The Morecambe Bay Podcast

Who hasn't tried to capture the perfect picture of the Bay? Is it down to skill or just managing to be in the right place at the right time? Photography Liz Withey from Carnforth has taken some brilliant shots of the Bay, the Lakes and Lancaster over the years and you can see some of them at The Junction Gallery on Carnforth railway station. We met in the gallery for a chat during which she offers some top tips and we discussed mutual love of steam trains!

Dementia is a growing challenge. As the population ages and people live for longer, it has become one of the most important health and care issues facing the world. In the whole of the UK, the number of people with dementia is estimated at 850,000. That's one reason why a golf programme with a difference is underway here in Morecambe Bay. Called Fore Get Me Not Golf it aims to foster a sense of community among those with dementia along with their carers. Heysham Golf Club is now hosting monthly Dementia Cafes but, as you'll hear, with the success of the programme here there are high hopes it could be adopted all over the UK.

Marianne Barraclough is the executive director of More Music, the community music and education charity based in the West End of Morecambe. As you'll hear, it's an organisation that appeals to young and old and has great track record in getting people from all walks of life involved. Marianne tells us why she wanted the gig, shares her musical background and reveals how she still keeps her hand in today. BTW the team have got a busy few weeks coming up: Dare! Young children and their families can swim with the silver fish, peer through telescopes, ride the tide and take a leap, with a newly-created musical experience on 20 & 21 February at More Music in Morecambe at 10am, 12pm & 2pm. Girls Can is a free two-day workshop over the weekend of Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March for girls, young women and non-binary people aged 12–19.

This feature-length episode of the podcast features a conversation with someone from the Bay who has spent over five decades at sea in a variety of roles. I've been talking to Tony Cowell who first went to sea when he was just 3 years old! He's seen the sea at its best and worst during a career that has taken him from skippering some of Fleetwood's best known fishing boats to serving as lifeboat coxswain. While he is still chair of RNLI Fleetwood he's just retired as captain of the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry, a post he held for two decades.

Much loved - and much missed; Eric Morecambe would have been 100 years old in 2026. Plans are afoot to mark his contribution to the world of comedy. But did you know as well as delighting millions with his performances and pursuing birdwatching as a hobby Eric was also a keen artist? It's one reason why the man behind the Morecambe Bay Art Fair is keen to mark Eric's life. Artist Anthony Padgett has been explaining more about the ideas that are gaining momentum (read more and keep in touch here). We met - where else - at the statue of Eric! The Morecambe Bay Podcast will be recording a series during Eric's centenary year. If you'd like to get involved get in touch. nigel.thompson@journalist.com

We're back - with a new series of fascinating people to meet from all around the Bay! Kicking us off is a chat with Chris Barlow, singer songwriter and a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education (with a Geography specialism) at the University of Cumbria. We've spoken before about his band Hiroshima Twinkie in an earlier episode but this time he tells us how a collaboration with year 6 pupils at Sandylands Primary School in Morecambe has resulted in a song that's a guaranteed earworm! Sunset Over Morecambe Bay has just come out and with royalties being split between the band and the pupils who wrote it, it's maybe an ideal Christmas present? Enjoy the song and our conversation with Chris. Notes: Check out the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqbLx3hVVWM The song's available here: https://hiroshimatwinkie.bandcamp.com/track/the-sunset-over-morecambe-bay?fbclid=IwY2xjawOuk11leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeV9AiPHb-Mj6hAP8nFjP5cVAxJ7MadRzos1FrwL6Qv5Ww4KkR__2JMvJnEvI_aem_OhxlQNJhICVywxhV8KUAMA

Here's something a little different from the podcast for you. This is the sound of a walk I recorded at Leighton Moss, the RSPB's reserve near Carnforth, specifically from the main entrance to Causeway Hide. Hear the wind passing through the reeds and trees as they lose their leaves. Even an unexpected low-flying jet couldn't spoil the soundscape which I hope maybe transports you there! We walk in, take a few pictures which I'll share on social media, and then head back out. If you like it, there may be more and in the meantime check out https://radiolento.podbean.com/ which inspired me to try this out.

It's taken 2 years of painstaking work but a historic Morecambe Bay fishing boat is about to return to the Bay. The Morecambe Bay Prawner Trust acquired the 130 year old Spray after it faced an uncertain future. Built in Arnside, the sturdy wooden craft was built to handle the dangerous waters, rushing tides and strong winds of Morecambe Bay. I've been given a look around the boat by trustee and skipper Robin Ashcroft who shares his hopes for its' future. Spray was built by Crossfields of Arnside and her history and restoration will be covered at this year’s Crossfield Conference, run by Arnside Sailing Club on Saturday 22nd November 2025.

Every picture tells a story and it’s certainly true when it comes to a photography project quietly gathering momentum in Morecambe. It’s the idea of creative Johnny Bean. He’s capturing pictures of people who make a difference in Morecambe. From tap dancing pensioners to fishermen, hairdressers to the town's member of Parliament and everyone in between; characters who make the town what it is. Johnny is recording images for posterity and to chart how the town is changing. We met up - near arguably the town’s most famous son ! to talk more about Morecambe Faces. https://johnny-bean.blogspot.com/

Bikers from across the UK descended on Barrow on the longest day to mark the second Dave Day to be held to mark the life and work of the Dave Myers who hailed from the town. Hairy Biker Dave has a loyal following and his wife Lili is continuing to raise awareness as well as money for cancer care and other good causes. Over 20,000 bikers came to Barrow today with people lining their routes from London to south Cumbria. I've been meeting a few of the well wishers as well as some hairy (and not so hairy!) bikers.

Every year the port of Heysham becomes the focus for bikers from all over the UK and beyond. Thousands flock to the Bay to be transported to the Isle of Man for the TT Races which are well underway. Alice Rice knows more than most when it comes to ensuring bikers get across safely. Since 1996 she's worked at the port but this is to be her final TT. She's been telling me about meeting some of the stars of the event and sharing stories of life at Heysham port.

This is a gem! A recording of the sights and sounds of Morecambe made over 40 years ago has been shared publicly for the first time since it was produced. Sounds of Morecambe and District was a cassette made by a small team led by Peter Mason-Milward in 1981. As well as the sounds of Marineland, go karts at Heysham Head and the Harbour Band Arena it also featured interviews with some of the stars of the day who visited the area. They include presenters Pete Murray and Isla St Clair along with Colin Crompton, the comic whose routine took aim at Morecambe in TV’s The Comedians. Using recording equipment from Lancaster and Morecambe Hospital Radio where Peter was chairman, the result is an extraordinary audio archive of the resort in the 1980s. Isla St Clair had the honour of switching on Morecambe illuminations in 1980 and told Peter about her love for the town. Meanwhile Colin Crompton said his jokes about Morecambe as ‘a cemetery with lights’ and a place where ‘they all turn out to watch the bacon slicer’ were taken too seriously by tourism staff and on the tape admits the town is ‘not bad.’ The cassette was produced as an audio postcard of the area with around 150 sold by Peter and his colleagues to tourists staying at hotels around Morecambe. We met up recently with his wife Kath to listen back to Morecambe over 40 years ago. 1' the laughing clown 1'30" Pete Murray 4' Peter explains where the idea came from 5'50" Memories of working with Eric Morecambe 7' Top interview tips from Eric! 10'30" Isla St Clair switches the lights on 12'30" Colin Crompton 15' Gypsy Lee 16' Peter explains how people gave time to the recordings 16'30" Marineland 17' Heysham Head 19' Wrestling on the Central Pier 19' 30" The sand train to Heysham

Do you remember Heysham Head or how about the pleasure park on the prom before it became Frontierland?Morecambe illuminations switch-on? Colin Crompton? Pontins Holiday Camp? Marineland ? The list goes on! In the 1980’s a friend of mine had the foresight to record the sights and sounds of Morecambe and we recently met up to listen again to the cassette he produced. Here's a taste!

Did you know there are over 100 works of art in Morecambe town centre? With more artwork springing up around the town it's certainly causing much debate and it's emerged the town's Business Improvement District have supported artist Matty Green in sprucing up areas with imaginative work. An art trail could coax visitors off the prom to explore lesser known areas - and businesses that could benefit. So what difference will artwork make and what's next? Enjoy hearing more from the BID here. Details of https://morecambebid.com/ Live webcams overlooking the prom (seagulls permitting) https://morecambebid.com/more-cam/

The promenade may be where most visitors head for but in part of Morecambe some of the town's buildings are getting a colourful makeover. There are already posters and artwork depicting some of the area's well known characters in the town centre but now a new mural has been unveiled just off the prom. A seagull eating chips and Morecambe's 'bird man' - John Wilkinson who was jailed in 2014 after breaching an anti-social behaviour order to limit his bird feeding habit - is the subject of the artwork on the gable rear of the Old Pier Bookshop. It's stunning and is the work of artists Matty Green and Harry Mills. Matty gave us a guided tour of this and his other artworks which he hopes will spark widespread interest in a side of Morecambe visitors don't yet appreciate. Notes: 2' We hear how work is already underway to brighten up the town's lesser known areas. 9' What is the reaction of the mural's nearest neighbour? 10' What's next...?

Banish the winter blues with the sights and sounds of a stunning light and sound display on Morecambe promenade. From The Ghost of Moby Dick to The Garden of Hope, 18 installations from artists all over the country will be pm show from The Midland to the Yacht Club on 21st and 22nd of February. Full details can be found here and the Morecambe Bay Podcast is proud to be a sponsor. Three of the displays are the work of Ulverston-based sound and light pioneer Dan Fox and his Sound Intervention team. 6 metre tall Luminosi trees, Aeolian Flutes and emersive Glittering Grove (at points 15, 16 and 17 close to the yacht club) will doubtless be popular and Dan has been explaining where his inspiration comes from and why he loves being part of Baylight. Show notes: 1' Inside the production studio 2' The challenges of developing a space to make music 3' Starting to work with street bands 4' The Boom bike! 5' Starting out in soundscapes 6' The challenge of working during Covid 7' Visiting Baylight during the early years 9' Bringing flutes, luminosi trees and a glittering grove to the promenade 11' Using hydrophones to capture the sound of ice! 12' Finding inspiration in all kinds of places 14' 'A kilometre if speaker cable..' going above and beyond! 16' Planning for the future 17' Why Dan gets a buzz from the shows he puts on

Have you had a busy week? Need time out but don't have time to go to the coast? Enjoy the latest in our occasional series of sounds from the Bay. Take two mins to enjoy the incoming tide recorded this morning close to the boats moored not far from Morecambe town hall.

Imagine moving out of a three bedroomed house and setting out to live in a 60 foot long canal boat? Mark Sadler's boat is more 'like a posh flat' but even so, parting with years' worth of belongings and changing lifestyles to one where the weather and seasons are a constant factor takes some getting used to. This month marks his 12 month anniversary of taking the plunge and living on the Lancaster Canal. Has it been plain sailing or will he be back in the housing market soon? 2' Why a canal boat? 4' How to downsize. 6' Nature on the canal. 8' Reflecting on one year aboard. 10' The challenges of the canal. 12' Coping with a change in pace 14' The canal community. 16' Life afloat and looking to the future. Transcript: Welcome to the Morecambe Bay podcast with Nigel Thompson. If you're listening to this in your house or on your way home, would you pack up, get rid of anything you didn't need and downsize your entire life onto a canal boat? It sounds daunting, doesn't it? Yet that's what Mark Sadler did a year ago. A three bedroom house was replaced by a 60 foot long, 10 foot wide boat on the Lancaster Canal. As his first anniversary approaches, how's he getting on?

There's treasure to be found on our beaches if you know where to look! Sea glass, the remains of bottles and other objects discarded sometimes decades ago is polished and weathered by the continual action of the sea. The result is highly polished shards of glass that are fashioned into gem-like shapes. Clear ones are common - coloured is rarer. Jacqueline Kendall from Manchester comes to Morecambe to hunt for the glass which she uses to decorate bottles and other artefacts. We met on the beach by the Midland Hotel.

I was out recording something a bit special that I'll share with you soon when I was on the beach close to the Platform in Morecambe today. Overlooked by the famous Midland Hotel the beach there is made up of shingle. I was there just about high tide and the sound of the sea running through the shingle really brightened a fairly overcast Sunday. The sound is mesmerising! Work by fellow podcasters Radio Lento (check them out for some stunning soundscapes) inspired me to share this with you. It's only three minutes long and you can almost smell the salty air. I hope it helps while away a bit of the commute or morning rush - enjoy!