In 1979 I was asked to assist in presenting a series of local history evening classes – at the last minute the tutor decide he did not want to do it and I was persuaded to be the new and very inexperienced tutor.

From that day and after 30 years of teaching local history, many local and regional magazine articles and 26 years of writing a weekly nostalgia newspaper column I wondered if I could write a book. Three self published books on local history later I was finally asked to write another local history book and the publishers would pay me to do it…

In 2011 I stood in front of a book shop window and saw four of my published book titles for sale. This presentation is about how with little to no knowledge and largely self taught I now help others to do the same thing.

(Info-tainment presentation - a table is required for book display purposes) – This is a 1 hour presentation

A story based on the Murder of Lord Frederick Cavendish (of the Devonshire family) in Phoenix Park, Dublin in 1882 and its impact on Brighouse a small West Riding Mill town. This is a slide presentation with a comprehensive commentary. I have presented this to many ladies groups so do not feel necessarily put off by the subject matter because it is truly a fascinating story that takes the listener around world to its unpredicted end. A presentation that takes you on a journey from Dublin, to the West Riding, Chatsworth, London and finally to South Africa where this fascinating story comes to an unexpected end….

(Info-tainment – digital slides) – 1 hour presentation.

Reminiscences from 30 years in the Police Service – (humorous lecture presentation) – the time scale can be tailored to suit your requirements.

With a local history theme… – (thought provoking humorous lecture presentation) – the time scale can be tailored to suit your requirements.

(Info-tainment – digital slides & music) – 1 hour presentation.

The Sunny Vale Pleasure Gardens, Halifax - Yorkshire’s Alton Towers of the 19th Century which had 100,000 visitors from the north of England every season – back to the days of Sunday school treats   This ipresentation can be either be free standing talk or presented as a zoom talk.

(Info-tainment – digital slides) – 1 hour presentation

Roger Barsotti - was born in London in 1901, he was taught by his father, Luigi Barsotti, a professional musician and one-time professor of the Milan Conservatoire. Roger made his debut at the age of fourteen as a deputy flautist with the Hastings Municipal Orchestra. Joining the Buffs as a bandboy in 1916, he was promoted to Band Sergeant at the age of twenty-two. On passing out of the Royal School of Music, Kneller Hall in 1930 he was appointed Bandmaster of 2^nd Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment, a position he held for fifteen years. A photograph taken in 1937 shows the band to have been 52 strong, though by that time war clouds were gathering and the bandsmen were preparing to take up their secondary role.

Mr Barsotti's industry and leadership were such that, within a few months of the outbreak of war, he had built a new band at the Regimental Depot capable of playing for all occasions.

On retirement from the Army, after nearly thirty years service, he was appointed Director of Music to the Metropolitan Police Band in 1946. In 1958 and 1960 he had the honour of being asked to adjudicate at the UK National Brass Band Championships held at the Royal Albert Hall. He was awarded the MBE in the Birthday Honours in 1961. Retiring from the Metropolitan Police Band in October 1968, he became Director of Music for the Royal Parks for some time. He died in 1986 after a prolonged illness.

His compositions include over thirty marches and over forty concert selections. Some of his best-known and most familiar works include specialized production (mood) music.

We are featuring a rarely performed overture 

Having written to Craig Whittaker MP, our local member of parliament asking where I could send him a copy of my new magazine. The last thing I expected was his offer to come and collect it and chat about how it was going.

Michael Carr (11 March 1905 – 16 September 1968), real name Maurice Alfred Cohen, was a British popular music composer and lyricist born in Leeds, West Yorkshire here in the UK. He is best remembered for the song 'South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)', written with Jimmy Kennedy for the 1939 film of the same name. He also used the alias of Maurice Beresford.

Born the son of a cabinet maker and boxer, Morris 'Cockney' Cohen, and an Irish mother, he was brought up in Dublin where his father opened a restaurant. In his teens, he ran away to sea, and eventually became a journalist in the USA. Under the name of Michael Carr, he played a number of small roles in Hollywood films.

In 1934 he settled in London where he worked for a music company. He wrote and co-wrote several songs for such performers as Gracie Fields. One of his best-known songs, written with lyricist Jimmy Kennedy, was 'We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line' (1939). During World War II he served in the army. In 1942 he composed 'Freedom Concerto'.

Among Carr's other compositions is 'Lonely Ballerina' (1954) and this is featured on this week's show. In this photograph Michael is flanked by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in London 1939

In 1977 Florian Klinger was born in Innsbruck, Austria. At the age of eight he got his first trumpet lessons from Hannes Buchegger. From 1993 to 1999 he studied trumpet. In 1996 he won the first prize at the Yamaha Competition in Vienna,

In 1997 he received the first prize with the Trompetensextett Tirol at the Brass Competition of Passau Germany.

From 1995 to 2000 he was Principal Trumpeter in the NDR Symphony Orchestra in Hamburg, switching to the same position in the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2000. 

Since 2005 he has been teaching at the Richard Strauss Konservatorium in Munich. He has also been a member of the Austrian Brass Connection and Brass Band Froschl Hall.

Florian is featured on this week's show accompanied by Brass Band Froschl Hall conducted by Hannes Buchegger his first trumpet tutor. He displays playing of the highest level...

Enjoy