Gloucester Tales

Season Two of Gloucester Tales is 'Women's Voices', a series of stories written and read by local women on the theme 'the thing that changed my life'.

Episode 4 - 'Lady Luck' - presents a story from a member of the Stitch in Time Gloucester Tapestry project, and a story from our very own Jarek Adams. Both tales look at how chance events, either good or apparently bad, can have a huge positive impact on our lives.

'Opportunity Knocks' by Rainey Jayne takes us on a journey from a random special offer to a whole new world of opportunity opening up.

'Watch this Space' by Jarek Adams looks at the struggles of being a professional writer, and shows how we can all use our creativity to navigate changes and bring about positive outcomes.

'Women's Voices' is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast, written and presented Jarek Adams and produced by Andrew Thorn. It was commissioned by the City Voices strand of the Gloucester History Festival.

These pieces were all recorded by the women writers in their own homes using a variety of recording methods, due to ongoing Covid restrictions.

Season Two of Gloucester Tales is 'Women's Voices', a series of stories written and read by local women on the theme 'the thing that changed my life'.

Episode 3 - 'Miss Communication' - presents two more stories from the Wordmaids writing group. Both look at how important it is for us to be able to communicate our thoughts, feelings and emotions, and both show how each writer broke through a personal barrier that caused them to stumble before picking themselves up and forging onwards.

'Sugar Paper Worlds' by Bethan Garlick takes us back to her early years where her love of a very special collection of books helped her to cope with her dyslexia, and how escaping into daydreams was part of her journey towards becoming a writer.

'Five Loaves and Two Fishes' by Rhona Smith takes us through another, but very different communication challenge and how she vound ways to overcome it.

'Women's Voices' is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast, written and presented Jarek Adams and produced by Andrew Thorn. It was commissioned by the City Voices strand of the Gloucester History Festival.

These pieces were all recorded by the women writers in their own homes using a variety of recording methods, due to ongoing Covid restrictions.

Season Two of Gloucester Tales is 'Women's Voices', a series of stories written and read by local women on the theme 'the thing that changed my life'.

Episode 2 - 'Mother Nature' - presents a story from a member of the Stitch in Time Gloucester Tapestry project, and a story from our very own Jarek Adams. Both stories take you outdoors into the wilds of our back gardens, and explore how important it can be to have a connection to nature.

'Garden Life' by Louise Spira gives you the chance to witness the seasonal drama just outside her back door. It accompanies her part of the tapestry being created by the Stitch in Time project which will be on display during the Gloucester History Festival.

'The Good Life' by Jarek Adams looks at learning to love what Mother Nature can offer us if we help her along just a little bit, and at learning to live with some uninvited garden guests.

'Women's Voices' is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast, written and presented Jarek Adams and produced by Andrew Thorn. It was commissioned by the City Voices strand of the Gloucester History Festival.

These pieces were all recorded by the women writers in their own homes using a variety of recording methods, due to ongoing Covid restrictions.

Season Two of Gloucester Tales is 'Women's Voices', a series of stories written and read by local women on the theme 'the thing that changed my life'.

Episode 1 - 'Girl Power' - presents two stories from the Wordmaids writing group that take us back to when both women were starting out in life.

'First Job' by Vivien Murphy dives us into a point of our lives where we all have to navigate big changes.

'The Austen Seven' by Julie Heyden takes us back to a time when access to a car could make your world feel a little bit bigger.

'Women's Voices' is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast, written and presented Jarek Adams and produced by Andrew Thorn. It was commissioned by the City Voices strand of the Gloucester History Festival.

These pieces were all recorded by the women writers in their own homes using a variety of recording methods, due to ongoing Covid restrictions.

Tales from the city of Gloucester.

Series 2 - 'Women's Voices' - has been commissioned by Gloucester City Voices, who asked writer Jarek Adams to work with the women of the City. In this series, Jarek presents a collection of their stories on the theme of 'The thing that changed my life. Hear Episode 1 on 5th September 2021

'Immigration and Imports’ joins the City of Gloucester to take a walk down Eastgate Street, and back through time. An imposing modern shopping mall, a concealed arts centre, and a bustling market jostle each other for your attention on the surface streets.

But be a time traveller with us. Dive below the pavements into the history of the city to the times of the Romans, the Saxons, the Civil War. Defend the City from its attackers. Gaze through the Roman City Gates. Applaud the City's heroism on Gloucester Day, once a national celebration.

Then return to the present, and explore the variety of nations which have come to Gloucester to bring it gifts, produce, and new friends.

Step out into the streets of the City, and meet the World.

Tales from the Cross is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast presented by Andrew Thorn and written by Jarek Adams, and was commissioned by the Gloucester History Festival as part of the City Voices Project.

‘Folks and Fables’ allows the City of Gloucester to guide you along Westgate Street, and introduce you to its past in the form of the ancient buildings hiding just visible behind shopfronts, and the ghost buildings that cast their shadows across the pavements even though they themselves have long since gone.

Find the hidden clues to the City's past concealed in plain sight, in the designs of bollards and unexpected stone defences signalled by mosaics underfoot, and a beautiful, centuries-old timber housefront sidling down the alley next to the Antique Centre.

Meet famous literary characters, both human and animal, real and fictional, and imagine taking a drink with them in a hidden cellar bar.

The alleyways of Gloucester create a maze through history. Be a ghost hunter with us, and come and meet its ghosts.

Tales from the Cross is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast presented by Andrew Thorn and written by Jarek Adams, and was commissioned by the Gloucester History Festival as part of the City Voices Project.

‘Guardians of Glevum’ gives a voice to the City of Gloucester as you wander down Southgate Street, where haunted St Michael’s Tower proudly bears the city coat of arms. 

Meet the folks on Bakers Clock, loudly drawing attention to themselves on the hour, who've stood guard over the shop for more than a century.

Stroll past the ancient timbers of the Old Bell, and visit the statue of Roman Emperor Nerva, who ‘civilised’ and fortified the City almost two thousand years ago.

Take a few diversions and see the ruins of the old Greyfriars Monastery or explore Blackfriars, whose monks were guardians of words in the Scriptorium.

Visit St Mary De Crypt church to learn about Robert Raikes, founder of the Sunday School movement to educate deprived children. Or have a drink in his house - now a pub!

Finally rest, and take support from the memorial bench remembering the short but bright life of Holli Gazzard, whose tragedy inspired others to help and protect young women and men: a true Guardian of Glevum.

Tales from the Cross is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast presented by Andrew Thorn and written by Jarek Adams, and was commissioned by the Gloucester History Festival as part of the City Voices Project.

‘Entrances and Exits’ lets the City of Gloucester talk to you as you wander down Northgate Street.

People often associate the north with cold and dark, and in the case of Gloucester, it was a threat from the North that formed the layout of the streets when Queen Aethelflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great, rebuilt the Roman Walls to defend against rampaging Danes. The Cross became the centre of the City, and radiating out from it are four great streets: Northgate, Southgate, Eastgate and Westgate.

On Northgate Street you'll find the New Inn, where pilgrims came to pay their respects to our buried king. Even Shakespeare himself passed through here.

Underfoot you'll find the mosaic of the Cordwainers, and to your left St John’s Church - a site of worship for over a thousand years.

Down a side street you'll discover King's Square, where locals mingle in a space once filled with fountains.

And as you walk, look out for the statue of a chap standing on a jet engine!

Tales from the Cross is part of the Gloucester Tales Podcast presented by Andrew Thorn and written by Jarek Adams, and was commissioned by the Gloucester History Festival as part of the City Voices Project

Tales from the city of Gloucester.

Series 1 - recorded in 2020 - guides listeners on virtual walks around the streets of Gloucester, written by Jarek Adams for the Gloucester History Festival. Meet the people, experience the events of the past, and engage in the life of this historic city. Hear Episode 1 on 11th August 2021

Series 2 - 'Women's Voices' - has been commissioned by Gloucester City Voices, and launches in September 2021.