Dementia is a growing challenge.

As the population ages and people live for longer, it has become one of the most important health and care issues facing the world. In the whole of the UK, the number of people with dementia is estimated at 850,000.

That's one reason why a golf programme with a difference is underway here in Morecambe Bay.

Called Fore Get Me Not Golf it aims to foster a sense of community among those with dementia along with their carers.

Heysham Golf Club is now hosting monthly Dementia Cafes but, as you'll hear, with the success of the programme here there are high hopes it could be adopted all over the UK.

Marianne Barraclough is the executive director of More Music, the community music and education charity based in the West End of Morecambe. As you'll hear, it's an organisation that appeals to young and old and has great track record in getting people from all walks of life involved. Marianne tells us why she wanted the gig, shares her musical background and reveals how she still keeps her hand in today.

BTW the team have got a busy few weeks coming up:

Dare! Young children and their families can swim with the silver fish, peer through telescopes, ride the tide and take a leap, with a newly-created musical experience on 20 & 21 February at More Music in Morecambe at 10am, 12pm & 2pm.

Girls Can is a free two-day workshop over the weekend of Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th March for girls, young women and non-binary people aged 12–19.

This feature-length episode of the podcast features a conversation with someone from the Bay who has spent over five decades at sea in a variety of roles.

I've been talking to Tony Cowell who first went to sea when he was just 3 years old!

He's seen the sea at its best and worst during a career that has taken him from skippering some of Fleetwood's best known fishing boats to serving as lifeboat coxswain.

While he is still chair of RNLI Fleetwood he's just retired as captain of the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry, a post he held for two decades.

Much loved - and much missed; Eric Morecambe would have been 100 years old in 2026.

Plans are afoot to mark his contribution to the world of comedy.

But did you know as well as delighting millions with his performances and pursuing birdwatching as a hobby Eric was also a keen artist?

It's one reason why the man behind the Morecambe Bay Art Fair is keen to mark Eric's life.

Artist Anthony Padgett has been explaining more about the ideas that are gaining momentum (read more and keep in touch here).

We met - where else - at the statue of Eric!

The Morecambe Bay Podcast will be recording a series during Eric's centenary year. If you'd like to get involved get in touch.

nigel.thompson@journalist.com

We're back - with a new series of fascinating people to meet from all around the Bay!

Kicking us off is a chat with Chris Barlow, singer songwriter and a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education (with a Geography specialism) at the University of Cumbria.

We've spoken before about his band Hiroshima Twinkie in an earlier episode but this time he tells us how a collaboration with year 6 pupils at Sandylands Primary School in Morecambe has resulted in a song that's a guaranteed earworm!

Sunset Over Morecambe Bay has just come out and with royalties being split between the band and the pupils who wrote it, it's maybe an ideal Christmas present?

Enjoy the song and our conversation with Chris.

Notes:

Check out the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqbLx3hVVWM

The song's available here: https://hiroshimatwinkie.bandcamp.com/track/the-sunset-over-morecambe-bay?fbclid=IwY2xjawOuk11leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeV9AiPHb-Mj6hAP8nFjP5cVAxJ7MadRzos1FrwL6Qv5Ww4KkR__2JMvJnEvI_aem_OhxlQNJhICVywxhV8KUAMA

Here's something a little different from the podcast for you.

This is the sound of a walk I recorded at Leighton Moss, the RSPB's reserve near Carnforth, specifically from the main entrance to Causeway Hide.

Hear the wind passing through the reeds and trees as they lose their leaves. Even an unexpected low-flying jet couldn't spoil the soundscape which I hope maybe transports you there!

We walk in, take a few pictures which I'll share on social media, and then head back out.

If you like it, there may be more and in the meantime check out https://radiolento.podbean.com/ which inspired me to try this out.

It's taken 2 years of painstaking work but a historic Morecambe Bay fishing boat is about to return to the Bay.

The Morecambe Bay Prawner Trust acquired the 130 year old Spray after it faced an uncertain future.

Built in Arnside, the sturdy wooden craft was built to handle the dangerous waters, rushing tides and strong winds of Morecambe Bay.

I've been given a look around the boat by trustee and skipper Robin Ashcroft who shares his hopes for its' future.

Spray was built by Crossfields of Arnside and her history and restoration will be covered at this year’s Crossfield Conference, run by Arnside Sailing Club on Saturday 22nd November 2025.

Every picture tells a story and it’s certainly true when it comes to a photography project quietly gathering momentum in Morecambe.

It’s the idea of creative Johnny Bean.

He’s capturing pictures of people who make a difference in Morecambe.

From tap dancing pensioners to fishermen, hairdressers to the town's member of Parliament and everyone in between; characters who make the town what it is.

Johnny is recording images for posterity and to chart how the town is changing.

We met up - near arguably the town’s most famous son ! to talk more about Morecambe Faces.

https://johnny-bean.blogspot.com/