David Spencer Interviews

Singer-songwriter Cecil grew up in Berkshire and is based in London. She has been championed regionally by BBC Introducing Berkshire and has performed live for both BBC Coventry, Warwickshire and BBC Oxfordshire, as well as featuring on many other radio shows in the UK. Her debut EP 'Silly Business' was released earlier in 2017 but she is planning a change of sound. Here she tells David about that change and the challenges of launching a music career. Cecil takes her name from her Great Uncle, Cecil McGivern. He was an instrumental figure in crafting British wartime propaganda programmes, which earned him a CBE. McGivern was a broadcasting pioneer and BBC legend who also went on to earn the prestigious accolade of an Oscar nomination for his screenplay of the classic 1946 version of 'Great Expectations'.

I catch up with Surrey based singer Bee Bazin to discuss why she's chosen now to release her first material after years of gigging.

David Spencer chats with American singer Rachael Sage about her new album Choreographic. It is a tribute to her first love, dance.

On this final episode of my learning to swim podcast, we hear about my experience at Swimathon in April 2016. Our team of learners took part, weeks after starting our swimming journey. We also hear from LadyXSize, a TV and Radio presenter who's also learning to swim and we find out how Freya Rodger did in her bid to take part in every sport being competed in at the Olympics by women.

I have started to learn to swim at the age of 47 and this is a series exploring my early lessons and challenges. On this episode we hear from a singer about overcoming her stage fright and from a consultant psychologist who works in the NHS on helping people overcome phobias. This is all building up to my attempt to take part in Swimathon, having never swum a length in my life!

On this episode I continue my lessons in the presence of a former Olympic swimmer. Duncan Goodhew attends Hillingdon Sports Centre to see how I am doing. He swam for Great Britain and won Olympic gold and bronze medals at the in Moscow in 1980 so is quite knowledgeable! He tells me about overcoming the fear of water and suggests ways to advance my swimming. We also from the Amateur Swimming Association about its efforts to get more people to participate in the sport. 

On episode 3, I continue my lessons, moving away from using the floats and at the very early stages of developing a swimming stroke. We hear from Fusion Lifestyle about its terrific work with different sections of the community and helping them overcome barriers that prevent people from swimming. We also hear from Freya Rodger, who's decided to have a go at every sport women compete in at the Olympics!

This is episode two of my learning to swim podcast. After 46 years I have decided to try and overcome my fear of water and learn to swim. You can track my journey over these podcasts and hear from other learners, as well as pyschologists and swimming experts. On episode 2 we hear from Olympic medal swimmers Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster on the importance of learning, as well as former Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere about how he learnt to swim in just a matter of weeks and then took part in an extraordinary open water challenge.

Taking The Plunge is about my experience of learning to swim aged 46. All my life I have been embarrassed at not being able to swim and I have decided to try and put it right. This series will explore what fears or barriers exist for people and how to overcome them. We will hear from Olympians, psychologists and swimming experts about the benefits of adding swimming to your life skills. I am learning with the support of Fusion Lifestyle, which was established in 2000. It is a registered charity on a mission to make sport and leisure facilities affordable and accessible to all. Fusion works in partnership with local authorities and other public sector organisations to deliver choice and value for customers, helping them to live healthier and more active lives through over 85 sport and leisure facilities across the UK.