Radio Verulam Christmas Party 2016

Phil and Kerry sing at the Radio Verulam Christmas Party 2016

Harpenden Mayor

Harpenden Mayor, Mrs Nicola Linacre, talks to Phil Richards on Radio Verulam 92.6FM

Harpenden Christmas Carnival 2016

Phil and Jo with a live report at Harpenden Christmas Carnival

Marilyn Stowe gives listeners advice on relationships and divorce

Marilyn Stowe spoke to Phil today about issues of divorce. He had a few questions of his own to ask her:

I married my boyfriend three weeks ago. When we returned from our honeymoon I noticed that the name in his passport is completely different to who he told me he was. Who have I married and what should I do about this?

From a family law perspective, she can get out of this, from a criminal perspective its definitely quite worrying. This is an extremely iffy situation, in the course of may career if I've ever come across different names it normally leads to bad things; fraud, criminal intent, bigamy come to mind. From a criminal aspect if she cant get a satisfactory answer from her new husband she could go to the police. The thing that strikes me is that this is an unusual case, and the opportunity for nullity is there. If you enter a marriage by mistake, i.e. marrying someone who isn't who you thought they were, you can get the marriage annulled.

Myself and my partner plan to have a civil partnership. Does this offer the same protections and rights as marriage?

Heterosexual couples can only get married and that's currently the only way to legally enter a relationship. But gay couples have a choice, you can do both CV or marriage. Civil partnership is more of a signing ceremony and people prefer that. In terms of breakdown they are both the same, so on the breakdown of either they're the same. In the event of dissolution of a partnership of both is the same thing.

I want a divorce and my husband says he will never part with any money as part of a financial settlement no matter what the court says. Can I enforce a financial settlement if he refuses to pay?

When people get divorced they say things, sometimes people think they know the law, they make all sorts of threats. Disobeying a court order is a dangerous thing and you can end up in prison. You might face a judgement summons.

During an argument I agreed to a divorce with my wife. That evening I returned home to find my wife has thrown all my belongings out of the house and refuses to let me in to the property. Do I have any rights to enter the property as I have nowhere to live?

Of course, you can't throw anybody out of a property without a court order. If they change the locks some people would just force their way in, some people might get the police, a solicitors letter, go to court. The whole thing here is to avoid an allegation of domestic violence, some people will deliberately do something which they hope the other person will reciprocate to them violently. So the important thing is to keep calm on both sides.

I have been married twice previously and am planning to remarry again soon. Since my last divorce I have built up substantial assets which I want to protect. Can a pre-nup (prenuptial agreement) completely guarantee protecting these assets?

There is no question that the best way to protect his assets is to not get married in the first place. You can think about a pre-nup but you need to enter into it on the basis that it might not be legally binding at the end of the day. The court will most likely provide for your needs for life, irrespective of your length of marriage, in which case if you're the richer party you could be hit pretty hard.  

The Isabel Hospice Jazz Gala is upon us!

Today Phil spoke to Jill McDonald from the Isabel Hospice about their upcoming fundraiser which promises to be a fantastic night.

The charity which provides specialist palliative care have a Jazz Gala organised for the 26th April, at the prestigious Haileybury School in Hertford Heath.

Talented pupils at the school will be performing Jazz and Swing classics, Jill said:

'The night is a great experience for the students, and the standard is really very high, they are fantastic! The director of music Ryan, is an old pupil and has a real passion for the department. The event is always a sell out!'

The hospice invites everyone to attend to enjoy a wonderful evening in aid of the Isabel Hospice. Tickets are available on the website for £25 each, and tables of up to ten guests are available.

Money raised will go towards the £4.2 million fund they need to raise every year to continue to provide free end of life care for their patients. Funds are also used to support their doctors and nurses without whom it would be impossible for the Isabel Hospice to continue their wonderful work.

The Willow Foundation tells Phil about their Easter Weekend 'Special Days'

Over the Easter Weekend, Welwyn based charity The Willow Foundation provided Special Days to 20 of their beneficiary's. Holly Wright, the Willow Foundations community fundraiser told us about some of the Special Days that took place.

Jane, aged 35, went to the Eden project, Amy, aged 20, went to a weekend spa with her husband and a young girl called Alex realized her dream of recording her own song in a music studio.

David from Merseyside who was sadly diagnosed with brain cancer, wanted to do sightseeing in London with his wife and two young daughters. He wanted to say the following:

'Thank you for an unforgettable weekend with my family... It has been a hard two years... My special day provided some much needed head-space and respite from the world of cancer.'

The charity was set up in 1999 by Bob Wilson and wife Megs after they sadly lost their daughter to breast cancer. Their daughter Anna was the inspiration for Special Days, because she always wanted something in the diary to look forward to when she was going through chemotherapy.

The foundation is the only national charity working with seriously ill young adults aged between 16-40 to provide, uplifting and unforgettable day while they are going through treatment. Special Days can be anything from trips to the Zoo, safari parks, lake districts. Each experience is completely unique to the beneficiary, the entire day is organised on their behalf, so they don't have to worry about anything.

Another fantastic experience Holly told Phil about was James who was aged 32 when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He loved computer games, so the Willow Foundation took him to a game company to learn how the special effects were made at a company. The owners of the company offered him the opportunity to become a part of the game, so he was measured and scanned into the game.

Holly reminded listeners: 'We have all been touched by Cancer, and having something to look forward to is so important. The memories created will last a lifetime.'

The Willow Foundation is completely reliant on the generosity of its donors, to find out more about the charity and how you can help visit their website. The fundraising page has the option to provide a one off donation, and suggestions on how to hold your own fundraising event to enable the foundation to carry on providing Special Days.  

Interview with Gilbert O'Sullivan

Listen again to the recent interview with Gilbert O'Sullivan on Verulam in the Morning:

Listen again to the January interview with Marilyn Stowe

Old Radio Verulam Jingles

We turn 20 years old next week. Here are a few old Radio Verulam jingles to listen to that have been used over the years.

Radio Verulam's opening programme video

Here is a link to a video of the opening programme on Radio Verulam at Telcential.

https://vimeo.com/146755040

Radio Verulam celebrates 20 years of broadcasting

Here a some pictures taken over the 20 years Radio Verulam has been on air:

Above: L-R Sean Cleaver, Phil Richards, Steven Hall Tony Dodd outside the Alban Arena during St Albans festival

Above left: presenters of our Swedish programme at the time at a fundraising 

event in The Marlowes.

Above right: 3rd Radio Verulam studio converted from a kitchen above a glass shop in Apsley

Above: Tish Hayton, John Butters & Phil Richards, Directors

Above: morning presenter Lisa Sparks

Above: For a time Radio Verulam was on the internet only spanning over a couple of years from Phil Richard's spare room. Here is Phil, the only live presenter. Otherwise, shows were automated or recorded elsewhere.

Above: Tony Dodd, Director & Treasurer serves wine at our grand opening at WHTV Telecential, Maxted Road

Above: Phil Richards in the first Radio Verulam studio at WHTV

Above: Clive Glover & Phil Richards fundraising with Majorettes in Gadebridge Park

Above: fellow Directors John Butters (L) Phil Richards (R) on opening day