A regular podcast for and about the town has been launched by the people behind the Petersfield Community Radio project.
The P pod – which can be downloaded or streamed from all normal podcast outlets – is a major step towards what the all-volunteer project team hope will result in a broadcast licence from OFCOM.
The podcast is hosted by two Petersfield residents, Claire Vennis, a director of a film production company, and bank manager – and Winton Players regular – Joff Lacey. Yet, as Claire explained, their route from day job to podcast presenter has caught them both by surprise.
She said: “Both Joff and I originally went along to the inaugural meeting purely as the ‘responsible’ adult alongside our children. My 13-year-old daughter and Joff’s 16-year-old son were both interested in joining the Petersfield Community Radio project – and they remain involved – so we just accompanied them to the meeting.
“We were swept along by the enthusiasm of all involved and ended up looking to volunteer ourselves. The next thing we know we’re attending presenter auditions and now find ourselves fronting the P pod.”
Joff added: “It was totally unexpected, but we love it. It’s a great community thing to participate in; it’s fun, with friendly colleagues, and is a fabulous way to give something back to the community.”
The team behind the P pod is supported by broadcast industry veteran Stephen Martin and ITV’s Good Morning Britain’s chief correspondent, Richard Gaisford, who, also, both live locally.
The P pod will be available on a weekly basis and will feature interviews with local personalities, town businesses, clubs and associations, sports news and reports from local events, in addition to working alongside the Petersfield Post on local news items and acting as a platform for local issues.
The current regular content – available on the project’s website at petersfieldradio.uk – including money news, local weather, fitness advice and walks with local author Suzie Wilde, will also be incorporated within the podcast.
■ If you have a story idea for the podcast or would like to join the volunteers behind the podcast and the Petersfield Community Radio project contact them at pod@theppod.uk or on 01730 5 55 500.
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Information for journalists
- Petersfield Community Radio – creator of the P pod podcast – is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit project funded purely by donation and fundraising.
- It is partnered with four local schools – Bedales, Churcher’s College, Ditcham Park and The Petersfield School (TPS) – and Antrobus House Business Centre and Petersfield Museum.
- The P pod podcast is the second stage of the project, following on from its inauguration as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and operated by volunteers for social gain (registered number 11705881). This will be followed (hopefully) by an online, continuous radio stream and then the addition of a DAB and/or FM broadcast, subject to Ofcom approval.
- The P pod may be downloaded or streamed from all normal podcast outlets – such as iTunes / Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and TuneIn – via smart speakers, including Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod or Google Home, or via www.petersfieldradio.uk or www.theppod.uk.
- An aural history project in partnership with the Petersfield Museum will run throughout the project and, we hope, leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
- Petersfield Community Radio would welcome further volunteers or community partners. Please contact team@petersfieldradio.uk.
For further information contact the project’s media officer Dave Bowers on dave@petersfieldradio.uk, director Stephen Martin on stephen@petersfieldradio.uk, or call 01730 5 55 500.
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