The first part of my conversation with Alan Dempster of Bryansburn Rangers and Peter Vannucci, chronicler of Bangor Swifts for many years about soccer in Bangor since the late 1960s, how things have changed and hopes for the future. Part Two following soon!

Music: Building Inspiration by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Next up on Little Bangor Stories – the history of amateur soccer in Bangor. In this little teaser my two pundits Peter Vannucci and Alan Dempster give a fascinating insight into just how intrepid and adaptable Bangor Swifts and Bryansburn Rangers were in their early days. To begin, Peter recalls where the Swifts had their team base right at the beginning….Music: Building Inspiration by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Aileen McClenaghan and I take a walk along Ballyholme beach, pick up litter and other things, talk about treasure, marine life and her mission to spread the word about how little things can help our big seas.

Aileen on Insta: @whattheseasaw

music by audionautix.com

A walk around Castle Park in Bangor with Council Tree and Woodland Officer Dylan Freeburn. We discover the most dangerous trees in the world and a possible champion too!

music by audionautix.com

Summer time in Bangor means getting outside and as well as our seashore, we’re blessed with some stunning green spaces which are celebrated every year with our “Love Parks Week” highlighting the nature all around us.

I love trees and so it was a particular delight to take a dander through a little part of Castle Park with our Tree and Woodland Officer Dylan Freeburn. The full episode is coming soon, but here’s a taster of the exciting times ahead for our woodlands, how volunteers can help with caring for the parks and a quick look at the natural monoliths you’ll find among all those trees!

music by audionautix.com

Bangor Operatic Society may be no more, but two former members Kathi Moore and Louise Andrews are determined that its history isn't lost. Enjoy their memories of shows at Bangor's Little Theatre, tales of past stars and performances...and not one but two ghosts!

Music: Through The Woods by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In 2024, Bangor Amateur Operatic Society was wound up.

It was 106 years old, but having lost its base, the Little Theatre in Bangor’s Central Avenue, in the early 1990s, things became more and more difficult.

The moment might have passed, marked only by those who sang, danced, acted, made scenery and sold tickets but for Kathi Moore. Her dad, Winston Johnston had passed away and while clearing his house, she found he’d collected many memories of his time as one of the stalwarts of the Society. Instead of binning the programmes and photographs, she decided to gather as much as she could and offered the collection to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Along the way, she reconnected with her fellow Society member Louise Andrews whose parents were also committed members of BAOS and now the pair are determined to deposit as much of the history of the much-loved Bangor institution with PRONI as they can…and they need our help!

Here’s a tiny taster of one of the programmes they’ve unearthed….when electricity was still new to parts of Bangor and the railway timetables were adjusted to suit the audiences of their shows!

In this bonus episode, Bangor Boat man Brian Meharg reflects on the times when he has helped people remember - from last good-byes to national occasions.