Bromley Buzz

Episode 63: David Bowie Experience

We speak with actor Ollie Slee, who plays David Bowie in the Bowie Experience which comes to the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on 24th July. On the first day of the Bromley Arts Festival, which runs throughout July, we love publishing an interview with the man picking up the mantle of Bromley's greatest cultural icon. As Ollie says, Bromley was for Bowie 'the foundation of everything he went on to do'.
Listen to what Glam Rock fan Ollie's dad makes of the show, Ollie's favourite costume, the seven changes of outfit with 'trousers flying off', and what it is like being a man who was 'effortlessly cool', and performing backed by a great live band. 
This is the anniversary year of Bowie's creation Ziggy Stardust, and just in the last few days the song Life On Mars was discussed on BBC Radio 4. 

Episode 62: Peter Fortune, London Assembly Member

We present a rather lengthy interview (as he was entertaining!) with Peter Fortune, London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley.

Episode 61: Briefcase Full Of Bromley, Beckenham Business Association

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale present the latest Buzz about Bromley. 
We introduce the new 'Briefcase full of Bromley' which contains things we talk about in the episode, and, for this episode, a harmonica. 
We interview Jane Rogers, Chair of the Beckenham Business Association, and discuss recent and future events in the borough.
All this and much more, plus Zeenat provides her regular empowering question....
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. #bromleybuzz
#ProudOfBromley

Episode 60: Janet Lewis MBE, Director of English Youth Ballet

Darren Weale interviews interviews Miss Janet Lewis, MBE, Founder and Director of the English National Ballet, and a resident of Bromley, from The Orpington Record Store and Cafe in Orpington. Miss Lewis talks about her life and career, becoming an MBE, including dancing with some of the greats of ballet, such as her idol Margot Fonteyne, and the founding of the 'unique' English Youth Ballet in 1998 and what makes it special. The company tours the UK, but it is about to come home to its Bromley base once more.
The English Youth Ballet presents A Gala Evening of Ballet and Music on 19th June at the Churchill Theatre, which Janet describes as 'extremely exciting', and a 'wonderful expressive experience', with live music, 35 children from Bromley taking part, along with a number of professional youth dancers, and two Royal Ballet dancers. Tickets are available here.

Episode 59: Wembley, Jersey Boys, and Community Links Bromley

Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale present the latest Buzz about Bromley. 
This episode reminisces about Bromley FC winning the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium - and has crowd noise from when the winning goal was scored by Michael Cheek, and a recap on our interview with Manager Andy Woodman.
We review the 'triumph' (yes, we said that) that is The Jersey Boys at the Churchill Theatre and talk with audience members and use an excerpt of our interview with Michael Pickering who plays Frankie Valli. Christopher Evans, Chief Executive of Community Links Bromley, explains what the organisation does. 
All this and much more, not forgetting the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, plus Zeenat provides her regular empowering question....
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. #bromleybuzz
#ProudOfBromley

Episode 58: Jersey Boys Churchill Theatre preview with Michael Pickering

Sarah Marsh-Collings interviews Michael Pickering, who plays Frankie Valli in The Jersey Boys, which appears at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley between 7th and 11th June 2022. Michael talks about the show, his dyslexia, playing in Wicked and Starlight Express, and Frankie Valli and the changing eras of music. The talents of the ladies in the cast - including fast changing backstage - are covered, and the 'slick, smooth show... that can be mayhem' backstage. Michael celebrates the value of the arts, and describes the challenges of packing and unpacking the show, and taking to stages of different sizes and sound characteristics. 
Sarah is already a big Jersey Boys fan, having loved the show when she saw it in 2021, and as Michael says, "It is a great night out... you will be shocked and awed!"
Tickets for the show are available here.

Episode 57: Dr Sam Parrett, CBE, of London South East Colleges

Dr Sam Parrett CBE is Group Principal and CEO of London & South Education Group, which comprises London South East Colleges with eight campuses across the region and London South East Academies Trust with eight schools across Bromley, Bexley and Surrey.
She joins Bromley Buzz podcast co-presenters Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale on Zoom for a very full interview covering the provision of vocational adult and higher education for over 13,000 students, and offering industry standard facilities and teachers – serving the LSEC ethos of preparing people for working lives.
Sam talks about serving young people starting in life and older people retraining, and seeing both often going on to start their own businesses.
Sam's background is covered and the growth of LSEC and its becoming a social enterprise seeking to deliver a Career Advantage to its students by making their experience in the college more than an education. She refers to working with primary schools, Special Educational Needs provision, mental health, and college recruitment and its new 4 day working week offer. 
Look out for the Bromley Campus Open Event on 29th June. Sam refers to another, recruitment, event, but the date for this passed before this podcast was published.
We also cover more diverse topics including hairdressing, the BR6 restaurant, and Sam's proudest time at LSEC.

Episode 56: Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Hannah Grey

The new Mayor of Bromley, Cllr Hannah Grey, talks on her first full day in office to Bromley Buzz podcast co-presenters Zeenat Noorani and Darren Weale.
Hannah shares her love of the people of the borough, and introduces her chosen Mayoral charities, Everybreath and Bromley Care Leavers Come Dine with Us Project. She talks about her upcoming Ukrainian event, the Mayor's Ball on 19th November at Oakley House, the Volunteers Day, her team including Deputy Mayor Cllr Christine Harris, and Chaplain Major Angela Strickland of the Salvation Army’s Bromley Temple. People, passion and progress - her inaugural speech themes - come up, as does her podcast, the Spitfire experience prize draw, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in Bromley, mental health, sparkly shoes, Bromley Arts Festival, and her own background. You can look out for a separate interview with Hannah in Life in Bromley magazine soon too. 
We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. #bromleybuzz and - as Hannah says - #ProudOfBromley
The Mayor of Bromley's website is here, her Twitter @MayorofBromley0, her Instagram here, her Facebook here, and her You Tube here.