Beyond The Postcode

Scissett: The Rural Veteran's Hub

The Rural Veterans Hub Caroline Verdon [www.carolineverdon.com] from Under The Mast [www.underthemast.com] and Erin Towey from HD8 Life [www.hd8life.com] host Beyond the Postcode, a podcast about people who live or work in HD8, and interview Linda and Keith from the Rural Veterans Hub [https://www.rvhkirklees.org], a veteran-led community offering support, friendship and sanctuary for ex-forces members and their families in rural areas. Linda and Keith describe the shock of leaving military structure, identity and camaraderie, everyday difficulties adjusting to civilian life, and challenges accessing military-minded healthcare and therapy, including PTSD support, especially when living rurally. They explain the military covenant and the need for veterans to be recorded as such at their GP to receive appropriate priority for service-attributable issues. The Hub meets twice a month, provides banter, speakers, trips, crafts and activities, and shares success stories involving improved wellbeing and help navigating housing and bureaucracy, while encouraging new members to connect via Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/RuralVeteranHub], the website [https://www.rvhkirklees.org] or by attending events. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:35 Life After Service Shock 01:53 Losing Identity and Respect 03:45 Civilian Work Culture Clash 05:19 Cleanliness and Military Habits 06:59 PTSD and Gaps in Care 08:51 Why Rural Support Matters 09:47 Military Covenant and Advocacy 11:22 Hub Success Stories 15:00 Trips Crafts and Camaraderie 18:58 How to Join and Contact 20:03 Series Wrap and Thanks

Farnley Tyas: From sound engineer to trout farmer

Beyond the Postcode: John Allen on Touring as a Sound Engineer and Building the Burn Hill Herb Company Hosts Caroline Verdon from Under The Mast [www.underthemast.com] and Erin Towey from HD8 Life [www.hd8life.com] introduce Beyond the Postcode, a podcast about people who live or work in HD8, and interview guest Jon Allen of the Burnt Hill Herb Company [https://www.burnthillherbs.com]. Yes Farnley Tyas is just outside HD8...but it's close enough for us ;) Jon describes his former career as a sound engineer touring extensively across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East, including Prince’s last European tour, noting the long hours and how touring makes family life difficult, including losing a tour to attend his brother’s wedding. He explains how conversations with chefs and a love of Scandinavian smoked fish led him to cold-smoke trout and eventually farm his own fish. After moving to the HD8 area due to his wife Roxanne’s job, he built an aquaponics system that recirculates water to raise trout and grow seasonal produce. He discusses developing products from trimmings, partnering locally, plans for a “Sushi Club” kit, recommends Ashley Jackson’s “Framing the Landscape” near Holmfirth, and shares three playlist picks: Natalie Cole, Big Daddy Wilson’s “Neck Bone Stew,” and Status Quo’s “In the Army Now.” 00:00 Welcome to HD8 00:18 Meet Jon Allen 00:36 Life on Tour 01:12 Artists and Highlights 01:56 Prince and World Tours 03:28 Choosing to Settle 04:40 Touring Sacrifices 06:42 Food Sparks a Pivot 08:08 Why Farnley Tyas 09:15 Aquaponics Explained 11:06 Cold Smoke to New Products 12:50 Sushi Club Idea 14:11 HD8 Top Tip Walk 17:13 Postcode Playlist Picks 20:51 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Clayton West's Chris Hobson: From retired headteacher to Guinness World Record Holder

Beyond the Postcode: Chris Hobson’s Record-Breaking Antarctica Ice Marathon Hosts Caroline Verdon [www.carolineverdon.com] from Under The Mast [www.underthemast.com] and Erin Towey from HD8 Life [www.hd8life.com] introduce Beyond the Postcode, a podcast about people who live or work in HD8, and interview Clayton West resident Chris Hobson, a Guinness World Record holder as the oldest person to complete the Antarctica Ice Marathon. Chris describes reinventing herself after retiring in 2014, joining a running club, gaining a London Marathon place, and adopting a run-walk strategy that helped her avoid injuries and keep running. After learning about the 100 Marathon Club, she set goals that led to around 126–127 marathons, including “marathon tourism” across continents, with notable experiences like the humid Singapore marathon and extreme conditions in Antarctica. She recounts multiple canceled Antarctica attempts, last-minute entry logistics, the silent, hazardous environment, and her motivations around staying healthy in older age. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:35 Meeting Her Husband 02:14 Record Holder Intro 02:27 Retirement to Running 04:18 First London Marathon 06:16 Run Walk Strategy 07:58 Chasing 100 Marathons 09:24 Marathon Tourism Begins 11:14 Heat and Humidity Chaos 14:25 Antarctica Ice Marathon 15:26 Antarctica Trip Cancellations 16:32 Last Minute Race Slot 18:03 Gear Panic And Prep 19:03 Bank Fraud Block Drama 21:12 Running In Antarctica 23:55 Staying Active In Retirement 25:55 Fitness For Older Adults 27:54 Local Tip And Music Picks 29:46 Wrap Up And Next Guest

Emley's Matt Glennon: From Pro Footballer to Hairdresser

Caroline Verdon [www.carolineverdon.com] from Under The Mast [www.underthemast.com] and Erin Toweyfrom HD8 Life [www.hd8life.com] host Beyond the Postcode, a podcast from HD8 Life and Under the Mast, exploring people who live or work in HD8. This episode features Matt Glennon [https://www.instagram.com/mattg_g27/?hl=en], a professional footballer turned hairdresser who owns and works at salon G27 [https://www.g27hairandbeauty.com] in Emley, and also works as a pundit and grassroots goalkeeping coach. Matt describes moving through clubs and locations including Scotland, Carlisle, Hull and Huddersfield Town, then settling in Shelley for its schools, green spaces, nearby pubs and quick access to the stadium. He recounts opening the bar at Emley’s Media Stadium in 2007 and later converting a 300-year-old post office into his salon, discussing community ties built through clients, friendships, and the emotional support side of hairdressing. Matt explains his transition from football after injuries and surgeries, taking a fast-track barbering course in Nottingham, cutting teammates’ hair in boot rooms and before matches, and adjusting to self-employment after football’s controlled environment. He talks about the mental side of goalkeeping, crowd abuse, and how cutting a first paying client felt more nerve-racking than playing at Celtic Park. He outlines juggling salon work, BBC Radio Leeds match work, and his local goalkeeping academy The episode closes by previewing the next guest, Chris Hobson of Clayton West, who holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to complete an ice marathon. 00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Postcode + Meet Matt Glennon 00:36 From Stockport to Huddersfield: Finding a Home in Shelley (and the school hunt) 02:24 Discovering Emley: The stadium, the mast, and setting down roots 03:19 Turning a 300-Year-Old Post Office into a Salon (and winning the village over) 04:06 Salon Life = Community Hub: Regulars, friendships, and the ‘counselling’ side 06:25 The Big Pivot: Why a Pro Footballer Became a Barber/Hairdresser 08:02 Cutting Hair in the Boot Room: Clippers, teammates, and matchday trims 10:28 Training, mistakes & mindset: From hairdressing ‘maths’ to handling abuse 13:09 Most terrifying moment: The first paying client vs playing in front of 60,000 15:00 What football really teaches (and the bubble players live in) 15:11 Ready to Retire: Work Ethic and the Transition Out of Football 16:03 A Day in the Salon: Long Shifts, Regulars, and Staying Busy 16:26 Life After the Final Whistle: Money, Identity, and Starting Over 17:31 Football’s Controlled Lifestyle: Time Off, Weigh-Ins, and No Real Autonomy 18:46 Family Sacrifices: Moving Clubs, Relationships, and Raising Kids 19:47 Working With His Daughter: Trust, Responsibility, and a New ‘Boss’ 21:10 Wearing Many Hats: Salon, Goalkeeping Academy, and BBC Radio 23:20 Goalkeeping Academy: Building Confidence, Resilience, and Joy in the Game 25:32 Life Skills & Knockbacks: From On-Pitch Mistakes to Business Setbacks 26:30 HD8 Top Tips: Rooftop Garden at The Dunkirk + Quiet Gym Time 28:13 Three Songs for the Drive: Heroes, Tipsy, and Getting Away With It 29:46 Wrap-Up and Next Episode Teaser: Guinness Record Ice Marathoner

Emley's Liz Wood: Florist to the stars

Beyond the Postcode: Liz Wood, The Watering Can Florist and HD8’s Florist to the Stars Caroline Verdon [www.carolineverdon.com] from Under The Mast [www.underthemast.com] and Erin Towey from HD8 Life [www.hd8life.com] host Beyond the Postcode, a podcast about people who live or work in HD8. In this episode they interview Liz Wood of The Watering Can Florist [https://www.thewateringcanflorist.co.uk] in Emley, discussing her move to HD8 after making a fresh start with Mark, first living in Bird’s Edge, then Three Acres during the “Beast from the East,” and later settling in Emley, where they quickly bought their current home. Liz explains how The Watering Can began at a small unit (“the shaky shed”) at Yummy Yorkshire, then pivoted during COVID when the unit was taken back, shifting to doorstep deliveries of compost and plants and continuing flower work once supply returned. She shares how she got into floristry through her mother’s flower club, trained at Kirklees College, gained experience at The Posy Bowl in Huddersfield, worked at Gertz Florist in Lepton, and eventually bought the business. Liz also describes running her florist as a wine bar in the evenings using recycled and borrowed furnishings, offering live music and popular drinks including rhubarb and ginger liqueur with Prosecco, and notes customers often bought flowers after a pint. She recounts notable clients including a delivery of 100 white roses from Sir Elton John to Penistone's Paramount Theatre for a Billy Elliot opening, and work connected to Armitage Bridge recording studios, including getting a signed card from David Jason. Liz outlines her current work with weddings, farewell flowers and launching a monthly flower club The episode closes by teasing the next guest, Emley’s Matt Glennon, about his journey from professional footballer to hairdresser. 00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Postcode + Meet Liz Wood (Watering Can Florist) 00:35 A Fresh Start: Moving to HD8 and Finding Home 01:50 Birds Edge to Emley: The House Hunt That Felt Like Fate 04:45 How The Watering Can Florist Began (Yummy Yorkshire ‘Shaky Shed’) 06:06 COVID Hits: Pivoting to Plants, Doorstep Deliveries & Surviving Lockdown 09:09 Why Flowers? Family Roots, Training, and Buying Her First Shop 13:23 Next-Level Pivot: Turning a Florist into a Nighttime Wine Bar 15:01 Recycled furniture & building the hidden bar behind the florist 16:20 Beer pumps by day, flowers on the side: the hybrid shop idea 17:09 Live music & the rhubarb-and-ginger Prosecco craze 17:38 Big-name orders: Sir Elton John’s 100 white roses 19:29 TV studio connections & David Jason’s ‘Lovely Jubbly’ note 21:16 Where she’s at now: weddings, farewell flowers & launching the Flower Club 23:29 HD8 Top Tip: finding your style at Cocoa (and Dare Boutique) 25:48 Springtime playlist picks + podcast wrap and next-episode teaser