he is a gentleman with a truly unique style—and if by chance you are unfamiliar with his name, you certainly will not be unfamiliar with his image if you spend any time around London’s historic Soho streets and cafés.
Born in the East End, George arrived in Soho as a young boy for the first time in 1957 and was blown away by the sights and sounds that emanated from coffee shops like the 2is in Old Compton Street...2019-08-0500 minYour London LegacyNev Pellicci Is Third Generation To Run The Iconic E.Pellicci Cafe In Bethnal Green Road, East London The Oldest Cafe In London Bursting With Life & Fabulous StoriesYour London Legacy loves to catch up with some of the great characters and iconic buildings in our magnificent city, and today’s guest is no exception. Nevio Pellicci Jnr is the third generation of the Pellicci family—who came over to London from Lucca, in Tuscany Italy way back in 1900. Back then Priamo Pellicci and his wife Elide came to London with their son and Priamo took a job in a small café, which he subsequently bought. The café was named E.Pellicci in honour of his wife. When Priamo died of tuberculosis in 1931 Elide raised their seven kids and sh...2019-07-2900 minYour London LegacyLondoner Spirit de la Mare Dedicates Her Every Working Hour To Growth & Development Of Creative Industries Via Personal Contribution & Supporting Larger OrganisationsWith such a beautiful name as Spirit de la Mare, I guess you’d expect this week’s guest to be involved in the arts somehow. Well—you won’t be disappointed. Born in London to parents embedded in the Punk culture and educated at Roedean School for girls (where she is now Governor) Spirit was provided with the most diverse upbringing, and that is precisely why Spirit may be considered something of social chameleon.
Spirit is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Art, Freeman of the Guild of Entrepreneurs, as well as Trustee of ArtCan, arts writer, culture enthusias...2019-07-2200 minYour London LegacyTracy Kashi’s New Show ‘My Cancer Gap Year’ Is A Reflection Of Her Incredibe Life Story, Combining Music, Theatre, Song, Comedy & HeartacheWest End musical theatre veteran and professional singer Tracy Kashi is a warm, friendly and versatile vocalist and musician, with an Iranian, Israeli background. Based in North London, she has worked as an actress and singer and appeared many times at the Royal Festival Hall. She made her West End debut in Rent at The Prince of Wales and has worked with stars such as Petula Clark, Idina Menzel, Bobby McFerrin. She can be found singing Jazz at Ronnie Scotts or Kurt Weil at The Royal Festival Hall, and is the featured voice in the musical score for ITV’s...2019-07-1500 minYour London LegacyDavid Burnetts Has Been A London Black Cab Taxi Driver For Over 40 Years. He’s Seen Huge Cultural Changes & Has Enjoyed Every Minute As He Simply Loves London & LondonersIf there is one thing that everyone associates with London life it’s the iconic black cab. Todays’ guest is The Capital Cabbie himself David Burnetts, whose been a London Licensed taxi driver since 1978. Just imagine that for a moment. David has been driving clients around our magnificent city for over 40 years.
I had the pleasure of chatting with David in the back of his spacious cab whilst parked up outside Christie’s Auction house in beautiful St James’s. Being a born and bred Londoner, David has seen many changes to the culture, street scene, and music that is synony...2019-07-0800 minYour London LegacyDennis ‘The Menace’ Wahome Is Boxing His Way To The Top, Despite Heartbreak & Extreme Responsibilities Thrust On Him As A Young ManDennis ‘The Menace’ Wahome came over to London from Kenya as a young boy. At school he loved maths and science and had no real interest in sport, before taking up Olympic Tae Kwando which he needed to as he used to ‘bump into the wrong sort of people’’ in the wrong London post codes.
This led to Dennis representing England and GB at various competitions until the rules changed and he felt the sport got a bit ‘basic’ and soft. Eventually he took up boxing, but when studying at Uni, his world suddenly changed when him Mum unexpectedly passed away. Dennis p...2019-06-2400 minYour London LegacyAfter Heidi Herkes Broke Her Neck & Became Paralysed From The Chest Down She Reinvented Her Life & Now Helps Able Bodied & Disabled Women Alike Look & Feel GreatThe guests on my show never fail to amaze and inspire me, and Heidi Herkes is no exception. She is right up there with the very best of them. As a young woman, she travelled extensively around the world running her own high end bridal and make up company—from Sydney to Dubai, Berlin and the US. She worked at incredible venues making her clients look and feel amazing, until one day, she suffered an unimaginable life changing event that meant Heidi was forced to rethink everything she ever knew.
After falling down a flight of stairs, Heidi broke her ne...2019-06-1000 minYour London LegacyCarolyn Steel’s Ted Global Talk ‘How Food Shapes our Cities’ Has Been Downloaded Over One Million Times. Ever Wondered How London Serves Up Over 30 Million Meals A Day?Carolyn Steels’ Ted Global talk has been heard over 1 million times and for very good reason. “How Food Shapes Our Cities” is as complex as it is fascinating. Every day, in a city the size of London, 30 million meals are served.
But where does all the food come from? Architect Carolyn Steel discusses the daily miracle of feeding a city, and shows how ancient food routes shaped the modern world. Her superb award winning, provocative book ‘Hungry City’ is the backdrop for probably our most relevant conversation to date.
“Even in my first year I start...2019-06-0300 minYour London LegacyAward Winning London Architect Jason Flanagan Is Changing The Way We Look Feel And Interestingly Listen To Buildings And Space In London & BeyondJason Flanagan is the Design Director of leading and award winning London Architects Flanagan Lawrence, where he leads a team on diverse projects including performance arts centres, acoustic structural and urban master plans—including that at Wembley, hotels, spas and residential projects and commercial offices.
Jason has a special interest in acoustics and sound, and one of his most innovative projects is Soundforms; the first ever mobile acoustic shell with the capacity for a full orchestra. Soundforms was used as the official bandstand in the Olympic Park in 2012. Jason’s work is also on site with the iconic Riverside Studios in L...2019-05-2700 minYour London LegacyWhat Justin And Ellen Did When They Stumbled Into An Horrific Terror Attack On London BridgeI want you to imagine for a minute that you are taking a stroll across London Bridge on a beautiful balmy summers evening with the love of your life by your side. Across the road, you suddenly notice what appears to be a fight taking place. In fact, you soon realize that there are three men dressed in black viciously attacking a police officer. You run over to try and help—when one of the assailants lunges at you with a large kitchen knife.
This is not a made-up story. This is real life. This is what happened to Justin Jo...2019-05-2000 minYour London LegacyWhen Florrie Evans Is Not Looking After The Stunning Weiss Gallery In Jermyn Street, She Can Be Found Mudlarking With Her Daughter On The ThamesFlorrie Evans has been Director at The Weiss Gallery since 2010. The Weiss Gallery was established in 1985 at 59 Jermyn St, the heart of the prestigious St James district of London, and is a leading dealer in Tudor, Stuart, and Northern European portraiture and has made several notable sales over the last three decades which now grace distinguished public and private painting collections around the world.
Prior to this, Florrie worked at Christies specializing in Early British Picture and Old Masters and has also assisted curators at Tate Britain and Dr Johnson’s House Museum. In addition to contributing to various art pu...2019-05-0600 minYour London LegacyLondon Based Film Director Patrick McLennan Takes Us Behind The Scenes Of His Inspiring New Film ‘The Ponds’ & Reveals Why It Has Taken On A Life Of Its OwnGetting Patrick McLennan to appear on the podcast took a little bit of gentle persuasion. You see, as Patrick succinctly put it he’s as ‘’journalist by training and inclination’’ and has never wanted to be ‘’in the public eye’’ or indeed on the other side of the camera or in this case mike.
Patrick is a London based producer-director who has worked as a journalist in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as digital editor for Time Inc Uk TV magazines. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on person...2019-04-2900 minYour London LegacyWhen Rhiann Keys Was 16 She Set Off To London & The English National Ballet & Now Helps Londoners Keep Pain Free & MobileThis is the story of a sixteen-year-old girl who left her home and traveled to London to follow her passion to become a ballerina. It’s the story of how Rhiann Keys had to grow up quickly in a physically demanding and mentally tough competitive environment. Rhiann has always been fascinated with movement, anatomy, and posture – fascinations that led her to become a qualified Pilates instructor.
She developed the Ballet Fit programme for the English National Ballet and is also passionate about helping those suffering with back pain, which in 2013 accounted for 31 million lost work days. Rhiann has worked with some...2019-04-1500 minYour London LegacyRobert Jeffries (Hon Curator) Of The Thames Police Museum Tells The Fascinating Story How Modern Day Policing Was BornIf you thought that the idea for the Metropolitan Police originated with Sir Robert Peel, you’d be wrong. If you thought the Met Police have never been armed, you’d be wrong again. In this fascinating episode I met up with Robert Jeffries—Curator of the Thames Police Museum in Wapping.
Robert is not only an expert on all things pertaining to the Thames River Police, he is also a consummate storyteller. Recorded at the original and spiritual home of modern-day policing, Robert recounts the wealth and violence that permeated the River Thames and surrounding areas back in 1798, and how th...2019-04-0100 minYour London LegacyHow Two Back Operations Inspired Me To Create ‘Your London Legacy’ – Despite Knowing Nothing About PodcastingAfter around 8 months and some 36 new guests, I thought it was time to take a deep breath, pause and reflect on what we have achieved at Your London Legacy.
So I’m going take you behind the scenes and lift the curtain on how we got to where we are today. It may not be what you think. It certainly came as a surprise to me.
You see the whole idea came first came to me back in April 2017 when I was laying flat on my back for 10 days in the hospital, after two rather nasty back operations. The first...2019-03-2500 minYour London LegacyFind Out What Ian White Has In Common With Sir Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandella & J.K.RowlingIt takes a pretty special person to be honored with the award—Freemen of London. After all, you can’t apply for it. You have to make significant impact in your field in order to be invited by the Court of Common Council to accept the freedom. Past recipients include Sir Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Florence Nightingale, and J.K. Rowling just to name a few. Our guest for this episode is a unique individual who is responsible for regeneration of local allotments, a community orchard, and is heavily involved in the Campaign for Real Ale. Ian White is an...2019-03-1800 minYour London LegacyMaster Chef Semi-Finalists Went On To Follow Their Cooking Dreams In Covent Garden & BeyondWhat do you get when you mix two ‘semi-fit’ Mater Chef finalists with a passion for good food, good fun and good causes?
Since Billy and Jack achieved fame in this iconic TV cookery show in 2016, they have gone on to create sell out supper clubs in Covent Garden, and work with leading brands such as Google, Lidl and Ketel One. However, it’s not all been a bed of roses—as Billy suffered a major setback when diagnosed with a potentially life limiting illness in 2017. This then is their story so far.
“Literally the first day you go in there...2019-03-0400 minYour London LegacySarah Hesz Co-Founder Of ”Mush” #1 App For Mums Who Don’t Want To Be Lonely And MiserableWhen Katie and Sarah met up in a rainy London playground with their two small children, they struck up an amazing and surprising friendship that was to lead to a wonderfully successful new business.
They realized that all Mums should have access to a free and fun way to make friends nearby in the same boat. And in May 2016 the app Mush was launched. In this candid conversation at Mush HQ White City London, Sarah reveals the story behind the creation of Mush, the trials and tribulations of growing a startup tech business as a young Mum, and her passion...2019-02-0400 minYour London LegacyRay Gelato ‘Godfather Of Swing’ And London Jazz Legend Celebrates 25 Years With ‘The Giants’Today’s guest is a true legend of the British jazz, swing, and jump blues scene. Ray Gelato was born in the swinging 60’s, and the streets of west of London where he grew up were his playground and classroom. Son of an American soldier and Jewish mother, Ray is widely known as ‘The Godfather of Swing’ and is perhaps the last of the great jazz entertainers.
He’s performed the world over at many great venues and privately for some of the most famous celebrities and royalty, and this year celebrates 25years of the ‘Giants’ band. It’s for very good reason...2019-01-2800 minYour London LegacyNikki Druce Host Of ‘Macabre London’ Podcast Reveals Her Real Life Ghostly Experience. Listen If You Dare!Who doesn’t like a good old-fashioned ghost story, or to be scared stiff watching a creepy movie?
It’s even more heart pounding when weird spooky things happen in the City where we live – London. Today’s guest Nikki Druce is the creator and host of Macabre London, an original podcast telling the stories of London’s’ gruesome history. Nikki stories are inspired by her lifelong love of the dark, gothic, and creepy—and in today’s episode Nikki reveals not only why she is passionate about London and its grizzly past but her real life ghostly encounter as well.
“I did...2019-01-2100 minYour London Legacy‘Trump Baby’ Founder Max Wakefield On Creative Anger And Standing Up For What He Believes InDonald Trump is probably the most divisive American President there has ever been, and when he visited the UK summer 2018, he was welcomed by thousands of protesters in London—as well as a six meter high inflatable depiction of the President as a wailing baby, flying high over Westminster.
At the time Nigel Farage called this act ‘’the biggest ever insult to a sitting president’’. One of Trump Baby’s co-founders, Max Wakefield, said Donald Trump is one of the worlds biggest bullies and you have to stand up to bullies, and good old fashioned British humour is one such method.
T...2019-01-1400 minYour London LegacyAlex Manzi, Creator Of ‘Dreamer’s Disease’ Podcast Turned Despair Into His Life’s PassionAlex Manzi is the creator and host of the popular Dreamer’s Disease podcast which he founded and launched some two years ago.
Like Your London Legacy, Alex interviews inspirational guests to find out what they do, how they do it, and what their motivations are so we can learn valuable life lessons on our own journey. I really admire Alex, as he created the podcast as a result of his personal journey, when at his lowest ebb—he doubted what he was doing with his life despite being in a good relationship and running a successful blog and club nigh...2019-01-0700 minYour London LegacyClaire Barrett Founder Of U Gigs – Where Uber Meets Lemonrock – Redefining The Live Music IndustryEvery once in while a new solution comes to market, and we all sit back and say “Now why didn’t I think of that?”
In recent years the number of grassroots music venues in the UK has declined drastically with the rise of gentrification of pubs and other traditional homes of live music.
Claire Barrett is founder of UGIGS, a subscription based music community where Uber meets Lemonrock. Claire has lived in London all her life, and been singing professionally since the age of 16. One of the biggest problems for the up and coming musicians is finding a suitable venue...2018-12-3100 minYour London LegacyMy Dad Alan Lazarus Founded Leading Mental Health Charity ‘JAMI’ From Our Living Room. Find Out How & WhyIn many ways, the 80s and 90s were a far simpler time than today without the pressure of mobile phones and social media. We had bands like Oasis and the Spice Girls, Princess Diana, and also experienced the Gulf War.
But there was an insidious policy being enacted at home where the government of the time began to implement a policy known as Care in the Community.
In theory, this sounded like a great idea. In reality, it led to the closure of many psychiatric hospitals with seriously ill patients being put out on the streets with little to no...2018-12-2400 minYour London LegacyJoanna Yates Founder Of ‘Spark London’ Britain’s First Open Mike Story Telling Club Where You Are The StoryAccording to Yuval Noah Harari, best-selling author of Homo Deus and Sapiens, it is story telling that sets the human race apart from other species. It’s our ability to believe in the stories we hear that enables us to form communities, believe money has value, and follow a chosen religion.
So when today’s guest Joanna Yates was inspired to create Spark London, Britain’s first open mike story telling club, it’s no wonder that it continues to attract sell-out crowds ten years on.
Q: What drew you into that first open mike story telling night?
A: It was...2018-12-1700 minYour London LegacySoli Lazarus Has Dedicated Herself To Supporting Parents Of Children With ADHD-Learn How & WhyIll let you into a secret. Soli Lazarus is in fact my wife of 30 years.
For the majority of that time, she was Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in a mainstream school in N. London, where she ensured that children with physical and emotional learning disabilities could access the curriculum in the classroom and school environment.
Soli recently took early retirement and set up her own consultancy Yellow Sun, to help support parents of children with special needs-primarily ADHD-to manage their behaviour, relationships and learning.
Yellow Sun is a young business but is going from strength to strength with 1: 1 and g...2018-12-1000 minYour London LegacyKsenia Zemtsova Creator Of ‘Art Night’ Brings You London’s Biggest Boldest Art Festival This SummerKsenia Zemtsova is the co-founder of Art Night, a hugely ambitious free contemporary art festival that takes place in dedicated parts of London over one summer weekend.
Art Night is growing year by year, and recently completed its third and most ambitious festival—attracting some 70,000 visitors to 50 sites to experience 150 artists.
It’s dedicated to widening audiences for contemporary art and offering them the opportunity to present bold new work outside the gallery walls.
Ksenia and her small but ambitious team have bold plans for 2019 which, for now, are under wraps.
“I studied Political Science, but I was always interested in cul...2018-12-0300 minYour London LegacyJohn Durkin Leads The Way In PTSD Recovery Learning From Major Terror Attacks In London & New YorkAfter working in the fire and rescue service, John Durkin placed the real world challenges of incident stress, colleagues’ suicides, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder under academic scrutiny, to design an evidence based programme of crisis intervention for the emergency services.
John assisted the post 9/11 peer response with New York police officers, and led the Metropolitan Police Service’s crisis response to the 2017 London terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire.
He has become a leader of a movement that places experience above qualifications, and skill above expertise—a bottom up approach to mental health and well-being.
“When you’ve survived something...2018-11-2600 minYour London LegacyJeannine Saba Inspirational Founder & Editor Of Quirky Luxury Magazine ‘The Covent Gardener’You cant help but fall in love with Jeannine Saba’s vivacious, sparkling personality.
Jeannine is the founder, creative director and editor of the beautiful luxury magazine—The Covent Gardener, now into its third year after the first quarterly edition was published in Winter 2015.
In Jeannine’s words,‘’Covent Garden has a unique atmosphere, and The Covent Gardener is here to celebrate it…and shine a light on the area’s culture and history, to promote its businesses, and to champion its people – the Covent Gardeners themselves.’’
Being a resident of the area for several years, Jeannine is lucky to have been granted a...2018-11-1200 minYour London LegacyAward Winning Edo Zollo Is London’s At Night ‘Voyeuristic’ PhotographerEdo Zollo has over 24,000 raving fans on Instagram. Why? Well, he is different—and we like different here in London.
Born in Sardinia, Edo settled in London many years ago. It’s the home he loves, so much so, that when you and I are tucked up in bed in the small hours of the morning, Edo is out walking the streets taking discreet candid raw photographs of Londoners around our wonderful city.
“London at Night” is Edo’s current project which has received great acclaim and been the subject of a short Time Out feature video. Edo has worked on other su...2018-11-0500 minYour London LegacyAlex Lloyd Why We Must Repair Our Broken Criminal Youth Justice SystemIn 2017 some 1,700 young people were sentenced to be incarcerated, and around 70% will have problems with their mental health.
Alex Lloyd is a born and bred Londoner from Wapping, and although only in his mid-twenties—he‘s already a lecturer in Psychology at Birkbeck University London and the University of East London.
Alex has been working with young offenders from Hackney and Islington in his role as Community Panel Member of their youth offending team. He engages with young convicted offenders to help them action their community-based sentences, with an objective to help them repair the harm caused by their crime in a...2018-10-2200 minYour London LegacyHelen Donohoe Campaigner For Children’s Rights & Author of Birdy Flynn On Complex Modern Issues.Helen Donohoe is an unusual lady. As someone who has been at the forefront of driving social change and author of various books including a successful novel, you’d expect her to be passionate, intelligent and driven—and she doesn’t disappoint.
Helen is a Londoner of Irish-Scottish parentage who studied politics and government in Manchester University and LSE. She recently completed an MA in Creative Writing at City University London, following which her debut novel Birdy Flynn was published.
Helen has twenty years’ experience speaking up for the powerless and invisible as campaigner, lobbyist, volunteer and writer. In her last rol...2018-10-0800 minYour London LegacyMichele Attias Is Top Personal Coach , Author & Speaker Changing LivesI’ve known Michele Attias for several years now—she was born in Gibraltar, lived in Israel for a while, but eventually settled in London. She qualified as a therapist and clinical supervisor in mental health services with responsibility for some of the poorest and abused children in London.
After undergoing significant changes in her own personal life, Michele reinvented herself and became a certified coach with a range of clients from lawyers, bankers, to entrepreneurs and business leaders. On top of being a mom of two, she also finds time for public speaking, writing articles for blogs, and most rece...2018-10-0100 minYour London LegacyJamala Osman From Gang Culture To Youngest Bank Manager In London. True Inspiration.It’s not every day that you meet a young lady who is so inspiring – yet so humble and grounded that you are left full of hope and joy after meeting her.
The first time I heard Jamala Osman was when she spoke at TEDx London at the start of July 2018. In her talk she spoke of a difficult childhood, growing up in Ilford, the sudden death of her Mum when she was just 12, and being thrown out of the family home by her Dad.
Jamala crossed paths with gang culture and violence, and as you would guess, had issues at...2018-09-2400 minYour London LegacyPlan Your Perfect Day Out In London With Sue HillmanSue Hillman had a successful career in a senior position at the BBC, and then redundancy paid her a visit. Instead of moping around, she set about creating ‘It’s Your London’, where she designs and organizes the perfect trip for foreign visitors.
Sue will take you to the famous sights like Big Ben and the Tower of London—but her extensive knowledge of our wonderful city will ensure you get to see places in London you never knew about, and frankly many Londoners probably don’t either.
I met Sue in her lovely home in the famous Notting Hill, and she tol...2018-09-1600 minYour London LegacyHow James Miles Improves Londoners’ Well Being By MeditationI’d been vaguely interested in meditation for years, but recently I’ve become fascinated with transcendental meditation after I read Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferris. He sent 11 questions to 140 people at the very top of their game—right across the spectrum from sportsmen, entrepreneurs, and scientists.
His survey showed the vast majority of correspondents had a regular meditation practice. So, at the start of 2018 I decided to dive into Transcendental Meditation (TM), and met James Miles at an introductory talk.
While I’m a bit cynical, James is a hardened scientist and was able to persuade me of the ph...2018-09-0900 minYour London LegacyConrad Gamble’s Passion Inspired Him To Write ‘For the Love of London’Conrad Gamble is a man after my own heart—like me, he has a passion for London and Londoners, so much so that he published his first book under the title “For the Love of London”.
This book contains 100 stories told by 100 Londoners, many you’ll know, like Stephen Fry, but many you won’t. Each contributes in their own unique way what they love about this glorious city. As Conrad puts it, “From leaders in their own field to local legends, these are the people whose beat sets the rhythm of London.”
In addition to his writing, Conrad is a performance...2018-09-0200 minYour London LegacyHow Rachel Wang Grew Chocolate Films Into London’s Leading Social EnterpriseI was a little anxious when first meeting Rachel Wang—after all, she is the co founder of one of the most successful video production and social enterprise companies across London and the UK: Chocolate Films.
Thankfully she didn’t criticize my equipment or technique, and she went out of her way to clear her desk and invite me to their Battersea studio to chat about her vision and the growth of Chocolate Films since 2001.
She chats with me about her amazing work for the young and disenfranchised, as well as the incredible ‘1,000 Londoners’ project—1,000 videos made by 1,000 Londoners about one ci...2018-08-2700 minYour London LegacyLondon Tattoo Guru Lal Hardy Has Seen And Done It All From Punks To Modern Day Football StarsSurrounded by books and machinery, art, the electric hum of machines that pump ink through needles into skin—I was a bit intimidated visiting Lal Hardy’s studio New Wave Tattoo.
Lal has been tattooed by Yakuza in Japan, the jungle of Borneo, Tahiti and has just as many stories as he has tattoos of his own. He shares his views on how culture in and out of the tattoo scene has flowed through London over the past few decades, and the amazing stories of the people that pop into his studio—then leave forever changed.
“Years and years ago there was...2018-08-0600 minYour London LegacyCo-Founder of The Big Issue & Top Musician Phil RyanPhil Ryan has been a passionate campaigner – from helping the homeless to be self-sufficient, to saving his beloved Denmark Street from the voracious appetite of London’s property owning developers.
His astonishing musical career has sent Phil across the world over the last forty years—a highlight being when he fronted The Animals in Moscow’s Red Square in front of 100,000 fans. He’s a singer-song writer as well as an entrepreneur who is never afraid to try something bold and new. This could be anything from setting up London’s iconic 12 Bar Club, to the numerous novels he’s written, and s...2018-07-1900 minYour London LegacyRose Sandy Author Of Exciting Calla Cress Technothriller SeriesDaughter of a Ugandan Foreign Service diplomat, Rose Sandy was raised across the world—from Baghdad to India, Germany, and Paris. She met her husband in Berlin and decided London was the place she wanted to raise her family. She’s a talented musician with a deep interest in technology and works at a leading London publishing house.
Rose Sandy is the author of the Calla Cress Techno Thriller series which has over 100,000 downloads—and she shares her experiences of traveling the globe, the self-publishing world, and doing research in the halls of London’s museums.
[5:12] Rose went to international schools...2018-07-0942 minYour London LegacyHow I Became a Modern Day Time Traveler by Jason SandyMudlark noun: someone who scavenges in river mud for items of value, a term used especially to describe those who scavenged this way in London during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
When most Londoners are tucked into bed waiting for the sun to rise, a select group is scouring the banks of the Thames on their hands and knees. They are digging up the past, searching for a glint of truth and the sheen of mystery that lays buried there.
The first guest on Your London Legacy has been living in London for ten years and is now a...2018-07-091h 16Your London LegacyThis is Your London Legacy – Telling the Timeless Stories of London’s Hidden PersonalitiesLondon is one of the most fascinating cities on earth.
In this introduction I tell why I created Your London Legacy & what you can expect to hear. If you love London and Londoners as much as I do then this is the place for you.
http://www.yourlondonlegacy.com (www.yourlondonlegacy.com)
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