Thursday 2nd August 2018
I’ve been invited by BBC Radio York presenter Anna Wallace to come to her show next Thursday 9th August to talk about Dad, Heartbeat and my columns. Tune in to FM 95.5 or 103.7 between 2pm and 3pm or listen via their website through this link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01yq8ky
Tuesday 3rd April 2018
Farewell Bill Maynard
So sad to hear of the passing of Bill Maynard on Friday, who so brilliantly embodied one of Heartbeat’s most loveable and memorable characters. Dad invented the character Claude Jeremiah Greengrass, the lovable rogue who kept the local so bobbies busy. Here I am on Sky news talking about it.
Wednesday 10th January 2018
RIP to my sister ❤️
It is with enormous sadness that we wish to announce the death of our beautiful and loving daughter and sister Tricia. What we originally thought was a nasty stomach bug sadly turned out to be a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Tricia was admitted to hospital on 30th November 2017 and died on Monday 8th January 2018. We are so grateful for the care she received during her brief illness at Bournemouth and St James’s (Leeds) hospitals, and during her last day at St Leonard’s Hospice, York, the same hospice where her father Peter also passed away in April. Tricia bore her illness with boundless positivity and determination, and faced every new challenge with unwavering fortitude. We are so grateful for all the messages of love and support sent to both Tricia and ourselves over the past few weeks. They meant so much and gave all of us, especially Tricia, enormous strength. Her face lit up with joy whenever Jacob, or her nephews and nieces appeared at her side. We’d like to express our particular thanks to Alison Wheatley, Rachel Close and Marysia Koc for their selfless and unending emotional and practical support during this whole period. They helped us endure the most difficult of days, and were with us as we said our final goodbyes to Tricia on Monday.
Tricia’s proudest achievement was the publication of her incredibly moving novel, Benedict’s Brother, and the progress she and her team had made to turn it into in a major film. We fully expect that the dream will not die with her, and it will one day become a reality.
Thank you to all of you who wanted to visit Tricia in hospital, and we are sorry that many of you did not have a chance to see her one last time. Unfortunately, her decline was so rapid, that it was simply not possible. However, Tricia would be absolutely delighted if you would help us celebrate her life in the near future. Although Tricia has asked for a private cremation, she has also requested that we celebrate her life by scattering her ashes at Sutton Bank near Ampleforth and in Boscombe near Bournemouth. You will all be very welcome to wish her a final farewell.
Once again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all the love, kindness, prayers, and thoughts you have all sent us.
Rhoda, Janet, Andrew and Sarah xxxx
Sunday 3rd December 2017
I had the honour to be asked to present the Darlington and Stockton Times Readers’ Choice Award at the Flavours of Herriot Country Awards on Dec 1st. So many wonderful Yorkshire food producers and purveyors were celebrated. Made me proud to be a Yorkshirewoman! Well done to Stamps Coffee Shop in Great Ayton and all the other winners (Captions with each pic if you want to know more!)
Sunday 3rd December 2017
An eventful walk in the Dales reveals some interesting history in my latest column, Grassington Ramble Takes the Lead
Friday 24th November 2017
Read about the unforgettable moment that inspired me to follow in Dad’s footsteps in my latest column An Unforgettable Moment of Inspiration
Wednesday 22nd November 2017
This weekend in The Times Magazine we found out that Turner Prize-winning artists Gilbert and George relax by watching Heartbeat. Who knew? If it’s good enough for them…
Friday 17th November 2017
Ever been splatted by a rotten potato? My latest column, One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes…Splat! is out now.
Friday 10th November 2017
I have a new monthly column starting this month in Go Local magazine. First one, a tribute to my dad, Mr Heartbeat ❤️
Also, do you remember those two little squeaking pigs? My latest column, Punky and Perky, is out now.
Friday 3rd November 2017
My latest column, Conkering a Crisis, is out now.
Friday 3rd November 2017
My columns are published every Wednesday in the Gazette & Herald paper, and every Friday in the Darlington & Stockton Times. They appear online and on this blog soon afterwards. Just search for Sarah Walker or Countryman’s Daughter on the websites’ search box or click on the links above.
Saturday 7th October 2017
My latest column, Taking Stock of Misedemeanors, is available online now at the Gazette and Herald and Darlington and Stockton Times websites.
Thurs 28th September 2017
A few people have asked me how far in to BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live is my bit. I’m at 03:16, 36:45 & 49:18, which is easy to find if you listen via the BBC iPlayer Radio app or online. Click here to listen.
Fri 22nd Sept 2017
My latest column, Harvesting the goodwill of the village, is now online at the Gzette and Herald and the Darlington and Stockton Times newspaper websites.
Sun 17th Sept 2017
Thanks to my good friend Caroline, who having read my ‘Cereal, Squabbles and Soggy Picnics’ column, bought me this Kellogg’s Variety Pack for my birthday. Not quite the same without the All-Bran though! 😂
Sun 17th Sept 2017
My latest column ‘Them convulsions are such a bind’ is now online at the Gazette and Herald and the Darlington and Stockton Times websites.
Mon 11th Sept 2017
Delighted to have been invited to the opening of the new Orangery at the Fairfax Arms in Gilling East today where I met Welcome to Yorkshire CEO Sir Gary Verity (charming man), plus a blast from my past, Sue Nelson of Yorkshire Food Finders, who used to be my boss at the York Press and who I last saw in 1991! The Orangery is a sympathetic extension, to the original building, constructed using the finest materials from local suppliers and extends the dining facilities and outside terraced area – well worth a visit! A big congratulations to Anna Lupton (Carr House Farm Bed & Breakfast) who helped organise the event, and to Rob and Ed Fawcett who hosted it. Another tool to attract visitors to our lovely part of the world.
Visit the Fairfax Arms website here.
Visit Yorkshire Food Finders here.
Visit Carr House Farm B&B here.
Visit Welcome to Yorkshire here.
Sun 10th Sept 2017
My latest column, Dad’s swift action stopped a catastrophe, is live on the Darlington and Stockton Times website now. Read it here
It is also on the Malton Gazette and Herald website here
Sat 2nd Sept 2017
Was so excited to be invited to speak on one of my favourite programmes, BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live with the adorable Rev Richard Coles (soon to appear in Strictly Come Dancing 2017. He’s my vote to win!). Click here to listen
