The first in the Hesp Out West series
Martin Hesp
All in Media
Explore a journalist's 50-year journey from a cub-reporter in the 1970s to an eminent storyteller. This memoir reflects on evocative memories from the traditional newsroom era to digital journalism. Highlights include experiences at a weekly newspaper, insights into reporting, and the rich life of a journalist. It also touches on personal stories like eloping to Texas, and the legacy of a journalist father during World War II. A tribute to the enduring spirit of storytelling in journalism
Discover the eerie lore of West Penwith and the haunting celebrations of Punky Night, the Somerset term for Halloween, where the rural traditions of the West Country come alive. This intriguing article delves into the spectral figures that roam the moors, like the notorious Spriggans, the Black Dogs, and other phantoms that are part of the region's spooky folklore. Once marked by the simple carving of mangel-wurzels into lanterns, Halloween in Somerset has evolved from a low-key event overshadowed by non-conformist beliefs to a night of revelry for local children. Uncover the Celtic origins of the festival, Samhain, when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to thin, leading to ghostly troubles and valuable prophecies. Learn how the Romans and later Christianity shaped the celebration, morphing pagan rituals into All Saints' and All Souls' Days. Explore the quirky West Country customs involving apples, a symbol of the mystical and romantic, and reflect on how these traditions compare to the grand commercialisation of Halloween in the United States. This article is a nostalgic toast to the authentic Halloween, a testament to the region's rich cultural tapestry.
This is an article I wrote about Watchet in the year 2000. Watchet, a town boasting a history as rich as its sea-shanty heritage. Perched on Somerset's cliffs, it seems like a northern town displaced to the West Country coast. Known for its eccentricities, from its official swine-herd to the ancient Court Leet that convenes over rum punch, Watchet is a community of paradoxes. Home to Yankee Jack, a mariner who enriched maritime culture with iconic shanties, and a museum housing an extensive collection of flat-bottomed boats, the town's character is irrefutable. Historical influences, from Welsh miners to a significant paper mill, leave their indelible marks, contributing to Watchet's identity—a town that beckons visitors to explore its unique oddities and lingering mysteries.
In this thought-provoking article, the author reflects on the state of their own country and their experiences in a developing nation. They highlight how many citizens in developed countries often take their good fortune for granted, assuming entitlement to wealth and financial superiority. The author cautions against this complacency, warning that influential status can slip away due to poor decisions and leadership. They contrast the challenges faced by people in the developing country, where there are no safety nets, no state pensions, and limited access to healthcare. Despite the difficulties, the article showcases the indomitable spirit of human nature and the stark contrast in lifestyles. The chaotic and anarchic nature of life in the developing nation, especially the driving habits, is described vividly. The author concludes by emphasizing the value of observing such contrasting experiences, acknowledging the mysteries they hold, and expressing the importance of maintaining a stable, thoughtful government in their homeland.
This essay first appeared this weekend in the Western Morning News and Western Daily Press - Martin Hesp contemplates the coming of autumn
Aging changes our travel preferences, from children's "Are we there yet?" to pondering the comfort of our own beds as adults. Navigating early morning flights and uncomfortable airport seats, the author reflects on life markers, the pull of familiar comforts, and evolving desires as one grows older, amidst the chaos of travel.
The full recording of My Favourite Tree - as aired on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier
Latest Martin Hesp newspaper column with some AI generated images - Discover the fascinating perspective on how little things in life, often overlooked in our younger years, regain significance as we age. In this captivating article, the author shares personal anecdotes about the impact of local events like the arrival of cows and calves on a nearby field, while dealing with a loved one's hip operation and the challenges of country living.
A newspaper column all about trees - and their importance - given the cavalier way some authorities seem to be treating them
August 15 and 16 seem to be fateful days in the West Country where some of the worst weather events on record have occurred on those dates - including the Lynmouth Food Disaster exactly 70 years ago and the terrible flood at Boscastle 18 years past… the rains nearly caused havoc again this year…
My sound recording made at Helwell Bay for BBC Radio Four’s Today programme Best Beaches feature - but it was messed up by them and broadcast under someone else’s name
There’s a new book called The Deer park launched this week - and it’s immediately proving to be very popular. Martin Hesp explains how the story came about… The Deer Park - a children's fairytale inspired by the magical woodlands above Dunster and includes references to local history and legends, intertwined with the author's personal experiences and family stories
We meet on of tbhe UK’s top TV producers specialising in making programmes about food and drink - with such folk as The Hairy Bikers, Nigel Slater, Nigella Lawson etc
We Want Real Food is the name of a book written by Graham Harvey - yesterday Graham and I were in discussion with our friend Ian Macnab about the concept of taking the message out to a wider world with the help of an open-topped double-decker bus - and here’s an article I wrote about the book some years ago
A new arts and cultural festival is underway on the Isles of Scilly - Martin Hesp enjoyed a sneak preview just before the autumnal series of events began
Martin Hesp celebrates the new Taste East Devon Festival with lunch at a very special country hotel - The PIG at Combe serves a 25-mile-menu which more or less sums up all that is good about eating and drinking in the East Devon area
Martin Hesp pays tribute to his old friend, the potter Johnny Leach who passed away on Sunday August 29, 2021