My Bristol favourites: Miranda Rae

Miranda Rae presents The Word with Miranda on Ujima Radio every Friday from 2pm to 4pm.

Here are her top-five Bristol favourites:

St Paul’s

“I have lived and worked in St Paul’s since I was 11 years old. I have so many amazing memories! Not only was my dad’s shop on St Nicholas Road but my first job was as promotions manager at FTP Radio, the UK’s first pirate station to be awarded a legal license. Our studio was in the beautiful Portland Square.  FTP went on to be Galaxy Radio and so I worked and lived in St Paul’s for over 25 years. I’ve attended the awesome St Paul’s Carnival since I was 12. I have been blessed to be welcomed into the neighbourhood and have enjoyed the sights and sounds that come with living in a multicultural community. I used to regularly DJ in the iconic St Nick’s pub run by the wonderful former Lord Mayor, Jim Williams. One of my favourite memories was when he invited me for tea at the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House in Clifton.”

Ujima Radio

“Two years ago, DJ Styles asked if I would like to join the Ujima Radio family. I had been living and working in Thailand as a journalist and a TV presenter but returned to the UK when I got pregnant. When I was asked to join Ujima I hadn’t been working for a number of years, and as any mum will tell you, returning to work after being a mum is one hell of a challenge! So why is Ujima one of my favourite places? Coz every time I walk into the building I am greeted by warm and smiley faces. The transition from full-time mum was made easy simply by the incredible team of people involved at the station. The atmosphere is electric with the buzz that only live radio can create. I produce and present a weekly show every Friday from 2pm to 4pm, and there is no other station in the world that would let me have a completely free reign to produce the radio that I like. I can pioneer new music, feature incredible human interest stories or moan at the mayor for withdrawing funding from St Paul’s Carnival; which I am thrilled to say now has its own carnival commission and has engaged a consultancy company with a commitment to supporting black-led organisations. There will be two empowering consultations taking place on April 6 and 7 at The Docklands, a survey and then a report will be made on how to deliver a sustainable future for the carnival.”

The enigma of Banksy

“Who is Banksy? Is that a Banksy? I love the enigma of Banksy. Take a stroll around the city and check out his various subversive yet witty unique street art.  Banksy’s distinctive swork catapulted graffiti into the mainstream. You can now even take a guided walking tour of his work dotted around the city. Just another reason why I am so proud to be a Bristolian. I am fortunate enough to have worked in the music scene in Bristol for many years and I take immense pride in being able to say I come from Bristol! Banksy’s art has over the years paralleled the Bristol music scene and if there was one person I would like to interview, it would be him!”

Sunset over Clevedon Pier

“15 minutes on the bus and you are in the Victorian seaside town of Clevedon. There is a seafront you can stroll along with a couple of beaches, great ice cream shops, a skateboard park, a kids playground and in summer you’re guaranteed a bouncy castle, the iconic Clevedon miniature train, several pubs, tennis, a bandstand, sailing club and there’s even crazy golf. If none of that takes your fancy then simply ensure you go on clear evening and sit and admire the most incredible view of the sunset over the Severn Estuary and the oldest pier in the country.”

The Avon Gorge 

“No one can argue with the beauty of the Avon Gorge. But have you heard the legend of how it came to be? Once upon a time there were two brothers who happened to be giants, Goram and Vincent, and as often happens with brothers they had the hots for the same woman, the tantalising Avona. Avona couldn’t decide which brother she preferred so she set them a challenge, and she’d give herself to whoever could drain the lake which, so legend goes, used to occupy the land between Bradford-on-Avon and Bristol. They chose different paths through the hills for their channels. Goram opted for a route through Henbury and Vincent chose one on the south side of Clifton. Unfortunately for Goram, he got drunk, overheated and passed out, whilst his brother Vincent went at a steady pace and finished his channel. So, you see this is how the narrow gorge came into existence and forever to be known as Avon Gorge!”

St Paul’s, Banksy and Avon Gorge photographs by Kerri Given

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