On Canada day, Canadian Alison was my studio guest. She talked about her work at Colchester and how her role is to ensure that patients are offered holistic care, including spiritual. She talked movingly about some of the experiences she has been involved with in helping people. She said that to undertake this work was a great privilege. She also has to manage her team of over fifty volunteer chaplains, including interviewing potential chaplains and organising training opportunities. She told us how she became involved in chaplaincy work whilst living in Canada following a car accident which changed her circumstances. Her journey was inspirational to hear as she was working, training and looking after her child all at the same time. She said she needed to be organised! The chaplaincy role in a large care-home in Canada was very different than the role Alison really desired and again unexpected circumstances led to the bold step of moving to England without a post. However this was a very short wait before she was offered the role at Broomfield Hospital. She also sold her house in Canada much quicker than is usual. She has continued her studies as she has undertaken the role of hospital chaplain at Broomfield and now at Colchester. If anyone listening was interested in being involved in hospital chaplaincy, Alison would be very happy to talk with them. She said the same would be true at any hospital.
As today is Canada day, tonight we featured a number of Canadian artists. It is also the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme. Alison told us about the Newfoundland regiment. On this day 100 years ago 758 soldiers and 23 officers began their advance. In half an hour 85% were dead. Next day just 68 men reported for duty.
Unusual news stories this week included one about a skyscraper in Los Angeles with a fixed slide 1,000 feet long outside a skyscraper between the 70th and 69th floor. Jonty felt he would like to have a go. None of the listeners agreed with him. We also talked about the joy of buying an album and exploring the music of an artist, rather than simply downloading individual tracks.
Tonight’s playlist
Booker T & MGs – Crazy – show theme
ELO – Wild West Hero
Gordon Lightfoot – Too late for prayer – chosen by Alison
Halleluja – Leonard Cohen – chosen by Alison
Celene Dion & Josh Grogan – The prayer – chosen by Alison
Oscar Peterson – Summertime
Joe Stilgoe – Put down your phone
Amy Winehouse – Back to black – requested by patrick
Diana Krall – Boy from Iponenema – requested by Patrick for Michael. Everyone in the library misses you Michael.
Rick Astley – Pray with me
The Shires – Nashville grey skies
Miss 600 – Twist – suggested by Gary in Malta on Twitter
Elvis Presley – Blue suede shoes – to remember Scotty Moore, guitarist on this track and numerous others by Elvis, who died this week.
Michael Buble – Feeling good – for Chris, Bob, David, Ben and all those watching the football and listening to the show.
Mason Williams – Classical gas – from the days in the late 60s when an instrumental could climb high in the charts.
Tom Jones – Its not unusual – for Angela and all other delirious Wales fans after the result tonight.
Bryan Adams – Heaven, acoustic live version.
Sarah MacLachlan – In the arms of an angel.
George Martin – Theme One, closing theme.
Can you spot how many Canadian artists were featured in the show tonight? It was eight.
Join me next week when my studio guest is Cllr Noelle Hones – Mayor of Brentwood. She will talking about the role of the mayor and also choosing three favourite tracks.
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