Severn Lives

Welcome back to the podcast. Today, I'm delighted to be chatting with Mid Wales artist Sara Philpot here in the backyard. Sara is a painter, printmaker and weaver whose work is exhibited throughout Britain. Living and working in Mid Wales, her art explores the botanical and the human.  Alongside her painting practice, Sara is an accomplished printmaker who has frequently collaborates with poe...

Tucked away on Canal Road in the heart of Newtown, Canal Road Stores might look like a modest corner shop from the outside, but step through the door and you’ll discover a treasure trove of products from around the world. I recently sat down with Muralee and Devika, the husband and wife team behind the business, who have called Newtown home for the past 36 years after originally arriving from Sri...

Welcome to Nothing Wasted, a heartfelt conversation with Glenys about growing up in post-war Britain, raising six children, building a life through hard work, and finding peace in Mid Wales. From back-to-back houses in Stockport to running shops, surviving on very little, and learning to read later in life, this is a story full of resilience, humour, honesty, and warmth. Producer Polly Lovegrove G...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Karl Wigley from Caersws, who’s recently been featured in the local press, to talk about the powerful well-being group he founded after his own struggles with mental health and serious illness. What began in late 2024 as a small effort to support friends has grown into a vital community network, bringing people together each week for walks, conversations, and wo...

Welcome to the podcast. Today, I’m on the Golden Mile in rural Wales, near Cefn Coch, where I’m speaking with the wonderfully warm and inspiring Ivy Evans.  Ivy has lived in the farmhouse for over seventy years. Her garden is brimming with flowers and unusual plants, and countless bird boxes that invite wildlife to thrive all around her. Ivy has a deep love and understanding of nature, a...

From growing up in a South Wales mining village, to teaching rural science in Mid Wales, Norman Woodcock's life was shaped by hard work, resilience, and unexpected turns. But at the heart of it all is something even more enduring. It began with a glance at a young redhead on a bus, a simple introduction, and a first date when she was just 17 and he was 19. From those modest beginnings grew a...

Today we’re stepping back nearly 82 years. Our guest Bob Davey grew up on Park Street, Newtown and was one of the first families to move into the brand new council houses of Garth Owen at aged 5. His life went from skiffle bands and teenage gigs at the Pavilion…to living in Bermuda, sailing around the world, and even serving as Mayor of Newtown on his return. Bob recalls his job delivering groceri...

It was pouring with rain when I arrived on Welshpool High Street in Mid Wales. The grand white double-fronted house that is Ashmans Antiques stood solid against the gloom.  Step through the door, though, and everything shifts. The grey dissolves into warmth, colour and conversation. Diane, radiant in her yellow beret, red lipstick and bright belted jumper is already mid-story, mid-laughter, m...

Welcome to Llandinam, a village steeped in history and stories. Today, we’re joined by lifelong resident Jeremy Pryce, a man whose roots run deep in this community. Jeremy shares memories of his childhood growing up in the village, and his time working on the construction of the Clywedog Dam.  We’ll also step inside his blacksmith’s forge, right beside his home, where sparks fly and stories c...

In this episode, we’re talking to Susan Blower, a name well known in Montgomery, and a voice you definitely can’t miss. Born and bred in the town, Susan grew up in a time when childhoods were spent roaming the fields freely & safely.  Susan’s life has been anything but ordinary though; from nursing, teaching and becoming one of the very few female town criers in the UK, she’s a woman who’...

This week we’re chatting with Bob Evans, a former policeman whose life is filled with remarkable stories and quiet routines alike. He recalls the time when he was sent out to surround a barn believed to be hiding the infamous “Beast of Llangurig”, earning him a nickname “Bwana Bob” by his colleagues.  Bob’s experiences are anything but ordinary. Now 87 years old, he still walks up to two...

Listen to the stories of Huw’s childhood growing up as the vet’s son in Caersws. He loved driving his dad to midnight call outs, bumping along dark lanes across the length and breadth of the Severn Valley, back when just a couple of vets looked after the whole patch, from Llanidloes down to Welshpool. From a life-changing meal of mussels in France, to an unlucky black cat hanging from his wrist, H...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jeremy Connell, a man with a lifetime of stories, from the curious significance of four fingers and a thumb in Caersws, to his years as a teacher in Newtown. Jeremy takes us back to a time when life moved at a different pace. He recalls fairytale winters in the 1950's, when he and his friends screwed skates to the soles of their boots and glided along the canals by...

For over seventy years, Janet has called Llanidloes home, and in this podcast she welcomes us into her world of cherished memories and everyday stories. From playful childhood adventures along the river to the changing rhythms of the town today, Janet shares her tales with humour, clarity, and deep affection for the town. Join us as we step into the heart of Llanidloes through the eyes of som...

We bring you interviews with people who live in the Severn Valley, those whose stories remain untold. This podcast hears from the people who lives are intertwined with the river, who live and work and play along the longest and mightiest river in the country. Narration for this trailer comes from the unmistakable voice of Llion Williams Producer Polly Lovegrove Email : pollylovegrovephotography@gm...