Jason visits Hampton Ferry this month to chat with Diana Raphael, who was born there in the 1930s and has lived there almost her entire life.

Join us, as Diana relates tales from her childhood, through to her time serving as Mayor of Evesham, in this fascinating discussion of how much times have changed over the past century.

Diana's book, Living Next to Paradise, was recently published and you can pick up a copy from Raphael's Restaurant.

Happy New Year to all our listeners! As we step into 2025, The Vale Matters Podcast returns with a fresh look and a brand-new host. In this special double-length episode, outgoing host Katie Gilbert is joined by experienced author, publisher, and podcaster Jason Ayres, who will be taking over the reins from now on. To mark the occasion, this handover episode features two halves. First, Katie chats with Jason about his life as an author, his journey so far, and what attracted him to take on this role. Then, the tables turn, and Jason takes over as Katie becomes his very first guest. For the past couple of years, Katie has interviewed countless local people – but how much do we know about the woman behind Evesham Noticeboard’s success? Tune in for an engaging and entertaining start to the New Year! ** We are now actively seeking guests to be on the podcast in 2025. Do you have a local charity or organisation you'd like to tell the Vale about? Or perhaps, you're helping to keep it local by building an independent business here. Whichever it may be, if you have a story to tell we'd love to hear from you **

Come and find us at Evesham Noticeboard: https://www.eveshamnoticeboard.co.uk/thevalematterspodcast

Or you can email Jason directly at jason.ayres@btinternet.com

We're diving into the fascinating world of the Evesham U3A. Join us as we debunk the myths and explore the vibrant community behind this popular group. Interesting to learn more about this fantastic group in Evesham. Thanks to Ali & Cath being our lovely guests!