Moving Matters - Episodes Tagged with “Britannia”

Episode 56: Moving Matters with Judith Bennett of Britannia Bennetts of Malvern - Part 1

Colin Wynn — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode (part 1 of 2) Judith Bennett, Director of Britannia Bennetts of Malvern discusses how she began in the industry nearly 25 years ago after going on a blind date through mutual friends with the enigma that is Alan Bennett (episode 35), who Judith got engaged to only 8 weeks later!

Britannia Bennetts run 4 HGV’s, 4 low-loaders, have a 20,000 sqft warehouse with 350 containers and 130 self-storage rooms. We discover what lead Judith (and Alan) into the self-storage industry as Malvern Self-Storage, which was led by customer demand in choice.

Judith’s challenge is being female in a male dominated industry, although this has changed as there are a lot more women in key roles today than when Judith started 25 years ago.

The one thing Judith would like to change from her moving past is to have more confidence in the business decisions she and Alan made in their early days in business together.

And I ask Judith if she thinks females make better surveyors.

Judith has several highpoints of being within the industry, meeting Alan is obviously the biggest, but also was joining A C Bennett Removals and turning it from sole trader into a limited company where she became a 50% shareholder, signing on the land for their current warehouse, joining Britannia Movers International and being invited onto the board, and finally, having her 2 eldest children join the family business as second generation.

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Bennetts of Malvern:

Special Guest: Judith Bennett.

Episode 50: Moving Matters with Mark Tresler of Britannia Movers International plc

Colin Wynn — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode Mark Tresler, Managing Director of Britannia Movers International discusses how he began his career in the industry joining Britannia almost 19 years ago as a temporary financial controller on a 6 month contract.

Britannia Movers International is a co-operative of likeminded business owner/managers who all trade under the same brand and are shareholders within Britannia. Britannia consists of approximately 35 companies in 40 depots around the UK, 2 in South Africa and 1 in Spain. Britannia provide imports, exports, UK corporate, UK international and military relocations.

Mark explains that Britannia are looking for new members, specifically in Scotland, Cumbria, Coventry, Reading and Maidenhead, to name a few areas. Membership requirements are that 2 vehicles are liveried at the start of the relationship, BAR membership (or an intention to join) and BSEN12522.

Mark has had several challenges in his 19 years, the main ones being the financial side of Britannia when he first joined (as a temp), finding a warehouse to purchase or land to build a warehouse upon having spent 13 years in Croydon, and more recently the pandemic.

The one thing Mark would like to change from his moving past would have been to possibly find the time and/or the reason to go out on surveys and removals.

Mark’s highpoint of being within the industry is becoming Managing Director, a position he has held for 11 years now and is probably the longest serving, and also putting his mark on the annual Britannia Conferences, by taking them to places members wouldn’t have necessarily gone on their own accord.

Mark would like to change two things within the industry, the first being the conveyancing system, and the second being to move away from the noisy, smelly, diesel vehicles and onto electric (or any alternative fuel).

The advice Mark would give himself just starting out in the industry is to enjoy it, because life would be really dull if every day was exactly the same, but every day in our industry brings different challenges to rise to.

In the next 5 years Mark would see himself 5 years closer to retirement, and that Britannia has a succession plan for as and when Mark decides to call it a day. Industry wise Mark does think we could go through a downturn in business in the next couple of years with talk of recession and costs continuing to rise.

Outside of the industry Mark enjoys walking and reading, especially the Jack Reacher novels (by Lee Child) and a bit of Jeffrey Archer, and Mark plays occasional (due to lack of opportunity) golf.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, or not in Mark’s case as he admits to never actually moved house.

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Movers International plc:

Special Guest: Mark Tresler.

Episode 45: Moving Matters with Jordan Bignell of Britannia Quickmove

Colin Wynn — Thu, 12 May 2022 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Jordan Bignell, Managing Director of Britannia Quickmove discusses how he began his career in the industry some 10 years ago as an apprentice, and only 2 years ago became the proud owner of Britannia Quickmove, just in time for a pandemic to arrive!

Quickmove was originally started by Peter Monk in the early 70’s, where some twenty years later he joined Britannia Movers International. In 2017 Peter sold the business to a local self-storage company, who then sold the removal side of the business (which included Phillips Removals, a small local removal company that have been around since the 1860/70’s) to Jordan & his wife in 2020.

Jordan’s biggest challenge that he’s had to overcome in the industry is his youth. Other challenges are the line ‘that’s how it’s always been done’, and managing the risk of Covid, but having only been in the industry for 10 tender years he does expect challenges ahead.

The one thing Jordan would change from his moving past is to have spent more time on the vehicles. Jordan also wishes he had made the jump to owner sooner, and began studying earlier too, as he is currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Business & Leadership, where he hopes he can be a future industry leader.

One of Jordan’s highpoints was the undertaking of a move for a very prestigious school in Wiltshire that was once home to a Princess, which resulted in further recommendations.

Jordan believes to change only one thing within the industry is a disservice, therefore I happily gave him the opportunity to choose several, and he chose; being recognised as a trade, which is a long-term goal; legislation for the regulation of smaller vehicles; a push towards more young people taking on key roles within the industry; recruiting younger people into the industry; innovation of technology; sustainability; electric & driverless trucks; diversity.

And we discuss Jordan’s reality TV idea that we just need Channel 4 to buy into!

The biggest advice Jordan would give himself just starting out in the industry again is to not let any boundary stop you from pushing to achieve more.

In the next five years Jordan hopes to have grown the business and taken on a new site. He would also like to become a BAR DED (Directly Elected Director), and who knows, maybe BAR President?

Outside of the industry, when not working fulltime and studying for his Master’s Degree, Jordan’s life is completely determined by what his new born son wants to do.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story regarding a very naked lady!

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Quickmove:

Special Guest: Jordan Bignell.

Episode 43: Moving Matters with Angus Russell of Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol

Colin Wynn — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode Angus Russell, General Manager of Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol discusses how he began his career within the industry some 34 years ago after responding to an advert in The Times for a Trainee Manager at Hoults.

Although Angus wasn’t born into the industry, he does believe he was born to be in this industry having spent most of his youth as an expat, relocating from country to country. In his 34 year career Angus has only worked for 3 companies, Hoults (2 years), Bishops Move (15 years) & Britannia Lanes (17 years currently).

Earlier than usual in the podcast, Angus tells us that his greatest point of being in the industry was convincing his bosses at the time (Bishops Move) that they should be represented at the BAR conference, which Angus then attended. And it was at the BAR conference at The Belfry that Angus met fellow conference attendee Ms Maria Lane, who in 2006 became Mrs Maria Russell, hence Angus’s move from Bishops Move to Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol.

Britannia Lanes started back in 1974 by Sylvia and Mike Lane after they were left some warehouses. Today they operate from 3 locations, Chacewater, Exeter & Bridgwater, with an unmanned Self Store due to open in Falmouth very soon. Britannia Lanes offer containerised storage, self storage, van hire, international, european, commercial & domestic relocation, shredding, and records management.

Angus talks in depth about training and the training services he provides to the industry, and we discuss the general question of what is the return on investment? From this came one of my favourite sentences, “we move dreams and aspirations”.

Angus has faced the challenges of a recession, but he finds the constant changes in legislation one of his biggest challenges, especially when the small businesses (the mum and dad business) have to upgrade on a corporate scale.

Angus wouldn’t change anything from his moving past, stating what you go through builds the character for who you are.

Apart from the obvious highpoint (see above) another of Angus’s highpoint was being made a Directly Elected Director of the BAR, which he really enjoyed.

The one thing Angus would like to change within the industry is the pay and value of the operational staff, but we can only do this by making the public recognise just how highly skilled moving actually is.

Angus’s advice to just starting out in the industry is listen, understand, and then make your viewpoint.

In the next 5 years Angus would like to continue his focus on training, maybe semi-retire (but that’s too hopeful) but without leaving the industry. In the next 10 years (rather than the usual 5), Angus sees the industry becoming more eco-friendly, with hydrogen vehicles being the way to go. And that the millennials will affect the industry as they collect less, resulting in smaller moves.

Outside of the industry Angus enjoys cooking, loves travelling, is into his pyrotechnics and of course spending time with his wife.

And as always we end Moving Matters with 2 funny moving stories, the first involving “milk!” and the second involving a chap looking for employment.

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Lanes:

Website

Special Guest: Angus Russell.

Episode 35: Moving Matters with Alan Bennett of Britannia Bennetts of Malvern

Colin Wynn — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode Alan Bennett, Director of Britannia Bennetts of Malvern discusses how he began in the industry some 40 years ago at the tender age of 16, for Ernest Batty Ltd (a 5 vehicle BAR member) where he remained until the company went into liquidation in 1985.

We discover that Bennetts of Malvern Limited (prior to Britannia Bennetts of Malvern) started on 27th March, 1987 and today is ran by Alan and his wife of 24 years Judith where they operate 4 HGV’s, 4 low-loaders (2 of which are from the van-hire side of the business), 8 removal staff, 4 office staff and a 20,000 sqft warehouse (on a 2 acre site), where half houses 350 containers and the rest is 130 Self-Storage units, with a further 130 Self-Storage units being fitted in the new year.

We discuss what the deciding factor was with Alan joining Britannia Movers International, which Alan points out is a co-operative and not a franchise that everyone seems to think it is (including me).

We discover Alan’s challenges, the house purchase collapse in 1989, the 2008 financial crash, but the biggest one has been Covid.

We discuss that the one thing Alan would change from his moving past would be to have undertaken a business life coaching course from the beginning, which after 20 years he has self-taught from reading books and watching YouTube.

We discover that Alan’s highpoints of being in the industry include taking on Judith, who became Alan’s wife and business partner. Alan claims that she’s the executioner of his ideas (I may have to get Judith on to confirm or deny that claim!). Other highpoints include joining Britannia (where Alan has just been appointed to the board), joining BAR, buying his first truck, and of course seeing his staff develop.

We discuss what Alan would change within the moving industry, reducing the VAT threshold is one, and although Alan has no problems with 3.5 tonne vehicles, he would like to change the enforcement of them, and finally completion dates.

We discover that the advice Alan would give himself just starting out in the industry, apart from a business/life coaching course is to just treat people with respect.

We discuss what changes Alan sees in the next 5 years, in the industry Alan believes the days of the HGV truck is slowly and sadly fading away as we utilise low loaders more and more. Personally, Alan wants to retire at 60 and give something back to the community, for no money, maybe even provide some business life coaching.

We discover that outside of the industry Alan enjoys home life on his 5-acre sheep ranch, cycling, walking the dog on the Malvern Hills, however, he really enjoys trips in his most luxurious purchase, a Morgan sports car, bought of course with the permission of Judith.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding a trip to the Isle of Wight.

BONUS: Alan plays a game with me, the removal man’s slang, from when he started in the industry!

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Bennetts of Malvern:

Special Guest: Alan Bennett.

Episode 30: Moving Matters with Mike Andrews of Britannia Bradshaw Internatinal Removals & Storage

Colin Wynn — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode Mike Andrews, Managing Director of Britannia Bradshaw International Removals & Storage discusses how he began in the industry in 1995 after leaving university where his friend James invited him down to London for a few weeks to do some portering for Britannia Leatherbarrows which consequently led to David Trenchard offering Mike management training.

We discover that Britannia Bradshaw International Removals & Storage is two companies, one being based in Leicester (which Mike is involved in with Mark Herrington), and the other John Bradshaw & Son which owns and runs businesses in Manchester, Birmingham, and Stafford. Both companies run under the Britannia banner and offer domestic removals & storage, including international shipping. They also operate BCL Moving, which is more bespoke commercial moving services, and own a shredding plant in Leicester, and are belatedly getting involved in Self-Storage. And I am happy to discover that BCL Moving still run their pink liveried trucks, which were liveried in that way to promote a Breast Cancer Prevention Charity in Manchester.

We discuss challenges and Mike’s biggest was every removal man’s worst nightmare, a warehouse fire, which Mike says this is where you realise why you have insurance after such an event! And of course, Mike has the variety of daily challenges that come from dealing with people.

We discover that Mike would not change anything from his past because he cannot change them, however, Mike does learn from each making him better next time around.

We discuss Mike’s highpoint of being in the industry and it was becoming friends with the late Malcolm Halley, who not only was a great pal but a great teacher. Mike tells us that Malc was always happy, always enjoyed himself and never bore a grudge, no matter how hard things were, are or will be in business.

We discover that Mike would like the industry to celebrate more that what we provide is a really good and important service, and to have more pride in our staff, our service, and our price. We also discuss the current driver (and labour) shortage, and the use of low loaders within the industry.

We discuss that the advice Mike would give to himself just starting out in the industry is that your team is your business, and as almost all skills are learned if there is anything you cannot do either read a book or watch a video on the subject. And find yourself a mentor from within the industry.

We discover that in the next 5 years, personally as we are in strange seas at the minute Mike doesn’t know what opportunities may throw themselves up for businesses in that period but enjoys growth and changes; Industry wise, Mike says that the industry needs to keep polishing itself and setting itself apart from the man & van industry.

We discuss that outside of the industry Mike enjoys cycling, walking with the dogs and family, he’s a voracious reader, enjoys music and fly fishing.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story featuring a gendarme.

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Bradshaw International Removals & Storage:

Special Guest: Mike Andrews.

Episode 24: Moving Matters with David Trenchard of Britannia Leatherbarrows

Colin Wynn — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0100

In this episode David Trenchard, Chairman of Britannia Leatherbarrows discusses that he may have been born in a tea chest in 1946! David joined the Trenchard’s family business when he was 16, which was started by his grandfather.

We discover that today’s company is Leatherbarrows (Britannia Leatherbarrows to be exact), which David and wife Diane bought from Aubrey Appleton in 1981 and was based in Hounslow, West London. David and Diane took the business into Pelican, but after some of the big players had decided to leave David was faced with either recruiting new Pelican members or offering themselves as a group to Britannia, which they did in 1987. In 1988 David was able to buy part of the family business, Trenchards, and took over Sketchley’s which virtually doubled the size of his business.

We discuss that David’s challenges were having no money at all when he and Diane bought Leatherbarrows, and 6 months after acquiring the business David was awarded a contract from a local department store who wanted to outsource their warehousing and deliveries, a contract David held for 39 years until the department store went into administration in 2019.

We discover that David would not change anything from his past because the traumatic experience of leaving the family business and buying Leatherbarrows gave David much better opportunity than he would have had.

We discuss David’s high points, of which there are many, but his biggest high point was in 1992 where he became BAR President for the year (as they were back in those days), the year when the borders came down in Europe. And the BAR Conference that David organised during his Presidency year which was held at Bournemouth International Centre (my first BAR conference where I exhibited as a supplier), which David was the Chairman of the Centre when it was built.

We discover that BAR Services did come from a study tour, the first BAR study tour of the USA and a consequent study tour of Europe where David, Derek Blatchford, Joe Luxford and others persuaded BAR to setup a study group to look at such things the industry and BAR could benefit from. In 1977 (corrected – not 1985) BAR Services was born as a co-operative/buying group and recruited Tony Allen to manage it. David was Chairman of BAR Services for 15 years, giving up the role when he became BAR President, but stayed on the board for 35 years!

We discuss BSEN12522 (something I was involved in being part of the original 6 companies to field trial it), and David has always been interested in standards. In 1992/3 after David’s Presidency, the French Removals Association had created a Quality Standard for Removals and had recommended it as a European Standard. 7 years on and David had completely rewritten it into what it is today.

We discover that QSS (Quality Service Standards), something David is very proud of, was formed because although FEDEMAC wanted to use outside companies to provide the assessments, the BAR, with David’s leadership, decided to use the talent of retired removers and train them to undertake the assessments. QSS is totally independent from BAR and non-BAR companies can apply to QSS for many of the ISO and BS Standards currently available.

We discuss that the one thing David would change within the industry is to make the BSEN12522 part of the BAR membership criteria. David would also like more regulation on the low weight vehicles (3.5 tonnes).

We discover that the advice David would give to himself just starting out again would be to follow your beliefs and do not be afraid to make yourself the odd one out.

We discuss that in the next 5 years David sees himself as just being there to provide guidance to his daughter and son-in-law who now run the business. We learn that David wanted to invest in demountable bodies as they offer more flexibility over rigids, similar to Richard Webster’s (Tonks Removals) comments in Episode 21. Industry wise David thinks removers need to be cleverer, recruit more youngsters and train them properly, and drivers have got to be self-taught.

We discover that David has over 300 model trucks that he has collected over the years! And I recite a story about my old boss, John McGinty (Alton Moves Group) who had models produced of his livery, to only discover an error on them!

We discuss that outside of the industry David has never lost his interest in local politics, and upon retirement from an employee of Leatherbarrows David was instrumental in successfully lobbying to drop the number of local councils in the Dorset area from 9 to 2.

And as always we end Moving Matters with not a funny, but a charming moving story with a repeat event that happened 25 years apart!

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Leatherbarrows:

Special Guest: David Trenchard.

Episode 11: Moving Matters with the BAR Young Movers Group Council - Part 2 of 2

Colin Wynn — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Episode 11 is part 2 of a 2 part recording with the BAR Young Movers Group Council, which consists of Chairman Ciaran Mullarkey of George Pickersgills & Son, Deputy Chairman Mairead Almandras of Britannia Sanderstead's, Immediate Past Chairman Daniel Braddock of GB Liners and fellow councillors, Michael Dunbar of McGimpsey's, Alexandra Lane of Britannia Lanes, Tommy McNee of Guardian Moving & Storage and Calvin Tickner of The Eurogroup.

We discover what one thing my guests would change as a whole within the moving industry, with Michael discussing the general outside perspective for a trade in which he believes is a skilled trade (and I totally agree!), Mairead has a real dig at solicitors over exchange and completion dates, Tommy agrees with Mairead and provides an example on how it can effect the Working Time Directive as he believes the moving industry is always an afterthought, Alexandra covers the service being offered over the race to the bottom line and also agrees with Mairead, Calvin echo’s the comments already made and touches upon the professionalism of the moving industry, Ciaran would like to see some form of regulation, and Daniel reiterates public perception and would like the industry to work together a bit more.

When it comes to what advice this young bunch would give to a young mover just starting out in the moving industry, Michael suggests that you show initiative as there is so much room for development and progression within this industry, Mairead echo’s Michaels views and highly recommends that you get involved with the BAR Young Movers Group, Tommy recommends the invaluable networking, Alexandra reminds everyone that it’s not a weakness to ask questions, Calvin reiterates the advice already given and adds that if you are office based then hot desk to increase your own value within the company, Ciaran recommends training, lots of training, and Daniel suggests you surround yourself with the people that have the knowledge.

We discover where each of my guests see themselves and the industry in 5 years, where Michael believes his own future is in the hands of his Directors, and that the young movers can drive the industry forward, Mairead believes the industry will slow down for city movers as more and more people relocate to their ‘forever home’ in the countryside being as they are now able to work from home as a result of the recent pandemic, and she sees herself as maybe moving more into a surveying role, Tommy would like a Directors role within Guardian Moving & Storage and would like to become a voice for the industry, and he hopes a form of regulation comes about for the industry, Alexandra sees herself growing within her current role and expanding her knowledge, but doesn’t see any huge incoming changes to the industry, Calvin would have served his stint as Chairman of the BAR Young Movers Group as he moves into the role of Vice Chairman next year and sees more responsibility coming his way from the family business, in the industry he has noticed shipments are getting smaller and has seen a change in commercial relocation as more and more of us are now able to work from home, Ciaran is in the process of buying a warehouse to stand the business in good stead for the future, but isn’t too sure on the industry, and Daniel would like to still see himself as part of GB Liners and driving it forward and maintaining his involvement within the BAR.

And finally, we end with several funny moving stories, Michael didn’t have a funny story as they were far to incriminating, but he did recite a story that involved moving Professional Golfer Rory Mcllroy and how curiosity got the better of him, Mairead recites a packing job she was once on where she was tipped in Home Made Greek Halloumi Cheese, and the moment she took the DNA from a cup Rock Legend Liam Gallagher drank from while in attendance at their warehouse, Tommy recites a story where he and his crew pranked an apprentice by telling him he needed a passport to cross the border into England, Alexandra is far to young to have a moving story but does recite the history of Lanes, Calvin recites a story he had been told regarding a couple of PBO boxes coming from a bedroom making the sound of a battery powered toothbrush, and Calvin clears the company name regarding receipt of a damaged shipment for British Long Distance Runner Sir Mo Farah, just in case its mentioned on ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’, Ciaran recites a story regarding a foreman, the foreman’s wife and a snooker table, while on a removal, and Daniel recites a charming story regarding a large bronze garden statue of a lady, with a black mark on her thigh.

Enjoy!

Links to the BAR Young Movers Group:

Special Guests: Alexandra Lane, Calvin Tickner, Ciaran Mullarkey, Daniel Braddock, Mairead Almandras, Michael Dunbar, and Tommy McNee.

Episode 10: Moving Matters with the BAR Young Movers Group Council - Part 1 of 2

Colin Wynn — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Episode 10 is part 1 of a 2 part recording with the BAR Young Movers Group Council, which consists of Chairman Ciaran Mullarkey, Deputy Chairman Mairead Almandras, Immediate Past Chairman Daniel Braddock and fellow councillors, Michael Dunbar, Alexandra Lane, Tommy McNee and Calvin Tickner.

We discover that Michael is 33 and works for McGimpsey’s in Belfast, Mairead is 29 and works for Britannia Sanderstead’s in Surrey, Tommy is 33 and works for Guardian Moving & Storage in Edinburgh, Alexandra (the baby of the group) is 22 and works for Britannia Lanes in Devon, Calvin is 28 and works for The Eurogroup, Ciaran is 38 (and not 28 as I mistakenly wrote down!), and works for George Pickersgill & Son and Daniel is 32 and works for GB Liners.

We discuss the BAR Young Movers Group as a whole and discover from Ciaran that the group networks and socialises together, and have previously sold out 3 educational events, held at remover locations in Birmingham, Cardiff and Brighton, with Belfast on the calendar for 2021.

We discover from Daniel that membership has just been launched, at the mere cost of £55 + VAT per year, and is available to BAR and non-BAR members, with non-BAR members requiring individual membership too at the cost of £100 + VAT per year. Being that it is a group for ‘young movers’, there is a cut-off age of 40. We discover from Calvin that there was a Young Movers Group in the past and how he set about resurrecting it.

When asked who has the aspirations to become the next BAR President, Ciaran threw Calvin’s name into the ring before both agreeing that Mr GB (Daniel) was first off.

We then delve into each council member and discover how they got started in the industry, discovering their previous roles as well as their current. We discover that 3 work within the family business, thus being Mairead, Alexandra and Calvin, and that Ciaran is a partner of George Pickersgills & Son. We discover that Calvin went to University in Nottingham, chosen purely on the ratio of women to men! And we discover that Dan is a 3rd generation remover.

We discover the personal challenges of each, Michael losing his driving licence, Mairead being sent to a Young Movers Conference in Budapest not knowing anyone, but it really helped with her confidence, Tommy not being taken seriously as a 22 year young project manager, as well as losing his father on a job, Alexandra has had no challenges as yet but there is the child of the boss syndrome that goes with the territory, as Mairead, Calvin and Ciaran also discuss, and Dan’s biggest challenge was moving from the operative side of the business to the office and into management.

We discus what each person would change from their moving past, even though they are all so young, and discover that most would not change anything, yet. Calvin regrets not starting out on the vans and holding back at conference due to nerves, Ciaran would have joined the BAR earlier and Dan would have joined GB Liners earlier.

And Calvin corrects me!! I had mistakenly taken down the age of one guest and Calvin just wanted to set the record straight, much to the dismay of Ciaran, who is actually 38 and not 28 as I had noted, and is therefore nearly no longer a young mover! 😊

Enjoy!

Links to the BAR Young Movers Group:

Special Guests: Alexandra Lane, Calvin Tickner, Ciaran Mullarkey, Daniel Braddock, Mairead Almandras, Michael Dunbar, and Tommy McNee.