People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Tom Ryan
Tom Ryan is BBC Radio Bristol’s lead documentary maker and station sound producer.
This year, he has created a special soundtrack for the nightglows at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which returns from August 8 to 11 celebrating ‘Icons of Bristol’ in a year which marks the 50th anniversary of Concorde and 30 years since the first Wallace and Gromit film.
These are Tom’s top-five Bristol favourites:
is needed now More than ever
SS Great Britain
“The harbourside is amazing and when the sun is shining there is no better looking city in the world than Bristol. The highlight of the harbourside is the SS Great Britain, the best museum in Bristol. My kids love it as well and the Being Brunel section was a master stroke.”
Ashton Gate Stadium
“I’ve lost count of the amount of hours I’ve spent down at Ashton Gate. I’ve stood or sat in every stand. My brother and I would go with my dad every Saturday before we both started to play. I’ve been a mascot (I asked Andy Leaning if I could have his gloves – he laughed and walked off) and I’ve been lucky enough to play there a few times. It’s a beautiful stadium with an incredible history and the new stands look amazing in the south Bristol skyline.”
Clark’s Pies
“I used to grab one on the way down to the Gate, trying not to burn my chin when the gravy poured out when I took a bite. They’re now a tea time treat for me and my eldest son.”
The Clanage
“The home of Bedminster Cricket Club and also the home of my primary school football matches. I played for Bedminster for just over ten years and loved the club. Set at the foot of Rownham Hill, you can see the Suspension Bridge above you, hear the roar from Ashton Gate when the seasons overlap and, on more than one occasion, the hot air balloons would land on the pitch from the Balloon Fiesta.”
BBC Radio Bristol
“Radio is all I’ve ever done. I spent five years at Galaxy 101 (now Kiss) and three years at GWR (now Heart) but I love our station. BBC Radio Bristol does things that no other radio station can do. It puts our listeners at the centre of the biggest sporting occasions and brings you the stories you never knew from your community. I’ve been truly lucky to be here for 15 years, hopefully with many more to come. We have a great team with some of the most creative and hardworking people I’ve ever worked with.”
Read more: My Bristol Favourites: Addison Groove
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