The Morecambe Bay Podcast
by Nigel Thompson
Morecambe Bay is a place of big skies, dramatic tides, iconic seaside towns, world-famous birdlife and unforgettable sunsets.Join journalist Nigel Thompson as he meets the people, visits the places and hears stories that make the Bay so special. From culture and the arts to birdwatching and the legacy of Eric Morecambe, discover what makes this unique corner of Lancashire and Cumbria tick.With over 150 episode since 2021, there’s always another story to hear. It’s all about the Bay.#MorecambeBay #Lancashire #Cumbria
Episodes
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The magic of migration across Morecambe Bay🌍
Have you ever wondered where the birds you see around Morecambe Bay have travelled from — or where they’re heading next? Every year, huge numbers of waders pass through the Bay, including 35,000 Oystercatchers, 23,000 Dunlin and 21,000 Knot. Some have travelled all the way from the Arctic, with...
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60 Years of Saving Lives: Inside Morecambe RNLI
For 60 years, Morecambe’s RNLI volunteers have been ready to answer the call when people get into trouble. Since the lifeboat arrived in 1960, volunteers have launchedat a moment’s notice to face the unpredictable waters of the Bay. Morecambe also made history as the first place to house an RNLI...
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60 Years of Saving Lives: Inside Morecambe’s RNLI
For 60 years, Morecambe’s RNLI volunteers have been ready to answer the call when people get into trouble. Since the lifeboat arrived in 1960, volunteers have launched at a moment’s notice to face the unpredictable waters of the Bay. Morecambe also made history as the first place to house an RNLI...
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Vinyl revival and cassette comeback; meet the man enjoying musical archaeology
🎧 Is vinyl making a comeback? ‘Musical archaeology’ that’s how the man who says he’sfulfilled his ambition to run a record show likens collecting vinyl records. It’s National Vinyl Record Day on August 12th andfor one small record shop in the Bay it’s an interest that is growing and among an...
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Why We Swim: Dr Mark Christie on Morecambe Bay and the science of open water swimming
Why do so many of us love swimming in Morecambe Bay? Open water swimming has become one of the UK's fastest-growing activities, but for many people it's about far more than fitness. In the latest episode of the podcast, I speak to Dr Mark Christie, whose life took an unexpected turn after...
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50 Acres, A Castle, and a King: The Legends of Piel Island
An island with its own castle, a local pub, and a 'King'? 👑 Off the tip of the Furness Peninsula lies Piel Island—a tiny 50-acre haven packed with centuries of dramatic history. Visible right across Morecambe Bay, this unique spot plays host to the famous Ship Inn and stories you won't hear...
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Turning the tide; how saltmarsh conservation work could help save Sunderland Point
It's community action at its best; residents living on Sunderland Point which juts out into Morecambe Bay are working with the Morecambe Bay Partnership and Lancaster University to deliver the first small-scale saltmarsh restoration trial. Here we take part in a project which sees biodegradable...
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Saving Sunderland Point
It's one of the best bits of the Bay; Sunderland Point originates from the 17th century when it was known as an area of safe anchorage. But the seas is causing erosion, both at the point itself where around 1 metre a year is being loss and on the approach where marsh grass is struggling to keep...
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Keeping history on the road ;the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust
Ding ding! As the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust prepared to stage the eleventh ‘Vintage Bus Running Day’ in May, the podcast was invited for a sneak preview of the fleet. Preserved buses which range in age from the 1930s to more recent times operate a free service between Heysham Village and...
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Ep 153 Picturing the Bay with photographer Liz Withey
Who hasn't tried to capture the perfect photograph of Morecambe Bay? Is it all about technical skill, or is it simply being in the right place at the right time when the light is just right? Landscape photographer Liz Withey, from Carnforth, has spent years capturing stunning images of Morecambe...
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Fore Get Me Not Golf; How Golf Is Helping People Living with Dementia in Morecambe Bay
Dementia is one of the biggest health and care challenges facing society today. As people live longer, more families are affected by dementia, with around 850,000 people in the UK currently living with the condition. Behind every diagnosis are relatives, friends and carers looking for support,...
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More Music
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…
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A lifetime at sea
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...
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Ep 149 Marking Eric's centenary
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...
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Ep148 Sunset over Morecambe Bay
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...
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A walk on the Moss
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...
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Working to get Spray back onto the Bay
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,...
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Morecambe Faces
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…
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Dave Day in Barrow
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...
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Sounds of Morecambe and District 1981
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…
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From Heysham Port to the TT
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…
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Sounds of Morecambe and District in the 1980s
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…
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Bidding to big up Morecambe
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...
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A splash of colour; Morecambe's mural
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...
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From house to boat; 12 months living on the Lancaster canal
Can you 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...
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Banish the winter blues - Baylight 25
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....
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Incoming tide
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.
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Treasure on the beach!
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...
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High tide at Morecambe
I was out recording something a bit special that I'll share with you soon and 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...
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Leighton Moss in winter
Winter has certainly arrived! Already this month icy conditions gave way to rain and now gale force winds. And battling it all are the birds. Morecambe Bay is famous for being home to a wide range of species and this weekend the annual Big Garden Birdwatch. Kath Smith from the RSPB at Leighton…
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Life afloat; at home on the canal
We may be shivering at the moment as winter hits home but what if your home is floating on an ice-covered canal? The Lancaster canal is home to a community who live all year around aboard narrow and other types of boats. You might be surprised that for some, becoming ice-bound is a good…
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Behind the scenes at Eggcup
Over 500 members, 170 tonnes of surplus food saved from going to waste, 250 volunteering hours a week; just some of the impressive statistics shared by Eggcup, a charity with more than one function. As well as saving food from going to waste, they also provide real life experience for catering...
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The Friends of Happy Mount Park
Thousands make a bee-line to it every year and since it opened in the 1920s Happy Mount Park in Morecambe has been a 'must-see' attraction for visitors of all ages. It's certainly changed over the years; the Radio 1 roadshow, illuminations and Mr Blobby are part of the park's rich history.…
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Morecambe People's Biennial finale
From music and film to poetry and dance, a successful arts event with a difference has come to a close in Morecambe. The idea of the Morecambe People's Biennial was to reclaim the term "local artist" as one of pride and, organisers say, 'remove the prejudice of yokel from the local. ' 92 artists...
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About last night - the northern lights
You may have seen them (you might have missed them) but how much do you know about the natural phemomena that is the northern lights? The skies above the Bay were amazing again last night as countless pictures on social media prove. Is it happening more often? Have we now seen the best of the...
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The Shipyard Gallery
Rarely seen artefacts, the sights and sounds of a working shipyard and QR codes which allow spectacular access to gems from over the years are just some of the new developments in Barrow's Dock Museum. The Heritage Lottery Fund, Westmorland and Furness Council, BAE Systems and the Sir John Fisher...
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Our Future Coast - protecting the Bay
Volunteers have been using historic techniques like weaving to trap trapping sediment and help prevent erosion around the Bay. The Morecambe Bay Partnership is working with Lancaster City Council, Lancaster University and communities and stakeholders around the coast as part of Our Future Coast....
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Dark skies over the Bay
With the nights drawing in there's a better chance of seeing stunning stars, planets and even the northern lights in the skies above the Bay. But is there a risk that our dark skies could be affected by growing levels of light pollution? Jack Ellerby is dark skies project officer for the Friends…
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Jukebox: The Teenage Revolution
In its day it was the centrepiece of coffee shops and milk bars all over. The jukebox was the only place where the pop music of the '50s and early '60s could be heard. But did you know the distinctive British jukebox was created on the seaside coast of Lytham, Blackpool and Morecambe? Funded by…
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Making a mark on the Bay for Growing Well
“The bigger the mandala, the more the work! You can rack up 20,000 steps in the space of a couple of tennis courts over four or five hours.” Simon Wheatley's work is amazing: a self-taught sand artist his mandalas have captured many people's imaginations and have adorned beaches in Cumbria and...
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The Morecambe Bay Curriculum
How do you make the environment and sustainability interesting to primary school children? Can older students be persuaded to consider careers around Morecambe Bay instead of moving away? The Morecambe Bay Curriculum is a partnership between Lancaster University, Lancaster & Morecambe College,...
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Blue Sky Morning - 14 years of Hiroshima Twinkie
They are a band who draw inspiration from the Bay for their songs and are marking a milestone this summer. Named after a scene in the cult TV comedy Father Ted, Hiroshima Twinkie are a Lancaster-based indie-folk-rock group and are about to release a best of album to celebrate 14 years of...
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Conducting the Promenade Concert Orchestra
Morecambe’s place as a venue for live music goes back decades and is still very much alive today thanks to people like Howard Rogerson. Howard conducts the Promenade Concert Orchestra, the only one of its kind between Manchester and Glasgow. Formed in 2007 professional clarinettist Howard was…
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Swimming the Bay; Jon Gibirdi
One of the first episodes of the podcast featured some of those hardy souls who enjoy swimming in the Bay all year around. The group, Morecambe and Lancaster Lancashire Open Water Swimmers, was set up around the time of the pandemic and continues to grow. Jon Gibirdi is a founder member and has...
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Sandscale Haws: 40th birthday toad patrol
Sandscale Haws at Roanhead supports a wealth of wildlife and with magnificent views across the Duddon Estuary onto the Lakeland Fells on a fine day it's idyllic. 40 years ago the National Trust became custodians of the national nature reserve. It's home to a quarter of the UK's population of rare...
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Bay Veterans Association
For an organisation that only came into being in September 2023, the Bay Veterans Association has proved there's a real need for support for ex servicemen and women around the Bay. The Lancaster and Morecambe area is more 'vets' than many other areas. A new hub offering support and providing...
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Sunderland Point Sea Shanty Crew
To say it's home to only a few dozen people Sunderland Point they are a musical lot! The village has made a name as the home of a thriving sea shanty band. The Sunderland Point Sea Shanty Crew are in demand to perform around the Bay and further afield - they've been part of the Edinburgh…
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The Slow Ways of Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is reknown for paths and tracks offering brilliant views but it's also part of a national network of walking routes connecting all of Great Britain’s towns and cities as well as thousands of villages. Using existing paths, ways, trails and roads, people can use Slow Ways routes to...
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Studying the Bay's Blue Economy
We know Morecambe Bay is a draw for tourists and that industry is big business around the Bay. But how far does the the area's influence extend and how much do we think about the impact the sea has on our lives? From chip shops in Morecambe to the ferries at Heysham, maritime matters affect us…
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Baylight 2024 - Morecambe's new light entertainment
Morecambe's link to illuminations goes back to 1906 and it became for its light entertainment. The days of switch ons and massive displays may be long gone but last year Baylight drew 20,000 people to a modest 1.5km illuminated art trail along the prom. This year's theme is reflecting Morecambe's...
About this show
Morecambe Bay is a place of big skies, dramatic tides, iconic seaside towns, world-famous birdlife and unforgettable sunsets.Join journalist Nigel Thompson as he meets the people, visits the places and hears stories that make the Bay so special. From culture and the arts to birdwatching and the legacy of Eric Morecambe, discover what makes this unique corner of Lancashire and Cumbria tick.With over 150 episode since 2021, there’s always another story to hear. It’s all about the Bay.#MorecambeBay #Lancashire #Cumbria
Hosted by
Nigel Thompson