Shipwrecks, Sailors & Lost Souls

Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust
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This series of 13 podcasts feature interviews with 12 local people with experiences of living near and working on the Goodwin Sands.

  1. Feb 5

    Episode 13: Goodwin Sands Radiogram

    Episode 13: Goodwin Sands Radiogram This is an episode of the Goodwin Sands Radiogram, a podcast documentary series separate from the oral history project that this series has been so far. The Radiogram series was conceived by our producer Ben Horner back in 2016, and is still putting out occasional episodes as time allows.  Like the oral history project it looks to tell the stories of those who live and work around the Kent coast, but has a distinctly different flavour. The Radiogram exists is a half-fantasy radio programme, broadcast across the waves of the English Channel from a fictional shipwreck on the Sands. Our presenter is an out-of-time vintage radio-style announcer who guides us through the shortwave static as we tune in and out of our interviewee's stories. Joanna Thomson, our host and interviewer on all the previous episodes, is interviewed here as part of the programme. This show was also recorded in front of a live audience as part of the Free Range series of arts and music events presented in Canterbury. The interviews are all pre-recorded and edited and the poetry and music (which is improvised live) is performed on stage.  Free Range exists to enable and celebrate the strange and unusual side of music and the performing arts, and as such is an excellent home for the Radiogram. Choose a dark and stormy winter's evening, close the curtains, dim the lights, and allow yourself to be swept away. Credits: Interviewees: Charlie Connelly, author and explorer Jim Hawkins, walker and adventurer Sonia Overall, psychogeographer, writer and researcher Joanna Thomson, Goodwin Sands conservation Trust co-founder and campaigner Artists and contributors: Kat Peddie: poetry Peter Kelly: as The Announcer Sam Bailey: piano, keyboard, singing bowls Oliver Perrott-Webb: guitar and electronics Conceived, written and produced: Ben Horner For more information about the project please see https://www.goodwinsandsradiogram.org  For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on Ben Horner, the producer of this and the regular series.

    1h 10m

  2. Jan 29

    Episode 12: Robert Peacock

    Robert Peacock is a recreational diver of some 50 years' experience, 40 of which have been spent studying the Goodwin Sands and its many wrecks of various descriptions. His explorations over and around the Sands inspired him to attain a master's degree in maritime archaeology to better advance his research activities and understand the nature, history and context of the vessels and artefacts discovered. In this podcast he discusses issues around the identification and preservation of HMS Stirling Castle, a 1679 warship lost to the Sands in 1703 and rediscovered in 1979, the German Dornier 17 bomber raised in 2013 after 70 years submerged, and the Seehund midget submarine identified as U5377. This is an interview conducted as part of the Goodwin Sands Oral History Project, a podcast series which speaks with those who have grown up within sight of the Sands, who make their living upon or around them, or who have been creatively inspired by the air of uncanny mystery they invoke. The Goodwin Sands are a pair of large sandbanks of the south-east Kent coast which offer both shelter and a dangerous hazard to unwary shipping or those caught in storms, and are the site of great historical importance and maritime archaeology. This podcast project was undertaken as a response to an application to dredge the Goodwin Sands for aggregates and building materials to expand Dover Harbour, a proposition vehemently opposed by local residents and the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust, who have created this podcast series. It is hoped that through hearing the voices of the people connected with the Sands their cultural status might be raised and further industrial interference might be avoided in the future. Credits: Presented and interview conducted by Joanna Thomson, co-founder of the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust. Production, editing, sound design, and music by Ben Horner. For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on our producer.

    27 min

  3. Jan 22

    Episode 11: John Nichols (part 2)

    Episode 11: John Nichols (part 2) John Nichols is the chairman of Thanet Fisherman's Association, and Vice-Chairman of Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. He has spent his life as a commercial fisherman working out of Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Scarborough, and Whitby. In this second part of the interview with John he discusses his work with Trinity House in the automation project to modernise the light vessels in the Channel and the North Sea, including those guarding the Goodwin Sands. He talks about his working relationship with the light vessel men and bartering supplies with them, and recounts a dramatic story illustrating just how hard it can be to change a (nautical) light bulb. This interview was conducted as part of the Goodwin Sands Oral History Project, a podcast series which speaks with those who have grown up within sight of the Sands, who make their living upon or around them, or who have been creatively inspired by the air of uncanny mystery they invoke. The Goodwin Sands are a pair of large sandbanks of the south-east Kent coast which offer both shelter and a dangerous hazard to unwary shipping or those caught in storms, and are the site of great historical importance and maritime archaeology. This podcast project was undertaken as a response to an application to dredge the Goodwin Sands for aggregates and building materials to expand Dover Harbour, a proposition vehemently opposed by local residents and the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust, who have created this podcast series. It is hoped that through hearing the voices of the people connected with the Sands their cultural status might be raised and further industrial interference might be avoided in the future. Credits: Presented and interview conducted by Joanna Thomson, co-founder of the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust. Production, editing, and sound design by Ben Horner. The music is "Relic #14" and "Mobius" by Silicon Transmitter, used under Creative Commons licence. For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on our producer.

    19 min

  4. Jan 15

    Episode 10: John Nichols (part 1)

    John Nichols is the chairman of Thanet Fisherman's Association, and Vice-Chairman of Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. He has spent his life as a commercial fisherman working out of Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Scarborough, and Whitby. Here he talks about his childhood, as he puts it, "making a nuisance of himself" at Ramsgate harbour helping the boatmen moored there, building his own boat as an apprentice shipbuilder in Whitstable, and taking visitors on trips to the North Goodwin Light Vessel and the Goodwin Sands. He also mentions his part in the rescue of the Ross Revenge, Radio Caroline's broadcast ship. This is part one of a two-part interview conducted as part of the Goodwin Sands Oral History Project, a podcast series which speaks with those who have grown up within sight of the Sands, who make their living upon or around them, or who have been creatively inspired by the air of uncanny mystery they invoke. The Goodwin Sands are a pair of large sandbanks of the south-east Kent coast which offer both shelter and a dangerous hazard to unwary shipping or those caught in storms, and are the site of great historical importance and maritime archaeology. This podcast project was undertaken as a response to an application to dredge the Goodwin Sands for aggregates and building materials to expand Dover Harbour, a proposition vehemently opposed by local residents and the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust, who have created this podcast series. It is hoped that through hearing the voices of the people connected with the Sands their cultural status might be raised and further industrial interference might be avoided in the future. Credits: Presented and interview conducted by Joanna Thomson, co-founder of the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust. Production, editing, sound design, and music by Ben Horner. Additional music, "Magnetostriction" by Silicon Transmitter, used under Creative Commons licence. For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on our producer.

    24 min

  5. Jan 8

    Episode 9: David Skardon

    David Skardon is a fisherman and boatman who grew up in Brewer Street in Deal in the 1940s and 50s, son of a fishmonger. As a child he would help the local boat owners wind their boats up to the beach on the winches for a penny and tuppence a week (a good wage given that Wagon Wheels were a ha'penny at the time). David talks about his childhood on Deal beach and how it forged for him a life on the water, how at fourteen he was the youngest ever holder of a boating licence, why his grandfather's boat was seized, sawn in half and turned into two garden sheds, and how in 1978 he borrowed a tractor and outran the police with it in an effort to save the Deal boats from being smashed in a vicious winter storm. This is an interview conducted as part of the Goodwin Sands Oral History Project, a podcast series which speaks with those who have grown up within sight of the Sands, who make their living upon or around them, or who have been creatively inspired by the air of uncanny mystery they invoke. The Goodwin Sands are a pair of large sandbanks of the south-east Kent coast which offer both shelter and a dangerous hazard to unwary shipping or those caught in storms, and are the site of great historical importance and maritime archaeology. This podcast project was undertaken as a response to an application to dredge the Goodwin Sands for aggregates and building materials to expand Dover Harbour, a proposition vehemently opposed by local residents and the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust, who have created this podcast series. It is hoped that through hearing the voices of the people connected with the Sands their cultural status might be raised and further industrial interference might be avoided in the future. Credits: Presented and interview conducted by Joanna Thomson, co-founder of the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust. Production, editing, sound design, and music by Ben Horner. For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on our producer.

    22 min

  6. Jan 1

    Episode 8: David Brocklehurst MBE

    David Brocklehurst MBE is the chairman, historian and a volunteer at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum in Hawkinge near Folkestone. He began working at the museum aged just ten years and, after a short stint in civil engineering early in his career, took over running the museum full time when founder Mike Llewellyn stepped down due to ill health. Twenty-six RAF squadrons were posted to RAF Hawkinge at different times during the Second World War, but the museum focuses particularly on the 1940 conflict, paying tribute to the 2,938 pilots and aircrew known as The Few through a multitude of artefacts and exhibits both from the conflict itself as well as the 1969 film. In this episode David talks about the Battle of Britain in relation to the Goodwin Sands – the German Dornier 17 bomber which was lifted from the Sands which is now held at RAF Cosford museum, the difficulties in identifying the planes that crashed on the Sands (sometimes due to the bureaucracy involved), and notable pilots for whom the Sands might be their final resting place. This is an interview conducted as part of the Goodwin Sands Oral History Project, a podcast series which speaks with those who have grown up within sight of the Sands, who make their living upon or around them, or who have been creatively inspired by the air of uncanny mystery they invoke. The Goodwin Sands are a pair of large sandbanks of the south-east Kent coast which offer both shelter and a dangerous hazard to unwary shipping or those caught in storms, and are the site of great historical importance and maritime archaeology. This podcast project was undertaken as a response to an application to dredge the Goodwin Sands for aggregates and building materials to expand Dover Harbour, a proposition vehemently opposed by local residents and the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust, who have created this podcast series. It is hoped that through hearing the voices of the people connected with the Sands their cultural status might be raised and further industrial interference might be avoided in the future. Credits: Presented and interview conducted by Joanna Thomson, co-founder of the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust. Production, editing, sound design by Ben Horner. The music is "Nebula Soundscape" by Universfield, used under Creative Commons licence. Please visit the Battle of Britain Museum's website: https://www.kbobm.org/  For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on our producer.

    21 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    Episode 7: Ian Goodban

    Ian Goodban began his career with the Royal Navy and then worked as a hydrographic surveyor before becoming a teacher, publican, and member of the UK Coastguard. He spends many hours scouring the beaches adjacent to the Goodwin Sands for interesting items and historical artefacts as well as fishing and cockling. His experience and trained eye have led him to recover some amazing artefacts such as a whale jawbone, 300-year-old glass onion bottles (some even complete), and a Second World War Dornier aero propellor blade. In this episode he discusses the techniques he uses when beachcombing (and how a lot of it is down to luck), the processes that must be followed when recovering items from the beach, and how items found on the beach can only ever tell part of their story. This is an interview conducted as part of the Goodwin Sands Oral History Project, a podcast series which speaks with those who have grown up within sight of the Sands, who make their living upon or around them, or who have been creatively inspired by the air of uncanny mystery they invoke. The Goodwin Sands are a pair of large sandbanks of the south-east Kent coast which offer both shelter and a dangerous hazard to unwary shipping or those caught in storms, and are the site of great historical importance and maritime archaeology. This podcast project was undertaken as a response to an application to dredge the Goodwin Sands for aggregates and building materials to expand Dover Harbour, a proposition vehemently opposed by local residents and the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust, who have created this podcast series. It is hoped that through hearing the voices of the people connected with the Sands their cultural status might be raised and further industrial interference might be avoided in the future. Credits: Presented and interview conducted by Joanna Thomson, co-founder of the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust. Production, editing, sound design by Ben Horner. The music is "She Comes Through the Fog" by Haunted Me, used under Creative Commons licence. For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on our producer.

    22 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    Episode 6: David Garrod

    David Garrod had a 29-year career at the Post Office, four years of which were spent as a community relations officer. This role involved working with local charities around the country offering help and resources to raise funds for worthy causes. Here he discusses working with the Goodwin Sands Potholing Club, a local charitable organisation which raises funds to support recreational activities for young people. In this case, with the help of volunteers, David set up a Post Office counter and postbox on the Sands and had the service officially allocate them a full UK address and postcode. Visitors to the temporary Post Office were able to purchase commemorative covers from the counter and send postcards and mail from the sandbank in the North Sea. This is an interview conducted as part of the Goodwin Sands Oral History Project, a podcast series which speaks with those who have grown up within sight of the Sands, who make their living upon or around them, or who have been creatively inspired by the air of uncanny mystery they invoke. The Goodwin Sands are a pair of large sandbanks of the south-east Kent coast which offer both shelter and a dangerous hazard to unwary shipping or those caught in storms, and are the site of great historical importance and maritime archaeology. This podcast project was undertaken as a response to an application to dredge the Goodwin Sands for aggregates and building materials to expand Dover Harbour, a proposition vehemently opposed by local residents and the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust, who have created this podcast series. It is hoped that through hearing the voices of the people connected with the Sands their cultural status might be raised and further industrial interference might be avoided in the future. Credits: Presented and interview conducted by Joanna Thomson, co-founder of the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust. Production, editing, sound design by Ben Horner. The music is "Free Floating" by Jon Shoemaker, used under Creative Commons licence. For more about the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust please see https://goodwinsands.org.uk/, and please see https://theaudiosphere.com for more on our producer.

    13 min
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This series of 13 podcasts feature interviews with 12 local people with experiences of living near and working on the Goodwin Sands.

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