More Top Awards for Clifton Diocese Podcasts

28 November 2008

The Clifton Diocese has won two more awards for its podcasts, again beating the BBC in the process.  An episode of the diocese’s ‘Let Us Pod’ was judged the best podcast at the Christian Broadcasting Council Awards winning the gold award.  The Clifton Diocese took silver is the same category with ‘Journey - The Sound of Many Waters Podcast’.

The gold-winning podcast entitled ‘Let Us Pod - Bereavement’ is written and narrated by Catholic parishioner and father of three, Peter Hobbs.  Peter’s wife Caroline died in October 2004 having been diagnosed with breast cancer two years previously.  Peter’s podcast reflects upon his journey from that time to the present.  The accompanying music was written and performed by Clifton Diocese’s Head of Music Richard Jeffrey-Gray.

The silver-winning podcast entitled ‘Journey – The Sound of Many Waters Podcast’ is presented by BBC West’s popular presenter Trevor Fry.  This podcast covers the build-up to the launch of ‘Sound of Many of Waters’ - Clifton Cathedral’s year-long exploration of our need to care for our environment. 

Mary Colwell, a parishioner at Clifton Cathedral, produced the podcasts which were honoured at a ceremony in Manchester last Friday (21 November).   
 
Peter Hobbs told cliftondiocese.com, “I’m very pleased that the podcast has won another award but I’d swap that instantly for just one person being helped on their faith journey.”

Mary Colwell said, “I’m so pleased that Peter’s podcast has won another top award.  I know his honesty, sincerity and deep conviction will help many others who are grieving.  I’m also delighted ‘Journey - The Sound of Many Waters Podcast’ was given a silver award.  Sound of Many Waters was an important start to defining a better future that is more in balance with the world around us.”

The judges’ said of ‘Let Us Pod - Bereavement’, “Excellent piece - personal, moving and useful to others. Very honest and compelling. 

“Fittingly simple, well written and nicely produced. Works very well as a progressive download/podcast.”

The judges’ said of ‘Journey - The Sound of Many Waters Podcast’, “Another good piece from the Clifton Diocese - presented and packaged well with good quality audio.

“Excellent wide range of interesting voices - lay people and clergy. Good to hear the Catholic Church challenged on something like the environment and for the criticism to be positively received.”

‘Let Us Pod’ can be heard on cliftondiocese.com where hundreds of other audio programmes produced by the Catholic Church in the West of England are also available.  ‘Journey - The Sound of Many Waters Podcast’ is available at the Sound of Many Waters website.

The first ever ‘Let Us Pod’ won a Jerusalem Radio Award in 2007.  It was about the people who make up the community at Clifton Cathedral.  It came out the winner - against 10 others, including traditional broadcasters such as the BBC - in the new media category.  ‘Let Us Pod - Bereavement’ won this year’s Jerusalem Radio Award for best internet audio. 

A special programme from Bristol community radio station, BCfm 93.2, was also honoured at the Christian Broadcasting Council Awards.  ‘Face to Faith - Direct from Lourdes’ received a sliver award for best speech/magazine radio programme.  The programme was broadcast from the French pilgrimage town during a visit by Bristol pilgrims in August.  It can be heard at the Face to Faith website.