Our Story

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Scotland's first ever urban community land buy out in Portobello.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen meets the Aviation Preservation Society of Scotland and Sophie the Strutter.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits the Cold War military base that became Scotland's first craft village.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Barlinnie's prison radio station broadcasts into every cell, offering music request shows and vital information to support rehabilitation. Mark meets Barry Richardson, the prison officer who set up the station and learned how to operate it alongside the prisoners. Inmates including DJ Geo tell Mark how they've learned valuable life skills like teamwork and responsibility. Victoria Byrne from Citizens Advice uses the radio station to help prepare prisoners for their release, and for former inmate Jordan Robertson, working at Barbed Wireless led to a career in the media.

Mark Stephen goes inside Barlinnie to meet the team running the prison radio station.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Barlinnie's prison radio station broadcasts into every cell, offering music request shows and vital information to support rehabilitation. Mark meets Barry Richardson, the prison officer who set up the station and learned how to operate it alongside the prisoners. Inmates including DJ Geo tell Mark how they've learned valuable life skills like teamwork and responsibility. Victoria Byrne from Citizens Advice uses the radio station to help prepare prisoners for their release, and for former inmate Jordan Robertson, working at Barbed Wireless led to a career in the media.

Mark Stephen goes inside Barlinnie to meet the team running the prison radio station.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen meets the people involved in Scotland's first disabled theatre company, Birds of Paradise to hear about the work they've been doing in making the Scottish arts scene more accessible for disabled artists. Hollyoaks actress Amy Conachan reveals to Mark her arduous route to success following 5 years of rejections before finally being accepted into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and writer Johnny McKnight tells Mark how important it was for him to avoid the stereotypical storylines routinely given to disabled actors.

Mark Stephen finds out about Scotland's first disabled theatre company.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen talks to the people involved in Scotland's first disabled theatre company, Birds of Paradise.

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Mark Stephen meets the homeowners of Deans South, Livingston, who lived on a ghost estate.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen meets the homeowners of Deans South, Livingston, who lived on a ghost estate.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen."

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen."

Mark Stephen visits the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy, to meet the players, management and the fans of the oldest ice hockey team.

With over 60 Scottish and British cups and titles to their name, the Flyers have a storied history of success that's all the more impressive considering they're based in a small market town. Despite facing financial challenges compared to their rivals in larger cities like Cardiff, Belfast, and Sheffield, the Flyers have more than made up for it with unwavering team spirit and a relentless drive to win. This was exemplified 40 years ago when the Flyers were crowned British Champions at Wembley Arena in London.

The team plays at the historic Fife Ice Arena, which opened in 1938. From the outside, the arena resembles an old cinema, and its interior reflects its vintage charm. While it may not boast the modern, sleek design of newer venues, the Fife Ice Arena more than compensates with its rich character and decades of history.

Mark Stephen visits the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy, the oldest ice hockey team in the UK.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy, to meet the players, management and the fans of the oldest ice hockey team in the UK.

Mark Stephen visits the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy to meet the players, management and fans of the oldest ice hockey team.

Mark Stephen visits the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy to meet the players, management and fans of the oldest ice hockey team in the UK.

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Mark Stephen visits the only library and museum in the UK dedicated to women's lives.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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In 1947, almost 500 Ukrainian POWs were interned and contracted to work in the local area in farming and forestry. Far from home, and unable to return, the men created a chapel in one of the corrugated iron huts and there have been regular services held there ever since.

75 years on, in an echo of history, the tiny chapel has become a focal point for Ukrainians and their families who have recently come to Scotland, having been displaced following the recent Russian invasion of their homeland.

Mark Stephen is in Dumfries & Galloway, to hear the story Hallmuir POW Ukrainian Chapel.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen is in Dumfries and Galloway near Lockerbie to hear the story of the Hallmuir POW Ukrainian Chapel.

In 1947, almost 500 Ukrainian POWs were interned and contracted to work in the local area in farming and forestry. Far from home and unable to return, the men created a chapel in one of the corrugated iron huts, and there have been regular services held there ever since.

75 years on, in an echo of history, the tiny chapel has become a focal point for Ukrainians and their families who have recently come to Scotland having been displaced following the Russian invasion of their homeland.

Mark Stephen is in Dumfries and Galloway to hear about the Hallmuir POW Ukrainian Chapel.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen hears how one Scottish family have welcomed a Ukrainian family into their home after the war in Ukraine forced them to flee their country. When Kelly and Mark saw the news footage of families in desperate need, they knew that they couldn't sit back and do nothing.

So, after signing up to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the next challenge was to get various tradesmen on board to help convert their attic into proper living accommodation for the Ukrainian family they had been matched with.

Mark Stephen hears how a Scottish family have welcomed a Ukrainian family into their home.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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As Knockhill racing circuit in Fife turns 50, Mark Stephen hears how farmer Tom Kinnaird turned his sheep farm into the home of Scottish motorsport. Over the last 5 decades, Knockhill has been the breeding ground for champions such as Formula 1 driver David Coulthard and super bike rider Niall MacKenzie but triple British Touring Car champion Gordon ‘Flash' Shedden gives Mark the full Knockhill experience as they hurtle around the track at over 100mph.

Mark Stephen hears the story behind Knockhill racing circuit in Fife

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

As Knockhill racing circuit in Fife turns 50, Mark Stephen hears how farmer Tom Kinnaird turned his sheep farm into the home of Scottish motorsport. Over the last five decades, Knockhill has been the breeding ground for champions such as Formula 1 driver David Coulthard and superbike rider Niall MacKenzie, but triple British Touring Car champion Gordon ‘Flash' Shedden gives Mark the full Knockhill experience as they hurtle around the track at over 100mph.

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Mark Stephen climbs aboard the MV Western Isles passenger ferry in the port of Mallaig to make the 40-minute sailing to get to one of Scotland's most remote communities, Knoydart. Mark meets up with locals to hear about what life is like living in an area that is so remote they have to make their own electricity. Mark also hears stories about how the Knoydart community recently rallied together to bring their local pub, The Old Forge, into community ownership.

Mark Stephen finds out about life in one of Scotland's most remote communities.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits Knoydart to find out about life in one of Scotland's most remote communities and learns how the locals recently brought the pub into community ownership.

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Isabel McCue shares how the loss of her son John led to the creation of Nemo Arts.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

After the loss of her son John, Isabel McCue and her younger son Hugh set up Nemo Arts to support other families dealing with mental illness. Starting with five people on Sunday afternoons, twenty-five years later they offer classes in the community, hospitals and prisons, with everything from drama to drumming, singing and painting. Mark Stephen hears how people are finding joy, friendship and a true sense of identity through coming to Nemo Arts.

Isabel McCue shares how the loss of her son John led to the creation of Nemo Arts.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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After the loss of her son John, Isabel McCue and her younger son Hugh set up Nemo Arts to support other families dealing with mental illness. Starting with five people on Sunday afternoons, 25 years later they offer classes in the community, hospitals and prisons with everything from drama to drumming, singing and painting. Mark Stephen hears how people are finding joy, friendship and a true sense of identity through coming to Nemo Arts.

Isabel McCue shares how the loss of her son John led to the creation of Nemo Arts.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen visits the borders to speak to some of Scotland's most dedicated pigeon fanciers. Regarded as ‘feathered athletes' he discovers a world of friendship, fun and fierce competition. He learns how the sport of pigeon racing fosters incredible bonds within families and how the traditional image of pigeon racing is being challenged by many in the racing community.

Mark Stephen speaks to some of Scotland's most dedicated pigeon fanciers.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits the Borders and speaks to the dedicated enthusiasts who make up Scotland's pigeon racing community.

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Mark Stephen takes a paddle on the Union Canal with Scotland's only cancer survivors' dragon boat group, the Port Edgar Dragons. He also learns about the origins of the Pink Dragon movement in Canada, a dragon boat team formed by cancer survivors. The initiative was founded by Dr Don McKenzie, a professor of sports medicine and exercise physiologist, who sought to challenge the prevailing medical belief at the time that women treated for breast cancer should avoid rigorous upper-body exercise due to the risk of lymphedema—a chronic and debilitating side effect of treatment.

Mark Stephen goes for a paddle with Scotland's only cancer survivors' dragon boat group.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen goes for a paddle on the Union Canal with Scotland's only cancer survivors' dragon boat group, the Port Edgar Dragons.

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The Queen's Nurse didn't go to work, she didn't do a shift, she went on duty and it was a duty of care from the cradle to the grave and everything in between'.

Until 1969, the Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland trained district nurse, to look after people in their own homes. For years they looked after entire communities; on call 24/7, one day off a month, no two days the same – delivering babies, end of life care, supporting the entire family in their districts.

Each year, the retired nurses come together at their annual gathering at Crieff Hydro. Mark joins these remarkable women to hear of their resilience, sacrifice and adventure.

Mark Stephen meets retired Queens District Nurses to talk about nursing in the past.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Until 1969 the Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland trained district nurses, to look after people in their own homes. For years they looked after entire communities; on call 24/7, one day off a month, no two days the same – delivering babies, end of life care, supporting the entire family in their districts.

Each year the retired nurses come together at their annual gathering at Crieff Hydro. Mark joins these remarkable women to hear their of resilience, sacrifice and adventure.

Mark Stephen meets retired Queens District nurses to hear about the life and duties of a district nurse in some of the most remote communities of Scotland.

The Queen's Nurse didn't go to work, she didn't do a shift, she went on duty and it was a duty of care from the cradle to the grave and everything in between'.

Until 1969, the Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland trained district nurses to look after people in their own homes. For years, they looked after entire communities, on call 24/7, one day off a month, no two days the same – delivering babies, end-of-life care, supporting the entire family in their districts.

Each year, the retired nurses come together at their annual gathering at Crieff Hydro. Mark joins these remarkable women to hear of their resilience, sacrifice and adventure.

Mark Stephen meets retired Queens District nurses to talk about nursing in the past.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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The Riding for the Disabled Association, also known as the RDA was founded in 1969 and for over 55 years, the charity has been providing therapeutic horse-riding and carriage driving lessons to thousands of individuals living with a disability regardless of age or experience.

In this week's Our Story, Mark Stephen hears from the dedicated coaches, volunteers and participants whose lives have been transformed through the incredible relationship between horse and human.

Mark Stephen visits Scotland's largest Riding for the Disabled centre in Glasgow

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen speaks to the dedicated coaches, volunteers and participants involved in Scotland's largest Riding for the Disabled centre in Maryhill, Glasgow.

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Mark Stephen follows in the footsteps of the rich and famous as he climbs aboard Concorde to hear about this iconic aircraft's fascinating history and its many Scottish connections. Former Concorde pilot Captain Andy Baillie gives us the lowdown on what it's like to travel at 1,400mph while Michael Jackson is moonwalking down the cabin.

Wet Wet Wet guitarist Graeme Clark describes his bewilderment at the luxury and opulence onboard and Jerry Smith, Concorde's youngest ever Cabin Services Director, proudly talks about how his time spent working at the Glasgow Barras gave him the confidence to broker a deal with Bill Clinton.

Mark Stephen climbs aboard Concorde to hear about its fascinating Scottish history.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, the SS Uganda provided thousands of schoolchildren with their first foreign adventures on what were called educational cruises. Hundreds at a time would board for trips around Scandinavia, the Atlantic, and even behind the Iron Curtain in Leningrad. Sadly, the ship no longer exists, but Mark Stephen heads to Dundee Model Boat Club to see a replica of the Uganda, and hear tales from former passengers of disco nights, seasickness and roaming around foreign cities in school uniform.

Mark Stephen hears school-day adventures on educational cruises aboard the SS Uganda.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

The SS Uganda gave thousands of Scottish schoolchildren their first experience of foreign travel through educational cruises. Mark Stephen hears their memories.

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From the 1960s to the 1980s, the SS Uganda provided thousands of schoolchildren with their first foreign adventures on what were called educational cruises. Hundreds at a time would board for trips around Scandinavia, the Atlantic, and even behind the Iron Curtain in Leningrad. Sadly, the ship no longer exists, but Mark Stephen heads to Dundee Model Boat Club to see a replica of the Uganda, and hear tales from former passengers of disco nights, seasickness and roaming around foreign cities in school uniform.

Mark Stephen hears school day adventures on educational cruises aboard the SS Uganda.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

The SS Uganda gave thousands of Scottish schoolchildren their first experience of foreign travel through educational cruises. Mark Stephen hears their memories.

[LISTEN NOW]

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen hears how communities coped with the worst storm in a generation.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen meets the Badenoch Ladies Shinty Club at the Dell in Kingussie.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen meets the people who look after Aberdeenshire's most iconic hill.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen meets the people who look after Aberdeenshire's most iconic hill.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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In 2010, the longest tapestry in the world was unveiled in Prestonpans.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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For the Moray town of Burghead, 11 January is a significant date. For them, it is the new year, and to mark the occasion, they burn the Clavie. Dating back to the 1750s, the annual fire festival is still going strong. Mark Stephen visits Burghead to discover the origins of the tradition and witness the spectacle first hand

Mark Stephen visits Burghead for the annual Burning of the Clavie New Year celebration

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

11 January is a significant date for Burghead. That's when they Burn The Clavie to celebrate their new year. Mark Stephen visits the Moray town to witness the spectacle first-hand.

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Mark Stephen visits the General Store, a repair monger in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders where local people can get take their broken items to get fixed rather than throwing them away and buying new ones.

With an ethos of 'no fix, no fee', the handy in-house team of men and women will attempt to repair just about anything from electrical items, including laptops and tablets to clothes, toys, lamps and garden tools.

The Community Interest Company support their repair project by selling second-hand and hand-made goods in a retail shop in the town's market square. This helps pay costs and keep repair fees affordable, and since they opened in 2021, they have carried out almost 5,000 repairs, saving many of these items from landfill.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits the General Store, a repair monger in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders who are out to save as much as possible from landfill.

[LISTEN NOW]

Mark Stephen visits the General Store, a Repair Monger in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders where local people can get take their broken items to get fixed rather than throwing them away and buying new one.

With an ethos, 'No Fix, No Fee', the handy in-house team of men and women will attempt to repair just about anything from electrical items, including laptops and tablets to clothes, toys, lamps and garden tools.

The Community Interest Company support their repair project by selling second-hand and hand-made goods in a retail shop in the town's Market Square. This helps pay costs and keep repair fees affordable, and since they opened in 2021, they have carried out almost 5000 repairs, saving many of these items from landfill.

Mark Stephen visits the General Store, a Repair Monger in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits the General Store, a Repair Monger in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders who are out to save as much as possible from landfill.

[LISTEN NOW]

Mark Stephen visits Scotland's first purpose-built Gurdwara. Located on Albert Drive, Glasgow, this beautiful religious temple opened its doors ten years ago and is very much at the heart of the Sikh community.

Mark hears how the Gurdwara is not just a place to worship, but it's also where people go to study, take part in leisure activities and socialise. Mark is also given a behind-the-scenes tour at the langar to hear about the central role that food plays within the Sikh faith.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits Scotland's first purpose-built Gurdwara, which is at the heart of the Sikh community in Glasgow.

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Mark Stephen joins children with additional support needs for a day at the seaside.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen joins children with additional support needs for a day at the seaside.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen meets curlers who played an epic match on the Lake of Menteith in 1979.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Mark Stephen visits Inverness to celebrate 40 years of the opening of the Kessock Bridge and hears from communities north and south of the Beauly Firth about how their lives have been positively impacted by this impressive piece of engineering. Bridge engineer Ken Wilson also tells Mark about how the bridge was designed to withstand extreme weather and potential earthquakes due to it being constructed on the Great Glen Geological Fault, and CEO of Inverness Chambers of Commerce, Stewart Nicol, explains how the Kessock Bridge has transformed business and tourism in the north of Scotland.

Mark Stephen celebrates 40 years of the Kessock Bridge.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen celebrates 40 years of the Kessock Bridge and hears how this impressive piece of engineering has changed the lives of communities north and south of the Beauly Firth.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Love comes to town in the very first march by people with experience of the care system.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen takes to the sky's as he heads to north Uist in a lite aircraft, to meet the organisers of the Sollas Beach Fly-in. A special annual event, where pilots get to challenge themselves by landing on a public beach.

First established in the early 2000s by John Angus Macleod, the Fly-in has grown from a few pilots landing on Sollas Beach, to an event that now attracts light-aircraft enthusiasts from all over the UK as well as further afield in Europe.

Mark Stephen visits north Uist to meet the organisers of the Sollas Beach Fly-in.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits north Uist, to meet the organisers of the Sollas Beach Fly-in, an event that attracts light-aircraft enthusiasts from all over the UK, as well as Europe.

Mark Stephen takes to the skies as he heads to North Uist in a light aircraft, to meet the organisers of the Sollas Beach Fly-In. A special annual event, where pilots get to challenge themselves by landing on a public beach.

[LISTEN NOW]

Mark Stephen takes to the sky's as he heads to north Uist in a lite aircraft, to meet the organisers of the Sollas Beach Fly-in. A special annual event, where pilots get to challenge themselves by landing on a public beach.

First established in the early 2000s by John Angus Macleod, the Fly-in has grown from a few pilots landing on Sollas Beach, to an event that now attracts light-aircraft enthusiasts from all over the UK as well as further afield in Europe.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen visits north Uist, to meet the organisers of the Sollas Beach Fly-in, an event that attracts light-aircraft enthusiasts from all over the UK, as well as Europe.

[LISTEN NOW]

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

Mark Stephen hears how Scotland saved the Women's Rugby World Cup.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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With the wind in his hair and the biggest smile on his face, Mark Stephen gets the ride of his life when he visits Aviemore to meet the bikers involved in one of Europe's largest Harley Davidson motorbike conventions, Thunder in the Glens. Mark discovers why bikers travel from all over the world to be part of the famous ride-out, which sees thousands of bikers roar through the hills of the Highlands.

Mark Stephen joins thousands of bikers in Aviemore for Thunder in the Glens.

Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.

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Communities around Scotland tell the stories that matter to them. With Mark Stephen.