Wearside Echoes

Courage personified - three remarkable women - The stars of Wearside Echoes 2025, Part 2

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:05:00 GMT

Courage personified - three remarkable women who shared their stories.

Kayleigh Llewellyn, Evie Field and Gemma Lowery are three remarkable people who have one link. They have all shown immense courage during their own incredible journeys. Each of them shared their stories with Wearside Echoes in 2025 and here are the highlights.

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The stars of Wearside Echoes - relive the highlights of 2025, Part I

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:05:00 GMT

'We've laughed, we've cried and we have learned lots about the wonderful Wearside past in two series of our awards-nominated podcast this year. Let's have a look back at the best moments in the first of a two-part tribute to our star guests'.

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Gemma Lowery: I lost my son to cancer. Now I'm determined to help other poorly children

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:05:00 GMT

Gemma Lowery's son Bradley Lowery faced a fight with childhood cancer in the public spotlight. Now, 8 years after his passing, Gemma has spoken about her son's legacy, the heartache of losing her little boy and his famous friendship with Jermain Defoe.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Sister Mary Scholastica - The Powerhouse of Prayer

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:05:00 GMT

She's known as the Powerhouse of Prayer, and as one of Sunderland's finest ambassadors.

But life started so differently for Sister Mary Scholastica on her family's farm overlooking a lake near the Burren Mountains in Galway, Ireland.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Richard Geere - Wearside born and living the dream with Disney.

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:05:00 GMT

Life could hardly have taken a more dramatic twist for Sunderland lad Richard Geere. He used to be an accompanist for a well known local dance troupe. Now he's entertaining audiences in Los Angeles where he works for Disney.

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Chris Cowey - the Ryhope lad who mixed with Oasis and the Spice Girls.

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:05:00 GMT

How many people can say they've worked with Oasis, Prince, David Bowie and the Spice Girls? Sunderland-born Chris Cowey can. He did it when he transformed the fortunes of Top of the Pops. He tells us how he did it as well as his memories of Sunderland nightclubs and a childhood spent in Ryhope.

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Kayleigh Llewellyn - a teenager on a mission to help others.

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:05:00 GMT

She was just 12 years old when her life changed forever. Kayleigh Llewellyn was a football-loving youngster who had just finished a training session. Days later, she was on a hospital ward waiting for a new heart. Six years on, she explains why she is determined to make a difference in the world.

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Terry Wall - A Sunderland Superfan

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 04:05:00 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past. We're back for another series with more interviews with the great and good of Sunderland.

Terry Wall is a Sunderland Football Club super fan - a YouTuber who makes fantastic videos as he follows SAFC. We wanted to know more about what inspires him to be a vlogger.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Bob Usher - a wizard with a camera!

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:05:00 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past.

He's a wizard with a camera, been a top-notch nightclub doorman, and even worked on a milk round when he was 14.

That's Bob Usher, the Sunderland man who also has other strings to his bow. He met his future wife when she reckoned he was the spitting image of a famous footballer!

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Elsie Ronald - a long life well lived

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:05:00 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past.

Elsie Ronald gets our vote as the most switched on 91 year old in Sunderland.

She lived through air raids and rationing, became a University fellow when she was 90 and still gives public talks. AND she still has one big aim in her life.Over to Elsie to tell us more.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Gary Craig - world record breaker

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:05:00 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past.

Wearside man Gary Craig once set a world record for pulling on 211 pairs of briefs. Impressive yes, but that's not all he has done with his life. He has appeared on Britain's Got Talent and competed in the World Gravy Wrestling Championship. Prepare to be amused!

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Amanda Revell Walton - author of The Ship Yard girls

Tue, 20 May 2025 04:05:00 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past.

Amanda Revell Walton is known to millions as the best-selling author of the Shipyard Girls novels. But we wanted to find out about her past. From playing in the fields near Alexandra Park to two consecutive nightmare health battles which hit her and her husband.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Keith Gregson - teacher, musician, historian and more!

Tue, 06 May 2025 04:05:00 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past.

Keith Gregson's life has been well lived - and packed with amazing memories with plenty more to come. He is a a musician, historian, and retired teacher and has a unique take on May 5, 1973.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Mobility Care Solution and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Evie Field aka Evie Meg @thistrippyhippie

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 04:05:00 GMT

Wearsider Evie Field - or Evie Meg as she is known to millions of TikTok followers - had the world at her feet before it all came crashing down.

She tells us how a tick bite destroyed her life.

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Cheryl Archbold - one mum's incredible story

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:05:00 GMT

Roker-born Cheryl Archbold has gone through more in her life than most people should ever have to endure. Her daughter Isabel was stillborn. Four years later, her daughter Beatrix was confined to a hospital ward for 14 months because her heart stopped working. This is one mum's incredible story.

Thank you for joining us on Series 1 of Wearside Echoes, we'll be back with series 2 soon.

Wearside Echoes is brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Alun Davies - chef, butcher, jockey and a man of many talents

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 05:05:00 GMT

Alun Lee Davies has packed a mammoth number of achievements into his life.

He's been a jockey, butcher, chef, college lecturer, award-winning gardener and catered for a Saudi prince. Oh, and he serves up a mean scone with strawberries and cream!

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Michael Ganley - Sunderland AFC's number one fan?

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:05:36 GMT

Michael Ganley's love of football - and Sunderland AFC especially - may well have no equal. He's got so much Black Cats memorabilia that he filled an old train station with it! He told Wearside Echoes how it all started.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Fiona Simpson - entrepreneur and hero to parents and carers

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:05:42 GMT

ArtVenturers founder and Wearside native Fiona Simpson joins Chris to talk about her life growing up in Sunderland and how she came to build this business which is adored by kids and adults alike.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Tara Mackings, business boss and avid Take That fan

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:05:27 GMT

Tara has cerebral palsy but it has not stopped her from becoming an award-winning business boss - or having a massive love of Take That. Tara shares her childhood passion for days at the beach.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Bill Barron - my childhood behind the stage

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:05:15 GMT

In episode 3, Bill Barron recalls growing up behind the scenes at the Empire Theatre in Sunderland - the place where his dad was 'first trumpeter' in the resident orchestra and where his mam worked in the bar. He got to meet stars such as Stan Laurel and The Beatles - but what did he think of them?

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Glenda Young, best-selling author

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:05:06 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the new podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past.

In this episode Chris chats to Glenda Young whose childhood on a council estate in Sunderland was filled with love. She wrote little stories which she put at the back of her bedroom drawer, and it inspired her to become best-selling author when she grew up.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Dave Murray, Mackem Folk Singer

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 04:05:55 GMT

Welcome to Wearside Echoes from Sunderland Echo, the new podcast all about Sunderland and its wonderful past.

In this episode, Mackem Folk Singer Dave Murray re-lives a childhood next to the shipyards, watching as the sparks of the welding lit up his bedroom at night-time - and how dyslexia shaped his life.

Wearside Echoes brought to you with the support of Tony Clarke Funeral Directors and with music by https://www.purple-planet.com/

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Wearside Echoes - trailer

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:33:05 GMT

Wearside Echoes by Sunderland Echo is presented by journalist Chris Cordner who is setting out to explore all about Sunderland's wonderful past.

You'll hear from a wide array of voices about what it was like growing up in Sunderland, the places they went, the things they saw, the people they met and the impact this wonderful place has had on their lives.

From local celebrities to those in the know, you'll be surprised, delighted and reminded of just how special Sunderland is.

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