Catching up with our previous guests

To round off our year of Local Authority interviews, we spoke to some of our previous interviewees to learn about their experiences in 2025, any changes in their lives, some recommendations, and what’s ahead for 2026.

Editor's note: In 2024, Steven interviewed John Daynes, a motivational speaker and coach at Prison2Parliament. In reaching out to interviewees for this piece, we were shocked and saddened to hear that John had died. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time.

Richard Pemberton is a running coach at Medway Fit.

Since your interview, have you changed jobs?
Still leading Medway Fit. I’m very happy, and I feel there is space to grow. It’s about time you came back to Medway Fit on a regular basis, Steve!

Have you moved into, out of, or around Medway?
I’m still in Medway. I like Medway. Despite living here for my whole life, I still managed to find some new to me walking areas. There was a whole set of new paths around Ranscombe Farm that I had never used before.

Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?
I signed up to the country park’s parking season ticket this year and have spent lots of time running and walking around Capstone Country Park, Riverside Country Park and Deangate Country Park. I often don’t see any other people, which is both nice and a shame. I think it would be great if more local people spent time in our green spaces.

Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?
Medway Fit will be running a new Couch to 5k course in the spring. Nearer the time, it will be advertised on Facebook and at www.medway.fit. It will be free for about nine weeks with sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Stuart Turner singer-songwriter and biomedical scientist.

Since your interview, have you changed jobs?
I have not changed jobs. But my job is always changing. Which is a different question.

Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?
Helped Rachel Lowrie form a band to play her Medway-related folk songs in a more rocking way, and South Shore has gone from the idea of a band to gigging as a four-piece with a single coming out in February and the rest of an album being recorded in January. Which is technically next year, but the single was recorded this year, and there will be videos to both sides of the 7 inch on YouTube before Santa puts in his transglobal mince pie and sherry binge.

Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?
The long-gestated These Guilty Men sophomore album is underway and really sounding spiffing so far. We have five songs in the can and our base of operations, Moon Studios, has had a significant uplift in equipment, which will be a glorious thing when it’s all functioning.
On the subject of which, myself and Rob Grigg (drummer in both of the above) have finally finished tinkering about on the Moon with a sort of solo album I have been messing with for a number of years. As I said to someone else recently, it was an attempt to make a record in a completely different way to any I had made before, but it has still come out sounding like me. Unfortunately, everywhere I go, I’m always there. Anyway, this item, 'Gargoyles at the Memoir Club,' will appear as an online curio at some point next year for the five or six people who periodically ask if I’m still writing my own songs.
And in my day job, I will endeavour to stay employed, continue to furnish the kids with adequate foodstuffs and keep the lights on in our house near a river. But I am sure no readers will want to know that.

Sarah Hehir is a writer, poet and scriptwriter on The Archers.

Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?
The story of how I started a chocolate factory with my sister is now in development with BBC Studios,, which is exciting. Our local poetry group Common Ground continues to thrive. We meet once a month at Intra Arts. 

Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?
My new play, Man or Bear, is going to be on at Edinburgh Fringe in 2026, hopefully with some more local previews. We started our research and development in Medway thanks to local workshop participants, the sixth form at Rainham School for Girls, The Glassbox Theatre and Wordsmithery. We'd love to show it at The Brook Theatre when it re-opens.

Wolf Howard is a former Stuckist, pinhole photographer, poet, and drummer in multiple bands within Medway.

Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?
I don’t think so.

Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?
Not that I’m aware of.

Bob Collins was a civil servant and guitarist with The Dentists, as well as too many other bands to list.

Since your interview, have you changed jobs?
Yes. I’ve changed to being retired. I really liked my job, but I love being retired even more. Been doing lots more music, walking, cooking, etc.

Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?
Apart from retiring, which was a pretty big deal, I’ve just come back from a 20-date tour playing guitar with Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires, a poetry/music combination. We played mainly in theatres and arts centres to seated audiences. It was an amazing experience and unlike anything me or the others in the band had done before.

Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?
Working on new material and hopefully new albums with both The Treasures of Mexico and Swansea Sound. Plus two short US tours with Swansea Sound supporting Heavenly. Exciting times!