You can always tell when it’s mid summer as that’s when the Strawberry Fair comes to town, and I caught up this morning with Phoenix FM’s Tony Smith just as the fun was about to get under way on Shenfield Common. Tony and Bob Simpson were due to host a packed programme of entertainment in the Big Top, with a range of performances to suit the whole family – and hopefully they’d be rewarded for their hard work with some strawberries and cream!

I also gave an update on last weekend’s Epic Bike Challenge by Pilgrim’s Hatch Scout Leader Gareth Sell. After chatting to me on last week’s show from the banks of Loch Lomond – when he told me a back injury meant he’ was having to abandon his attempt to ride non-stop from John O’Groats to Land’s End – Gareth pressed on and made it to the border with England at Gretna Green. This was still a tremendous achievement, and I look forward to inviting Gareth back to the studio soon to hear what he learnt from the experience and to find out whether he’s planning to attempt it again.