Episodes

  • Spiritual awakenings and connecting communities

    Spiritual awakenings and connecting communities
    Jun 4 2025
    In this episode our host John 'Gilly' Gilmore speaks to Kailash Parekh MBE who tells how she arrived in Preston from India via East Africa at the tender age of just five. She shares her memories of transitioning to a new country at such a young age and her work later in life as an education professional, campaigner and community worker.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    21 mins
  • Keeping Lancashire warm and cosy

    Keeping Lancashire warm and cosy
    May 21 2025

    In this episode Gilly speaks to our podcast sponsor, Cosy Homes in Lancashire, which helps secure free government funding to help people across Lancashire make their homes warmer, more energy efficient, and cheaper to run. The scheme is supported by 13 local authorities in Lancashire and we hear from people who have benefited from the free scheme.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    19 mins
  • The heritage and wonder of a Georgian Square

    The heritage and wonder of a Georgian Square
    May 7 2025
    In this episode Gilly wanders down the historic Georgian Square located in the heart of Preston where suffragette Edith Rigby once lived - Winckley Square - where he meets those fighting to preserve the future of this city oasis.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    20 mins
  • Getting lost with superheroes in the most British of bookshops

    Getting lost with superheroes in the most British of bookshops
    Apr 23 2025
    In this episode Gilly takes a stroll down Friargate in Preston and calls in to one of the oldest bookshops in the country and also speaks to the owner of That Comic Shop, also on Friargate, and hears about community events in the city.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    22 mins
  • The woman who escaped the Nazis - Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines

    The woman who escaped the Nazis - Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines
    Apr 9 2025
    In this episode our host John 'Gilly' Gilmore hears the remarkable story of Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines, known for being one of the "Winton children" rescued from Czechoslovakia by Sir Nicholas Winton before WWII.She was separated from her family at age nine and was put on a train bound for England to flee Nazi persecution, eventually settling in Preston.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    21 mins
  • The Parched Pea Pod - Series 2 coming soon!

    The Parched Pea Pod - Series 2 coming soon!
    Feb 18 2025

    The most Prestonian of podcasts is returning for Series 2 - and it's bigger and better.


    The Parched Pea Podcast is hosted by legendary city broadcaster John ‘Gilly’ Gillmore who gets out and about to speak with some of the fascinating cast of characters who make up the Lancashire city of Preston.

    This series is a collaboration between Lancashire Post, Blog Preston, and new for this series - Central Radio.


    Named after Preston delicacy Parched Peas, the podcast is being supported by Cosy Homes in Lancashire which aims to help individuals across the country to make their homes warm and keep energy bills down.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 min
  • City future and inside Chew's Yard

    City future and inside Chew's Yard
    Sep 4 2024

    On this episode John chats to Christine Cort about the process of building Chew's Yard and her plans for the future to revamp the street and make it a beautiful, vibrant street open to everyone.


    The Parched Pea Podcast is a collaboration between Blog Preston and the Lancashire Post, with Gilly exploring the people and places which make the city tick and will be available on Spotify, Apple and all other major podcast apps via Podfollow with new episodes being released each Wednesday.


    The podcast has been supported by Preston Markets, where a number of the interviews were recorded, and Preston’s Business Improvement District.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    17 mins
  • On the market

    On the market
    Aug 28 2024

    John speaks with Adrian Livesey who has been on the market for more than two decades - what life is like, his regulars and more.


    Abigail Lewis and Karen See, artists and models, then join John to chat about how they've been involved with a new photography exhibition at the Market Hall.


    The Parched Pea Podcast is a collaboration between Blog Preston and the Lancashire Post, with Gilly exploring the people and places which make the city tick and will be available on Spotify, Apple and all other major podcast apps via Podfollow with new episodes being released each Wednesday.


    The podcast has been supported by Preston Markets, where a number of the interviews were recorded, and Preston’s Business Improvement District.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    17 mins
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