The Two Voices have finally visited the Severn Valley Railway... and what a day! In this episode we speak to Gus one of the organisers about setting up the gala weekend. Lesley tells us how the SVR is weathering the pandemic. Roland tells us what goes on in the huge train shed. We meet Jack & Peter who are working on a futuristic hydrogen loco project. Kayleigh tells us about the joy of being a volunteer. Plus... Neil and Keith tell us about a very special loco taking hours of their time to repaint. Welcome to our podcast special. Get in touch email: 2voicesradio@gmail.com

Two Voices Radio Podcast

Severn Valley Railway Diesel Gala - Podcast Special. From heritage to the future.

This week… the UK petrol “shortage”… but is it? People say there’s a food shortage… but we haven’t seen evidence of it. Morrisons is named supermarket retailer of the year. They’re also removing plastic bags from bananas at last. We’ve said for years that bananas have their own coats on! We hear about a list of top UK biscuits… but there’s an imposter in the ranks. Plus… Bake Off returns to TV with poor sound quality, ridiculous bake challenges and a programme that’s too long. Finally… with a 70s vibe of petrol shortages, gas shortages, food shortages… just in time the BBC puts on a new series of Blankety Blank!

Petrol, food shortages, Morrisons, bananas, biscuit imposter, 1970s TV on today EP 177

This week Andy Waterfield takes a trip to Peterborough for the Buses Magazine festival to explore both vintage buses and the future of bus travel. Andy talks to the editor of Buses magazine about the event; the owner if a restored vintage Routemaster and to National Express about their brand new bus. Get in touch 2voicesradio@gmail.com

On the buses with Andy Waterfield Ep 176

We’ve been to Kent and are amazed at how wonderful Folkestone is. It’s worth a visit! We ask if people will stay in the UK next year or will they go back abroad? Nick talks about the TV show “My unique B&B”. It’s quite twee and he’s not sure if he likes it or not. His 2nd recommendation is “Motorhoming with Merton & Webster”. It’s really good! Eye watering 1st class fares on the railways. Hema is closing down. Shortages of food. Andy’s shocked by the lack of biscuits & chocolate in the Co-op! Brexit & Buses. It’s all here!

Kent, B&B, Motorhomes, train fares, food shortages, Brexit blues EP 175

Come with us for a podcast special visit to the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Hear the sounds and imagine the sights as we travel between Eridge and Tunbridge Wells West on a small but very special heritage British Railway. Plus... we talk to Jonnie Pay who tells us about the efforts that go in to running the railway and how they go about organising the Summer diesel gala. Get in touch: 2voicesradio@gmail.com

Podcast Special: Spa Valley Heritage Railway EP 174

This week... Getting technical help. Olympic games… Nick hates all forms of sport so where do we go from here with the Olympic games? Why aren’t activities like cake making in the Games? The dogs next door appear! On Train announcements... Andy’s annoyed. The Marble Arch Mound… you won’t believe it. Plus… Nick tells us about the postcards of Plymouth… that weren’t! Andy tells us that Poundland are going down the “free-from” route. Finally… Liverpool and their World Heritage status. It’s all here! Get in touch: 2voicesradio@gmail.com

Tech Help, Olympics, Dogs, Announcements, Marble Arch Mound, Postcards, Plymouth, Liverpool EP 173

This week we talk about travel mayhem... clogged motorways, as everyone goes on holiday to the South West. In technology... its world emoji day, we look at What’s App, and Microsoft's Clippy the “helpful” paperclip returns. We talk iced coffees, moving onto narrowboats, and discuss the revival of vinyl records along with the problems the record industry is encountering. Get in touch: 2voicesradio@gmail.com

Travel mayhem, emojis, clippy, coffee, narrowboats, vinyl records EP 172

Bad hayfever season. Useless advice from newspapers. Keeping cool. TV shows with audiences are back. Andy tells us about an awful audition for TV show. Coca Cola rebuke. Nick has a strange selection of fizzy drinks. Plus the Two Voices visit to Staffordshire and using bus explorer tickets. It's all here!

Hay fever, heat, newspapers, audiences, Staffordshire, buses Ep 171

We’re back after a couple of weeks off. Andy asks why journalists ask such long questions at the Downing Street news conference. In Transport Corner, Nick asks what’s the point of self-driving vehicles? a fully autonomous ship… and electric Royal Mail vans. Andy has a bug in the room. Cameras in radio studios… its supposed to be radio so why watch on the TV? Andy tells us about funny flavoured ice-cream. There’s a paint disaster and a visit to the “tidy tip”. Plus… what retailer has done well during the pandemic? Andy says he’s happy not to go away on an aeroplane. There’s more weird jaffa cake flavours. Finally… Nick recommends on YouTube… “Solent Ships”. This fantastic channel shows you the real-time comings and goings of the ferries between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. It's addictive! Get in touch: 2voicesradio@gmail.com

News conferences, long questions, self driving vehicles, bugs, tidy tip, ice-cream, Solent Ships. EP 170

Does anyone still have a PO Box?  Sending postcards for competition entries.  Nick tells us about a new Russian supermarket chain moving in to the UK.  Are there still telephone operators? Shopping in London is a real Mish-mash of experiences, lots of shops have closed since the last visit. Nick likes Liberty but they were both annoyed that people are incapable of following the arrows!   Plus... Andy tells us about Wendy's burgers coming to the UK.

P O Boxes, sending postcards, Russian supermarket, Liberty, Wendy's Burgers. EP 169 

Frivolous shops are back open and Nick tells us what shop he’s missed the most. You may be quite surprised. Andy reveals his most missed shops. They've both missed department stores… but then we ask why department stores seem to be doing so badly if they are so missed? Andy ruins the quiz by guessing the answer too quickly! The Great British Sewing Bee is back. We are jealous as one of the biggest ever lottery win has been announced. Just £122 million! Nick has faulty goods but can’t be bothered to take them back to the shop. Plus… self-catering and camp sites have reopened. Andy worries about “facilities”! They call it “the joys of the open road” but how open is the open road as you can’t just park wherever you want. It’s all here! Get in touch… 2voicesradio@gmail.com

Shops open, Sewing Bee, Lottery win, Campsites, Open road. EP 168

As fans of heritage railways, this week we to bring you a great guest from the Severn Valley Railway. Head of Marketing and Communications, Lesley Carr tells us how the pandemic has affected this top visitor attraction and how they are planning their recovery. We also talk about the SVR's new webcams where you can watch the action worldwide. Find out what it takes to run a hugely successful heritage operation, striking the balance between providing enough for rail enthusiasts and enticing the financially all-important family market.

Podcast Special: The Severn Valley Railway - opening up after lockdown EP 167

Watching old TV programmes over and again. Youtube and podcasts dropping in annoying adverts. Nick has found out how to change his name by deed poll. He wonders if he should have a Welsh middle name. It costs £42.44. What a stupid price! Why does the government insist on silly sums with loose change? Nick is guzzling grapefruit fizzy from Waitrose. Andy’s had his first jab and insists on telling us all about the bus journey. There are new news channels starting soon. We talk about the line up. Recycling face coverings at Wilcos. And news from when we recorded this podcast about the shipping stuck in the Suez Canal. It’s all here!

Youtube and podcast adverts. Deed poll name. Stupid prices. Andy's jab. Wilcos. Suez Canal. EP166

Crimewatch on TV, Nick used to watch it as a suppertime treat! Andy has found himself watching daytime TV. Anne Robinson to take over Countdown. Moving abroad programmes... Why don't people prepare properly for such a move? The government roadmap... people are desperate to get away. Plus... Changing your name, and goats. It's all here!

Crimewatch suppers, daytime TV, moving abroad, Roadmap, changing names, goats. EP 165

Does anyone still use a landline? The UK census… it’s a peculiar thing we have to fill in once every 10 years. Andy talks more Doctor Who and about an episode with dramatic voting and a weird planet. Being optimistic about the Summer and old ladies breaking Covid restrictions. Nick tells us about the first cash till-less supermarket. Andy thinks it won’t work and we will go full circle to traditional shopping. Andy’s exciting cast iron pan. Plus politics conducted through the media. Its all here!

Landlines, census, old ladies, cast iron pan, modern shopping. EP 164

2 Voices Radio are Andy Waterfield and Nick Benjamin. They take you on a humourous canter discussing people, places and stuff. The chaps offer a light hearted look at the mundanity and minutiae of life. The half hour podcasts range from highlights from their weekly long running show on Radio LaB 97.1FM in the UK through to specially produced Travelogue podcasts.

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Two Voices Radio Podcast

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