<description>&lt;p&gt;As a 20-year-old cub reporter in the early 1980s I was invited in to the 16th century Ayrshire castle that had been the base for many of the nation's Pre-Raphaelite artists who aimed to reform art by rejecting the "formulaic" academic approach in favor of bright colors, intense detail, and "truth to nature," inspired by Italian art before Raphael.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;My invitation came from Elton Eckstrand, a US corporate attorney who spent more than a decade restoring the castle and curating the artworks that hung on its walls. That castle was Penkill, located close to the town of Girvan where I worked on the Carrick Gazette.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Meeting people like Mr Eckstrand was one of the joys of the job I did at the time and Elton Eckstrand sure was an interesting mix, from his love of art and architecture to his passion for motor facing, muscle cars and dragsters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The American who saved Penkill

As a 20-year-old cub reporter in the early 1980s I was invited in to the 16th century Ayrshire castle that had been the base for many of the nation's Pre-Raphaelite artists who aimed to reform art by rejecting the "formulaic" academic approach in favor of bright colors, intense detail, and "truth to nature," inspired by Italian art before Raphael. My invitation came from Elton Eckstrand, a US corporate attorney who spent more than a decade restoring the castle and curating the artworks that hung on its walls. That castle was Penkill, located close to the town of Girvan where I worked on the Carrick Gazette. Meeting people like Mr Eckstrand was one of the joys of the job I did at the time and Elton Eckstrand sure was an interesting mix, from his love of art and architecture to his passion for motor facing, muscle cars and dragsters.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

People and Landmarks of the UK - Penkill Castle & Elton Eckstrand

<description>&lt;p&gt;The first episode of a new season of People &amp;amp; Landmark podcasts. This time we're visiting Linlithgow Palace in central Scotland, home to Mary Queen of Scots and a significant royal residence for the Stewarts.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Photograph by Andrew Sutherland.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The most princely of palaces

The first episode of a new season of People &amp; Landmark podcasts. This time we're visiting Linlithgow Palace in central Scotland, home to Mary Queen of Scots and a significant royal residence for the Stewarts.Photograph by Andrew Sutherland.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

People and Landmarks of the UK - Linlithgow Palace

<description>Joe Bravaco is an American playwright whose work 'One Good Thing or are Ya Patrick Swayze' won an award for new writing from The Stables Theatre in Hastings. In this interview he discusses his career and his inspiration. &lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

One Good Thing

Joe Bravaco is an American playwright whose work 'One Good Thing or are Ya Patrick Swayze' won an award for new writing from The Stables Theatre in Hastings. In this interview he discusses his career and his inspiration. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

In Conversation with  Joe Bravaco

<description>&lt;p&gt;Everyone knows about 9/11 not so many know that when the US closed its airspace, 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers from around the world were unexpectedly diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, nearly doubling the town’s population overnight.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Come From Away is a heart-warming and multi award-winning musical, based on this remarkable true story. The show follows both the stranded 'come from aways' and the townspeople who opened their homes, schools, and hearts to care for them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Amid fear and uncertainty, strangers form deep connections, friendships, and even love. The musical celebrates human kindness, resilience, and community spirit in the face of tragedy – and gives us hope in today’s unsettled world.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Usefuk web links&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://www.sedlescombeplayers.co.uk/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://stablestheatre.co.uk/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Come From Away

Everyone knows about 9/11 not so many know that when the US closed its airspace, 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers from around the world were unexpectedly diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, nearly doubling the town’s population overnight.Come From Away is a heart-warming and multi award-winning musical, based on this remarkable true story. The show follows both the stranded 'come from aways' and the townspeople who opened their homes, schools, and hearts to care for them.Amid fear and uncertainty, strangers form deep connections, friendships, and even love. The musical celebrates human kindness, resilience, and community spirit in the face of tragedy – and gives us hope in today’s unsettled world.Usefuk web linkshttps://www.sedlescombeplayers.co.uk/https://stablestheatre.co.uk/<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

In Conversation with Tara Buchanan

<description>&lt;p&gt;Stuart Baillie has been writing about the Seaview Project in St Leaonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, since 2019. Seaview is a local charity that works with those on the margins of our society and reaches out to offer help to the homeless and rough sleepers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Last Friday (Oct 3rd) Seaview staged one of its Big Sleep fundraising events. There was a night of live music and entertainment then around 40 hardy souls slept rough raising awareness - and crucially cash - to help the charity. Once all the money is tallied it looks like the event will have raised around £35,000 and in times when securing funding for this kind of work is becoming ever more challenging.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Stuart was one of those hardy souls prepared to brave the elements and during the evening he caught up with Seaview staff, supporters and volunteers and with people who are very frank about the fact that Seaview saved their lives.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Real stories about real people's lives

Stuart Baillie has been writing about the Seaview Project in St Leaonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, since 2019. Seaview is a local charity that works with those on the margins of our society and reaches out to offer help to the homeless and rough sleepers.Last Friday (Oct 3rd) Seaview staged one of its Big Sleep fundraising events. There was a night of live music and entertainment then around 40 hardy souls slept rough raising awareness - and crucially cash - to help the charity. Once all the money is tallied it looks like the event will have raised around £35,000 and in times when securing funding for this kind of work is becoming ever more challenging.Stuart was one of those hardy souls prepared to brave the elements and during the evening he caught up with Seaview staff, supporters and volunteers and with people who are very frank about the fact that Seaview saved their lives. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Back from the brink - how Seaview helps people turn their lives around

Podcast by In Focus News<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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