by TiggiT | Mar 14, 2022 | Episodes, Latest, Main
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Tiggi and her guide dog Jackie set off three years ago to record stories from a rural village. Many said this wouldn’t work. How very wrong they were.
As a special guest on BBC Radio 4 and other media platforms, growing an international following, the proof is in the listening. Tiggi is convinced she has only scratched the surface of what is possible.
50 episodes on, and now with a production team of six. Celebrate with us and listen to a compilation of favourite clips selected by the Draycott Diaries team. With such a girth of Life Stories and Documentaries, it was a tough choice. We are very proud to have achieved such a powerful audible account from one community. Especially in light of pandemics and current world unrest, coming together has never been more important.
Learning a new craft is never easy. Tiggi and Rob, as the Producer and Series Editor, kick off the show chatting about the ups and downs of making a Podcast. Especially as all face to face contact stopped for over a year during COVID-19 restrictions. How the team battled forward adopting new ways to produce the Diaries remotely.
Join us on our journey looking back over the last three years and what’s next on the horizon for Draycott Diaries.
by TiggiT | Feb 14, 2022 | Episodes, Latest, Main
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John Connor is this months podcast guest.
Tiggi learns that every person she chats to on Draycott Diaries have hidden depths, and village resident jet pilot John Connor is one of them. A true biography of extremes.
Thrills of flying at over one thousand miles an hour in the notorious Phantom jet. Aerobatics at incredibly low levels and teaching rookie pilots that wont stop, regardless of the length of runway. Eject or die potentially the only option.
After a dazzling 22 years flying with the RAF, for John commercial flying became a realistic option. Tiggi tries to break code words and meanings between cabin crew and pilots in emergency situations. How badly behaved can passengers become after early morning airport drinking. And most importantly, how robust is a commercial aeroplane today?
After the smell of jet fuel subsides and with mandatory retirement, what next for John? Maybe a gentle form of flying nearer home and much nearer to the ground. A new world of discovery.
by TiggiT | Jan 14, 2022 | Episodes, Latest, Main
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A brand new year and a brand new pantomime for the local community. This month Tiggi hooks up with three members of the local drama group Mendip Players.
Revelations include the debacle of walking on heels for the first time and the perils of business negotiations dressed as a pantomime dame. However, the group have covered a wide variety of genres in their time.
It was surprising to discover how the group was formed almost sixteen years ago. It seems that hidden talent was lurking in the village shadows just waiting to be launched by support and encouragement.
After many years of successful productions for “the seniors” a youth group was formed for “the juniors”.
With sell out shows every time, the group has been able to buy technical equipment and offer support to the local community.
There is nothing amateur about this group of thespians. With pride and friendliness as their mantra, and never taking “you can’t do that” for an answer, performances compete with the West End and repertory theatres.
“Frankenpanto” 3rd, 4th, 5th February 2022
https://www.themendipplayers.co.uk for further information
by TiggiT | Dec 20, 2021 | Episodes, Latest, Main
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A woman sets out with her Guide Dog, Jackie, seeking out the true meaning of Christmas in our community, walking the Mendip hills looking for enlightenment.
With food and beverages part of their research, the dynamic duo stumble on, through the wind and rain they tread together with festive spirit in their hearts. Bringing us tips including broken church windows and drowning your Christmas tree. A chance meeting with two pigs and a man in drag all add to the Christmas fun. But questions still remain such as the superiority of the village shop’s nuts?
A blind woman, full of mulled wine and a Labrador needing mince pies …………….”what could possibly go wrong?!”
by TiggiT | Nov 14, 2021 | Episodes, Latest, Main
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Tiggi chatted to Ian Maclachlan (the Draycott Postman) just before he embarked on the race of his life. Raising funds for “Hounds for Heroes”.
Ian left Draycott with hope in his heart, declaring the support of the local community would spur him on in times of self doubt. It transpires that proved the case when he almost quit for reasons you will find out in this recording as he updated Tiggi on his return.
Ian with his friend Chris Hewett were contestants in the 35th Marathon des Sables 2021. Billed as the toughest foot race on earth, with record temperatures this year reaching well above 50 degrees centigrade. The race, situated In southern Morocco, where Ian and Chris had to run 250k across the Sahara desert – equivalent to a London Marathon a day for 7 days. 200 participants started the race. Each runner carrying his/her own backpack with seven days of supplies and limited water, approximately 35kg. Only a few of the runners finished the race. With gruelling temperatures and the unwelcome addition of dysentery, made the already unbearable almost impossible.
Listen to Ian’s story of shocking self discovery, pushing himself to the very edge of human endurance. However, he is already planning his next challenge!
by TiggiT | Oct 14, 2021 | Episodes, Latest, Main
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Peter Bright, a resident in the beautiful Mendip area of Somerset for many years, is our guest this month.
Peter is a retired Biology Teacher and natural historian with an extensive knowledge of local wildlife. Tiggi asks questions that have come to her mind whilst trudging through the Autumn leaves in her walks on the local hills. Much of this episode considers both human and animal responses as Somerset prepares for winter. It touches on historic cider making and looks forward to the Somerset tradition of Wassailing in the New Year.
With the poem “Autumn” read by Sophie Barham and the anticipation of mulled cider. Grab your blanket and pull up your favourite chair as we cast you into the season of red, yellow and gold.
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