Who are we?
Podguides.co.uk is part of ElstreeDV a video and audio production company formed at Elstree Film and Television Studios in 2001 and now based in St Albans.
Owner/producer – Ray Burnside
Video camerman and editor. Trained as an edit assistant with Tell-Tale Productions making Tweenies for the BBC before starting ElstreeDV.
Trained as an actor/musician and has appeared in repertory theatres across the UK and in London's West End.
Produced theatre and radio drama (Independent drama productions for BBC Radio 4).
Blue Badge Guide– John Ashton
A Londoner born and bred John has been a professional actor in British theatre and television for over 25 years – so he is very much at home with large ‘audiences’ and his small personal ‘audio’ clients – you will be completely at ease with his relaxed and entertaining approach. He has an outgoing, amiable personality and while his material is thoroughly and deeply researched, his presentations are spontaneous, conversational & informal. His easy-going communication skills have also been in demand in the corporate and business community where he has worked substantially as a presenter, trainer and facilitator.
John’s personal enjoyment at being a Blue Badge guide is something frequently noticed by his groups and he always gets great feedback.
Tvlexperts@aol.com – Travel with Experts, Atlanta:
'John Ashton, our guide was remarkable. His wealth of knowledge, stories and presence endeared him to everyone in the group. Given the hectic schedule of our day trip out of the city, he managed it expertly, got us to see more than even I expected and got us back into town right on schedule. John bonded with the group and clearly was our best asset on the scene. He is a joy and a pleasure to work with and I will insist on him for future tours of London. In all I would rate the trip a 9.5 out of 10 .. and John made the difference .. kudos to the man .. and to you for finding him.'
Region for which accredited: London
London sites for which accredited: British Library, British Museum,
City of London, Docklands, Greenwich, Hampton Court Palace, National
Gallery, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tower
of London, Victoria & Albert Musm., Westminster Abbey
Sites outside London for which accredited: Bath, Oxford, Salisbury
Cathedral, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Windsor Castle
Special interests: My theatre background gives me a particular interest in Shakespeare, British Theatre, it's development & history
Walking tours: Southwark & Bankside, The City, Spitalfields, Dickens, Holborn, Wapping, Mayfair, Clerkenwell, Jack the Ripper, The Beatles in London, Greenwich, Docklands
Lectures given: Any of the standard sites, plus Theatre History & development, William Shakespeare, Southwark and Bankside, Jack the Ripper
Blue Badge Guide – Ray Smith
Year qualified as a Blue badge Guide: 2004
" I have been an actor for the last thirty years, an ideal training for a parallel career as a Tour Guide. In theatre I have worked both in the subsidized and commercial sectors, with the Royal Shakespeare Company, with national and international touring companies, such as Cheek By Jowl, The Actors Touring Company (ATC) and The Wrestling School, and in the West End. I have worked with major directors such as Alan Ayckbourn, Declan Donellan, Howard Barker and, this year, with Stephen Berkoff at the Old Vic. I love to tell a story, what actor doesn't, and what better story than that of the City of London.
As a guide I have experience on Coach Panoramics, Walking Tours and all of the major sights of the Capital. In 2003 I was one of the first guides to work at Clarence House, the current home of Prince Charles, when it opened to the public after the death of the Queen Mother.
I am enthusiastic about London. My family have been Londoners for generations and I like to send clients away with some of the feeling of fascination I have for my home town".
Region for which accredited: London
London sites
for which accredited: British Museum, City of London,
Greenwich, Hampton Court Palace, National Gallery, St. Paul's Cathedral,
Tower of London, Westminster Abbey
Sites outside London for which accredited: Bath, Oxford, Salisbury
Cathedral, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Winchester Cathedral, Windsor
Castle.
Blue Badge Guide – Adrienne Oddey
Year qualified as a Blue badge Guide: 2004
Region for which accredited: London
London sites for which accredited: St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Of London, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle.