Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

Have you been part of music making in Hitchin? Would you like to contribute to my forthcoming book on the history of music in the town? Juggling words and music has been the source of flavour in my life, since learning piano at Highbury House at the age of seven with Janet Flavell/Orwin. I migrated to the clarinet (with Harry Bichard) and thence to saxophones (with Harry first and then John Myatt), to some degree of success. Writing was always another passion and it is now a pleasure to combine all of this with my love of Hitchin and the amazing community here. Starting this project in January 2025 has opened all kinds of doors and I have spoken to several people with fascinating stories to tell about their part in the history of music in Hitchin. For those who don’t know, Hitchin is a small town in Hertfordshire, around 30 miles north of London. Over centuries, it has attracted creative people to visit and settle: music has become an important part of this community. This project aims...

More than three carrier bags full of litter have been removed from the footpaths around my home town in the days after Christmas - the weather has been mild, so what better than to improve the environment while walking the dog?

I was delighted to be able to help Hitchin Creative and Visit Hitchin decorate the streets of our town with the very first Winter Art Trail. Designing the posters was fun. You can read some of the press release I wrote below: Repurposing stands originally used for hand sanitisers around the town, Hitchin Creative has created a trail of large paintings produced by members of our local artistic community. “We’re grateful to Town Centre Manager Tom Hardy and his team for coming up with the idea of making creative use of the stands,” says Hitchin Creative Chair Hilary Seabrook. “The 11 artists featured in the trail are all working locally and it’s great to be able to produce this first Winter Art Trail to coincide with the second Hitchin Winter Festival.” Hitchin Creative has taken over the administration of Hitchin Festival and details of Hitchin Winter Festival and the Winter Art Trail map are available online at www.hitchinfestival.co.uk . For more information about Hitchin Creative, ju...

One of my other 'hats' is as Chair of Hitchin Creative. We aim to bring creative people together across the little Hertfordshire town where I live: you'd be surprised how many artists, writers, musicians, comedians, sculptors, designers and photographers live within a few miles of each other! Just launched today is the programme for the Hitchin Winter Festival, which runs from 16 November. It includes a huge number of events through to Christmas, and now everyone can check it out. There's even an advert for harmonious World - I can tick everyone in Hitchin off my Christmas card list!

Aiming to be the UK's first sustainable outside theatre, The Living Theatre in the tiny village of Whitewell is well on its way, with brilliant and professional actors, directors and backstage crew. This week, they're performing Macbeth  and the Sunday matinee performance managed to dodge torrential thunderstorms that brought pathetic fallacy to life in the hours running up to the start. The Living Theatre Founded in August 2020 - perhaps not the ideal time to begin any creative endeavour - The Living Theatre has clear aims: “To develop a professional working community theatre in a rural open space with access to industry experience for all whilst promoting mental well-being, community engagement and personal development.” The Living Theatre's production of Macbeth  (it couldn't have been more different to Friday's Present Laughter !) was dark and effective, with the two protagonists supported brilliantly by Duncan, Malcolm, Banquo, Macduff et al. This is a really ...

There was only one way to end this holiday, and that was climbing the 533 steps (97 metres) of Cologne Cathedral's tower. It's not an easy climb, but well worth it for the views across the city. Never stop litter picking! A spot of lunch and we were set for the few hours' travelling back to the UK after a real insight into some great European cities.

I was delighted to see that North Herts Museum was open once more.     As I stepped through the door, I was welcomed with a little track and trace form filling, hand sanitiser and then a solo guided tour. It was a total delight. Followed up with a socially-distanced cup of peppermint tea.     There's so much to see in the museum. The ground floor features an impressive collection of artefacts arranged in chronological order. There is also a special exhibition space, which is currently filled withe the most inspirational Rembrandt sketches. The first floor galleries are arranged more thematically - all carefully curated and presented. A wonderful space.

Walking the dog this morning made me realise how many people have already decided lockdown is over.     I have to observe a strict 2m social distancing rule. For many people, walking right past, completely oblivious, is the order of the day. I don't expect them to change what they're doing but if it's obvious I'm standing back to let them pass, it would be nice if they kept away.     Still, at least I can go out and about, even if it is only once a day and all in the great outdoors.

Well, this is odd. I'm preparing to go into shielding or, as I prefer to call it, stealth mode.     I've done a big shop, seen my parents - at a distance - and now I'm about to close my doors, just as much of the world is emerging from lockdown.     On 7 July, I'm undergoing the delights of a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy. Yes, both on the same day, although not, thankfully, both at the same time. In order to be safe for those procedures, I'm having to be shielded - sorry, in stealth mode - for seven days.     If you've heard the long and boring story of my recent illnesses before, please skip the next paragraph.     In November 2012, I had a bad car crash, resulting in me being cut out of my car and having to take lots of pain killers. Then in January 2013, I broke my shoulder on my 50th birthday, resulting in more pain relief. By March, my shoulder was recovering nicely, but seemed to have frozen (of which more, later) and I was feeling very sic...

While out walking the dog today, I spotted these three pieces of litter. Picking them up and disposing of them responsibly might make a tiny difference, but imagine if everyone did this. Not just today, on World Oceans Day , but every day.

I was blessed to interview pianist Marco Marconi on my classical music radio programme, Rubato this afternoon.     It really was a complete pleasure and you can listen again by clicking here .

The adjective 'natural' is used with wild abandon to describe anything which once came from nature. The dictionary definition includes the distinction that it is not made or caused by humankind and yet our influence on the world means that little can properly be classed natural in those terms. For anyone attempting to live a more clean lifestyle, this is a major dilemma, particularly when considering choices in food, cosmetics and household products. In the heart of Hitchin, beside the resolutely-closed Hitchin Museum (just a few metres from the newly-opened North Herts Museum, which has been so badly managed that it doesn't even have a proper entrance), there lies the William Ransom Physic Garden. It's a beautiful spot, even in the closing days of September. William Ransom began selling essential oils in Hitchin in 1846 and the business is still going today, albeit owned by a major pharmaceutical operation. His garden of aromatic plants is a fragrant reminder of...

I took this photo while walking the dog. It's simply stunning and quite by accident. No filter, no fiddling.