Oxford Lives – Details, episodes & analysis

In today's episode of Oxford Lives, we interview publisher and historian Tony Morris. Tony's most recent books are Buddhism by Numbers and The Morris Oxford Mini-History of Oxford. Tony has produced a groundbreaking blogsite: Morris Oxford, an extremely accessible, easy-on-the-eye guide to our ever-rewarding city, packed with beautiful photographs and fascinating revelations. If this doesn't you out exploring the cobbled streets and hallowed quads, nothing will…

LINKS

MORRIS OXFORD:

https://morrisoxford.co.uk/about/

MUD PIE BOOKS:

https://mudpiebooks.com/books-authors/tony-morris/

OXFORD HISTORY TOURS:

https://www.oxfordhistorytours.com/books/the-morris-oxford-mini-history-of-oxford

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/

Today's guest is freelance writer, author and campaigner, Sylvia Vetta. Sylvia began writing features on antiques for The Oxford Times . She soon went on to cover art, history and science-related events. This led to her long-running profile series, Oxford Castaways, set on the mythical island of Oxtopia. Sylvia has a lifelong passion for China. Her extensive interviews with Stars Art movement founder, Qu Leilei, inspired her bestselling novel Brushstrokes in Time. In this extended interview we talk about her life growing up in Luton, leading to a lifelong passion for public libraries, the racism she encountered in a mixed-marriage in Sixties Smethwick, her career as an antiques dealer, and the many books she has authored. We also give a plug to the forthcoming Oxford Indie Book Fair, which Sylvie helped to set up. 

LINKS: 

https://www.sylviavetta.co.uk/

https://www.oxfordindiebookfair.co.uk/

sylviavetta@gmail.com

In this latest episode of Oxford Lives we interview documentary photographer, writer, and sustainability campaigner, Martin Stott. Martin has contributed photographs to a huge range of publications, broadcast media and agencies and his lens has taken him all around the world from Bhopal to Iceland to Nicaragua. His latest photobook Bartlemas: Oxford's Hidden Sanctuary is out now.

Links:

https://martin-stott.com

We enjoyed the Nick Gill performances on the previous podcast, we thought we'd give you a little but extra. So here it is - enjoy!

Today's guest is jazz pianist, musicologist and entertainer, Nick Gill. A huge figure on the Oxford music scene, Nick specialises in pre-war jazz styles from "Fats" Waller to Billie Holiday via the Great American Songbook. Later this month, Nick will be presenting The Life and Works of Billie Holiday at Florence Park Community Centre, a personal tribute to the first lady of jazz. In this lively interview we talk about Nick's musical journey and the life of Lady Day herself.

LINKS:

www.classicjazz.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063578648459

FORTHCOMING GIGS

Saturday September 13th

The Lady Sings the Blues - The Life and Works of Billie Holiday

Florence Park Community Centre

Door time: 7:15pm
Start time: 8:00pm

Saturday September 20th 7pm - 9.30pm
The Friends' Meeting House, 43 Saint Giles, Oxford. Oxford Classic Jazz Band CND Fund-raising concert
Entry: £14 + £12 concession

Saturday 27th Sept - 11am – 1pm - Coffee concert:
West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road, Oxford
"Fats Waller – the cheerful little earful."
Jazz talk and stride piano with Nick Gill
Entry of £12 includes Coffee and Croissant

Today's guest is Simon Horobin – philologist, author, and Professor of English Language and Literature and Tutorial Fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford.  Simon has just written a fascinating account of CS Lewis's life in Oxford. From undergraduate days at University College to his 29-year tutorial stint at Magdalen, not to mention his many boozy hours spent in the company of the Inklings at the Eagle and Child, Simon paints a fully-rounded picture of the Narnia author's love affair with the city.  Expect revelations galore as we present a life both complex and compartmentalised.

Links: 
https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/people/professor-simon-horobin/
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781851245642?gC=5a105e8b&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20226739100&gbraid=0AAAAADsTpAS4lPj9I1YqLS-cn_UML3d1M&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkILEBhDeARIsAL--pjx7Rc-7XnplauOgiNsfE1bpsqY7-i3fkTESa-pMmkcDHugNwnNlAawaAjXhEALw_wcB

In this second part of our pub special with Jeremy Smith, we embark upon a virtual pub tour of East Oxford, starting at the Plain and ending in Florence Park. On our wobbly journey, we encounter ghost pubs, insurance scams, and even a murder. And if you think you can cope with that, we've even thrown in a Wetherspoons. We apologise for the sound in advance - we didn't quite get as good a recording as Part One. Hopefully you'll get the gist and to, quote a city centre hostelry, receive "an education in intoxication". In collaboration with Curious Minds. 

Links:

https://oxforddrinker.camra.org.uk/

https://oxford.camra.org.uk/

In this second collaboration with Curious Minds, we embark upon the first of two virtual pub tours around the city with podcast regular, Jeremy Smith. In Part One we explore the City Centre's numerous drinking dens, both past and present. In the second half we return to cut a boozy path through the oft overlooked delights of East Oxford. Expect ale anecdotes galore, quirky historical facts and the odd bad joke.

Links:

https://oxforddrinker.camra.org.uk/

https://oxford.camra.org.uk/

Part Two of our special edition Oxford Lives collaboration with Curious Minds: Murder They Wrote. This panel discussion features many of Oxford's top crime writers: Colin Wade (Murder at the Manor, The Devil's Code), Jacquii John (Matilda's Magical Tails, Evie the Brave and her Sidekick Cleo co-written with Paul Blake) Jake Lynch (Blood on the Stone), and Annabel McGoldrick (Mind Over Murder, co-written with Jake Lynch). In this second part, we focus on our authors' personal work and their connection to Oxford. We also examine the phenomenon of 'cosy crime' and the importance of research.