An era has ended on the airwaves in Petersfield as a double act who have entertained the town’s listeners for half a decade have stepped away from the microphone.
Joff Lacey – AKA one of the hardest-working figures in Petersfield’s arts and entertainment scene – and Claire Vennis have recorded their last P-Pod for Shine Radio.
In their emotional final podcast they reminisced about their “incredible journey” of stories, encounters and ramblings on the station’s equivalent of The One Show.
The pair, dubbed the “voice of Petersfield”, have interviewed everyone from beekeepers to naked swimmers since their first podcast in 2019. But after 203 shows they’ve decided to call it a day, with Claire getting a job at a gardening magazine and Joff keen to take a step back.
“I think it’s the right time to bow out,” said Joff, before thanking all their guests for making the P-Pod what it is.
“You think about the people we’ve met, the places we’ve been, the activities, the things we’ve seen. It’s been wonderful.”
Claire, who will continue working behind the scenes with Joff, remembers shaking with nerves at the first recording, which involved a team of six, a laptop and a bag full of radio equipment.
She said: “Who knew that when Shine Radio started just over five years ago now, what we would have done, who we would have met and where we would have gone? It’s been incredible.
The hosts praised each other before thanking the likes of editor Em Sefton-Smith and the team for their support along the way.
Their last podcast included an interview with Pam Buckley at the Methodist church about the Petersfield Musical Festival, and a chat with their supporter and town mayor, Cllr JC Crissey, who thanked them for their contribution to Petersfield life and bringing the best of the community.