Sussex & Surrey Soapbox

Clive Hilton
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  • Society & Culture

The 'Sussex & Surrey Soapbox' Podcast is a local roundtable plus special guests, exploring the issues that matter most. We tackle the topics that spark debate, challenge perspectives, and shape our communities — always with balance, openness, and respect. Our panel brings together a diverse range of voices to unpack complex and sometimes emotive subjects, offering thoughtful discussion, differing viewpoints, and factual insight. While we don’t shy away from the tough conversations, we believe they’re best had with curiosity, good humour, and a focus on what truly matters. Search 'Sussex & Surrey Soapbox' & join our Facebook group - a 'Village Hall' vibe with a community discussing topics from different perspectives and always with respect... keyboard warriors not welcome! You can catch soundbites from the latest episode on local community radio (SUSY 103.4, Meridian FM) - a shorter, accessible version of the podcast. The latest episode with the full conversation is available here and across all major platforms. We love to hear your thoughts and suggestions, come join us in our Facebook group, or leave a comment & subscribe via Spotify etc.... Thank you for your interest, Clive Hilton.  

  1. Sep 3 ·  Bonus

    SPOT: Tilgate Zoo’s Fundraiser For TRAFFIC

    Send us Fan Mail 🦁 Sunday Brunch Went WILD! 🐢🐝 Clive Hilton and Andy Brown took SUSY Sunday Brunch on the road for an August Bank Holiday fun broadcast from Tilgate Zoo — and a special Soapbox SPOTlight mixing wildlife, conservation, community fun… and a fair amount of chaos. At the heart of the day was a serious issue: illegal wildlife trade. Supporting Tilgate Zoo’s Wild Weekend fundraiser for TRAFFIC, we explored an industry driven by demand for trafficked animals, skins and body parts — and heard how those smuggling routes could lead all the way back to the UK. With our mobile studio set up between the meerkats and guinea pigs, we discovered how Tilgate Zoo used real artefacts seized by HM Customs to make the scale and cruelty of wildlife trafficking impossible to ignore. But it was Bank Holiday Sunday — so things didn’t stay serious for long! 😎 There was face painting, games, a bake sale and kids’ activities, plus a brilliant animal-sound challenge where we turned the tables on the keepers to see whether they could recognise the calls of animals living at their own zoo. Then things got competitive. There was a timed obstacle course, a slime bucket challenge, compelling evidence that small children were considerably faster than radio presenters… and allegations that Andy cheated. 😂 🐢 We also met the team behind Turtle Tally, a citizen-science project tracking pet turtles that had been released or escaped into UK waterways. Those cute little hatchlings can grow surprisingly large and live for decades — highlighting the wider problem of impulse-buying animals that later become difficult to care for or rehome. 🐝 We rounded things off by getting up close with beekeeping, before looking ahead to more Bank Holiday live music with Ash Miles and CRASH Music at The King’s Head, Horley. Wildlife, conservation, community, live radio and two presenters let loose in a zoo. What could possibly have gone wrong? 🦁🎙️🐢 Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

    SPOT: Tilgate Zoo’s Fundraiser For TRAFFIC

  2. Aug 31

    When Live Music Becomes Noise

    Send us Fan Mail One complaint can feel small, until it threatens to switch off a town’s soundtrack. We get into the row that escalated start of August around The Cage in Reigate after a noise abatement notice lands, the venue pauses live music, and thousands rally behind a petition to protect local gigs. Speaking with Rory Fry-Stone, Co-owner at Pilgrim Brewery, we unpack what the business says went wrong, why the lack of clear criteria for compliance creates real risk, and how quickly summer trading can disappear when events are cancelled. We then read the latest Reigate & Banstead Borough Council statement and react to the tension at the heart of every town-centre noise dispute: residents deserve to enjoy their homes, and councils have legal duties when evidence suggests a statutory nuisance. But venues also need a process that feels fair, transparent, and measurable. We debate common-sense fixes, from decibel monitoring and agreed thresholds to tighter controls on amplification, finishing times, and crowd noise, plus the bigger planning question of who should adapt when homes and cultural spaces sit side by side. To end on momentum, we spotlight Redstart Community, a local charity building a new stage 'UNIT 45' for original live music in Redhill, and we share details of ORIGINALS Showdown'26, our own battle-of-the-bands style showcase. If you care about local live music, grassroots venues, and how environmental health enforcement can be done better, take a listen. Across all podcast platforms, on local radio and by popular demand you can now watch us make the mistakes on YouTube. A HUGE thank you to The Red Lion & Cellar Room in Betchworth for hosting us! Featuring: Jacq Inwood, James Tidy, Georgie Lucas, Maureen Jones & Aga Es. Host: Clive Hilton. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

    When Live Music Becomes Noise

  3. Aug 27

    Summer 2026: The Good, Bad & Baffling

    Send us Fan Mail The summer news cycle has been loud, messy and occasionally baffling, so we’re back at the Red Lion & Cellar Room in Betchworth to pick through the stories that got us talking — with real viewpoints, honest opinions and the occasional good whinge. We start with the BBC licence fee: is the BBC still a priceless British institution, or is its funding model increasingly out of step with a subscription generation? We talk value for money, bias, iPlayer and those increasingly noticeable on-screen reminders. Then it’s onto some everyday frustrations: the short-lived “vertical drinking” proposal, increasingly uncomfortable UK heatwaves and whether school term dates need to adapt, plus Gatwick’s drop-off charge and why “just use public transport” isn’t always quite that simple. Closer to home, we discuss litter picking in Crawley, civic pride and personal responsibility, before looking at the national emergency alert system and its unintended impact on some vulnerable people. And there’s still time for the lighter side of summer: meteor spotting on Leaf Hill, open mic nights, local live music, a Brexit teaser and even a frank exchange about Harry and Meghan. A proper Sussex & Surrey summer catch-up — local issues, national stories and plenty of opinions. And we announce ORIGINALS Showdown ’26 — our new local live music event, with performances across Thursdays in November and December, created to discover, showcase and celebrate brilliant original music from local artists and give that talent a bigger platform. More details, venues and artist announcements are coming soon — follow our Facebook Group for updates. Featuring: Jacq Inwood, James Tidy, Georgie Lucas, Maureen Jones & Aga Es. Host: Clive Hilton. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

  4. Jul 13 ·  Bonus

    Tess' Tea Party '26

    Send us Fan Mail Best Bits of Tess' Tropical Tea Party '26  Alongside the Sussex & Surrey Soapbox podcast, where we bring people together to have balanced conversations about the issues shaping our communities, we wanted to take that same philosophy beyond the microphones. Rather than simply talking about community, we wanted to create it. The hall is buzzing. The BBQ queue never seems to end. Children are laughing, balloons are floating overhead, Rock Choir are warming up, the raffle table is overflowing, and our microphones are live from the heart of Tess' Tropical Tea Party at Broadfield Community Centre, Crawley. What looks like a brilliant free family event quickly reveals something much bigger. Behind every burger served by the incredible Tess' Kitchen team, every smiling volunteer in a pink cowboy hat, every sponsor banner, every performer taking to the stage, and every raffle ticket sold is one shared purpose: bringing our community together while raising vital funds for Crawley Open House, supporting local people experiencing homelessness and hardship. Across this special Sussex & Surrey Soapbox episode we meet the people who made it all happen. Hear from Tess and Iqbal Khan on why feeding people is about far more than food, alongside members of the Events Team who spent months bringing hundreds of people together. We chat with sponsors and supporters including Asda Crawley, discover how local businesses rallied behind the event, and hear why community partnerships matter now more than ever. You'll also hear the reality facing Crawley Open House. With its hostel full, resource centre under constant demand and food parcels supporting families every single day, the need has never been greater as many continue to feel the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis. Thankfully, the afternoon is packed with joy too. WAVE School of Dance kick off the live broadcast on SUSY 103.4, Sharon's Music gets everyone dancing, the Rock Choir fill the hall with huge harmonies. Craig and Ash with CRASH Music deliver an energetic live set and debut their powerful new song Racing Minds, bringing conversations around mental health into everyday language. The Y.E.S Project show off their dance talent and we talk Gossops Rocks 2026 (Sunday 19th July from midday).   Lord Geoffrey the Balloon Guy keeps children smiling with balloon creations, Tim the Magician amazes families, Creative Crawley with artist Areej Abdi inspires young imaginations along the theme of play, CCYS are outside with face-painting and games, community organisations showcase their work - Crawley Combat Academy, Crawley Spinal Health and somewhere along the way volunteers, unsuspecting guests and the soapbox's James Tidy & Iqbal Khan find themselves laughing in the charity stocks getting a soaking!! More than anything, this captures what happens when local businesses, volunteers, charities, performers, community groups and residents all pull in the same direction. There are no screens, no arguments and no algorithms—just neighbours connecting with neighbours, raising money for a fantastic local cause and proving that community spirit is alive and well in Crawley. If you care about stronger communities, tackling homelessness, supporting local charities, or simply want a reminder of what people can achieve together, press play, share this episode with friends and neighbours, and if you enjoy it, please subscribe and leave us a review. Bringing the community together, proudly sponsored by Goaco, West Green Window Cleaning & SUSY 103.4 - THANK YOU! And a HUGE thank you to everyone that came along to support the event in person or by listening to the broadcast.... Deanna and the team at ASDA, Crawley and the incredible committee: Clare Mills, Andy Brown, Paul Taylor-Burr, Mags Rahman, Amanda Foster, Ceara Mcerlean and of course Iqbal Khan supported by the amazing Tess Kitchen crew with Alys conducting the kitchen! Also special thanks to Craig and Ash - CRASH Music for the hours of prep together leading up to the event. James Tidy for being a good sport and helping wherever needed, Luke for staging & lights, Prime Response for keeping us safe, CB Events for the outdoor games and Emma Hollamby Photography for the perfect event pictures & reels capturing the special moments. Finally (but not least) my family for their support (and patience) over recent months plus my SUSY colleagues - Tony Williams, Jacq Inwood, Neil Munday and Geoff Rogers for putting up with me.  THANK YOU, Clive Hilton. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

    Tess' Tea Party '26

  5. Jul 2

    Alcohol As Social Glue Or Social Problem

    Send us Fan Mail Special Guest: Chelle Lucas Roundtable Featuring: Abigail Chapman-Miller (Labour), Jacq Inwood, Maureen Jones, Aga Es and Mags Rahman. Host: Clive Hilton. Alcohol is woven into British life so tightly that not drinking can feel like you’re breaking a rule. From champagne toasts and pub culture to “wine o’clock” on the sofa, we ask a question that’s easy to dodge and hard to answer: when does social drinking become a social problem? Recorded at the Red Lion and Cellar Room in Betchworth, Surrey for the upcoming Alcohol Awareness Week - we bring real viewpoints and lived experience to the table. Aga talks about quitting alcohol alongside smoking and not missing it, while Abi shares what it’s like growing up around alcoholism, the way addiction can “gaslight” you, and why people are often the last to see the problem. Chelle reflects on 90s ladette binge drinking and how pub life has shifted, and Maureen draws on years of publican experience to explain why home drinking, supermarket prices, and changing habits have reshaped the community role of the local. Jacq adds the perspective of loving people with alcohol dependency, and what that costs in health, relationships, and wider society. Mags shares her lived experience which emerged during covid and a personal story of how she regained control and how Thiamine helped. We also get practical: what “14 units a week” really means, why units are so easy to underestimate, and why stopping suddenly can be dangerous if you’re dependent. We talk stigma, alcohol-free drinks as a social bridge, and where help can start, from your GP to SMART support and Alcoholics Anonymous. If you’ve ever wondered whether your own drinking is “fine”, or felt awkward choosing not to drink, this conversation gives you language, context, and a few clear next steps. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review so more people can find the podcast. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

    Alcohol As Social Glue Or Social Problem

  6. Jun 25

    Smartphones, Freedom And 2026 Childhood

    Send us Fan Mail Special Guest: Chelle Lucas Roundtable Featuring: Abigail Chapman-Miller (Labour), Jacq Inwood, Maureen Jones, Aga Es and Mags Rahman. Host: Clive Hilton.  Childhood has not just changed, it’s been rewired. One minute you’ve got kids who can outsmart an iPad before they can tie their laces; the next you’ve got parents using tracking apps because the world feels less safe, even when the data is unclear. We sit down as a cross-generational roundtable to ask a blunt question: is childhood in 2026 better, or have smartphones and social media taken something vital away? We dig into the biggest flashpoint, the push to ban social media for under-16s. Some of us want stronger protection, others argue bans are impossible to enforce and make platforms more desirable. Either way, we all see the same pressures: bullying that follows children home, “perfect life” comparison on TikTok and Instagram, and algorithms that can serve up content no child should ever see. We talk about what regulation could look like, and why parents still need practical tech skills, boundaries and honest conversations. From there we zoom out to freedom, risk and resilience. Why do fewer kids play outside until dark? How did parks and youth clubs empty out? What happens when community trust fades and normal childhood naughtiness gets treated as antisocial behaviour? We also touch on physical activity, wellbeing, communication habits and why fewer Saturday jobs can leave young adults unprepared for authority and work culture. Subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a review, then tell us what you miss most from your own childhood and what you hope kids keep in theirs. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

    Smartphones, Freedom And 2026 Childhood

  7. Jun 18

    Building Homes Without Roads Schools Or GPs

    Send us Fan Mail Planning is meant to turn housebuilding into liveable places, but across Sussex & Surrey it often feels like we are pouring concrete first and asking awkward questions later. We sit down with Abigail Chapman-Miller (Labour), Matt Brewin (Green), James Tidy (Reform UK), Iqbal Khan and Paul Taylor-Burr to unpack why housing development planning keeps producing the same result: new estates without the shops, GP access, school places, roads, drainage and water capacity that make a community work.  We dig into the structural problem: approvals sit with one council, roads and schools with another, health commissioning with the NHS, and water and sewage with private utility companies. That fragmentation makes “joined-up thinking” hard and accountability even harder. From Poundbury’s reputation for community-led design to frustrations around Haywards Heath, Copthorne, Oxted, Forgewood and Kilnwood Vale, we test what good development looks like in practice, including the promises that slip, the management fees residents end up paying, and how flooding and drainage decisions can come back to bite.  We also tackle affordability head-on: what counts as a starter home, why “affordable housing” at 80% of market value still fails, and why empty homes and social housing supply matter. Then the debate widens to second homes, Airbnb-style holiday lets, immigration and the politics of demand. We finish with hope and practical routes forward, from stronger local plans and better long-term infrastructure funding to community campaigns like Save West of Ifield.  If you live with the consequences of planning decisions, we want to hear from you. Subscribe, share the episode, leave a review, and tell us: what should be non-negotiable before a single new home gets approved? Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

    Building Homes Without Roads Schools Or GPs

  8. Jun 13 ·  Bonus

    SPOT: Crawley Combat Academy

    Send us Fan Mail  SPOT: a slightly different format to the Roundtable discussions where we step back from the debate to Spotlight a social initiative, local event or charity. The Soapbox recently tackled knife crime with special guest Keith Collyer, Crawley Combat Academy.  A knife threat isn’t just a physical problem, it’s a decision-making problem under pressure. We head to Tilgate Huts in Crawley to sit down with Keith and two coaches, Laura and Andy from Crawley Combat Academy, following on from our earlier conversation about knife crime, to dig into what realistic self-defence training actually looks like when the goal is simple: get home safe.  Keith shares the academy’s story, from building classes across Sussex while working demanding shifts, to growing a full-time programme at Tilgate Park, and even pushing through the COVID shutdown by improving the space and preparing to reopen. We talk about his background in Wing Chun and modern systems, the challenge of instructor training, and how those experiences shape the club’s calm, practical approach to personal safety.  Then we get into the heart of it: the psychology of knife threats. Keith explains why a threat, a demand and an attack are not the same situation, and why protocols, positioning, awareness and legal boundaries matter. Coaches Laura and Andy add their lived training perspective on desensitisation, scenario work, group attacks and the confidence that comes from knowing what “doing enough” looks like.  If you care about self-defence in Sussex, knife awareness, street safety, or simply want a supportive place to train, listen now and tell us what you think. Subscribe, share with someone who walks home at night, and leave us a review so more people can find the show. Please click on 'Send a text' above & join our Facebook group to share your perspective and suggestions for future topics - Thank you for your interest! Clive.

    SPOT: Crawley Combat Academy
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About

The 'Sussex & Surrey Soapbox' Podcast is a local roundtable plus special guests, exploring the issues that matter most. We tackle the topics that spark debate, challenge perspectives, and shape our communities — always with balance, openness, and respect. Our panel brings together a diverse range of voices to unpack complex and sometimes emotive subjects, offering thoughtful discussion, differing viewpoints, and factual insight. While we don’t shy away from the tough conversations, we believe they’re best had with curiosity, good humour, and a focus on what truly matters. Search 'Sussex & Surrey Soapbox' & join our Facebook group - a 'Village Hall' vibe with a community discussing topics from different perspectives and always with respect... keyboard warriors not welcome! You can catch soundbites from the latest episode on local community radio (SUSY 103.4, Meridian FM) - a shorter, accessible version of the podcast. The latest episode with the full conversation is available here and across all major platforms. We love to hear your thoughts and suggestions, come join us in our Facebook group, or leave a comment & subscribe via Spotify etc.... Thank you for your interest, Clive Hilton.  

Information

  • Creator
    Clive Hilton
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sussex & Surrey Soapbox
  • Show Website
    Sussex & Surrey Soapbox