Oxford Lives

Graeme Fry, Jeremy Allen
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Oxford is a wonderful city in which to live, and If you have the good fortune to call yourself a resident you are probably here because you value its incredible mix of people and cultures. However, whether local or visitor, your own personal network of friends and colleagues can only touch a small proportion of the fascinating people who call this place home. We set up this podcast to seek out some of the individuals that we find interesting and explore their lives and stories. They are not all celebrated or well-known, but what they do and what they think add another dimension to the familiar narrative of town, gown and tourism. Hopefully you will find it an insight and an introduction to interesting and unfamiliar parts of our community. So, relax and select someone from the cast below and get to know a bit more about a particular Oxford life. With Jeremy Allen Produced by Graeme Fry As a compliment to our podcast we have produced a self-guided tour where we look at Oxford's links to fantasy literature and the many writers who have lived and worked here. So if you find yourself in Oxford prepare to be whisked away to other worlds full of Hobbits, Orcs and parallel universes! https://voicemap.me/tour/oxford/literary-legends-and-landmarks-a-fantasy-fiction-tour-of-oxford

  1. 3D AGO

    Oxford Lives - Episode 78 with Peter Tickler

    Today's guest is Peter Tickler, an established writer of crime fiction, mostly set in and around Oxford and Oxfordshire. Peter has been much praised for the authenticity in his literary depictions of Oxford and for his nuanced characters. Having worked in the IT dept of the Potato Marketing Board in Between Towns Road, Peter would often look down onto the carpark of neighbouring Cowley police station. Perhaps it was inevitable then that his first fictional protagonist DI Susan Holden should be based there. The ensuing Oxford Series of crime novels have been enormously successful. We also talk to Peter about his time at Keble College, his public speaking events, and his love of Oxford United. LINKS: https://www.petertickler.co.uk/

    49 min

  2. APR 27

    Oxford Lives - Episode 77 with Phil and Pete Fryer

    In this special episode of Oxford Lives we interview one of the city's first families: the Fryers. Phil and Pete Fryer have been at the forefront of the Oxford music scene for over fifty years, both as performers and promoters. But their story really starts when their father Bobby (born Robert Freisinger) fled his native Austria in 1938, taking the Kindertransport to Great Britain. After a stint with the Scottish Regiment, which included acting as a translator during interrogations of Nazi officers, Bobby returned to Britain and met his wife, Margaret. Following a brief period living in Wales, the couple moved to Oxford, with Bobby taking a job at the Morris Motors factory. He rose to become the leading shop steward and a highly effective union leader, admired by fellow workers and respected by management. A highly cultured and principled man, Bobby passed his values onto his sons, as they grew up on the Florence Park estate. By their mid-teens, the boys had discovered their true passion, music, which they pursue to this day. In this episode, Phil and Pete talk about their father's legacy, their roller coaster musical journey, and how it all came together in Phil's play The Free Singer, which explores their unique family history. LINKS: Phil Fryer Music: https://freizinger.co.uk The Mighty Redox: https://themightyredox.co.uk Mighty Redox songs: https://themightyredox.bandcamp.com/track/sweet-zombie-horse-3 The Free Singer: https://www.thefreesinger.uk Free Singer songs: https://themightyredox.bandcamp.com/album/the-free-singer-the-songs-live The Pete Fryer Band: https://www.petefryerband.net Klub Kakofanney: https://www.klubkakofanney.co.uk

    1h 17m

  3. APR 19

    Oxford Lives - Episode 76 with Rosanne Bostock

    Today's guest is Rosanne Bostock*. Rosanne is founder of OxClean – an Oxford Civic Society initiative dedicated to keeping Oxford clean and tidy. We recently came across a letter written by Rosanne to The Spectator, lamenting the state of the city. Intrigued, we contacted this formidable campaigner, who proved only too happy to talk to us. The subsequent conversation presented a fascinating portrait of a multifaceted life stretching back to Headington in the Second World War. So, sit back and enjoying this enthralling journey through a life well lived, in which good has definitely been 'passed on'. *Addendum: Rosanne Bostock (BA English 1986-88) has recently been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for outstanding service to the community in the King's 2025 Birthday Honours list. Forgot to mention that minor detail in the interview! LINKS: https://www.oxclean.org.uk/ https://www.oxclean.org.uk/get-involved/ https://www.oxclean.org.uk/spring-clean/ https://www.oxclean.org.uk/anytime-litter-picks/

    50 min

  4. MAR 21

    Oxford Lives - Episode 75 with Dave Richardson

    Today we turn to our favourite subject: pubs. Specifically, Oxford pubs. And who better to guide us through the heady world of our city's glorious boozers than CAMRA's very own Dave Richardson. As well as editing the campaign's official magazine and newsletter for the city (The Oxford Drinker), Dave has also written an indispensable guide to the plethora of inns and taverns on our doorstep. And, as if that wasn't enough, with us today we also have a special co-host: Oxford Lives regular and resident pub expert, Jeremy Smith. With two hardcore ale authorities on hand to educate and inform, prepare to be intoxicated!   Links: https://camra.org.uk/ https://oxford.camra.org.uk/ https://oxforddrinker.camra.org.uk/ Oxford Pubs is published by Amberley Publishing. ISBN: 9781445647289 paperback/9781445647296 ebook. You'll find it on all the usual online platforms but why not go local and but it from the Museum of Oxford or Blackwell?

    56 min

  5. FEB 19

    Oxford Lives - Episode 74 with Dan Glazebrook

    Today's guest is writer, journalist, educator, tour guide, musician, political warrior Dan Glazebrook. Dan has contributed many articles to a diverse range of newspapers and online platforms, including The Independent, The Guardian, Asia Times and Middle East Eye. His journalism is informed by a commitment to political activism and reinforced by a Master's degree in International Relations. He latest book, Divide and Ruin, looks at the West's strategies to destabilise regional powers post-Iraq. In this enlightening episode, Dan educates us on these modern imperialist exploits, explaining how Oxford fits into the picture, and talks about his new walking tour on the subject: Imperial Oxford.  LINKS: Imperial Oxford walking tours: https://sites.google.com/view/imperialoxford.home Articles: https://danglazebrook.com https://www.middleeasteye.net/users.dan-glazebrook https://www.counterpunch.org/author/gutaf7uc/ Books: https://sites.google.com/view/christopheralder/home https://danglazebrook.com/my-book/

    1h 10m

  6. FEB 12

    Oxford Lives - Episode 73 with Mark Robinson

    In today's episode of Oxford Lives we talk with Senior Advisor to the Oxford Martin School's AI initiative, Mark Robinson. Mark has a long history in technology procurement and science diplomacy. His mission now is to research and disseminate ways and means by which governments and big tech can come together to monitor the progress of the world's most rapidly evolving technology and preempt any potential calamities. But as Mark explains here, nobody can predict anything for certain… Links: My 2025 International Affairs Journal paper: https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaf105 My 2020 Global Policy Paper on Science Collaborations and Lessons for Global Governance: https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12861 The Oxford Martin School AI Global Governance website: AI Governance | Oxford Martin School Here are the books I mentioned (Thomas is part of Blavatnik School of Governance): Thomas Hale, David Held, Beyond Gridlock ISBN: 978-1-509-51571-4, October 2017, Polity Press Marietje Schaake, The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley (Princeton University Press; Sept 2024) thetechcoup.com – How to save Democracy from Silicon Valley

    1h 7m

  7. FEB 4

    Oxford Lives - Episode 72 with David Taylor

    Today's episode features David Taylor, Chairman of Didcot and District Archaelogical and Historical Society. This year marks the society's 50th anniversary and David has been involved for many years. In what turns out to be a fairly cosy and relaxed conversation, David tells us about his time growing up in Kennington, his career as a mechanical engineer helping build MRI body scanners, his love of history, Didcot's connection to the Great Western Railway/Brunel, mobile discos, and much much more.   Links: Didcot Archaelogical Historical Society: https://www.ddahs.org.uk/ enquiries@hhahs.org.uk Contact Davi: 07843421029

    1h 4m

  8. JAN 23

    Oxford Lives - Episode 71 with Father Richard Finn

    You may have been intrigued by the Friars who wander around the city centre in white habits. If you happen to know they are called Blackfriars, you may be puzzled. If you're aware of the Blackfriars Priory as a place of worship and/or a part of the University, you may be plain baffled as to how those two sides fit together. Here to explain all, and to tell us how he fits into all this, is Dominican Archivist, Dr Richard Finn. Father Richard is a member of the Theology Faculty and the Classics Faculty at the University of Oxford, lectures in Augustine and Church History; and his Archivist role covers all of the English Dominican Province. In this fascinating episode, Father Richard tells us about the history of the Blackfriars and his life there over the last twenty eight years. We warn you now: it's even more complicated than you thought!

    43 min
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About

Oxford is a wonderful city in which to live, and If you have the good fortune to call yourself a resident you are probably here because you value its incredible mix of people and cultures. However, whether local or visitor, your own personal network of friends and colleagues can only touch a small proportion of the fascinating people who call this place home. We set up this podcast to seek out some of the individuals that we find interesting and explore their lives and stories. They are not all celebrated or well-known, but what they do and what they think add another dimension to the familiar narrative of town, gown and tourism. Hopefully you will find it an insight and an introduction to interesting and unfamiliar parts of our community. So, relax and select someone from the cast below and get to know a bit more about a particular Oxford life. With Jeremy Allen Produced by Graeme Fry As a compliment to our podcast we have produced a self-guided tour where we look at Oxford's links to fantasy literature and the many writers who have lived and worked here. So if you find yourself in Oxford prepare to be whisked away to other worlds full of Hobbits, Orcs and parallel universes! https://voicemap.me/tour/oxford/literary-legends-and-landmarks-a-fantasy-fiction-tour-of-oxford

Information

  • Creator
    Graeme Fry, Jeremy Allen
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Oxford Lives